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The Golden Circle is a circular tour of stunning landmarks and historical places in Iceland, such as Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir, Þingvellir National Park and Kerið. Learn about the distance, travel days, combinations, best time and more highlights of this popular route.
- What Is The Golden Circle?
- How Long Does It Take to Drive The Golden Circle?
- Getting Around The Golden Circle
- When Should You Visit The Golden Circle?
- Must-Visit Attractions on The Golden Circle Route
- Other Recommended Attractions and Things to Do Near The Golden Circle
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Iceland’s Golden Circle is one of the most famous and most popular routes for tourists. The circle reference is because it follows a loop, although you may also hear it referred to as the Golden Triangle. This stems from the fact that the route encompasses three particularly gorgeous destinations. You can visit a regularly spouting geyser, a thunde...
To simply drive the Golden Circle takes around four hours. This is, however, without stopping. The whole point of the loop is to experience a number of Iceland’s beautiful natural sites—so you would definitely want to plan at least a few stops and allot extra time to your adventure. Many organized tours take a full day, around seven or eight hours,...
There are two main options for enjoying a trip around the Golden Circle: hiring a car or joining a private- or bus tour. There are no public transport connections between the major attractions. Many are fairly remote, so it looks unlikely that this situation will change in the future. In our opinion, driving yourself around the Golden Circle is the...
You can visit Iceland at any time of the year, so the best time to visit the Golden Circlelargely depends on your tastes and preferences. In the summertime, you can enjoy longer hours of daylight and bright, sunny days. You can spend longer enjoying the sights without having to rush back to the city before darkness falls. In the winter, you can enj...
Thingvellir National Park
Assuming you start the Golden Circle loop traveling clockwise, you’ll come to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park. Written in English as Thingvellir, it was the country’s first national park. It has cultural as well as geological significance. The Althing, Iceland’s first parliament, was located at Thingvellir. The parliament first met here in the year 930 AD, some half a century after the country was first settled. Meetings took place during the warmer summer months wi...
Geysir Geothermal Area
Continuing clockwise for about an hour from Thingvellir National Park, the next must-see attraction is Geysir Geothermal Area / Field. The name Geysir means to gush, and it’s where the word geyser (a hot spring that sometimes spurts hot jets of water and steam) originates from. Indeed, the first written record of a geyser is the one at Geysir. It’s no surprise, therefore, that you’ll find plenty of geothermal magic at Geysir Geothermal Area. There are hot springs, bubbling pools of heated wat...
Gullfoss Waterfall
The third major destination along the Golden Circle is Gullfoss Waterfall (golden falls), the beautiful falls after which the Golden Circle is named. One of the most spectacular cascades in the whole country, it’s definitely worthy of a place on any Iceland bucket list. Just a short drive of around ten minutes from Geysir, Gullfoss sits on the Hvítá River. The falls are split into two levels. The first tier is around 11 meters high, while the second level is almost twice as high, at around 21...
Thingvallakirkja Church
A church has stood at Thingvellir since Christianity arrived in the area. The present church dates back to 1859. It’s a quaint church with attractive interiors. Thingvallakirkja Church is open daily from 9 am to 5 am during the summer.
Gjabakkahellir Cave
Another attraction to add to your list if spending more time in Thingvellir National Park is the fascinating Gjabakkahellir. It’s a 364-meter-long lava tube that was created during a volcanic eruption around 9,000 years ago. You can enter the lava tube from either end, and it’s just a short walk from the road. An unusual sight, the lava tube is especially enchanting in the winter when ice sculptures form in the darkness.
Silfra Fissure
Silfra Fissure is a relatively new chasm between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. The fissure was formed after a large earthquake in the late 1780s. The gap in the Earth’s surface is filled with meltwater from one of Iceland’s biggest glaciers, Langjökull. It takes around a century for the meltwater to travel 30 miles via a lava field to fill up the fissure. The water is, therefore, incredibly pure. It’s possible to see up to 100 meters under the clear water. Snorkeling and...
The Golden Circle is a looped route that takes in three of Iceland's natural highlights: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Learn about the history, culture, and attractions of each site, and how to plan your trip with a map and tips.
Gullfoss waterfall. Instead of driving back and forth from Reykjavik the same way, people typically drive a short circle that's just under 140 miles (230 kilometers) in length. The Golden Circle shouldn't be confused with the Ring Road, an 828-mile (1,332-kilometer) drive encompassing the entire island of Iceland.
- Nanna Gunnarsdóttir
Mar 6, 2024 · The Golden Circle is a circular route in southern Iceland that stretches for around 300 km / 186 miles and starts and ends in Reykjavik. The route is popular, either as a day trip from the city, or as a precursor to exploring Iceland’s south coast. Often, instead of returning to the city, travellers continue along the south coast and then on ...
The Golden Circle is a 190-mile (300 kilometers) route of Iceland's three most popular natural attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. Learn about the history, culture and geology of this iconic route, and find the best tours and activities to enjoy it.
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What is the Golden Circle in Iceland?
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Discover the best attractions and activities on Iceland's most popular sightseeing trail, from geysers and waterfalls to snorkeling and diving. Learn about the geology, history, and culture of this amazing destination and find the best tours and maps for your trip.
Golden Circle (Iceland) The Golden Circle ( Icelandic: Gullni hringurinn [ˈkʏtlnɪ ˈr̥iŋkʏrɪn]) is a tourist route in southern Iceland, covering about 300 kilometres (190 mi) looping from Reykjavík into the southern uplands of Iceland and back. It is the area that contains most tours and travel-related activities in Iceland.
