When it comes to Iceland, the Golden Circle is hands down one of the most popular routes—and for good reason! This iconic loop takes you on a whirlwind adventure through some of the country’s most jaw-dropping sights, all within a short drive from Reykjavik. From towering waterfalls to bubbling geysers and a landscape so ruggedly beautiful that it feels like stepping onto another planet, the route really has a bit of everything!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the absolute must-see Golden Circle highlights, share some insider tips to make the most of your trip, and even uncover a few hidden gems you won’t want to miss. Ready to hit the road? Let’s dive into Iceland’s Golden Circle!
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Iceland’s Golden Circle is a beautiful 300 km (186 miles) loop that covers a wide range of the country’s most popular landscapes in one super-easy drive. Most people do this as a day trip from Reykjavik, which takes about 4 hours for the whole loop without stops. However, you could also turn this into a multi-day adventure, taking extra time to visit all the hidden gems around each of the main POIs.
Over 2 million people visit Iceland each year, and most of them visit this iconic loop for its diverse beauty and easy access. After all, who wouldn’t want to see mountains, geysers, thermal hot springs, powerful waterfalls, and a rift between continents in one go? That sounds like an epic road trip to me!
But more than the views, most of these spots are super-accessible, with parking lots just a few seconds walk from the main attractions. It makes this route even more appealing for those who don’t want to stray too far from the beaten path.
Key Highlights of the Golden Circle
The roaring Gullfoss Falls are one of Iceland’s most popular stops The Golden Circle has dozens of fantastic things to do if you have the time. However, 3 stops in particular are universally considered the highlights of this route: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Þingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park Þingvellir National Park is one of the most unique national parks on the planet, with a fascinating mix of history, geology, and activities. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site–and with good reason.
This area is irrefutably ingrained into Iceland’s history as the location of its first parliament (The Althing), which also happened to be the first parliament in the world ! Now that’s pretty cool! The parliament was founded in 930 A.D. It was the legislative power in Iceland until Denmark conquered it in 1800. You can visit the spot where these historic (and often brutal) meetings were held within the park. It was strategically chosen for the way voices reverberated off the rock–and the sweeping views certainly didn’t hurt! You’ll recognize it by the flag that stands on the site.
This seemingly peaceful spot is Drekkingarhylur, a pool often used by the Parliament to drown women for various crimes. Another of Þingvellir’s highlights is the ability to walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates! The plates form a valley, allowing you to walk between continents. However, you can also take turns standing on each different continent! These plates move about two inches per year, creating an ever-growing fissure called Silfra.
While this might sound concerning, Silfra is a super-cool spot because it’s filled with incredibly clear glacier water, providing an incredible place to snorkel! That’s right, you can snorkel between continents in one of the world’s clearest bodies of water, floating over lava rock and seeing both sides of the tectonic plates! However, this water is frigid year-round, so you’ll want wet suits.
If you want to add this to your itinerary, I highly recommend booking a tour with a seasoned guide (affiliate link) who can lead you through the fissure and is ready for any cold-related emergencies. They’ll also provide all the necessary equipment to travel light.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Strokkur erupts every 8 to 15 minutes! Next up is the incredible Geysir Geothermal Area. Fun fact: Geysir is where we get our English word for geyser!
Geysir Geothermal area is about 38 miles from Þingvellir National Park and is a literal hotspot for geothermal activity! The main geyser, Geysir, dates back to the 1200s, although it’s rarely active nowadays. However, you can still visit the geyser to see its large bowl.
The main geyser in the modern day is Strokkur, which started erupting after an earthquake in the late 1700s. And if you’re hoping to see a geyser eruption, this is the one to focus on. Strokkur erupts approximately every eight minutes, which is impressive! The water spouts up to 115 feet high, although some eruptions are more powerful than others. For such a short, consistent time period, this performance is incredible! Just be careful to avoid the scalding spray if the wind blows it in your direction.
Between Stokkur’s eruptions, you can wander around the geothermal area to see several hot springs and take a short hike to scenic viewpoints. It does tend to be very wet and muddy here, so I highly recommend good boots to keep your feet dry!
If you’re doing the Golden Circle as a day tour, I also recommend checking out the Geysir Center to grab a bite to eat and shop for souvenirs. The food options are limited and expensive (typical Iceland prices), but the meat soup from the cafe is delicious, and it’s a convenient and quick stop.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The final official stop on your Golden Circle adventure is Gullfoss Waterfall. This stunning two-tiered waterfall flows from the Hvita River, dumping over 3000 gallons of water over the edge every second. The first tier of this gorgeous waterfall features a series of cascades that drop 36 feet, followed by a second tier that plunges 69 feet down into a canyon. The spray from these falls is incredible, and it’s common to see rainbows here on a sunny day!
Gullfoss has three primary paths to explore, all of which are extremely easy to access from the parking lot. A set of stairs accesses the main outlook, which faces the front of the falls, so you can see the rushing water coming toward you and dropping into the canyon. From there, a second path goes along the side of the cliff to an outlook that’s directly beside the falls for an insanely gorgeous view!
Keep in mind this path is closed during cold weather because it gets very icy. The final path travels along the top of the cliffs, giving you great overhead views of both waterfalls and the Hvita River beyond. If you have the time, I recommend visiting all three.
Gullfoss also has a little visitor center on-site where you can grab food and souvenirs. The prices are a bit expensive, but the variety of merchandise was the best we saw during our visit.
Optional Stop Along the Golden Circle: The Secret Lagoon
A long day of exploration deserves some relaxation, and there’s no better place to find it on the Golden Circle than the Secret Lagoon . This quiet spot is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, and it’s kept as natural as possible. Here, you’ll be able to relax in steaming waters fed by local geysers without the crowds you’ll find at spots like the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon.
The locker rooms lead directly to the lagoon, where you can slip into the toasty waters that stay around 100 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. There is only one pool here, and it’s constantly heated when Litli Geysir erupts every few minutes. A short path also leads you past the little geyser and hot springs, which are off-limits to enter due to their extreme temperatures.
This is a more natural experience, so be prepared for the rocky bottom of the lagoon and bits of algae floating about the otherwise clear water. However, the natural beauty is gorgeous, with bright green moss covering the rocks, the regular noise of the geyser erupting, and minimal human-made elements.
Tickets for the Secret Lagoon cost 3600 ISK (about $26 USD) for entrance with access to the shower facilities, lockers, and the lagoon. For an extra 1000 ISK each ($7 USD), you can also rent towels and swimsuits.
The Secret Lagoon has a small cafe in the main building. (Just a heads-up: Icelandic culture and hygiene rules require you to shower sans swimsuit before you enter the swimming pool. The gender-specific showers are in a long communal line with no privacy, so you will have to be nude in front of strangers for a minute, which can be quite the culture shock if you’re not used to that. It was not well-received by most of the women in our tour group, so I wanted to share a warning before you go!😅 )
I’ll share more about our whole experience at the Secret Lagoon soon, so stay tuned.
Tips for Exploring the Golden Circle
There’s no wrong time of year to explore the Golden Circle, but the warm weather months are probably the best. You’ll get long days, blossoming scenery, and sunnier skies for your adventures. The warm weather also makes certain activities more enjoyable/possible, such as snorkeling at Silfra and accessing the third path at Gulfoss. However, you may enjoy the hot springs slightly less on a warm day.
The Golden Circle covers a lot of ground and is very popular, so I recommend getting an early start so you’re one of the first at each location and have plenty of time to explore.
Most people take this trip from Reykjavik. But if you happen to be wrapping up some adventures on the South Coast, Selfoss is an excellent spot to start from as well. If you do that option, you’ll just reverse the order of the stops.
How to Plan Your Golden Circle Day Trip
Self-Drive vs. Tour:
You have plenty of options for exploring the Golden Circle, even if you don’t have a vehicle. As a whole, Iceland is extremely drivable, and the roads are well-maintained year-round, so you shouldn’t have any problem if you want to rent a car and do the route at your own pace. If you want to snorkel in Silfra and stop by the Secret Lagoon, this may be your best bet.
However, if you’re visiting Iceland without a car, you can easily join a Golden Circle day tour! They leave from Reykjavik all the time and are pretty reasonably priced on both Viator and Get Your Guide . Many options visit the Golden Circle and bonus stops like lagoons, craters, etc. The downside is that they tend to keep you moving, so you may be unable to spend quite as long as you like at any location. But on the plus side, you’ll get to relax and enjoy the scenery and get interesting information from your guide during the trip.
How Long Does the Golden Circle Take?
The Golden Circle is incredibly flexible. It takes just under 4 hours to drive the loop from Reykjavik, leaving you lots of daylight to explore. If you’re going at your own pace, I’d recommend a minimum of 2 hours for Thingvellir National Park, 1 hour at Geysir and Gullfoss, and about 90 minutes at the Secret Lagoon. But if you think you have enough energy and time, I’d recommend spending longer in Thingvellir. It’s so beautiful, and there’s plenty to explore beyond the area right by the visitor center.
Alternatively, you could visit one of these landmarks over several days and deep-dive into the surrounding towns and areas, finding as many hidden gems as possible. This is much easier with a car or a private guide, but it can be great for seeing things beyond the tourist areas.
What to Pack for a Golden Circle Adventure
Iceland is gorgeous, but it also has volatile weather and isolated spots. Here’s what to pack to be prepared for any situation.
Waterproof outer layer (including boots)
Hat and gloves in case the temperatures drop, even during the summer (it’s almost always cold near the waterfalls)
Snacks
Full reusable water bottle
Phone and/or Camera with a water-protective cover and extra batteries or a charger
Swimsuit/towel if you plan to stop by the Secret Lagoon
Closing Thoughts on Iceland’s Golden Circle
It’s no surprise that this stunning route is the most popular in the country! With such a gorgeous variety of sights to see so close together, it’s a fabulous way to spend a day and see some of Iceland’s most beautiful sights!
If you’re looking for a great Iceland road trip, the Golden Circle will not disappoint.
But don’t forget that this isn’t the only epic road trip you can take in Iceland! Other popular trips include driving Ring Road around the entire country, visiting the South Coast, and exploring the Snaefellsness Peninsula . They’re all fantastic choices, and there is so much beauty to discover.
If you’re looking for more tips on planning your Iceland adventure, I encourage you to check out my entire Iceland miniseries! You’ll find all sorts of fun adventures, itineraries, and a packing guide.
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