By air
Keflavík (KEF), ~1.5 h
Europe · Iceland
Golden Circle, Iceland
Geysers, a great waterfall and a rift valley
Getting there
Best time to visit
All year; summer for the long days
Don't miss
Þingvellir
Geysir
Gullfoss
The Kerið crater
Things to do
Snorkelling the Silfra fissure
Geysir
Gullfoss
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Andreas Tille · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Waterproofs, layers
A quieter corner
Brúarfoss, a small bright-blue waterfall
Questions travellers ask
What are the main stops on the Golden Circle?
Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and the Kerið crater — geysers, a great waterfall and a rift valley.
Can I do the Golden Circle any time of year?
Yes, all year — though summer brings the long days. Pack waterproofs and layers.
What else can I do on the Golden Circle?
Snorkel the Silfra fissure. For a quieter stop, find Brúarfoss, a small bright-blue waterfall.
How far is the Golden Circle from Keflavík?
About 1.5 h from Keflavík (KEF). While you are out there, try tomatoes from the geothermal greenhouses.
About Golden Circle
- Inland
Where it is
The Golden Circle is a loop of about 300 km from Reykjavík into the southern uplands of Iceland and back, linking Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur and the Gullfoss waterfall.
History
At Þingvellir, in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates drift apart, the Icelanders founded their parliament, the Althing, in 930, and adopted Christianity there around the year 1000. Þingvellir is now a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the loop takes in some of the most visited sights in Iceland.
People
The route runs through the farmland of south Iceland, where people speak Icelandic and live from farming, tourism and greenhouse horticulture, growing tomatoes and other vegetables with geothermal heat. Icelandic horses graze on many of the farms.
Known for
- Þingvellir's rift valley and the Silfra fissure
- The erupting Strokkur geyser
- The two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall
- The Kerið crater lake
- Geothermal greenhouses and hot springs
Did you know?
Geysir gave its name to geysers all over the world; it has been mostly dormant for years, while its neighbour Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.