★★★★★
The small-group Golden Circle classic
The stops were timed well. At one walk the guide dropped us at the top and collected us at the bottom, which saved us the climb back up.
Paul H. · Couple · August 2026
Reykjavik Golden Circle Tour Reviews
What people wrote after the day: on a big coach, in a small-group minibus, with a private driver, and on the days that add a lagoon, a snowmobile or Silfra. Looking for the best Golden Circle tour Reykjavik? The operators’ own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers’ own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the day it belongs to. The low scores stay in, because they are the useful ones: a driver 40 minutes late, a coach that left before its stated time, a van nobody could find at the cruise port, and a bus with no toilet and queues at every stop.
★★★★★
The small-group Golden Circle classic
The directions to the pickup point were easy to follow and the guide arrived on time. There was enough time at each stop, and anyone slower on their feet was offered a shorter option.
John W. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group Golden Circle classic
A minibus meant a smaller group, and the guide knew the country and was easy company. Gullfoss was the high point, and the pastries at the bakery stop came a close second.
Rachel U. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group Golden Circle classic
A good first look at the country's natural sights, at a steady pace and with a good guide. The one drawback was the sound system on the bus.
Stacy M. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The small-group Golden Circle classic
The sights were beautiful. The guide was hard to understand and talked mostly to the front rows, so the rest of the bus missed most of the explanations.
Christa S. · September 2026
★★★★★
The big-coach day with Kerið
A comfortable, well-heated bus, but there is no toilet on board. With a full coach the queues at each stop eat into time that is already short.
Michael · Solo · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
The big-coach day with Kerið
The guide and the driver chose quiet time slots for each stop, so there was room to enjoy the landscape. The commentary was lively and well informed.
Isabell-Christin · Solo · Germany · September 2026
★★★★★
The big-coach day with Kerið
I told the guide that I am deaf, and the guide made an extra effort to be sure I understood every instruction. I would book it again.
Murilo Henrique · Solo · Italy · September 2026
★★★★★
The big-coach day with Kerið
Besides the planned stops we had an extra one, while a huge flock of sheep crossed the road on its way home from summer pasture. The guide and the driver made it a very good day.
Sandra · Friends · Sweden · September 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with the Blue Lagoon
A taste of everything in one day. The only downside is the limited time at each stop, but for the price, the route and the guide it was worth it.
Stephanie A. · Solo · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with the Blue Lagoon
A long day with a good pace and plenty of time at each stop. The Blue Lagoon at the end made it a relaxing one.
Louise H. · Couple · September 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with the Blue Lagoon
A small group, Wi-Fi and a charger at every seat, and a guide who kept us on time everywhere. The waterfall and the lagoon stood out.
Tannaz T. · Solo · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with the Blue Lagoon
A relaxed pace and a real variety of sights. The guide's account of the ground recently changed by eruptions was the part we still talk about.
Richard M. · Family · July 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group day with the Blue Lagoon
Bring a raincoat and something warm to drink. We enjoyed learning about the country, the lagoon and the waterfalls.
Ms O. · September 2026
★★★★★
The classic three-stop coach
A careful driver, a good guide and a bus with clean windows, plenty of window seats and Wi-Fi. An app let passengers who do not speak English follow along.
Christian · Solo · Germany · September 2026
★★★★★
The classic three-stop coach
The weather was bad, but there was time to see every stop. Each one had shelter, and a gift shop, to duck into.
Nicola · Solo · United Kingdom · September 2026
★★★★★
The classic three-stop coach
No navigating, no parking and nothing to sort out at the stops. The staff knew their subject and the weather was on our side.
Karin · Solo · Canada · September 2026
★★★★★
The classic coach with three start times
From the cruise terminal we took the operator's shuttle to the bus terminal, and it brought us back to the ship without a hitch. Six and a half hours, and worth the money.
Michael B. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★★
The classic coach with three start times
I wished each stop were a little longer. It was well organised, with regular messages to make sure the pickups went smoothly.
Paula C. · Couple · July 2026
★★★★☆
The classic coach with three start times
It cost a great deal less than our cruise line's version of the same trip. The commentary came at the key moments without filling every minute.
Dawn C. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The classic coach with three start times
Not enough time at the first and last stops. The final hour went on driving round the city dropping people off.
Keith H. · September 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The classic coach with three start times
Our ticket said meet at 9:30 for a 10:00 start. We were there at 9:30 and the bus had already gone, and nothing had told us there were earlier pickups.
Melissa M. · September 2026
★★★★★
The big-coach Kerið day
Pickup and drop-off were easy, the driver was good and the guide kept up the facts and the jokes. We packed a lunch, though there was a chance to buy one.
Ciana A. · Family · July 2026
★★★☆☆
The big-coach Kerið day
It is sold as an introduction, and it is one. The staff were friendly, but the time at most stops, the waterfall above all, is short if you walk slowly.
Madeline B. · August 2026
★★★★☆
The big-coach Kerið day
We loved the crater and the waterfall. The geyser was the weak point: a long wait for an eruption over in the blink of an eye.
Cynthia S. · August 2026
★★★★★
The guided bus with an audio guide app
The guide spoke clearly and the audio system worked well with a hearing aid. Waterfalls, hot springs and a lot about the country's volcanoes.
Elizabeth M. · Solo · July 2026
★★★★★
The guided bus with an audio guide app
Picked up at 8:00 and back by 3:00, with the national park, the rift valley, the falls and the geysers in between. Time to buy lunch at Geysir was built in.
Melinda A. · Couple · July 2026
★★★☆☆
The guided bus with an audio guide app
I walk with a cane, and the tour director led the group off before I was down from the bus, even after I asked. We were also not dropped back where we had been collected.
Patricia S. · July 2026
★★★★★
The coach day with a horse farm
Wind and rain early on, better as the day went. Gullfoss was the highlight, the crater and the geysers close behind, and the horses were the gentlest stop of the day.
Catherine I. · Solo · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The coach day with a horse farm
Beautiful scenery and some useful information. The pickup was confusing, the van was poorly marked and the driving was fast enough to make a long day harder than it needed to be.
Brian M. · September 2026
★★★★★
The Golden Circle and snowmobile day
There is a lot of driving to reach the glacier, and it was worth every minute once we were there. The guide showed us the best spots at every stop.
Rachel Y. · Family · August 2026
★★★★☆
The Golden Circle and snowmobile day
The glacier was beautiful and we are glad we went. The one mark off is for the long ride in the big vehicle to get there.
Christy S. · July 2026
★★★☆☆
The Golden Circle and snowmobile day
The snowmobile was the highlight, but it left too little time at the other stops. Too much for one day; a separate snowmobile trip would have suited us better.
Theresa M. · July 2026
★★★★★
The coach day with the Secret Lagoon
A sampler of the country in one day: volcanic craters, hot water, waterfalls, geyser fields and the tectonic plates. We loved all of it.
Cinda E. · Friends · July 2026
★★★★★
The coach day with the Secret Lagoon
Strokkur was the highlight, and the stop at the site of the first parliament was well explained. The Secret Lagoon is not to be missed, so bring swim gear.
Chienan W. · Couple · July 2026
★★★☆☆
The coach day with the Secret Lagoon
The operator did not collect us from the pickup point on our reservation. We paid for a taxi to catch up with the bus.
alewinter3 · August 2026
★★★★★
The Golden Circle and northern lights day
We had a clear night and a strong display, and we know we were lucky. Bring your patience.
Anabelle T. · Couple · April 2026
★★★★★
The Golden Circle and northern lights day
The daytime loop was beautiful from start to finish. We were told it was the last week of the aurora season, and the guide kept searching until we saw the lights.
Kulthida L. · Family · April 2026
★★★★☆
The Golden Circle and northern lights day
The Golden Circle part was very good. We would not book the northern lights part again.
Sophie B. · September 2026
★★☆☆☆
The Golden Circle and northern lights day
The buses carried 45 to 50 people, so the schedule depended on everyone being on time. When a few were late, the next stop was cut short for all of us.
Jessica R. · April 2026
★★★★★
The Chinese-guided day
Plenty of time, five sights and no rushing. Pickup and drop-off were punctual, and the guide and the driver were both kind.
Jueyun · Solo · China · August 2026
★★★★★
The Chinese-guided day
The bus got stuck on the road, and the company sent a bigger one straight away. The day went on without losing any time.
Jing · Solo · Germany · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group full day
The minibus was comfortable and never crowded over eight hours, and the stops were spaced for bathroom breaks. Geysers, waterfalls, a crater lake and a UNESCO site in one day.
Pat B. · Family · September 2026
★★★★★
The small-group full day
Be ready for the geyser to go off without warning, and it was smaller than we expected. The waterfall made up for it, though the bus microphone could have been better.
Pamela G. · Couple · July 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The small-group full day
The tour was run by a different company from the one on our ticket, in a van with no sign of either. We spent an hour looking for the right vehicle.
Pei Hsin C. · July 2026
★★★★★
The small-group afternoon tour
Cold and rainy, and completely worth it: the national park, the huge waterfall, the geyser and the crater lake. Bring waterproof gear.
Dorothy K. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group afternoon tour
A good first-day taste of the country, with a lively guide and a modern bus. Waterfalls, horses, a geyser and the divide between the plates.
Liz H. · Couple · September 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group afternoon tour
The afternoon tour gives you 20 to 40 minutes at each stop. Two late passengers cost us half an hour, and that left too little time at the rest.
Jennifer K. · September 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The small-group afternoon tour
The driver arrived 40 minutes late, and the time at each stop was cut to make it up. There was little commentary; it was mostly driving from place to place.
Demetra M. · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group Friðheimar day
The farm and the Icelandic horses were the favourite part, and the tomato soup lunch was very good. The crater, the geysers, the waterfall and the national park filled the rest of the day.
Steve C. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group Friðheimar day
History, culture and geology on the drive, then the horse farm and the greenhouse. The lunch bought at the greenhouse was delicious.
Claire K. · Solo · July 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with Sky Lagoon
A 19-seat minibus and a guide with plenty to tell us. The schedule held, and we were back at our cruise ship exactly on time.
Nancy C. · Couple · July 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with Sky Lagoon
Our second time on this tour, and we enjoyed it just as much. Summer is the peak season, and the stops were very crowded.
Neil C. · Family · July 2026
★★★★★
The small-group Kerið day
Only 14 of us were in the van. The guide explained why each stop mattered before we got there.
Susan R. · Family · February 2026
★★★★☆
The small-group Kerið day
A good way to see the best-known sights. A small group has a flexibility that the big buses cannot match.
Mark S. · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group Kerið day
A good collection of sights. It is very much a tourist trail, though, with plenty of other buses at every stop.
Marijcke V. · Family · November 2025
★★★★★
The small-group Secret Lagoon day
The tectonic rift followed by the Secret Lagoon was the best pairing of the day. We learned a great deal.
Jennifer E. · Couple · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The small-group Secret Lagoon day
A good tour that we nearly missed. The van was parked about three blocks from the cruise port, away from all the others.
James L. · July 2026
★★★★★
The Silfra snorkel and Golden Circle day
It was cold, and six inches of snow fell during our 45 minutes in the water. It was completely worth it.
Katy D. · February 2018
★★★☆☆
The Silfra snorkel and Golden Circle day
A little disorganised. We were told the snorkel was in the morning, it ran later, and about two hours went on transport.
Shushu C. · March 2017
★★★★★
The minibus day with the Blue Lagoon
Good for anyone with only a few days in the country: the highlights, time at the Blue Lagoon and a lunch break. There was plenty of time at each stop.
Leslie · Friends · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
The minibus day with the Blue Lagoon
A classic tour, and a better one with the Blue Lagoon added. It never felt rushed.
Flavio · Couple · Brazil · September 2026
★★★★★
The superjeep day
The jeep ride up to the glacier was the high point. It is what set the day apart from the bus tours.
Michael H. · July 2024
★★★☆☆
The superjeep day
Ten passengers in the jeep, and no hotel pickup. We were collected last, at a bus station, and sat in the back row all day with the windows fogged.
Gisela M. · November 2024
★★★★★
The private day with Friðheimar
The best way to see the loop. Our private guide took us to places the coaches do not go, on our own timing.
Martha F. · June 2017
★★★★★
The private car for up to four
The driver was flexible and courteous, picked us up on time and dropped us back at the cruise terminal. A very good day.
James K. · August 2026
★★☆☆☆
The private car for up to four
Having our own schedule was the point of a private tour, and that part worked. The driver could tell us almost nothing about the places we stopped.
Anne S. · October 2025
★★★★★
The private luxury SUV day
Personable, informative and happy to take back roads to show a quieter side of the country. There were two of us, and a bigger vehicle is available for larger groups.
Diane D. · Couple · April 2026
★★★★★
The private luxury SUV day
A smooth day for our family, two children included. The host made sure everything ran without a hitch.
John A. · Family · July 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The private luxury SUV day
Too much of the day went on shops the driver chose. We came to see the sights, not to buy souvenirs.
sfgooderson · July 2026
★★★★★
The private tour, any start time
There were six of us, so we booked a private tour, and it was the right call. The guide suggested small changes to the day that worked well.
Loretta K. · August 2026
★★★★★
The private tour, any start time
Eleven hours round the loop, with a few extra stops added. Lunch at the tomato farm was a highlight, and the van was comfortable.
Julie B. · July 2025
★★★★★
The private highlights day
We were collected straight off our cruise ship. The guide explained each sight, told stories between the stops and took good photos of us.
Nadine F. · Couple · August 2026
★★★★★
The private highlights day
Private, accommodating and well informed, with a good suggestion for dinner at the end. It was hard to hear from the back seats without a microphone.
Jacqueline D. · Friends · August 2026
★★★★★
The private Secret Lagoon day
Good value for a day of the main stops near the city. We preferred the Secret Lagoon to the bigger, busier lagoons.
Scott C. · Couple · June 2026
★★★★★
The private Secret Lagoon day
The winter landscape made the park, the waterfall, the crater and the lagoon even better. The guide even helped us mark a birthday.
Don D. · Couple · March 2026
What travellers keep saying
The guide makes the day
Almost every five-star review names the guide first: the stories on the drive, the timing at each stop, the extra stop for horses or sheep. The scores follow the guide more closely than they follow the vehicle.
Time at each stop is the complaint
The commonest criticism, on coaches and minibuses alike, is too little time at Gullfoss or Geysir. Late passengers make it worse, because a big coach waits for them and cuts the next stop.
Pickups go wrong at the edges
The low scores cluster around the first hour: a missed pickup, a van parked away from the others, a start that moved. Be at your stop early and keep the operator’s number to hand.
Dress for rain
Many of the best reviews were written after a wet day. Waterproofs and a warm layer turn a grey day at the falls into a good one.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators’ own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us.
| Tour | What the day is | The fare covers | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater | Classic loop by coach, Kerið in the morning | The ride and the guide | 4.8 | 27,475 | From $89 per person |
| Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater | Classic loop ending at the Blue Lagoon | The Kerið fee, the Blue Lagoon ticket, Reykjavík pickup | 4.9 | 6,479 | From $259 per person |
| Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik | Classic stops, three departure times | The ride and the guide | 4.5 | 5,773 | From $83 per person |
| Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik | Classic loop by coach, Kerið in the morning | The ride and the guide | 4.8 | 3,668 | From $89 per person |
| The Golden Circle Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik | The classic stops with an audio guide app | Reykjavík pickup | 4.8 | 2,698 | From $88 per person |
| From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full Day Tour | The three classic stops by coach | The ride and the guide | 4.6 | 2,489 | From $81 per person |
| Small-group Golden Circle Classic Tour from Reykjavik | The classic loop plus Kerið, small group | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.8 | 2,434 | From $119 per person |
| Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Kerid Crater Tour from Reykjavik | Classic loop ending at the Secret Lagoon | The Kerið fee, the Secret Lagoon ticket | 4.9 | 2,103 | From $111 per person |
| Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik | A small group ending at the Secret Lagoon | The Secret Lagoon ticket, Reykjavík pickup | 4.8 | 1,960 | From $168 per person |
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Crater & Blue Lagoon Minibus Tour | A minibus day ending at the Blue Lagoon | The Kerið fee, the Blue Lagoon ticket, Reykjavík pickup | 4.8 | 1,950 | From $261 per person |
| Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobiling Day Trip from Reykjavik | Classic loop and an hour on Langjökull | The snowmobile ride | 4.6 | 1,556 | From $361 per person |
| Golden Circle Small-Group Afternoon Tour from Reykjavik | The classic loop plus Kerið, from noon | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.6 | 719 | From $114 per person |
| Small-Group Golden Circle, Sky Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater | Classic loop ending at Sky Lagoon | The Kerið fee, the Sky Lagoon ticket, Reykjavík pickup | 5.0 | 711 | From $249 per person |
| Golden Circle, Fridheimar Farm & Horses Small Group Tour from Reykjavik | Friðheimar greenhouse and a horse show | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.9 | 541 | From $130 per person |
| Golden Circle & Kerið Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavik | A small group with Brúarfoss and Kerið | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.9 | 270 | From $135 per person |
| Small-Group Golden Circle Full-Day Tour from Reykjavik | The classic loop with Kerið and extra stops | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.7 | 248 | From $119 per person |
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle&Horsefarm in Chinese冰岛黄金圈与马场参观中文一日团 | A Chinese-guided day with Brúarfoss | The ride and the guide | 4.8 | 193 | From $86 per person |
| Golden Circle Small-Group Tour by Superjeep from Reykjavik | A superjeep day to the Langjökull area | Reykjavík pickup | 4.8 | 133 | From $340 per person (minimum 2) |
| Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik | Classic loop, then a northern lights hunt | The Kerið fee | 4.7 | 124 | From $151 per person |
| Private Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik | A private day with Faxi and Kerið | The Kerið fee | 5.0 | 122 | From $435 per person |
| Golden Circle Tour & Meet the Icelandic Horses from Reykjavik | Classic loop with a horse farm stop | The Kerið fee | 4.8 | 121 | From $95 per person |
| Golden Circle & Silfra Fissure Snorkeling Day Tour from Reykjavik | A Silfra snorkel, then the classic loop | The Kerið fee, the Silfra snorkel, Reykjavík pickup | 4.6 | 104 | From $296 per person |
| Private Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Tour from Reykjavik | A private day, Secret Lagoon ticket extra | Reykjavík pickup | 5.0 | 85 | From $435 per person (minimum 2) |
| Private Golden Circle Tour by Luxury SUV from Reykjavik | A private day in a luxury SUV | Reykjavík pickup | 4.9 | 68 | From $820 per person (minimum 2) |
| Golden Circle. Private Day Tour from Reykjavik | A private day with Friðheimar and Kerið | The Kerið fee, Reykjavík pickup | 4.9 | 58 | From $620 per person |
| Private Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik | A private car, start any time | The Kerið fee | 5.0 | 18 | From $695 per person |
| Golden Circle Private Tour From Reykjavik | A private car for up to four | The ride and the guide | 4.6 | 13 | From $931 per group (up to 4) |
A listing with tens of thousands of reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it carries. The big coaches hold most of the review weight because they fill every day, while a private car takes one party at a time.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide and check the FAQs. Then compare every tour on Reykjavik Golden Circle Tours.