9 Self-Guided Tours in Iceland Worth Booking

1.South Coast Iceland from Reykjavik with Guide & Touchscreen Audio

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 330 reviews · from $115Our pick

Spend about 11 hours on Iceland’s South Coast with a professional guide, touchscreen audio in 10 languages, and a large coach from Reykjavik. See Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Sólheimajökull Glacier, Reynisfjara Beach, Vík, Hekla, Eyjafjallajökull, and the Vestmannaeyjar Islands.

“Huge and spectacular oceans waves at the beach stop. It was also fun getting wet beyond the falls. Serious and honest tour operator as we got a refund after the Blue Lagoon tour was canceled because of the vulcan eruption.”

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2.Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition: Entry and Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 88 reviews · 1 day · from $21

Visit Iceland’s Hellisheiði geothermal power plant, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík, for a self-guided audio tour in English or Icelandic. Interactive exhibits explain geothermal power, the production process, and Carbfix carbon storage. Plan on about an hour, or stay longer during opening hours.

“Great. It was a very enlightening tour that gave me an insight of how Iceland was making great use of it's geothermal energy. This technology should be encouraged in a lot of other countries which have geothermal power.”

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3.Reykjavik Main Sights and Hidden Spots: A Self-Guided Audio Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $11

Use the VoiceMap app to walk from Hallgrimskirkja through central Reykjavik, Harpa, and the Old Harbour before ending near Parliament. GPS-triggered narration covers Icelandic history, architecture, religion, music, and government. Download the tour on Wi-Fi first for offline use.

“This was horrible. I thought it would be a great way to see the sights, but it turned out to be useless. You have to find the first stop on your own--no problem. Then the tour starts and the audio kicks in whenever it senses (via GPS) you reach the next point. Except...you can't see the next point. After stop #2 on the tour, the narrator said to cross the street and walk until you reach the ocean. Easy enough. Until I walked three blocks and was notified that I must be lost. I tried to zoom out on the in-app map to see the route, but the map wouldn't…”

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4.Iceland’s Golden Circle Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · 3 to 6 hours (approx.)

Drive from Reykjavik through Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Skálholt, Sólheimar, and Kerid Crater while an English audio guide shares Icelandic history, geology, Viking tales, and folklore. The Action Tour Guide app works offline after setup and lets you pause, skip, or repeat the route at your own pace.

“Was great to have a self driving tour and commentary! There was a lot about the history and current culture of Iceland. However, the app wasn't great with directions (apps like GPSy in the US have warnings well in advance and then tones when the turn has come up). We also couldn't turn up the sound enough on our rental car's terrible sound system.”

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5.Self-Guided Tour of Ísafjörður: Art, History, and Architecture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $9Best value

Use the VoiceMap app to follow a 75 to 90-minute English audio walk through Ísafjörður. A local guide leads you from the Westfjord History Museum past Kerecis, the 3D Crosswalk, old buildings, gardens, and the Fishermen’s Monument to Silfurtorg.

“Well, scripted and thoughtful tour. I recommend the tour for those with a few hours in town. We met the author’s wife when walking by their house. She was Incredibly nice!”

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6.Reykjavik Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $9

Use the World City Trail app to guide yourself through Reykjavik’s outdoor sights, solving easy riddles and hearing short stories in six languages. Start anytime at Sun Voyager, pause for food or photos, change the route, and finish where you choose. A charged phone and mobile data are required.

“Really good trail. Loads to see and good clues. The write ups at each clue were a bit repetitive but other than that a great trail! Would recommend.”

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7.Icelands Reykjavik Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $19

Walk Reykjavik’s streets with Guide With Action’s self-guided audio tour. More than 30 location-triggered stories lead you from Hallgrimskirkja to Sun Voyager, Harpa, Parliament, City Hall, and other historic stops. Download the app on strong Wi-Fi, then explore offline for about one to two hours.

“The map is easy to follow and shares several interesting facts along each stop. Highly recommended!!”

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8.Snaefellsnes Peninsula Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

Drive the 89-mile Snæfellsnes Peninsula route with Guide With Action’s GPS-triggered audio tour. Hear more than 83 stories about volcanoes, Vikings, trolls, elves, churches, seals, and local legends. Download it before you leave Wi-Fi, then explore at your own pace for about 3 to 4 hours.

“This guide is wonderful and surpassed my expectations. Don’t hesitate to get this one. The app is excellent as well.”

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9.Reykjanes Peninsula: Volcanos & Blue Lagoon Self-Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Take a self-guided drive across Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, using Action’s offline audio app to reach Hafnir, Gunnuhver, the Bridge Between Continents, volcanic coastlines, and more. Blue Lagoon entry is not included, and you’ll need a separate reservation. The tour costs $49.99 per car, up to four people.

“We did this tour as final part of out trip through Iceland and we loved it!. Just like your other self guided tour of Iceland that we did, it was well organized and easy to follow. Learnt a lot about the unique geology and history of Iceland throughRead more”

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