Silfra Fissure: Day Trips and Tours from Reykjavík

Silfra Fissure is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Iceland and a beloved destination for intrepid snorkelers and divers. It is located in Thingvellir National Park and was created by the shift of two tectonic plates.

Day trips to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík enable you to learn more about one of the most significant geological events throughout human history.

Those who visit the rift are treated to a mesmerizing display of vibrant colors and shades as sunlight passes through the fissure's frigid waters, making for an unforgettable experience.

Here's all you need to know about the Silfra Fissure, one of the most exciting locations day trips from Reykjavík.

How to get to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík?

Silfra Fissure is located in the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park in the southwest corner of Iceland. It is approximately 50 kilometers from Reykjavík.

From Reykjavík to Silfra Fissure by car

The jaunt to Silfra Fissure by car takes around 45 minutes. You'll leave the city, following Route 49 then drive along Vesturlandsvegar/Þjóðvegur 1 all the way to the national park.

Guided tour to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík

For the easiest journey to Silfra Fissure, book yourself onto a guided excursion. While some day trips meet at the national park, most pick you up from your accommodation in Reykjavík between 8 AM and 10 AM.

Tours last between 3 and 10 hours, depending on the type of adventure you book.

How much does the entrance ticket to Silfra Fissure cost?

While there is no fee to enter Thingvellir National Park, you'll need to pay if you wish to dip into Silfra Fissure. The cost is ISK1,500 (US$11) per person.

What is the typical itinerary?

All day tours to Silfra Fissure have their own unique itinerary. Usually, you'll enjoy a convenient hotel pickup and leave the metropolitan city of Reykjavík behind in search of spectacular landscapes and natural history.

Some tours make a stop at Langjökull Glacier, where you can marvel at the sheer magnitude of the ice cap. Next, you may head to Gullfoss Waterfall and watch as it tumbles into the Hvítá River from above.

Another popular spot to visit on the way to Thingvellir National Park is the steaming Geysir, which erupts approximately three times per day.

Alternatively, many Silfra Fissure day trips head straight to the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, where you'll don your drysuit and snorkel through its crystal clear waters. The fissure is so pure that you can drink the water if you choose.

Once you're back on dry land, you may board your warm vehicle and head straight back to Reykjavík. Or, you can descend into one of Iceland's lava tube caves to explore the history behind the country's volcanoes, dating back millions of years.

What kinds of tours are available?

There are several different types of day tours to Silfra Fissure, each of which is thrilling in its own way.

Half-day snorkeling tour to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík

If you want to dip your toe into the wonders of Thingvellir National Park, participate in a half-day snorkeling adventure to one of the best and most unique dive spots in the world.

Descend into Silfra Fissure and gain incredible views of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. You'll have visibility of up to 30 meters as you snorkel through this opening in the earth.

While the waters are too chilly to support an abundance of sea life, you may catch a glimpse of a brown trout, arctic char or stickleback.

Snorkeling and Lava Caving tour to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík

Adventure seekers and geology enthusiasts will be thrilled to experience one of Iceland's lava tube caves.

Travel back millions of years as you learn how these caves were formed by flowing streams of boiling lava. Then, experience a different type of historical event as you plummet into the icy depths of Silfra Fissure to see the tectonic plates.

Day trip to Silfra Fissure plus the Golden Circle from Reykjavík

Experience the many dramatic landscapes of Thingvellir National Park on this combination day trip to Silfra Fissure. Be awed by the powerful cascades that flow from the Gullfoss Waterfall, located deep within a canyon of the Hvítá River.

Gaze upon one of Iceland's largest glaciers — Langjökull — which covers over 1% of the country's land mass and is up to 500 meters thick in some places.

Witness the magnificent Geysir as it shoots scalding water 70 meters into the air before slipping into your drysuit and exploring the tectonic plates at Silfra Fissure.

How much does a day trip to Silfra Fissure from Reykjavík cost?

A basic snorkeling day tour in Silfra Fissure costs between US$130 and US$150 per person. Some of these excursions include a complimentary hotel pickup service and others provide you with photos from your experience.

If you wish to explore the Golden Circle, you can expect to pay US$230 each, which includes refreshments and photos.

Those who are interested in geology can pay US$250 to combine their Silfra Fissure day trip with lava caving.

What will you see and do?

Silfra Fissure's unique body of water was formed in 1789 after a giant earthquake caused the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates to crack and separate. Since the 18th century, the plates have drifted apart at a rate of approximately 2.5 centimeters a year.

By carving out this rift, Silfra Fissure has created an incredible environment that allows snorkelers and divers to swim between two continents. The depth of Silfra Fissure ranges from 40 to 100 meters, while its clarity provides visibility of up to 100 meters.

While snorkelers can marvel at the natural wonder from above, those with a scuba diving certification can descend 60 meters below the surface to touch the once-conjoined tectonic plates.

Doing so provides any nature enthusiast with a deep connection to the earth and the humbling feeling of witnessing the site of a crucial part of the planet's history.

Silfra Fissure's rare combination of salty surface water and pure underground glacial water creates an unmistakable blue hue that surrounds divers beneath the lake's surface.

While the site is the most popular with adventure-seekers and diving enthusiasts, scientists also use the rift to research continental drift and climate change.

While the waters of the fissure are too cold for many sea creatures to thrive, several species call this stretch of water home, including the arctic char. However, these usually reside in the depths of the lake, among the flourishing algae, rocks and boulders and so are rarely seen by visitors on a day tour to Silfra Fissure.

When is the best time to visit Silfra Fissure?

You can enjoy a day trip to Silfra Fissure at any time of the year. The rift remains open year-round and its cool waters always range from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.

However, you may choose to visit during the spring and summer months when the land conditions are less extreme, especially if your tour includes other sites.

Travel tips

• It is against Thingvellir National Park rules to enter Silfra Fissure without a certified guide.
• Drysuits are worn over your own clothing. Make sure you wear thermal layers to keep yourself as warm as possible.
• You must be a capable swimmer in order to participate in a guided excursion to Silfra Fissure.
• Bring a warm change of clothes with you on your excursion, just in case.