The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a route that winds through some of Iceland’s most thrilling scenery. Its success has spawned other such driving itineraries, including the Diamond Circle, Westfjords Way and the Arctic Coast Way. But the Golden Circle leads the pack. It’s as much focused on Iceland’s compelling cultural heritage as it is the country’s natural beauty, making this an unmissable part of any holiday. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into this unmissable region with our ultimate guide to exploring the Golden Circle.
What to see
If you see only a few highlights of the Golden Circle, then it will be these three: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss. All Golden Circle tours feature them, though you can also opt for excursions that cover more ground or combine sightseeing at these spots with other activities.
- Thingvellir National Park
Written as Þingvellir in Icelandic, the name of this national park means “assembly plains”. That’s a nod to events of centuries past: the Alþing general assembly first met here in the 10th century and continued to do so until 1798. One of the most popular things for visitors to do today is to stroll through the Almannagjá gorge to the Lögberg (Law Rock).
The gorge opens out to offer a panoramic view over the River Öxará and the hills beyond. You’ll see a white building and a church within a clump of trees; these are the Prime Minister’s summer residence and Thingvallakirkja, a place of worship that was constructed in 1859. If you continue along the trail, you’ll soon reach the delightful Öxarárfoss waterfall.
Leisure possibilities abound. There are a number of other hiking paths you might follow, and also several old bridle paths on which horseback riding is permitted: Langistígur, Skógarkotsvegur and Nýja-Hrauntúnsgata. Anglers are lured here by the prospect of fishing for brown trout and Arctic char.
The area’s geology is jaw-dropping. Here, the North American and Eurasian plate boundaries are pulling apart and the rugged terrain leaves visitors in no doubt of nature’s immense power. But you don’t just see this above ground: it’s also possible to don a dry suit and join a guided snorkel excursion through the gap between the tectonic plates in the crystal clear water of Silfra Fissure
Geysir geothermal area
Tours to the Golden Circle continue east towards the Haukadalur Valley. This is one of Iceland’s most visited geothermal areas and you can expect to see geysers, mud pots and steaming fumaroles. They’re fed by water that originates from the Langjökull glacier, which is heated up by magma deep underground. It makes its way to the surface, still hot, sometimes emerging in spectacular fashion.
The showstopper is Strokkur, whose name means “the Churn”. This wasn’t the first geyser to capture people’s attention here. Way back, curious travellers were drawn to Great Geysir – the name comes from the Icelandic geysa which loosely translates as “to gush”. It used to erupt regularly, but in the process of throwing soap powder into its vent in order to make it blow on demand, people managed to block it completely and it’s not been active for almost a century.
Instead, they gather around Strokkur, where every 5 to 10 minutes steam and boiling water droplets shoot high into the air, sometimes as high as 30 metres. There’s a warning, if you know what to look for: the turquoise water that collects in the pool above its vent first shivers and then domes before the eruption occurs. It’s dramatic and breathtaking, so you’ll want to see it more than once.
Gullfoss
This waterfall is the furthest east of the trio of headliners and definitely another highlight. Tour buses unload their passengers in a sizeable car park; from there, a graded path leads towards the falls. It’s another impressive site. Water tumbles along the glacier-fed Hvitá River and the voluminous falls occur as it pours over a double step in the bedrock, first 11 metres down and then over a 21 metre second drop.
Continuing on, the river cuts an impressive steep sided, narrow canyon. This place has the wow factor throughout the seasons. Its discharge peaks in summer, as the rising temperatures increase the meltwater emanating from the glacier. Though the flow eases a little in winter, it’s still one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls, and surrounded by a snow-covered landscape, it’s exquisitely beautiful on a sunny day.
Other attractions within the Golden Circle
Though tours focus mostly on the three main highlights of the Golden Circle, the region boasts a wealth of other sightseeing opportunities. These include:
- Friðheimar tomato farm
Iceland’s abundant geothermal energy is put to good use heating greenhouses on this well-known farm where you can learn about tomato production and taste the result.
- Kerið crater
An impressive volcanic explosion crater whose colourful geology is matched by the lush vegetation and blue water of the lake inside it.
- Brúarhlöð Canyon
A striking charcoal grey canyon whose glacial water becomes choppy as it squeezes through the narrow gorge to the delight of river rafters.
- Hrunalaug Hot Spring
As you soak in this rustic hot spring imagine how geothermally heated water would have been used by people many decades ago for washing clothes and bathing.
- Skálholt Cathedral
A place of worship has stood on this site since the 11th century; today’s church was erected in 1963 and is a local landmark.
- Other waterfalls
As well as Gullfoss falls, the Golden Circle area contains a number of smaller waterfalls, such as Helgufoss, Faxafoss and Thorufoss.
Eating out on the Golden Circle
As you’re likely to spend at least a good part of a day in the Golden Circle – perhaps more – then you’ll need to grab some food and drink in between sightseeing. There are plenty of places where you can do so; at Geysir and Gullfoss, for instance, there are visitor facilities which include a café and toilets. Whether you just want a coffee and piece of cake or something more substantial, these are convenient choices.
There are also some particularly Icelandic places to seek out. One is the restaurant within the greenhouse at Friðheimar tomato farm. The dishes on the menu make good use of the tomatoes that are grown here; alongside those you might expect, such as tomato soup, you’ll find others that you won’t – like tomato flavoured ice cream.
Another place to tap into Icelanders love of ice cream is at Efstidalur. This place is a dairy farm that’s been owned by the same family for generations. Alongside products such as skyr and cheese, they offer ice cream churned on the premises. Even in winter you’ll want to eat ice cream in Iceland and this is a great place to try some.
How long should you allow to see the Golden Circle attractions?
Our Golden Circle tours depart from Reykjavik every day and we allow around seven to eight hours to complete our sightseeing. To reach Thingvellir, the first stop on the tour, takes around 45 minutes; it’s a similar amount of time to continue on to Geysir and then just ten minutes up the road to reach Gullfoss waterfall.
If you’re sightseeing independently, you should expect to spend a minimum of an hour at Thingvellir, half an hour at Geysir and the same at Gullfoss, but it’s easy to spend a lot more time at all three. It really depends whether you’re content with a quick look and a few souvenir photos or if you prefer to explore a little on foot and soak up the views.
However, the possibility of seeing the key attractions of the Golden Circle in a relatively short space of time frees up your schedule to add on another activity. GrayLine offer a number of options for things to do in conjunction with a Golden Circle tour. One of the most popular is to add on a geothermal spa visit, such as to Sky Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Gamla Laugin (Secret Lagoon) or Laugarvatn Fontana.
You could also combine your Golden Circle sightseeing with a horse riding adventure in the surrounding countryside. Even novices can have a go as our sturdy Icelandic horses have typically calm temperaments. Once you’ve got to grips with the basics, your guide might show you how to achieve a tölt. This is a fifth gait that’s peculiar to Icelandic horses, fast but very smooth.
The ease of reaching Langjökull Glacier also opens up several possibilities, so long as the weather cooperates. Year-round, you might take a spin on a snowmobile over the glacier’s surface. Monster truck rides on the glacier are also fun, while from the beginning of November to the end of March you’ll also be able to combine the Golden Circle with a visit to a magical ice cave.
Getting there from Reykjavik
The Golden Circle covers a wide area, but the closest attractions on the route lie within easy reach of Reykjavik. Most people start with Pingvellir National Park, which is about a 45 minute drive from the Icelandic capital, and then continue on to Geysir and Gullfoss. The road is a good one, so you won’t have to contend with gravel surfaces.
From Gullfoss, you head back towards Reykjavik. Some people retrace their route and have a second look at some of the incredible scenery from the saddle of a horse, or stop off at geothermal spas such as Laugarvatn Fontana. Breaking your journey with an activity such as this is highly recommended.
It’s also possible to head in the direction of Selfoss and return to Reykjavik west along the ring road. If you travel on this route, you’ll pass other attractions such as Kerið crater. Taking this southerly route back to the Icelandic capital means you’ll pass the steaming geothermal area close to the town of Hveragerði before ascending the remarkable Hellisheiði mountain pass.
Tour or self-drive?
If you’ve opted to rent a car during your Iceland trip then a loop of the Golden Circle is an easy day out. The roads are well maintained, signage is clear making it straightforward to navigate and there are car parks at each of the major stops. Travellers who choose to do a self-drive have total flexibility over their route and the amount of time they spend at each place.
Yet there are several advantages to booking a tour with an operator such as GrayLine. Firstly, the driving is left to someone else, which frees you up to concentrate on the scenery. When you arrive at each destination, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking space, which is a boon during the summer when this popular area can get busy.
Outside peak season, you won’t have to concern yourself with driving conditions if it starts to snow or the roads are icier than you are used to at home, particularly if there are strong winds too. When the days are at their shortest, you’ll be driving back to Reykjavik in the dark, so keep an eye out of the window for the Northern Lights just in case they make an appearance.
Selecting a tour rather than organising the trip independently means you don’t have to figure out which order to see the sights or how long you might need to spend at each place. There’s flexibility too, so it’s simple enough to combine the standard tour with a soak at Secret Lagoon or Laugarvatn Fontana, for instance. And if you’re a little tired, you can nap between stops or on the drive back to Reykjavik – something you can’t do, of course, if you are behind the wheel.
Is it better to visit in summer or winter?
There are several pros and cons of visiting in the different seasons. In summer, the Golden Circle – like the rest of Iceland – receives a higher number of tourists. That has a lot to do with summer weather. There’s a much better chance of the fine, sunny weather and drier, less blustery conditions that makes sightseeing more enjoyable.
But there’s a downside too: the Golden Circle’s three main sights aren’t exactly hidden gems and so they will most likely be crowded. There is space for plenty of people, but you should expect to share the views with others. It’s also a good idea to book tours well in advance and if you plan to stop overnight, accommodation too.
In winter the crowds thin and the weather gets a bit more hit and miss. If you are blessed with sunny skies, winter in the Golden Circle is magical. The countryside that you’ll pass on the way to the three major attractions is breathtaking under a dusting of snow and the soft light accentuates the views.
Icicles dangle from the edge of Gullfoss during periods of cold weather and the steam rising from the ground at the Geysir geothermal area looks ethereal in the frigid air. As you make your way back to Reykjavik during the shortest days of the year, there’s also a possibility that the Northern Lights might make an appearance. Their dancing curtains and fabulous colours will stick in your memory forever.
However, travelling anywhere in Iceland can be a gamble. Fierce storms can blow in. Drifting snow and ice can lead to road closures and diversions. If you’re booking a tour, you can avoid the stress of driving in inclement conditions but cancellations do sometimes have to be made. Tour companies like GrayLine will make every effort to rebook you and refund you if you’re not able to be flexible. Nevertheless, we’d suggest you reserve the tour early in your stay to be able to take advantage of rebooking possibilities.
Incorporate a Golden Circle tour into your Iceland plans
If you’re based in Reykjavik, then the chance to see “Iceland in a nutshell” is likely to be irresistible. A Golden Circle tour gives you a flavour of what the Icelandic countryside is like within a single day’s sightseeing, leaving you free to see the capital’s museums and visitor attractions or travel further afield to Snaefellsnes or the South Coast.
Why not take a look at the Golden Circle tours on GrayLine’s website and see which one appeals most?