Thingvellir National Park- The Epicenter of Icelandic History

Thingvellir National Park is an absolute gem that should be on every traveler’s bucket list! This spectacular nature reserve is located in the southwest region of Iceland and has so much to offer.

One of the main highlights of the park is its mesmerizing geological features that are unlike anything else you’ll see on this planet. Thingvellir National Park (THING-VET-leer) is settled along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Here the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are visible above ground. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness these plate boundaries in action.

But that’s not the only exhilarating feature that you can enjoy in this national park. Its historical significance is undeniable. The history dates back to the establishment of Iceland’s national parliament, Alþingi in 930 AD.

Apart from its historical and geological wonders, Thingvellir National Park boasts of great natural beauty. Its varied terrain offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and various water activities such as scuba diving, fishing, and birdwatching.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, the park is protected to preserve its natural and historical importance. Overall, Thingvellir National Park is a treasure trove of unparalleled natural beauty, geological and historical phenomena, and is a must-visit on your Iceland itinerary!

Table of Contents

The Main Attractions of Thingvellir

Almannagja– a 7km long rift that marks the eastern boundary of the North-American tectonic plate.
Logberg– In early Icelandic history, it was here that the Alþingi assembly met and created the laws that shaped Iceland.
Oxarafoss– A 13 m high waterfall that was believed to have been diverted to its current location during ancient times.
Stekkjargja– A section of Almannagja that was used as a hanging site for convicted thieves.
Flosagja– A deep fissure with cold, crystal clear groundwater that originates from the Langjokull glacier 45 km away.
Thingbudir– The overgrown rectangular foundation of the old assembly meeting grounds.

Our Experience

On day 2 of our Ring Road Tour, we left Reykjavik and drove about 45 minutes to Thingvellir National Park where we booked an excursion to go snorkeling between the tectonic plates. Our excursion wasn’t until noon, so we had some time to explore the park before we met up with our tour guide.

Our first stop in the park was Oxarafoss. We parked in P3 (Parking Lot 3) and took the short hike to the falls. Old sagas say that early settlers changed the course of the river to improve the water supply at Thingvellir.

The falls have a small boardwalk area where you can snap photos from. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can hop across some of the rocks in the pool to get a closer look at the falls.

We decided to walk 1/2 mile from Oxarafoss to the Visitor’s Center. We made stops along the river before ew got to Law Rock. In 930 AD, local chieftans began to gather at an annual meeting called Alþingi (“all-thing”). These meetings took place here, at Law Rock. It is because of these annual meetings that Thingvellir can be considered as Iceland’s first capital.

Next, we passed through Almannagja (Everyman’s Gorge). This path traces the boundaries of the continents- on one side is North America and on the other is Europe.

The walk from Law Rock to the Visitor’s Center was much steeper than I anticipated. If you struggle with mobility or if you’re traveling with littles, you may want to skip the Viewing Platform and Visitor’s Center all together.

The viewing platform overlooks the great fissure where you can see the two tectonic plates moving apart. It’s kinda cool for a nerd like myself.

Here, we turned around and walked the 1/2 mile back to our parking lot.

The highlight of our visit to Thingvellir was snorkeling between the tectonic plates– well, for me anyway. Ashley didn’t love it. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a definite must if you’re into pushing your boundaries, snorkeling, and nerd stuff.

After our snorkel excursion, we drove to Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, and much more! It was a super thrilling, incredibly busy day!

Visiting Thingvellir National Park

The natural site is always open and free, although you did need to pay to park.

Free one-hour guided tours in English depart from the Thingvellir church each day at 10:00 and 15:00.

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While we were in the area, we also visited The Blue Lagoon, The Penis Museum, Gullfoss, and much more!