The things to do in Iceland are simply too many for a single holiday. Sometimes, you’ll have to compromise and choose quantity over quality and vice versa, but with the Golden Circle in Iceland, you can have the cake AND eat it.
The Golden Circle in Iceland is the perfect road trip route and has been loved by locals and visitors for decades. The attractions and activities along the route allow you to experience some key elements of Icelandic culture and heritage. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about this stunning route in Iceland.
The Golden Circle in Iceland: An Introduction
When it comes to road trips in the Land of Fire and Ice, the Golden Circle route in Iceland is the most popular one, and for good reason. This route is packed to the brim with things to do and has many of the country’s most unique and culturally important sites.
This route is popular both as a self-drive and as a complete Golden Circle tour in Iceland package from Reykjavik or Selfoss. Many of the most popular attractions and activities in Iceland can be found in one form or another along this route, and the proximity of the Golden Circle to Reykjavik makes it very convenient to add to your holiday.
How Long is the Golden Circle?
A road trip along the Golden Circle in Iceland is an adventure that won’t demand too much of your holiday. The route is 300 kilometers long and is regularly completed in a single day by many tour guides. So, even though the distance might seem a bit long, you can make it back to your accommodation within a reasonable time. If you want to do a short version, it’s going to be less of a Golde Circle and more of a Golden String, but it will still be a good trip, and you will be able to catch the top three attractions.
What to See and Do Along the Golden Circle
Alright, so now you know a little bit about what the Golden Circle in Iceland is and how long it is. Some golden nuggets along these routes are:
Thingvellir
The crown jewel of the Golden Circle in Iceland is Thingvellir. It is the most culturally and historically significant place in Iceland and the birthplace of the oldest existing parliament in the world. The significance of Thingvellir National Park has also been internationally recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know this isn’t just all talk.
Thingvellir National Park has a lot to offer. The Thingvellir Exhibition provides all the information, and the park outside allows you to do things like walk between tectonic plates, visit Lawman’s Rock, and see the man-made Öxarfoss Waterfall. It’s a great opportunity to stand where the Icelandic Vikings stood and get in contact with your inner adventurer.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Have you ever wondered why we call large holes of boiling water that erupt ever so often like a very dangerous fountain “geysers”? Along the Golden Circle in Iceland, you can visit the original geyser, Geysir. The name comes from the old Icelandic word “gjósa”, which means “to erupt”. In short, a Viking came across Geysir in the late 13th century and just went: “Yep, this one sure does erupt” and named it Geysir.
In its glory days, Geysir would shoot a fountain of water roughly 170 meters up in the air. In modern days, eruptions are rare, and most recorded eruptions have been induced by using soap or digging ditches around it.
The main attraction today is the neighboring geyser, Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes in a striking 45-meter-high water column.
Gullfoss
Further north of the Geysir Geothermal Area, at the most northern point of the Golden Circle in Iceland, you’ll find the reason for the name behind the route. This is where the “Golden” part of the Golden Circle in Iceland comes from since “Gullfoss” literally translates to “the Golden Falls”.
The origin of the name of Gullfoss is debated and comes from either the golden tint that the waterfall gets when the sun hits it at a specific angle or the legend of Gygur’s gold that is rumored to be hidden behind it. Either way, this is one of many stunning waterfalls in the country, and the route wouldn’t be called the Golden Circle in Iceland without it.
Kerid Crater
On your way south from Gullfoss, there is a large volcanic crater with a lake of deep blue water in it. This is one of the few places in Iceland where you will come across this hue of blue. But since you can only see the color in the summer in Iceland, we recommend you skip this stop if you drive the Golden Circle in Iceland in the winter. Also, even though the water might look tempting, swimming is not allowed in Kerid, so save the swimwear for the hot springs.
Hrunalaug Hot Spring
The first of the hot springs along the route is one with a long history. Hrunulaug Hot Spring lies on an Icelandic farm that is privately owned and maintained by the farmer, even though the visit is completely free for everyone. Because of this, it’s customary to leave a tip when you take a dip in Hrunulaug Hot Spring. It requires a short hike to reach it, but the path is easy, and the area is very private and has an amazing view from the pools.
The Secret Lagoon
The second (and larger) dip along the Golden Circle in Iceland is the Secret Lagoon. Even though the name might suggest otherwise, this is a very poorly kept secret, which also happens to be a large swimming pool carved out of a mountain on top of a hot spring. It’s pretty cool.
The Secret Lagoon has a long history and is loved by the Icelanders. But since it was almost completely forgotten for a while, people started referring to it as “the Secret Lagoon”. In the early 1900s, it was known as “Gamla Laguin”, or “Old Pool” in English.
Honorable Mentions
Apart from the ones we have already brought up, there are many more places to visit and things to do along the Golden Circle in Iceland:
- Faxi Waterfall
- Helgufoss Waterfall
- Fridheimar Restaurant
- Solheimar Eco-Village
- Bruarfoss Waterfall
- Slakki Petting Zoo
- Skáholt Church
- Laugarvatn Fontana Baths
- Brúarhlöð Canyon
A Golden Circle in Iceland Itinerary – Covering the Basics
There are generally three ways to tackle the Golden Circle in Iceland:
- Book a tour with a guide that will take you along the route and back to Reykjavik within a day.
- Make it a two-day tour with more stops and more time to enjoy the visits and attractions.
- Get a motorhome and drive the Golden Circle in Iceland on your own terms. This will rarely take more than 4 days.
The 2-day tour is a good baseplate for doing the Golden Circle in Iceland. You can comfortably fit most things within these two days, and nothing says you have to do the same stops everybody else does. Create your own adventure!
Below is an example of how you could drive the Golden Circle in Iceland:
A Simple Golden Circle Itinerary
First, you will tick off three main attractions along the Golden Circle in Iceland: Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss. These can be taken care of in a day, and if you feel done after Gullfoss, just turn the Golden Circle in Iceland into a Golden String and turn back to Reykjavik.
The first stop will be Thingvellir. Spend some time here to learn more about Iceland’s rich cultural history and maybe do a short hike in the canyon. Here, you can see where the Vikings assembled, and maybe declare some new laws on the Law Rock while you’re there.
After that, you will continue to Geysir Geothermal Area and maybe stop along the way at Laugarvatn or Brúarfoss if you want to. The geothermal area will take some time to walk through, so ensure you have the time to properly enjoy it. You want to stay long enough to catch some of the eruptions from Strokkur and see (and smell) the bubbling pools of mud and sulfur.
When you’re done with the water shooting up, you can head over to Gullfoss Waterfall to see a lot of water going down instead. It’s a stunning waterfall but usually doesn’t take much of your time. When you’re done here, head over to either Fludir or Reykholt.
If you go to Fludir, you can take the opportunity to also visit Brúarhlöð and then Hrunalaug and/or the Secret Lagoon, depending on how much you like to swim. If you choose to go to Reykholt, you can stop at Fridheimar Restaurant for a unique dining experience.
From there, you should make your way to Kerid Crater and stop at Skálholt Church if you want to. When you’ve explored the crater enough, you simply get back on the road and drive to Selfoss. Then take the Ring Road heading west to Reykjavik.
Get Ready to Experience the Golden Circle in Iceland
You can drive the Golden Circle in Iceland at any time throughout the year. But the summer is going to offer the best weather and scenery. Unless you want to lean back and not have to think about planning your trip, driving yourself will be the best option. All you need to do is rent a campervan in Iceland and start your adventure!
