As the first stop along Iceland’s Ring Road, the Golden Circle route is a short trip that’s earned its title as one of the best places to visit in the country. Filled with beautiful landscapes, famous geysers, and awe-inspiring glacial waters, this popular route is definitely worth visiting. Read on for a comprehensive Iceland Golden Circle itinerary, featuring all the best places to stop along the way.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. When you purchase through links on my site, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you!).
What is the Golden Circle?
The Golden Circle is a famous route between several of Iceland’s main attractions: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Due to its incredible natural wonders and proximity to Reykjavik, it’s basically a given that most tourists will drive all or part of the circular route during their trip.
The drive covers about 250 km (155 mi) around southwestern Iceland, depending on where you stop along the way. Part of the route is along Highway 1, the main road that goes around the entire country. The short drive can be completed in one full day, but if you have some extra time, it’s worth spending the night so that your journey isn’t as rushed.
Iceland Golden Circle map
Self-drive vs. Golden Circle tour
There are essentially two ways to travel the Golden Circle: on a guided tour or on your own.
If you choose a Golden Circle tour, you’ll enjoy the convenience that comes with having somebody else do all of the planning. These tours usually last between 8 and 10 hours and visit all of the most popular attractions on the route. Booking a tour is also a good idea if you’re short on time and want to squeeze in all of the main sights.
This day tour through GetYourGuide is a great option because it only costs $64 USD and offers hotel pickup as well!
If you’re not into tours, self-driving the Golden Circle is also fantastic. You get to set your own pace, spend as much time as you want at each stop, and visit the places that interest you the most. The freedom that you get from road tripping on your own is the best!
To tackle the drive on your own, you’ll need a rental car or campervan — I booked a 4×4 with a pop-up tent from Northbound. I highly recommend getting a vehicle you can sleep in and staying in campsites because you’ll save a ton of money on hotels.
⇉ Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Iceland: A Road Trip Guide
Iceland Golden Circle itinerary
Reykjavík
The first stop on your Iceland Golden Circle itinerary is Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city.
Most people only spend a short time in Reykjavik, but there’s still a few cool things to check out. Some popular activities include climbing to the top of the Hallgrimskirkja, wandering down Rainbow Street, taking a food tour, and soaking in the hot water of the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon.
Once your plane arrives in Reykjavik, I’d recommend spending the rest of the day there before heading out on your drive. That way, you’ll be able to get an early start on the Golden Circle the next morning.
⇉ One Day in Reykjavik, Iceland: 9 Incredible Things to Do & See
Þingvellir National Park
Once you’ve gotten a good night’s rest in Reykjavik, your next stop is Þingvellir National Park.
Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Iceland’s first National Park. From here, you can see both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at the same time in what’s known as a rift valley. It’s also the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible on land.
Here are some of the top things to see at Thingvellir National Park:
- Þingvallavatn: Iceland’s largest natural lake
- Almannagjá Gorge: Game of Thrones filming location and place to hike along North American tectonic plate
- Öxarárfoss waterfall: Landmark waterfall with basalt columns
- Silfra: One of the world’s top 10 dive and snorkel sites
Brúarfoss
After Thingvellir National Park, the next stop on your Iceland Golden Circle itinerary is Brúarfoss.
Brúarfoss Waterfall can be reached via a two-hour roundtrip hike. The journey is relatively flat and follows the river’s milky blue waters. I thought the hike was very scenic — I even saw some wild Icelandic horses on my way back!
The Brúarfoss hike is actually a series of three separate waterfalls: Hlauptungufoss, Miðfoss, and Brúarfoss. Make sure to keep walking after the first waterfall, because it’s not very obvious that the track goes on. I wouldn’t have known about the other falls unless I had Googled it in advance!
There is free parking and the track never got too crowded. The area around Brúarfoss waterfall was secluded and super peaceful.
Geysir Geothermal Area
The next stop on your Iceland Golden Circle itinerary is the Geysir Geothermal Area within Haukadalur Valley. Here, you’ll find a wide range of geothermal activity, including mud pits, hot springs, and fumaroles. The Geysir hot spring area is also home to two of Iceland’s most famous geysers, Strokkur and Geysir.
(Our English word “geyser” actually comes from the name Geysir, meaning “to gush”!)
Of the two main geysers, Strokkur is the one that erupts more frequently. You can catch it erupting around every 5 to 10 minutes. Eruptions from Geysir, on the other hand, are more rare, but seriously impressive when they happen. Boiling water from Geysir’s eruption can reach over 121 m (400 ft)!
Besides the geysers, the Haukadalur Geothermal Field has a lot of other cool things to offer as well. Bubbling pits and colorful pools of water are interspersed amongst rolling hills that bloom with wildflowers in the summer. The natural beauty of the area definitely makes it worth a stop!
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s largest and most famous waterfalls. And in my opinion, one of the most stunning!
The waterfall has an upper and a lower section, each with its own viewing platform. There is a walking path connecting the two sides, which are both absolutely worth a stop.
During the late afternoon on sunny days, you’ll probably see a few dozen rainbows within the spray coming off of the falls. This is why Gullfoss is also known as Golden Falls! You can expect to get pretty wet walking near the spray, so make sure to wear a rain jacket and waterproof pants.
Gullfoss has a souvenir shop, visitor centre, and cafe near the parking lot. The cafe has free wifi and tasty treats, making it a good place to stop and recharge before you head off again.
Friðheimar
Friðheimar is a restaurant within the Golden Circle that serves tomato-based dishes. (Seriously, everything on the menu has tomatoes in it — from the drinks to the desserts!)
I ordered a tomato espresso tonic, tomato soup, and an apple and green tomato crumble. Everything was very tasty, even the tomato coffee, which I honestly was not expecting. The soup is all-you-can-eat and comes with freshly baked bread and some sides. My meal came to 5,390 ISK ($41.70 USD), which is pretty expensive but worth it for the novelty.
The coolest thing about this restaurant (other than the delicious food) is that all of the tomatoes are grown in their on-site greenhouses. My waitress told me that Friðheimar actually supplies the majority of the entire country’s tomatoes!
⇉ How Much Does an Iceland Trip Cost? My 12-Day Budget Breakdown
Kerið Crater
Kerid Crater is a collapsed volcano that has since turned into a crater lake. The blue color of the water is striking, especially on a sunny day!
The entrance fee to Kerid Crater costs 400 ISK ($3.09 USD). From the parking lot, there is a simple loop track around the crater’s exterior ridge. You can also walk down near the shores of the crater, where there is another short loop.
At this point, you can either head back towards Reykjavik to complete the Golden Circle or make your way towards Vik and Iceland’s southern coast.
Iceland Golden Circle FAQ
How long does it take to drive the Golden Circle?
The Golden Circle route takes about 4 hours to drive without stopping — although you’ll definitely be wanting to stop several times along the way!
Many companies offer day tours of the Golden Circle that last about 8 hours. If you’re touring the area on your own, I’d recommend staying overnight to have a more relaxed experience. I stayed at Skjól Camping and really enjoyed it!
Is Iceland’s Golden Circle worth it?
Despite having a reputation for being mega touristy, I actually really enjoyed my Golden Circle drive. Sometimes tourist attractions are popular for a good reason!
The waterfalls and geothermal areas I visited were unreal. Like the rest of Iceland, the Golden Circle area is filled with unique landscapes that you won’t find anywhere else.
If you’re visiting in the summer and want to avoid crowds, try timing your tour of the Golden Circle either very early or very late in the day. The sun is up all day, so you have more time to spread out your sightseeing!
What are the stops on the Golden Circle?
The main stops on the Golden Circle include:
- Þingvellir National Park
- The Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir
- Gullfoss waterfall
Of course, there are lots of other things to do along the way. You can soak in hot springs and a Secret Lagoon, eat at a tomato-themed restaurant, or go for a hike! The area has much more to offer than just quick photo stops.
When is the best time to drive the Golden Circle?
Just like the rest of Iceland, the Golden Circle is great to visit at any time of year. There are certain considerations to keep in mind for each season, though!
In the summer months, Iceland’s weather becomes much more pleasant. June through August are the warmest months, and you can often spot lupins and other wildflowers blooming. Summer also means that Iceland experiences its midnight sun, giving you the entire day to explore. Because summer is a popular time to visit, there will be lots of other tourists and prices on accommodation and tours will be higher.
In the winter months, you’ll get to experience the magic of Iceland under snow and ice. You’ll come across far fewer tourists and you’ll get the chance of seeing the Northern Lights. If you’re renting a car, you’ll need to be a confident driver and be aware of road conditions as storms and snowfall can turn dangerous. Certain roads, like the ones in the Highlands, are closed completely in the winter as well.
Other places to explore near the Golden Circle
þórufoss
Thorufoss is an epic waterfall that’s a short 5-minute detour off of the Golden Circle route. Located on Route 48, the falls are 18 m (59 ft) high and were used as a Game of Thrones filming location. From the parking lot, it’s an easy five minute walk to the viewpoint, where you can get sweeping views of the waterfall and the Laxá í Kjós river.
Thríhnúkagígur Volcano
Thríhnúkagígur is a super cool extinct volcano to the south of Reykjavik. You’ll start off with a scenic hike and then board an elevator into the volcano’s crater itself. This day trip is a unique experience, but you need to buy tickets in advance.
Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll is the most alien and otherworldly place I’ve ever been. The mountain range is located within the Icelandic Highlands, an area that’s completely barren and devoid of human life.
To get there, you need to drive a few hours down the road past Gullfoss. The road goes from being smooth to being an unpaved F-road, so you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle with good traction. Once there, Kerlingarfjöll has a network of various hiking tracks to explore.
You’ll also love:
- The Top 11 Things to Do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- 12 Awesome Things to Do in Glenorchy & Paradise
- How to Travel More: Practical Time & Money Budgeting Tips
Thanks for reading this Iceland Golden Circle itinerary! I hope this travel guide has helped you plot your road trip route. There’s still a ton more Iceland blog posts coming out in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.
xoxo Niki
