✦ Top pick
Hafnarfjörður is the best all-rounder and the easiest to reach; choose Stykkishólmur for the most beautiful harbor and an overnight, or Hveragerði if you want geothermal quirk within 45 minutes.
Reykjavík is small enough to see in a couple of days, and the real reward of basing yourself here is how quickly you can swap the city for a quiet fishing harbor, a geothermal valley, or a lava-built town with elf legends. Several of Iceland's most charming small towns sit within an hour's drive, and a few of the prettier ones are reachable on a half-day loop.
These picks favor places you can actually wander on foot: working harbors, swimming pools fed by hot springs, bakeries, folk museums, and clifftop lighthouses. Most are doable as a self-drive day trip, and the closest can be reached by city bus.
Use the comparison details on each entry to match a town to your time and mood, whether you want the closest escape, the most scenic drive, or a relaxed overnight away from the crowds.
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1Hafnarfjörður Google
Built directly on a 7,000-year-old lava field, Hafnarfjörður is the easiest small-town fix from the capital and the one locals fold into everyday life. The old harbor district is lined with timber houses, fish restaurants, and the Hafnarborg art center, while the Hellisgerði park hides lava grottoes said to be home to Iceland's 'hidden people.' It is famous for its Viking-themed Fjörukráin restaurant and a big Viking festival each June, making it an easy half-day with a real sense of place. Stop into Pallett coffee house and walk the harbor for the best of it.
- The lava-garden park of Hellisgerði and its elf folklore
- Fjörukráin Viking restaurant and longhouse
- Hafnarborg art museum and the old harbor
Best for the closest, easiest escape and families
Getting there About 15 minutes by car, or roughly 25 minutes on Strætó city buses (lines 1/21)
2tours from $143.0Stykkishólmur Google
The prettiest harbor town in west Iceland, Stykkishólmur is a cluster of restored 19th-century houses above a basalt-island bay, crowned by the white Súgandisey lighthouse you can walk out to. It is the gateway to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, often called 'Iceland in miniature' for its volcano, lava fields, and bird cliffs. Eat fresh-caught fish at Sjávarpakkhúsið, browse the striking modern church, and take the harbor view from the lighthouse hill at golden hour. It rewards an overnight, but works as a long day trip or a stop on a Snæfellsnes loop.
- Súgandisey lighthouse and harbor viewpoint
- Seafood at Sjávarpakkhúsið
- The modernist Stykkishólmskirkja church
- Boat trips on Breiðafjörður bay
Best for a scenic overnight and photographers
Getting there About 2.5 hours by car, or on a full-day Snæfellsnes tour from Reykjavík
3Hveragerði Google
Hveragerði sits on top of an active geothermal field, with steam rising between houses and greenhouses that grow tomatoes, peppers, and even bananas in the Icelandic chill. The Geothermal Park in the town center lets you boil an egg in a hot spring, and the popular Reykjadalur 'hot river' hike begins just outside town, ending in a warm stream you can bathe in. Visit Friðheimar greenhouse nearby for tomato soup served among the vines, and the town's bakery for a classic Icelandic snúður. It is an easy, quirky half-day that pairs well with a Golden Circle drive.
- Reykjadalur hot-river valley hike and bathe
- The in-town Geothermal Park
- Friðheimar tomato greenhouse restaurant nearby
Best for geothermal quirk and an easy hike
Getting there About 40 minutes by car on the Ring Road, or by Strætó bus 51 toward Selfoss
4Borgarnes Google
Stretched along a fjord with mountain backdrops, Borgarnes is steeped in the Saga of the Settlement, retold vividly at the Settlement Center museum in two old warehouses. The drive itself is a highlight, crossing the long Borgarfjörður bridge with views over the water. It makes a natural base for west Iceland's waterfalls and lava springs, with the Hraunfossar falls and Deildartunguhver hot spring within reach. Grab a bite at the Settlement Center restaurant or the Geirabakarí bakery overlooking the bay.
- The Settlement Center saga museum
- Geirabakarí Kaffi Kompaní bakery with bay views
- Day trips to Hraunfossar and Deildartunguhver
Best for saga history and a west Iceland base
Getting there About 1 hour by car, or on Strætó intercity bus 57
5Eyrarbakki Google
A timeless south-coast fishing village, Eyrarbakki has a row of brightly painted timber houses, including Húsið, one of Iceland's oldest buildings, now a folk museum. Once the area's main trading port, it now feels gently frozen in time, with a long black-sand shore and big skies. The Rauða Húsið restaurant is a destination in itself for langoustine and fish. Combine it with neighboring Stokkseyri for a quiet coastal afternoon away from the Golden Circle crowds.
- Húsið folk museum and the old trading houses
- Langoustine at Rauða Húsið restaurant
- The black-sand coastline and sea wall walk
Best for a quiet coastal afternoon and foodies
Getting there About 50 minutes by car via Selfoss
6Akranes Google
Reached by the undersea Hvalfjörður tunnel, Akranes is a working port town with two photogenic lighthouses on a spit of land, the taller of which you can usually climb for sweeping coastal views. It has a long swimming culture, a folk museum village (Garðar), and Guðlaug, a small geothermal pool tucked into the sea wall at the beach. The mountain Akrafjall rises behind town for an accessible hike. It is an underrated, low-key half-day with great light and few tourists.
- The Akranes lighthouses and viewing platform
- Guðlaug seawater hot pool at Langisandur beach
- Garðar folk museum and Akrafjall mountain
Best for lighthouses and an offbeat half-day
Getting there About 45 minutes by car through the Hvalfjörður tunnel
7Selfoss Google
The largest town in south Iceland, Selfoss is a practical, lively hub on the Ölfusá river and the gateway to the Golden Circle and south coast. Its new old-town quarter recreates historic Icelandic timber facades and houses cafes, shops, and the Skál food hall. It is a good place to refuel, swim, and stock up before heading deeper south, and the Bobby Fischer Center commemorates the chess champion buried nearby. Treat it as a comfortable base rather than a postcard village.
- The reconstructed historic town square and Skál food hall
- Riverside walks along the Ölfusá
- Easy launch point for the Golden Circle
Best for a practical base and Golden Circle access
Getting there About 50 minutes by car, or on Strætó intercity bus 51
8Mosfellsbær Google
A green valley town on the capital's doorstep, Mosfellsbær blends suburban calm with quick access to the countryside and the Esja mountain trails. Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness lived here, and his home at Gljúfrasteinn is now a museum that opens a window onto 20th-century Iceland. The Álafosskvos area has a wool factory shop and small studios, and you can soak at the local geothermal pool. It is the easiest 'nature within minutes' option when you have only a few hours.
- Gljúfrasteinn, Halldór Laxness's house museum
- Álafoss wool shop and artist quarter
- Hiking trails around Helgafell and nearby Esja
Best for a quick nature-and-culture detour
Getting there About 20 minutes by car, or on Strætó city bus 15
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundRenting a car gives you the most freedom, as several towns are off direct routes. For the closest towns, Reykjavík's Strætó buses reach Hafnarfjörður and Mosfellsbær, while intercity Strætó lines serve Selfoss, Hveragerði, Borgarnes, and Akranes.
When to goJune to August brings long daylight and the easiest driving; September to March adds northern-lights chances but shorter days and possible road closures. Always check road and weather conditions on road.is and vedur.is before setting out.
Bring swimwearNearly every town has a geothermal pool or hot spring, from Guðlaug in Akranes to Reykjadalur near Hveragerði. Pack a swimsuit and towel, and remember Icelandic pools require showering without a swimsuit before entering.
Combine with a tourIf you are not driving, the Snæfellsnes and Golden Circle day tours from Reykjavík pass near or through several of these towns and are the simplest way to reach the farther ones.
From a 15-minute hop to lava-built Hafnarfjörður to a scenic run out to Stykkishólmur's harbor, these towns show how varied Iceland gets the moment you leave the capital. Pick one for a half-day or string a few together on a self-drive loop, pack your swimsuit for the local pools, and let Reykjavík be the comfortable base for an unhurried Icelandic escape.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town near Reykjavík is best for a quick day trip?
Hafnarfjörður is the best quick day trip: it is only about 15 minutes from central Reykjavík, reachable by city bus, and packs a historic harbor, lava park, and Viking restaurant into a compact, walkable center.
What is the prettiest town near Reykjavík?
Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula is widely considered the prettiest, with restored 19th-century houses, a basalt-island bay, and a white lighthouse you can walk out to. It is about 2.5 hours away, so it suits an overnight or a full-day Snæfellsnes tour.
Can you visit these towns without a car?
Yes for several of them. Strætó buses reach Hafnarfjörður and Mosfellsbær on city routes, and intercity buses serve Selfoss, Hveragerði, Borgarnes, and Akranes, though service is less frequent. For Stykkishólmur and Eyrarbakki, a car or a guided tour is much easier.
Which town is best for hot springs and geothermal sights?
Hveragerði sits on an active geothermal field with steam vents in town and the Reykjadalur hot-river hike just outside, making it the top pick for geothermal quirk within 45 minutes of Reykjavík.
How far is Selfoss from Reykjavík?
Selfoss is about 55 km east of Reykjavík, roughly a 50-minute drive on the Ring Road, and it serves as the main gateway town to the Golden Circle and south coast.
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