Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland

Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland – What Is the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is a popular sightseeing route in Iceland, located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital. The route mainly consists of three of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. In fact, Gullfoss means “golden waterfall” which is where the Golden Circle gets its name. Here’s a complete guide to drive the Golden Circle in Iceland.

Golden Circle Map:

How Long Does It Take To Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland?

Now, depending on the time you have, you can drive the Golden Circle in Iceland in a few hours (3.5 hours maybe, with no stops, but what would be the point in that?) It takes roughly 45 minutes to get from downtown Reykjavik to Thingvellir National Park. I’d dedicate at least an entire day to exploring at least these 3 or 4 well-known sights. If time allows, check out the map above, and this article for how to explore beyond the Golden Circle.

Driving the Golden Circle in Iceland – Road Trip Itinerary

If you’re planning to drive the Golden Circle in Iceland, the order below is one itinerary you may want to consider. By sticking to these 3 or 4 sights, you can definitely accomplish the Golden Circle drive in one day. We did these sights below and more, and spread it out over two days.

Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park

As mentioned, this is a logical first stop if you’re driving the Golden Circle since it is only 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to some of Iceland’s most dramatic scenery, including the Almannagjá rift valley, which was formed by the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates drifting apart. It’s possible to snorkel or dive between two continents, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at Silfra. We did this and it was amazing! For more information on that experience – continue here.

Aside from snorkeling (in Iceland, which is trippy enough), you can also hike all over its 40 square km (92 square miles) to beautiful sites like Öxarárfoss (another Game of Thrones filming location), Lögberg (translated as the Law Rock and a very important historical place), and Arnarfell (stunning views overlooking the lake). You could even try the Leggjabrjótur (Leg Breaker). The hike is approximately 16 km (10 miles) long and takes roughly 6 hours to complete. Still, you’ll be rewarded with the highest peaks in Þingvellir National Park and Glymur, the second-highest waterfall in Iceland.

If you’re into history, this is a must-see as well because Thingvellir is of great historical significance. It is where the original Alþingi (the national parliament of Iceland) was formed back in the ninth century! This also makes it the world’s oldest surviving parliament. It is also the oldest of Iceland’s three national parks and the second largest, so definitely plan on spending a number of hours here. On the day we visited the rain was relentless, which did not put a damper on our snorkeling but we skipped hiking here. I’d love to go back on a drier day and experience one of these trails for myself!

Geysir Geothermal Area

Next, when driving the Golden Circle in Iceland, you’ll travel approximately 45 minutes to see Geysir. The Geysir geothermal area is home to boiling mud pits and geysers, one especially notable and active one named Strokkur that erupts every 5-10 minutes, sending water 100 feet into the air.

I would normally be embarrassed to admit this (but I’m different after months of therapy) but we patiently waited for the Great Geyser to erupt (which sits just next to Strokkur) until we saw a sign that informed us that this geyser is primarily dormant, and hasn’t erupted since 2016. We could get pretty darn close to it, so that should have been a clue that it wasn’t currently active. Back in its hay day (the 19th century), its blasts could reach over 550 feet!

I for one would like to be a nice safe distance from that type of eruption, thank you. Since Iceland is well known for its volcanoes, it should come as no surprise either that Geysir is still affected by seismic activity, with an earthquake reawakening it back in 2000. At that time it erupted a few times per day for several years following.

Admission here is free and there is plentiful parking across the street, as well as a nice little gift shop and restaurant with clean bathrooms (always handy to take note of on a road trip). After seeing all this hot water spewing about, we were eager to take a dip of our own, and headed straight to the Secret Lagoon, Iceland’s oldest swimming pool! Check it and other Golden Circle hidden gems here.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss Waterfall is a two-tiered waterfall that drops over 100 feet. This third big sight is next when driving the Golden Circle in Iceland. It is only 10 minutes from Geysir!

Unlike most waterfalls you’ll visit in Iceland, you get to see Gullfoss from above, not below, which is a very unique perspective. And there are many different paths and viewpoints as well to help you capture the perfect shot. The above photo was taken from an overlook next to the restaurant/gift shop which you can reach from the main parking or by climbing many, many stairs from the lower parking area.

Even on a cloudy, slightly rainy day in early fall, this waterfall does not disappoint. If you have time, walk up to the closest viewpoint as well. Note – some of these trails and view points may be closed during the winter or extreme weather.

Admission here again is free and there are nice (free) bathrooms inside the Visitor Center. Bathrooms are not always free and some landmarks in Iceland are quite remote, so take advantage when you can! Keep in mind too that even if it’s not raining, it tends to be wet here due to the mist coming off the falls (they’re that powerful). We are not wearing our super cute rain coats for fashion alone.

These “big 3” are marked on my map above in orange, plus one more (see below) but I encourage you to go beyond these major tourist attractions and see some of the lesser known sights I’ve marked in red. You can also read about them here.

Kerid Crater

It’s a hole! With water! But seriously, it is very impressive in person, just massive and in the middle of nowhere. Plus the bright blue water was a nice contrast to all the pretty fall foliage stretching up from the crater itself.

Kerið is a 3,000-year-old volcanic crater lake, making it quite young compared to other geological sites nearby which are twice as old. One easy way you can tell its age is its distinctive red rocks. Most scientists believe that Kerið was a cone-shaped volcano which fell in on itself and thus resulted in the shape it has today.

A small admission fee of 400 ISK (around $3, as of late 2022) helps preserve the area. Once paid, you’re free to hike around the top of the crater, or walk down to the water’s edge and do the loop around the lake.

Should you self-drive the Golden Circle In Iceland?

We saw these popular sites by doing our own little road trip and stopping off at many other hot springs and waterfalls along the way. I always find it gives us more flexibility and freedom. I also understand that driving the Golden Circle in Iceland may not be for everyone.

If you don’t want to rent a car though, or if you’re visiting for a shorter period of time, you can always book a day tour out of Reykjavik! There are so many options and many include a hot spring or an additional activity to round out the day.

Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland – Where to Stay

Because the Golden Circle is such a tourist hot spot, there are plenty of places to stay within a decent driving distance. Whether you need a cozy bed in a hotel, or you’re happy to camp along this iconic route, you have many options when you drive the Golden Circle.

Hotels Near the Golden Circle

If you want to spend more than one day on your Golden Circle drive, you can stay in a nearby hotel like Hotel Gullfoss, Héraðsskólinn Historic Guesthouse, or Hotel Flúðir. Depending on the time of year and accommodation pricing will vary but none of these will break the bank so to speak.

Camping Near the Golden Circle

If you’re looking for a more economical option when you drive the Golden Circle in Iceland, renting a campervan and camping along the way is an awesome option. We stayed at Flúðir Campground which had bathrooms, wifi, and laundry. It was very close to the Secret Lagoon and only cost us ~$13 USD per person.

Conclusion – Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland

Even if you only have a few days to spend in Iceland, make sure you find time to drive the Golden Circle in Iceland. This drive will allow you to see endless beautiful landscapes and stunning sights.

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