Golden Circle Travel Guide
Golden Circle Travel Guide
The area of Iceland referred to as the Golden Circle includes some incredible spots & makes for a great day trip from Reykjavik! You can either rent a car or take a tour from Reykjavik to visit the Golden Circle. All of these sights can easily be seen in one long day trip!
I took a guided tour and it definitely hit all the highlights, but it was a massive coach bus, so each place we got to about 60 people flooded the place, in addition to all the other tour busses there!
If I did it again, I’d get my own car, especially after seeing that the roads didn’t look bad to drive on! This would allow you to explore at your own pace, and get there a bit earlier to try to beat some of the tour crowds!
Golden Circle Highlights:
- Thingvellir National Park
- Brúarfoss Waterfall
- Geysir
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Kerid Crater
- Golden Circle – Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Golden Circle Highlights Map
Thingvellir National Park
This national park features dramatic, moody views of the coastline & is a UNESCO world heritage site. Known for being the birthplace of Icelandic democracy, Thingvellir sits in a rift caused by the separation of two tectonic plates.
The park features coastal views, gorges and a small waterfall (Öxarárfoss) You can wander and explore the views & the history.
You can also scuba or snorkel at Sifra, which is the place where the two tectonic plates have slowly begun splitting apart (about 2cm a year)
Tickets/Cost Entrance is free, but it is about $5 to park for the day if you’re driving.
Game of Thrones fun fact: Thingvellir was the filming location for scenes to the entrance of the Eyrie & as the location for some of the scenes from Aria and the Hounds journey together.
Brúarfoss Waterfall
Brúarfoss Waterfall is another stop you can add to your Golden Circle tour. This one does require hiking (4.5 mile round trip) so you’ll need to be ok with the hike and spending at least 2 hours on this portion of your trip.
The hike is easy and you’ll see some smaller waterfalls on your way to Brúarfoss. The waterfall is known for its sky blue waters, these are a result of the waterfall being fed straight from Langjökull glacier.
If you’re short on time I’d recommend skipping Brúarfoss in favor of Gullfoss on the Golden Circle, but if you have the time it’s a nice little hike and the bright blue color makes these falls unique and worth a stop!
Geysir
Next stop on the Golden Circle route would be Geysir! It is the original “geysir” and known for being the inspiration for the name of all other Geysirs in the world.
It’s located in a geothermal area bubbling with activity. You’ll notice the ground slightly smoking wherever water is visible, and you need to stay on the designated paths to make sure you don’t accidentally step in any of the still burnign water.
Geysir itself only erupts very rarely these days, but right next to it is an active geysir that shoots bright blue, burning hot water high into the air every few minutes you can visit.
This is also a great spot to have lunch. Right across the street next to the parking area is a large visitor center with several lunch options, including quick grab & go options and more sit down type options.
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Gullfoss Waterfall
Another must-see stop on your Golden Circle trip is Gullfoss, arguably the most famous of Iceland’s many waterfalls! The massive waterfall drops 105 feet into a deep canyon.
You can view the waterfall from the walking paths above and you can also walk in to the waterfall viewing platform, be prepared to get wet if you choose this option!
If you can visit Gullfoss on a sunny day you’ll be treated to a series of rainbows!
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Kerid Crater
Kerid Crater is another unique stop on your Golden Circle tour. The volcanic crater feels like something from a different planet. At the bottom of the deep crater is an almost eerie, but pretty deep teal lake.\
You can hike the short circle around the crater (15 min max) and hike down to the lake as well (about ten min if that)
Tickets/Cost: There is a small parking fee (about $3) and entrance is free other than parking!
