Golden Circle – the Most Popular Day Tour from Reykjavík

The Golden Circle day tour is without a doubt one of the most popular day tours among visitors in Iceland. You can either drive it yourself in a rental car or you can choose to buy a tour from one of the many companies that offer this tour in one form or another.

The Golden Circle is about 230km/143mi so technically you can drive it in three hours. But that is not time well spent. The ideal thing is to use the whole day. Take your time and add some of the “extras” to the tour.

The basic Golden Circle consists of three beautiful but very different destinations: 

• Þingvellir National Park
• Geysir Geothermal Area
• Gullfoss Waterfall

Many people also add a stop by Kerið to the tour. Kerið is a beautifully coloured volcanic crater with a small lake at the bottom. Truly worth a visit.

There are actually quite a few other places that definitely are worth visiting on this route. The only question is how much time you have. I will give you some ideas for detours at the end of this post. Then you can add those that appeal to you and/or fit into your program. That is if you’re going to drive yourself instead of taking a bus tour.

But let’s start with the three main attractions.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is situated between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates which basically means that the earth is slowly tearing apart in the park. This results in a stunning geology which became world famous when Þingvellir was used as a shooting location for the popular tv series Game of Thrones.

But that’s not all. Þingvellir also has a great historical significance. The Icelandic parliament was founded there in 930 by the settlers of the country. That makes it the oldest, still ongoing, representative parliament in the world. This is also the reason the park was declared an UNESCO World Heritage in 2004.

A stroll around the park is a must. If you just drive through it, you’ll miss way too much. There are a few interesting places to see in the park and you can walk between all of the most famous ones.

Almannagjá Gorge

Almannagjá gorge is a result of the earth tearing apart. The walls in the gorge show gorgeous rock formations and a small beautiful waterfall falls down to the gorge. The waterfall is called Öxarárfoss and is a bit hidden but you’ll not have any trouble finding it though.

The Church & the Priest Building

The church and the building standing next to it, are an important part of the appearance of Þingvellir. Originally, the house was built for the priest and the design of the house was an attempt to recreate the look of the Icelandic turf house. Only with concrete instead of turf and wood. The plan was the house should have a turf roof but as the roof turned out to be too steep, that wasn’t possible after all.

There has been a church at Þingvellir for about thousand years as the first one was built in 1017. The wood there was used to build this first church came from the king of Norway. And so did the church bell. The current church is not nearly as old as it was built in 1858. 

Drekkingarhylur

Þingvellir plays a significant role in the history of Iceland. Here the settlers founded the parliament and here is also where the final decision was made to adopt to Christianity.

But the history of Þingvellir also has its dark side and Drekkingarhylur or “The drowning pool” is an example of that. Here, women who were convicted of incest or other fornication, were drowned. The last execution in Drekkingarhylur took place in 1739.

These were not the only executions that took place at Þingvellir. Depending on the crime, the convicted were either hanged, beheaded or burned.

Activities in Þingvellir National Park

Then back to the fun stuff. Are you feeling a bit active and perhaps a bit adventurous? Then you should definitely check out scuba diving or snorkeling in Silfra Fissure. It’s a very popular activity as Silfra is supposedly stunning. The water in it originates from the nearby Langjökull glacier. The water travels through porous lava rock, which acts as a natural filter. This process removes impurities and results in exceptionally clear water. It’s also kind of cool to scuba dive/snorkel between two continents, right?

I haven’t tried it yet but, but as so many other things and places, it’s on my bucket list. The snorkeling that is. Scuba diving is too much for me.

An Example of a Company that offers scube diving and snorkeling tours in Silfra

Another popular activity at Þingvellir (at least among the locals) is to fish in Lake Þingvallavatn. There you can fish brown trout that can grow massive, or up to 30 pounds. You pay for a fishing licence and get information about the fishing rules at the information center in the park. This is an activity I haven’t tried and don’t plan to. My husband has however. Countless times. The pictures you see here down below are from him.

Þingvellir is nice to visit in all seasons but my favourites are summer and fall. The fall colours are stunning in the whole park, especially on a sunny day.

A Virtual Visit to Þingvellir

You can also go on a virtual visit to Þingvellir on YouTube. Here is a link to a video of a 5K run from the main parking lot in the park. Whether you need something beautiful to watch while you do your treadmill run or if you’d just like to get a glimpse of what to expect before you visit, this is a great video.

You’ll also find some more treadmill videos from Icelandic nature on this channel. The perfect way to add a little bit of Iceland to your daily workout 🙂 

You’ll find the YouTube channel here

Geysir Geothermal Area

The second stop on the Golden Circle is Geysir Geothermal Area. The area is one of many geothermal areas in Iceland. The soil is coloured by the minerals of the earth and many might find the smell, caused by the sulfur, a bit unpleasant 😊

The area contains a large number of hot springs, clay pots and fumaroles which make it fascinating enough with or without the geysers that made it famous. I have to admit though, of all the area has to offer, I find the geyser most impressive. In my mind it’s the icing on the cake.

The original Geysir is mostly inactive these days but its “little brother”, Strokkur, erupts every ten minutes or so, throwing the water 20-40 meters (66-132 ft) in the air. Strokkur is the main attraction for sure. And no wonder, as it’s magnificent to see the water thrown so high up in the air. Totally without warning. It just happens all of a sudden out of the blue. So you better be ready with your camera so you don’t miss it!

Actually I have a hack for you regarding this. Please note that this hack does not apply to professional or very good photographers. Just amateurs like me 🙂

So, If you’re like me, not a professional but like to get a good photo of the right moment with your phone, you might want to consider filming a video instead of taking a photo.

As it all happens so quickly, the trick is to start filming before the geyser erupts. And then afterwards, you can just take a screenshot of the perfect moment in the video.

Don’t tell me this isn’t a good hack. It is!

Gullfoss Waterfall

The last stop on the Golden Circle is Gullfoss Waterfall. Waterfalls are something we have plenty of here in Iceland. In all sizes and shapes and Gullfoss waterfall is one of the most popular ones. Partly because it’s conveniently located in a short driving distance from the Geysir Area but also because it’s one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. It’s not only known for its breathtaking power but also for the rainbows that arise from its spray on a sunny day.

In the late 1800 hundreds/early 1900 hundreds, a number of people were interested in capturing the power of Gullfoss (and other waterfalls)  by building a hydropower plant. Today we thank Sigríður from Brattholt for her fight against those kinds of intentions. She grew up on a farm close to Gullfoss and did certainly not like the idea of a hydropower plant ruining this beautiful waterfall.

Sigríður is widely seen as the first Icelandic environmentalist. And for a good reason. It’s largely because of her protests and fight for Gullfoss in the early 1900 hundreds, that it ended up being preserved instead of being industrialized. So thank you Sigríður for your hard work! 🙂

Ideas for Detours on the Popular Golden Circle Day Tour

Now you’ve covered the three main attractions of the Golden Circle. These three are all iconic in their own way and do a great day tour. If you on the other hand would like to add even more experiences to your day, here are some ideas of some detours to add to the tour

1. Kerlingarfjöll

From Gullfoss you can access a F-road that leads you to Kerlingarfjöll, an amazing area in the highlands. If you are looking for a stunning hiking area you should definitely check out what Kerlingarfjöll has to offer. A drive to Kerlingarfjöll is not really a detour from the Golden Circle day tour as it’s quite a drive (about 2 hours each way from Gullfoss). You would also want to spend the whole day there when you get there. I just couldn’t resist mentioning it as I love this place and want you to know about it too.

What you could do, is do your thing on the Golden Circle route and then end the day with a drive to Kerlingarfjöll. Stay the night there and then explore the area the day after. The possibilities are endless and this is clearly one of them. Just note that the road to Kerlingarfjöll is a F-road which means you have to be driving a suitable car for the trip. And the road is only open during summer.

2. Snowmobile Tour on Langjökull Glacier

From Gullfoss you can also get picked up for a snowmobile tour on Langjökull Glacier. You just have to book it in advance. I haven’t tried it yet, but here are a few examples of companies that offer this service.

Example 1 of a company that offers snowmobile tours from Gullfoss Example 2 of a company that offers snowmobile tours from Gullfoss Example 3 of a company that offers snowmobile tours from Gullfoss

3. Friðheimar Greenhouse

Friðheimar is a family run greenhouse where the tomato harvest is about a ton a day on average. That’s a lot of tomatoes and my family is responsible for eating about a half of it. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a tiny bit, but we do buy a lot of their delicious tomatoes. Our favourite is Piccolo Tomatoes and my 14 year old eats at least one box a day. Often two or three.

Anyways, Friðheimar offers a special lunch experience every day between 12pm and 4pm. The lunch is served in a greenhouse among the tomato plants. A very unique setting. Note that it’s recommended to book a table in advance.

At Friðheimar, they also offer a greenhouse visit and horse show for pre-booked groups.

For further information check out my blog post about Friðheimar.

4. Fontana Spa & Geothermal Bakery

In recent years, quite a few new geothermal spas have been opened in Iceland. They are a great addition to not only the busy Blue Lagoon but also the countless swimming pools located all around the country.

These new spas are often located in a beautiful spot and then offer not only an appealing design and relaxing atmosphere but also gorgeous views.

Fontana Spa at Laugarvatn is one of these places. It’s usually less crowded than the Blue Lagoon (at least in winter) and the entrance fee is also considerably lower.

The Spa offers steam rooms, relaxing pools/hut tubs and a Finnish style sauna. For those who are brave enough, a dip in the cold Lake Laugarvatn is also an option. If the cold water isn’t for you, you can just relax in the warm pools and enjoy the view over the lake from there. Also a perfect option.

Then there is their Geothermal Bakery. Experience how classic Icelandic rye bread is baked in the hot ground. Taste the freshly baked bread with Icelandic butter and some smoked trout if you choose so. Delicious Icelandic treat.

For further information check out my blog post about Fontana and/or Fontana’s website:

Fontana Spa website

5. Secret Lagoon

If you are after a more natural experience when it comes to relaxing in warm water, Secret Lagoon might be something for you. The lagoon is an old swimming pool that originally was made in 1891. It’s located in a little village called Flúðir which lies in the Golden Circle area.

See more information about Secret Lagoon here

6. Helgufoss Waterfall & Þórufoss Waterfall

These two waterfalls are a short detour from the road that lies between Reykjavík and Þingvellir National Park. Helgufoss is smaller and you can’t see it from the parking lot. It’s not a long walk though, only about 1,3km/0,8mi each way (picture to the left).

Þórufoss on the other hand is a bit bigger. It’s also the more famous one as it appeared in the popular tv series Game of Thrones. It was by Þórufoss where Drogon ate the goat. You can almost see it from the parking lot, only need to walk a few steps.

If you want to come closer to it, you can either walk down to the bottom of it or walk along the edge of the gorge to see it from above. Either way, it only takes about 5 min each way.

If you like waterfalls, both of them are worth a visit if you have some extra time to make some detours on your Golden Circle tour.

7. The Cave People / Laugarvatn Cave

This looks like a very interesting new addition to the Golden Circle day tour. I haven’t been yet but I’ve put it on my bucket list.

You get a short tour around the cave and its surroundings and are told stories  about the people who lived there, less than one hundred years ago. Afterwards you have the possibility of enjoying a cup of coffee and some traditional Icelandic treats in the cave.

Further information about this cave here

How long does it take to drive the Golden Circle?

The basic Golden Circle is about 230km/143mi and takes about 3 hours to drive (in summer conditions) without any stops. That means you can easily do this trip in a day. It’s then up to you how much time you want to spend in each destination and how many detours or extra stops you want to make.

You can either make a short version and be back in Reykjavík in a few hours or at least before dinner. Or you can go all in and use the whole day to explore all the detours you find interesting. The choice is yours.

Either way, you will without a doubt have a great day 🙂

Have you ever done the Golden Circle day tour? What was your favourite destination? Would love to hear about your experience in the comments here down below.

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Until next time!