The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle

Iceland is one of the trendiest destinations on the planet. People are flocking in droves to explore the many unique experiences the Land of Fire and Ice offers. Whether you’re visiting on an extended layover, or planning to spend a week+, you’ll have plenty of things to add to your itinerary.

One thing that everyone should include in their itinerary is driving the Golden Circle route. The Golden Circle, located shortly outside of Reykjavik, offers up some pretty incredible experiences! It includes some of Iceland’s most well-known attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

In this post, we’ll map out how to spend a day driving Iceland’s Golden Circle- although you could definitely spend more time than that there!

Table of Contents

What is the Golden Circle?

When people first start reading up on Iceland, they often confuse the Ring Road with the Golden Circle. It’s a common misconception considering rings and circles are essentially the same thing.

That being said, the Ring Road and the Golden Circle are two totally different things. The Ring Road encircles almost the entire country whereas the Golden Circle loops from Reykjavik into Central Iceland.

The Golden Circle offers up the first glimpse of the REAL Iceland and should not be missed!

You can book an organized tour or choose to rent a car and drive the Golden Circle yourself. I recommend the latter so that you can spend as much time as you want in each place. Driving in Iceland is extremely easy and honestly, you can’t get lost on the Golden Circle.

Without making any pitstops, it takes about 3 1/2 hours to drive the Golden Circle. Obviously, you’ll want to make some stops so you should plan on spending between 6-8 hours taking in the sites.

Clockwise or Counterclockwise?

This seems to be a big question whether you’re talking about the Golden Circle or the Ring Road. We suggest going clockwise on the Golden Circle, visiting Thingvellir National Park first.

The Big 4- The Most Popular Stops on the Golden Circle

Þingvellir National Park

Our first stop was Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site that has played a huge role in Iceland’s history. In the park, you’ll find waterfalls, lakes, and the famous Silfra Fissure. We enjoyed a wonderful hike from the Oxarafoss waterfall to the Visitor Center and back.

I was GEEKING OUT the first time I heard about the Silfra Fissure. The fissure is a crack between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. You can actually suit up and SNORKEL between two continents. Pretty cool, eh?

This is honestly one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I strongly suggest booking a tour and trying it out for yourself!

Things to do & see in Þingvellir National Park:

Check out Oxarafoss Waterfall
Snorkel or dive in the Silfra Fissure
Walk between the tectonic plates
Learn about the historical significance of the park at the Visitor Center
Go horseback riding
Stroll around Lake Thingvallavatn

Geysir Geothermal Areal

The Geysir Geothermal Area is located in the Haukadlur Valley. Here you’ll find boiling mud pits and two large geysers (Geysir and Strokkur).

Geysir is the OG geyser. All other geysers were named after this one. That’s pretty neat, if you ask me.

Strokkur is considered to be one of the most reliable geysers in the world, erupting every 8 to 10 minutes.

Entrance to the geothermal park is free. Plan on spending about an hour at this pit stop- between watching the eruption(s) and using the bathroom. You’ll also find a restaurant on-site where you can pick up lunch or a cup of coffee.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss was the second waterfall we visited in Iceland (our first being Oxarafoss in Thingvellir National Park). Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls and is a must-see for anyone touring Iceland. The thundering sound of the water cascading over the rocks is unforgettable.

One of the best things about Gullfoss is that you have an excellent vantage point of it right from the parking lot (as seen above). It doesn’t require a hike to see it, although you can get a little bit closer.

Kerid Crater Lake

Kerid is a vibrant blue crater lake that stands in stark contrast to the green moss and red rock that surrounds it. The colors at this spot are out of this world!

If you want to walk around the edge of the crater, plan on spending just over an hour at this site. Otherwise, you could easily do it in about 30 minutes.

There is an entrance fee to enter the site and walk around the crater.

The Hidden Gems

Laugarvatn Fontana– a spa and wellness center built on natural hot springs
Secret Lagoon- the oldest natural pool in Iceland
Thjorsardalur Valley– home to one of the highest waterfalls in the country, Haifoss
Bruarfoss Waterfall– a glacier-fed waterfall known for its stunning blue colors. The hike takes about an hour each way.
Skaholt Cathedral– the country’s largest Catholic cathedral
Hveragerdi– hot springs and a geothermal park
Geothermal Energy Exhibition– an energy plant that shows how geothermal energy is harnessed
Fridheimar Tomato and Horse Farm- a family-run tomato farm that offers lunch in a greenhouse

Where to Stay Around the Golden Circle

You can find all kinds of accommodation around the Golden Circle ranging from hotels and guesthouses to cabins and even farm stays. Since the Golden Circle is so close to Reyjavik, it makes sense to use that as your base.

We suggest spending at least 2 nights in Reykjavik: day one to get adjusted to the time change and explore the city and day two to do the Golden Circle.

Our favorite hotel in all of Iceland was the Sand Hotel in Reykjavik. It was also the most affordable!

If you want to stay somewhere along the circle, you can find accommodation in the following places:

Selfoss
Laugarvatn
Flúðir
Hveragerði

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

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While we were in the area, we also visited Diamond Beach, Skogafoss, the Katla Ice Cave, and more!