Best Bike tours in Reykjavik

Whether in the mountains or in the capital, cycling tours in Iceland are an activity that will take you on incredible adventures.

Andressa García

Andressa García

12 min read

Best Bike tours in Reykjavik

Reykjavik | ©marco otaol

Bike tours in Iceland and especially in Reykjavík are not a common activity, however, as I see it, I think it is one of the most amazing things to see and do in Reykjavík, especially if you are a lover of nature and extreme adventures.

To live this experience, you have the opportunity to go on an electric bike that will take you through the city or through the mountains on a guided tour with all the safety measures. If you are one of those people who prefer extreme adventure tourism, you can also go on a four-wheel motorbike. Stay and read my favourite options.

1. Cycle to the natural baths of Myvatn and taste the geyser bread

Myvatn Natural Baths| ©Olivia Rempel
Myvatn Natural Baths| ©Olivia Rempel

During the ride you will be able to see beautiful landscapes of the whole island, and you will also be able to see the natural baths that are located in Myvatn. The whole tour will be done by electric bike, so you can ride comfortably on all the trails and paths.

Another activity you will do on this bike tour is to visit an underground bakery in the geothermal town of Bjarnarflag. Here they bake a traditional Icelandic bread called geyser bread, which is made with the heat of geothermal energy.

You can pedal past the island's first geothermal generating station and then continue to the baths and finally taste the freshly baked geyser bread. This midday evening walk may be one of the best food tours in Reykjavík.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can book this experience for approximately 105 euros per person.
  • Duration: This experience lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: if you choose the hotel pick-up option, then you can arrive at the place where the experience starts in a properly equipped car. Once you start the tour, it will be entirely by electric bike.
  • Advantages of this experience: you will be able to have a culinary and adventure experience in the same trip. Included is a local and professional guide who will tell you all about each place you will visit. The bike and helmet are also included, as well as queue-free service at each of the places you visit. This is a tour for a maximum of six people per experience.
  • Disadvantages of this experience: Only people over 15 years of age can participate in the adventure. Meals and drinks are not included in the price. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, nor is it recommended for pregnant women, people with reduced mobility or back problems. The booking may be cancelled if the minimum number of people is not reached.

2. Visit Ullarfoss waterfall on an electric bike adventure

Getting to know Ullarfoss| ©siggi mus
Getting to know Ullarfoss| ©siggi mus

This two and a half hour tour will take you over Iceland's uneven terrain, as well as giving you the chance to sample some great snacks which are included as a special part of the tour, before continuing on to Ullarfoss waterfall, the most anticipated site to visit on the entire tour. This is my favourite way to visit one of Iceland's best waterfalls.

On the way you will see different typical Icelandic landscapes, muddy paths and uneven terrain that the electric bikes will help you to pass effortlessly. Interesting sights you will see on your trip include the Fossselsskógur forest and Fljótsheiði. The tour starts around 17:00, so it's one of the best things to do in Reykjavík in summer.

Interesting facts

  • Price: You can do this tour for approximately 110 euros per person.
  • Duration: the tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours.
  • Means of transport: to get from Reykjavík to the starting point of the excursion you will have to travel on your own, using a private or rented vehicle, or by public transport. Once you start the experience, you will ride an electric bike the whole way.
  • Advantages of this tour: it is a tour for a maximum of eight people per adventure. It includes the use of the bike and the snacks offered along the way.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: Not recommended for people with heart conditions or other compromising medical conditions. Not suitable for pregnant women or people with reduced mobility, back problems, among other conditions. Not suitable for wheelchair users. The weather must be good for the tour to take place, otherwise it may be cancelled. It may also be cancelled if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

3. Discover and tour the Porsmork nature reserve by buggy

Porsmork Nature Reserve by Buggy| ©AndresD
Porsmork Nature Reserve by Buggy| ©AndresD

Although this tour is a bit of a departure from traditional bike tours, this buggy experience is definitely a must-do if you visit Reykjavík and Iceland in general. The Thorsmork Nature Reserve is one of the best natural attractions you'll see in this country.

During this buggy tour, you'll be able to drive through much of the reserve and see some of Iceland' s most important glaciers, which are located in the southern part of the island. Some of the glaciers you can visit and tour on your buggy tour include the Gig Jokull glacier, where you can see what the area looked like after the volcanic eruption in 2010.

Interesting facts

  • Price: to live this experience you will have to pay approximately 670 euros per person.
  • Duration: it is a half-day or five-hour tour, in which you will be able to live unique experiences on board the buggy.
  • Means of transport: the meeting point is planned once you have booked the tour. To get to the meeting point you will have to travel on your own in a private or rented car. Once there, the rest of the tour is done on board a four-wheeled buggy.
  • Advantages of this tour: thanks to the fact that you will be on board of a buggy, you will not get tired pedalling excessively, besides you will be able to go through muddy roads and uneven terrains without any problems because the vehicle is a four-wheel drive.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: it is not suitable for pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, in wheelchairs or with frequent back pain. It is not suitable for people with heart conditions or other serious health problems. There must be a minimum quota of passengers to make the trip, otherwise it will be cancelled.

4. Cycle in the north of Iceland and admire the Atlantic Ocean

North Iceland| ©TXI
North Iceland| ©TXI

This interesting electric bike tour in the north of Iceland is one of the best tours in Reykjavík because you will see breathtaking scenery all over the island. You will also get to see wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean. The tour is relatively easy and on bike-friendly trails.

It is a three-hour cycling tour that is only suitable for people who love adrenaline and extreme adventure. This tour is only suitable to be included in the list of things to do in Reykjavik in summer, as the weather has to be nice and windy for the tour to take place. It is also a small group tour, with a maximum of five people per tour.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can find this tour from 150 euros per person.
  • Duration: the experience lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: to get to the place where you will get on the bike, you have to get there on your own. Once you get on the electric bicycles, the tour continues on this means of transport for the rest of the tour.
  • Advantages of this tour: only a maximum of 5 people can participate in the experience. The use of the bikes, helmet and safety equipment is included, as well as a tour guide.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: This tour is not suitable for pregnant women, or for people who have mobility problems or suffer from back pain. You must be in good physical condition to participate in the tour.

5. Cycle around the Golden Circle at your own pace

Golden Circle| ©Iceland Tour
Golden Circle| ©Iceland Tour

This is one of my favourite Golden Circle and Kerid volcanic crater tours in Reykjavík, and that's because you get to see the Golden Circle from a different perspective, and cycle through some of Iceland's most breathtaking scenery.

Among the places you can cycle through on this experience are the Gullfoss waterfall and the Thingvellir Parliament Plains, included in the visit to Thingvellir National Park in Iceland. One of the biggest advantages of this experience is that you will have the support of a minibus to take a break from the pedals of the bike.

Interesting facts

  • Price: This experience has an approximate cost of 1150 euros per group of up to four people. If you want to include more people on the tour, you will have to pay approximately 58 euros for each additional person.
  • Duration: this is a full day tour that will last around eight hours.
  • Means of transport: you will travel part of the experience in a minibus with all comforts, and another part of the trip you will travel by electric bicycle.
  • Advantages of this tour: you can ask to be picked up from the hotel where you are staying to start the ride to the Golden Circle. The difficulty of the route is easy to moderate, making it a route that almost anyone could do. There is no minimum number of participants required to do the tour, so if you want to do it alone, you can do it.
  • Disadvantages of this route: it is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems or reduced mobility. It is not adapted for wheelchair users. It is a tour to be done only in the summer season, which is definitely the best time to visit Reykjavík.

Traveller Tip

If you are going to Thingvellir National Park, I recommend arriving at 10:00 or 15:00. During these times of the day there are usually free tours of the park and hopefully it will be just you and your group there.

Book your Golden Circle Tour

6. Tour Reykjavík on a basic bike tour

Cycling in Reykjavík| ©HernándezLo
Cycling in Reykjavík| ©HernándezLo

This is a flexible route through the most interesting places in the capital of Iceland. During the tour of Reykjavík you can visit s ights such as the Harpa Opera House, the Hofdi House with interesting stories to tell or the Viking ship Solfar. This tour also takes you to the south coast of Reykjavík.

One of the advantages of this tour is that you will never have two experiences the same. Every time you take this tour you will have a different experience. Although there are places included in the itinerary, you have the possibility to change, remove or add places to the list, in order to make the tour as personalised as possible.

Interesting details

  • Price: you can live this experience for an approximate price of 282 euros per group of up to 4 people. If you want to include more people in your group, you must pay an additional cost of approximately 57 euros.
  • Duration: the trip will last around two and a half hours.
  • Means of transport: you will have to get to the starting point on your own, using public transport or renting a car. The rest of the trip will be by electric bicycle.
  • Advantages of this tour: it is an easy ride over regular terrain and paved roads. It is a private experience, i.e. just you and your group.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: It is not suitable for pregnant women, nor for people with frequent back pain. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users.

Book your Reykjavík City Tour

7. Cycle around Lake Challenge with all the comforts of a bike

Lake Challenge| ©LostOne1000
Lake Challenge| ©LostOne1000

This is one of the most extreme cycling tours you can do, however, you will have the assistance of an accompanying car for the more challenging sections. On the route you will have the opportunity to see some of Iceland' s natural wonders. It's a good getaway from Reykjavík because you'll be on a bus with all the amenities.

Once you arrive at the place where the bike tour starts, you can get off the bus, grab your electric bike and start the ride. One of the most interesting stops will be at Lake Thingvallavatn. You will also get to see places like the Rift Valley, the Viking-era Parliament and the junction of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates.

Interesting details

  • Price: This bike trekking tour can cost approximately 1,000 euros for a group of up to four people. If you want to include more people in the tour, you will have to pay an additional price of approximately 58 euros per person.
  • Duration: it will be a long trip of approximately six hours.
  • Means of transport: you must arrive on your own at the meeting point established at the time of booking. From there, you will board a properly equipped bus to the nature reserve where the trip will begin. Once at the place, the journey will be done by electric bicycle in some parts and by bus in others.
  • Advantages of this tour: This tour is permitted in spring, summer and autumn. The original tour is in English, but you can request a private tour in Spanish.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: it is not accessible in winter. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility or those with constant back pain. It is also not recommended for pregnant women. The difficulty of the route is great, so you have the support of a car.

8. Join a private tour of Reykjavík's north shore in summer only

Nauthólsvík thermal beach| ©Giuseppe Milo
Nauthólsvík thermal beach| ©Giuseppe Milo

On this special route from Reykjavík you can cycle along the north coast at your own pace. You'll get to see some amazing sights on this side of the island, including the Nauthólsvík thermal beach and the Perlan area.

One of the best things about this tour is that you can choose what time of day is best for you to do the tour. You can do it in the evening so you can see the Icelandic sunset during the tour, or you can do it during the day. It's private, so it's just you and your group.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can get this guided tour for approximately €281 per group of up to four people, for each additional person, you will pay approximately €58 per person.
  • Duration: the complete tour has a length of 18 kilometres to cover, how long it takes you will depend on how much time you want to dedicate to the experience, but to have an estimate, it could take you around three hours to visit all the places on the itinerary.
  • Means of transport: You will have to arrive on your own at the departure point detailed at the time of booking. From the start of the trip, everything is done by electric bike until you return to the original starting point.
  • Advantages of this tour: it is easy to do, it does not require much effort or specific preparation to do it. It is done on paved roads and mostly on flat terrain. Although the tour is in English, you can schedule the private tour in Spanish.
  • Disadvantages of this tour: It is not suitable for people in wheelchairs or with mobility problems, back pain or similar problems. It is a tour that can only be done during the summer season because in the winter the temperatures drop considerably and the hiking trails are closed.

Book your Reykjavík Coastal Tour

Tips for cycling tours in Reykjavík

Walking around Reykjavík| ©jordi Doria Vidal
Walking around Reykjavík| ©jordi Doria Vidal
  • Try to do this type of cycling tour in the summer season, because in winter the roads are often closed or more dangerous than in summer.
  • Dress appropriately, even if you do the tour in summer time, make sure you wear warm clothes as the wind can be very fierce in Iceland.
  • If you are travelling with children, make sure they can travel comfortably in a child's bicycle seat.
  • Always wear sunglasses to protect yourself from the wind. And if you're travelling with children, bring scarves, gloves and sunglasses for them too.
  • Make sure you book any tours before your trip, so that you can secure your place on each tour you book.

Why should I take a guided bike tour in Reykjavík?

Tourist Bus Tour| ©carolynthepilot
Tourist Bus Tour| ©carolynthepilot

You can certainly cycle around Reykjavík and other sites around the capital on your own, but cycling alone without a professional guide can be a bit risky.

It is recommended that you do this tour together with an experienced person who can tell you everything you need to know about each of the places you stop along the way. It is also important to go with a professional guide to ensure your safety. In addition, by going with a tour guide you will always know where you are going and you won't get lost.