Hello, I will be in Iceland for 5 days in May. I am going to be based in Reykjavik at a hostel. I am looking to do a day trip from there, I have heard that there is a Ring Road trip that is 3 hours long driving longer with stops that is a day trip. Can you use a bus to get around that? Or is it better to rent a car for the day? Any recommendations for the car rental on a budget? thanks!
Posted by
Canada
24 posts
Hi Bryan,
A couple of years ago my husband and our 10 year old stayed at a hostel for a few days and just used the various bus tour companies to do day trips. They LOVED it. The companies pick people up at the hostels. They did a Golden Circle tour, a south coast one (their favourite), the Blue Lagoon and a horse riding tour. You will have an amazing time, I'm sure!
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL
206 posts
Sounds great, so none of these need to be booked in advance? We will be at the same hostel for 5 nights maybe we can book things when we get there depending on the weather!
Posted by
San Antonio, TX
334 posts
What you're describing is the Golden Circle route. The Ring Road (Route 1) goes around the full perimeter of the country and requires more than 5 days to do it justice (about 10 - 14 days is more appropriate). Getting around Iceland is pretty easy with a car. The country is sparsely populated and there is little traffic outside of Reykjavik. If you'd prefer to not have a car, there are tour companies that take you around the Golden Circle route (and they have other offering as well). However, I don't know how the price of one of these tours compares to the price of having a car.
While Reykjavik is a nice little city, you owe it to yourself to get out of town and see some of the country if you have the ability to do so.
Posted by
Canada
24 posts
Hi Bryan,
My husband did book the day tours in advance, but that's because we tend to over plan. He thinks you could probably just book when you get there. Maybe look on your hostel's website and see what tour companies they use and just make sure they are running at that time of year. One of the companies he used is called Iceland Excursions. I notice that some of their tours don't run in May, so definitely check it out.
Posted by
Berkeley, CA, USA
39 posts
I spent five days in Reykjavik in June 2014, staying at a hostel, and booked the Golden Circle tour when I got there. I'm pretty sure that is what most folks do. Reykjavik is a lovely, small city. The new symphony hall is gorgeous and I attended a concert one evening. There are also concerts at the main Lutheran Church up at the top of a hill (you definitely cannot miss seeing it); sometimes the concerts are free and the concert rehearsals are always free. A lovely walk around the lake near the Civic Center.