A Taste of the Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland's Golden Circle
Updated: Oct 24
When planning a trip to Iceland, it's hard to escape the Golden Circle. It's one of the country's most popular road trips, promising incredible waterfalls, erupting geysers, volcanic landscapes, and even the chance to walk between two continents. So naturally, I had to see what all the hype was about. I spent a day driving the Golden Circle from Reykjavík, stopping at some of its most famous sights along the way. Here's what I saw, what I loved, and whether I think this iconic Iceland road trip is actually worth the hype.
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About the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is perhaps Iceland's most famous scenic route and one of the easiest ways to experience several of the country's iconic landscapes in a single day. This 190-mile loop through southwest Iceland connects three of the country's most popular attractions: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. With the addition of stops like Kerid Crater, the route offers a little bit of everything. From volcanic landscapes and bubbling geothermal features to massive waterfalls and dramatic mountain scenery.
One of the biggest reasons the Golden Circle is so popular is its accessibility. The entire route can easily be driven from Reykjavík in a day, making it a great option for visitors who have limited time in Iceland or want an easy introduction to the country's incredible landscapes. You can drive it independently, as I did, or visit as part of one of the many guided tours available.
When I visited Iceland, I chose to save the Golden Circle for near the end of my trip. In hindsight, I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had started my Iceland adventure here. By the time I reached the Golden Circle, I had already spent days exploring some truly spectacular places, and the bar had been set pretty high! That doesn't mean the Golden Circle isn't worth visiting, but I think it's best viewed as a taste of what Iceland has to offer rather than the ultimate representation of it. Whether it's your first stop or one of the final adventures on your itinerary, Iceland is packed with so much natural beauty that there's really no wrong way to explore it.
What to Know Before You Go
There are many tours that will take you from Reykjavik to the major stops of the Golden Circle. This is a great option if you aren't comfortable driving in Iceland or just want to sit back and enjoy the view. We had a car on our trip so we drove ourselves along the Golden Circle. This allowed us to spend however long we want to at each spot and to stop along the way wherever we wished.
How Long Is the Golden Circle?
300-kilometer (190-mile) driving route that starts and ends in Reykjavík
Takes around 6-8 to complete the drive, depending on how many stops you make
Give yourself at least a full day to explore
Golden Circle Route
The traditional route starts and ends in Reykjavik
Reykjavík → Kerid Crater → Gullfoss → Geysir → Þingvellir → Reykjavík
Start Early
This is a very popular route. Because of that it's best to start the drive early before the crowds show up.
Driving in Iceland
Driving in Iceland can be a bit unpredictable, so it's important to give yourself plenty of extra time and flexibility. The weather can change quickly, and you never know when you might have to slow down, or come to a complete stop, for a flock of sheep wandering across the road! Speed limits are generally lower than you might expect, and single-lane bridges and winding roads can add even more time to your drive. Parking can also be challenging, especially at popular attractions where smaller lots can fill up quickly.
Gas stations aren't always easy to come by once you're away from the larger towns, so when in doubt, top off the tank. Most importantly, check road and weather conditions before setting out, especially if you're traveling outside of the summer months. Shortly before our trip, heavy rain caused flooding that damaged a major bridge along Iceland's South Coast. Thankfully, it had been fully repaired by the time we arrived, but it was a good reminder that conditions can change quickly in Iceland.
Navigation
Don't rely on having cell signal while driving through Iceland. While signal is generally strong along the Golden Circle, I will always recommend having offline maps just to be safe. We used Google Maps throughout our whole trip without issue, however, a lot of people say they had better luck with Waze while in Iceland.
Veður is the official app from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. It offers the most reliable local forecasts. You'll want to keep a close eye on the forecast while traveling through Iceland as the weather can change rapidly.
Many parking lots in Iceland will rely on parking apps to allow you to pay for parking. The most commonly used ones are the Parka app and EasyPark. I'd recommend setting up an account before you need them so you aren't wasting time at your stop trying to figure it out.
Driving the Golden Circle
I drove the Golden Circle as part of a trip along the south coast of Iceland. We already had a car for the trip so we self drove the route. This allowed us to stop wherever we wanted and stay as long as we pleased. Keep reading to learn more about this scenic drive and find out if it lives up to the hype.
Kerid Crater
The first stop you'll come across on your journey is the Kerid Crater. This 6,500 year old volcanic crater features a striking contrast of red iron-rich slopes and turquoise water. The walk around the rim will give you views of the whole crater and the surrounding landscape. Inside the crater is a blue-green lake that drastically pops against the colorful edges of the crater.
Exploring Kerid
Location: 805 Klausturholar, Iceland
Parking: There is a decent sized lot but it can fill up during busy times
Cost: 700ISK (~$5.71 USD) per person. Card payment is accepted at the on-site kiosk. Pre-booking is also available online and is recommend during peak season.
Hours: Opening hours follow the available daylight and will vary with the shifting seasons.
Time needed to explore: 30-60 minutes
My Experience
Kerid Crater wasn't high on my priority list of places to stop but I decided to spend a little time here anyway. Since we visited early in the morning, we had no issues finding parking and the trail around the rim was fairly empty. The downside was this also meant that the sun wasn't hitting the crater at a point to really showcase the colors of the crater wall. It made the experience a little disappointing. I still enjoyed the walk around the rim and wandering down to the lake.
Was It Worth the Stop?
Not really. I'm glad I went but I wouldn't do this again. If you need to remove anything from your Golden Circle itinerary, it could be this.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss or Golden Falls, is possibly one of the most well known waterfalls in Iceland. Fed by the Hvita River which originates from the Langjokull Glacier. This massive waterfall sees an average of 3,580 cubic feet of water per second. Made up of two distinct stages, the first drop is 36 feet (11 meters), followed by a second, larger plunge of 69 feet (21 meters), this impressive two-tiered falls drops a total of 105 feet (32 meters) into the Gullfossgljufur canyon. The upper viewpoint offers a wide panoramic view and is open year round. However, the lower viewpoint that provides a closer perspective is often closed in winter. Early morning and late afternoon provide the best light for photos, while sunny afternoons increase your chances of seeing a rainbow in the spray.
Exploring
Location: 846, Iceland
Parking: Again, there is a fairly large parking lot but this is a popular tourist spot and can get very busy
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours a day throughout the year
Gullfoss Visitor Center hours: The cafe, restrooms, and a gift shop usually operate from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM in summer, with shorter hours in winter.
Time needed to explore: 45-90 minutes
My Experience
By the time we made it to Gullfoss, I'd already seen some pretty amazing waterfalls on our Iceland trip. While Gullfoss wasn't my favorite of the trip, it was still a very impressive waterfall. We walked along the path to the different viewpoints and took lots of pictures before continuing on our journey.
Was It Worth the Stop?
Yes. Was it my favorite waterfall of my trip to Iceland? No. But the size of this waterfall was made it it worth the stop. The amount of water that flows through here is unbelievable. Well worth it to spend some time here, especially if you are mostly staying close to Reykjavik.
Geysir
The Geysir Geothermal Area in Haukadalur Valley is home to Iceland's most iconic hot springs. Here visitors can witness the Strokkur Geyser erupt every 5 to 10 minutes, shooting hot water up to 65 feet (20 meters) into the air. Also found here are bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, colorful hot springs, and nearby geothermal bathing spots throughout the Haukadalur Valley.
Exploring
Location: 806, Iceland
Parking: There are a handful of parking lots but this area can get very busy. Keep an eye out for pedestrians walking along the road.
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24/7
Time needed to explore: 60-90 minutes
My Experience
I was very excited to visit here! We had a little bit of trouble finding parking but it didn't take too long for a spot to free up in one of the many parking lots. I very much enjoyed wandering through the geothermal area admiring all the springs, mud pots, and watching the Strokkur Geyser erupt. The only problem is we had just visited Yellowstone a few months prior to going here and the Geysir Geothermal Area wasn't nearly as impressive. If it weren't for that, I would have enjoyed my time here a lot more.
Was It Worth the Stop?
It was. Even with having just been to Yellowstone, I still enjoyed seeing they way the geothermal area compared.
Þingvellir National Park
Located directly on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, this rift is clearly visible in the park and is one of the few places on Earth where you can walk between two continental plates. Each year the tectonic plates move about 0.8 inches (2 centimeters), creating cracks and fissures. The largest is Almannagja Gorge, a massive fault that visitors can walk along.
Þingvellir National Park is also one of the most important sites in Iceland’s history. It is best known as the birthplace of the Althing, the national parliament founded in 930 A.D., which is recognized as one of the oldest parliaments in the world.
Exploring
Location: 806 Selfoss, Iceland
Parking: 1,000 ISK (about $7 USD) for cars with up to 5 seats and 1,200 ISK (about $9 USD) for vehicles with 6 to 9 seats. One payment is valid for all the main parking lots for the entire day.
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24/7
Time needed to explore: 2+ hours
My Experience
We actually came to Þingvellir twice. First as part of our Golden Circle drive and again the next day for the Silfra Snorkel. Read all about that here! We started with the Hakid Viewpoint and Visitor Centre and walked the boardwalks through Almannagja Gorge, a valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates before continuing on to Oxararfoss Waterfall. This was featured in Game of Thrones so be sure to add that if you're a fan of the show!
The next day we came back for the Silfra Snorkel where you can actually snorkel in between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in some of the cleanest and clearest water in the world! That was probably my favorite experience of the entire trip!
Was It Worth the Stop?
100% yes! I loved this stop and wish I would have had more time to explore some of the lesser known spots. The history and beauty of the park was incredible.
More Stops Along the Way
If you have time, below are some other stops along the way might be worth adding to the itinerary:
Faxafoss Waterfall
Fridheimar
Gjabakkahellir cave
Laugaras Lagoon
Laugarvatn Fontana Spa
Reykjabod Hot Springs
Reykjadalur
This is the only one on the list I was able to experience first hand, I highly recommend this stop if you are up for a bit of a hike. Soaking in the geothermal river is worth it! Such a unique experience.
Secret Lagoon
Selfoss
Skalholt
Slakki
Thjorsardalur Valley
Is the Golden Circle Worth It?
Overall, yes it was worth it. I will say that doing it at the end of my trip after seeing so many amazing places along the southern coast of Iceland, the Golden Circle became a bit of a letdown. If I could do it all over again, I would start with the Golden Circle as an intro to the beauty of Iceland. If you are only visiting for a short time, the Golden Circle is a great way to see a lot of the different types of beauty that Iceland has to offer in a short amount of time. Otherwise, plan to go at the beginning of your trip because I do think it's worth a visit, but as an intro to what you're about to experience in this breathtaking country.
Where to stay
Most people begin and end their journey along the Golden Circle in Reykjavik. If you want to slow down and really take your time along the Golden Circle, perhaps consider staying the night along the way. There is so much to see in this part of Iceland, no matter what you decide, it will be the right decision!
Final Thoughts
If the Golden Circle is your first taste of Iceland, I think you'll understand pretty quickly why people fall in love with this country. But if you've already spent weeks chasing waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and otherworldly landscapes, it may not leave quite the same impression. For me, the Golden Circle wasn't the highlight of Iceland but it was still a fun day of exploring, and I'm glad I got to see it for myself.
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