Day hikes from Reykjavik, w/o a car

You really need a car to access hikes. Otherwise book a tour, but maybe aim for one that is specifically for hiking. The biggest question is when is this trip? Hitchhiking is not common nor is car share. Knowing when the trip is I can help more.

Personally, I would cancel your tour and rent a car. Iceland is so easy to drive around and the tours are so expensive that it’s about the same price as a car.

Thank you, Snohimish. I am looking to day hike on Sept 12 and/or Sept 13. I’ll be ready with rain gear and hiking shoes.

Mt. Esja has some nice hiking trails and it's close to Reykjavik. https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/jorunnsg/mt-esja-hiking-and-outdoor-area

I did a couple hours' hiking around here when I was staying in Mosfellsbaer in 2021. There are two, possibly more, well maintained trails that start from here. I only had a few hours so I didn't do a ton of exploring but there were a lot of people hiking here and I enjoyed what I saw.

Search Google Maps for Esjurætur - Hiking Center. Not knowing where you're staying in Reykjavik, I clicked on a random hotel near downtown to see if public transit would get me out there, and it looks like there's a bus stop about a 25 minute walk from the hiking center. Total trip time will be over an hour.

I came across this site when doing research for my upcoming trip:

https://visitreykjavik.is/day-nature

I’m not sure about serious hiking, but there might be some good options for some walks.

I also plan to book the South Coast Tour with Troll and am hesitant to book one of the longer ones. The other tours do seem too long.

Other options I have from Reykjavik are a Ferry to Videy Island and a puffin and whale watching tour.

Please let me know if you come up with anything.

I have done the ferry to Videy. It's a nice little trip. It's flat, and there are trails that criss-cross the island and you could spend a few hours exploring. When I was there in 2021 there was a little cafe on the island where you could get lunch.

Thank you Kayla and all who have responded with some ideas and feedback! Researching now. :)

Yes, the Grotta light is a nice easy walk, but there is also a Straeto city bus which takes you a good part of the way there. See also this video-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOnG1EOM4FI

Another light station, not mentioned above (probably because tours don't go there) near Reykjavik is the double Gardskagi light houses, just a few miles behind Keflavik airport.

These can also be reached by the Straeto citybus #55 from the City to Keflavik Airport changing to the #89 in Keflavik Town Centre, or just a few minutes drive from the Airport- https://www.hiticeland.com/post/the-gardskagi-lighthouses

That one is very much on my 'to do' list

isn31c--The Garda lighthouses are fine, and there is a nice little museum there and a good restuarant. We have stopped there a few times when we had time to kill. I don't think I would take time out to go there specifically though, as there are just too many other great things to see, IMO.