Your Guide to Iceland’s Golden Circle Route

If you’re visiting Iceland, the Golden Circle route is probably on your bucket list. It’s a great day trip from Reykjavik and the perfect introduction to the beautiful scenery and natural wonders that await you in the Land of Ice and Fire.

I first toured Iceland’s Golden Circle route in January 2014. I was travelling to Iceland solo and joined a day tour out to the famous sites. I remember being so blown away by the incredible geysers, waterfalls and vistas.

They blew me away so much that in 2018, I revisited the Golden Circle. This time I was with my husband, Colin, and we decided to self-drive the route in a rental car.

Not only did this give us more flexibility, but it also allowed us to add a few additions to the regular Big 3 of the Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Geysir & Gullfoss).

Whether you choose to rent a car and drive or join a tour company, the Golden Circle is a must-see in Iceland.

Below, I’ll walk you through my perfect itinerary for the Golden Circle with five stops you can make on the route. I’ll share what you can expect, how long it’ll take you to travel and answer some FAQs.

Let’s discover Iceland’s Golden Circle!

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How to get around: Drive the Golden Circle vs Golden Circle day tour

When I first visited Iceland solo in January 2014, I did a day tour of the Golden Circle with a tour company.

It was awesome to not have to worry about driving or navigating, learn more about the culture and geography of Iceland, and just sit back and be blown away by the sites!

When I returned in October 2018 with Colin, we decided to rent a car this time and self-drive the Golden Circle. We rented our car from SADcars and I highly recommend them. They were affordable, service was great, and we were able to pick up and drop off our car at the airport.

A car allowed us to go at our own pace, avoid the tour bus crowds (that always all show up at the same time!), and add some stops to our Golden Circle itinerary.

Plus, having our own set of wheels meant we could stay outside of Reykjavik, which saved us money on accommodation.

So which way should you see the Golden Circle, rental car or tour bus?

Honestly, both options are great. If you are happy to drive, Iceland is a very easy place to drive in. But if you’d prefer to let someone else handle that, opt for the tour bus.

Personally, I’d rent a car. I value being able to get a little off the beaten path and travel on my own schedule.

But of course, that means you have to be comfortable driving/navigating and planning all your own stops. You’ll also have to consider the extra costs of not only your rental, but paying for parking and for gas.

Golden Circle map

Golden Circle stops on this itinerary

Starting and ending in Reykjavik, this Golden Circle itinerary will stop at:

1. Thingvellir National Park
2. Geysir Geothermal Area
3. Gullfoss Waterfall
4. Secret Lagoon
5. Kerid Crater

Stop #1: Thingvellir National Park

Reykjavik to Thingvellir: 45 minute drive

Cost to enter: From 1000 KR ($7 USD) for parking

Welcome to the first stop on your Golden Circle route, Thingvellir National Park (aka Þingvellir National Park). The park was established in 1930 and in 2004, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With a storied history as the “heart of Iceland,” Thingvellir is most well known today for its beautiful views, being home to the largest natural lake in Iceland, and as the meeting place of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. You can even snorkel between them!

Most visitors arrive at the Hakið viewing platform and then walk down into the Almannagjá gorge. When I visited in January 2014, it was so cold and snowy that I only made it a few steps down the path before turning back towards the bus.

Luckily, we had much better weather on our next visit and were able to explore a lot more. Thingvellir is huge! Colin and I only walked a small part of it and were already so impressed by the landscapes in front of us.

Besides walking and hiking trails, Þingvellir National Park also offers fishing, horseback riding, camping, guided tours and the aforementioned snorkelling and diving. They also have an extensive visitor centre with an interactive exhibition (paid entry).

Entrance to the park is free, but you do have to pay for parking if you’re self-driving (from 1000 KR ($7 USD) per vehicle, depending on size). Some of the other activities – like horseback riding and snorkelling – are also, obviously, paid.

PS: We noticed that Thingvellir National Park has a pretty good selection of snacks and sandwiches in their visitor centre gift shop, should you need a lunch on the go!

Stop #2: Geysir Hot Springs

Thingvellir to Geysir: 50 minute drive

Cost to enter: Free!

Next up on the Golden Circle drive is the geysers of Geysir Hot Springs!

This area of the Haukadalur Valley became active with geysers over a thousand years ago. It’s most famous geyser, The Great Geysir, is said to have erupted up to 170 metres (558 ft) and has given this area its name.

Today, Geysir is not so active but luckily, he has some smaller brother and sister geysers that are still worth a visit.

From the parking lot (free parking!), you’ll walk along a path and first pass Little Geysir, which is as cute as it sounds. Be sure to stick to the path and obey any signs or barriers put up. The water in this area can be scalding.

Before long, you’ll reach the main attraction, Strokkur. Strokkur is an active geyser that goes off every few minutes, usually erupting 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) in the air.

PRO TIP: Because Strokkur goes off so often, I suggest just enjoying the view the first time and allowing yourself to be amazed. Then you can get your camera in position to capture the magic the next time she goes off.

Behind Strokkur are a few other smaller geysers, hot springs and geothermal areas. Take a walk to see them bubbling and smell the sulfur in the air.

With some of the geysers, you can even see inside of them, revealing some really beautiful blue pools and underwater caves.

Stop #3: Gullfoss

Geysir to Gullfoss: 10 minute drive

Cost to enter: Free! (Parking costs TBD)

The third stop on this Golden Circle tour is the behemoth waterfall, Gullfoss. Gullfoss translates to golden waterfall.

“Foss” means waterfall in Icelandic. So anytime you see the word “foss,” you’ll know you’re headed to some falls.

Gullfoss is one of the most well-known, powerful and impressive waterfalls in Iceland. The water cascades down two stages, totalling 32 metres (105 feet).

Because Gullfoss is so powerful, expect this area to be quite a bit colder, wetter and windier than other stops on the Golden Circle route. The mist off the falls was enough to send me running back to the car after only a few minutes!

Luckily, a few minutes is long enough to snap some photos from the first viewing platform. If you’re braver than me (or if you dress more warmly), there are a few walking trails around the waterfalls you can enjoy.

A note on parking: While updating this post in March 2024, I tried to confirm if parking is still free. Unfortunately, I read conflicting reports online and couldn’t confirm. I’ve asked my travel blogging community and have a friend visiting Iceland in the fall, so will update this info then!

Stop #4: Secret Lagoon

Gullfoss to Secret Lagoon Iceland: 30 minute drive

Cost to enter: From 3600 KR ($26 USD) for adults

The Secret Lagoon (aka Gamla Laugin) is the oldest natural pool in Iceland with thermal waters coming from the nearby hot springs, geysers and geothermal areas.

Swimming in geothermal hot spring pools is one of the coolest parts of vacationing in Iceland. There’s something so nice about relaxing in a warm, outdoor pool while looking out over rolling valleys or snowcapped mountains.

The most famous (and expensive) thermal pool in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon, which I visited back in 2014. It’s a popular Golden Circle addition, though not technically part of the circle route.

The Blue Lagoon is more of a spa than a pool. They offer a number of luxury spa services, as well as a very convenient transfer to/from the airport or to/from Reykjavik.

It’s beautiful, and a great spot to spend a few hours, but it’s also very expensive. Plus, the Blue Lagoon is actually a man-made pool where the water is brought in, as opposed to a natural pool.

On my second trip to Iceland, I wanted something a bit more authentic and budget friendly for my hot pool experience.

Of course, the coolest thing would be to stumble upon a hidden hot spring out in nature and spontaneously decide to go for a soak. But the next coolest thing is going to a slightly more established pool and paying just a bit to use it.

When you first rock up to the Secret Lagoon, it looks like you’re at a local Icelandic farm with a little cafe out front. But behind that is an amazing hot springs pool!

Running from the change room to the pool in October was absolutely freezing! You’re only in your bathing suit, you just showered so you’re all wet, and it’s cold and raining outside.

But then you hit the water and it’s the coolest – wait, warmest – thing ever! It was so soothing to get into that pool. After we warmed up, Colin and I had fun trying out different spots in the pool, as the temperature changed depending on how close you were to certain pipes.

Book your ticket to the Secret Lagoon here!

The Secret Lagoon pool is open year round with pricing for adults, children and seniors. They recommend you book ahead. You can also pay to rent a towel or a bathing suit if you’ve forgotten yours.

In addition to the pool, the Secret Lagoon also has a walking path where you can check out the bubbling hot springs in the area and a bistro for a quick snack.

Stop #5: Kerid Crater

Secret Lagoon to Kerid Crater: 35 minute drive

Cost to enter: 500 KR ($4 USD)

The fifth and final stop on your Golden Circle route is the Kerid Crater (Kerið). Kerið is a 6,500 year old volcanic crater known best for it’s deep red walls and bright blue waters.

When I first saw photos of this crater online, I knew we had to add it to our Golden Circle itinerary. But I was not prepared for how huge it is! The Kerid Crater is 55 m (180 ft) deep, 170 m (558 ft) wide, and 270 m (886 ft) across.

To give you some perspective, scroll up to the photo above. See the two little specks in the upper right corner? Those are people!

Once you pay your entrance fee (500 KR ($4 USD), to be paid on arrival), you’re free to explore around the crater. You can walk the circumfrance and even follow a set of stairs down to the water.

Colin and I stuck to the top of the crater and spent our time marvelling at all of the bright colours. Even on a cloudy day, Kerið was looking good.

Back in 2018, this crater was still pretty under the radar. Unlike the more popular spots on the Golden Circle, we had most of Kerið all to ourselves.

From the Kerid Crater, you’re wrapping up your time on the Golden Circle and heading back to Reykjavik or wherever your accommodation is for the night.

Kerid Crater back to Reykjavik: 1 hour drive

FAQs about a Golden Circle itinerary

How long does it take to do the Golden Circle in Iceland?

You can drive the Golden Circle route in Iceland in a single day. Leaving from Reykjavik, hitting all five stops on my itinerary above and returning to Reykjavik is a little under four hours of driving (256 km/159 mi).

Of course, you’ll actually want to get out of the car and experience each stop, so you’re probably looking at a 6-8 hour day trip to do the Golden Circle.

If you’re short on time, you could stick to just the main stops on the Golden Circle route or choose to stay closer to the route rather than in Reykjavik.

With more time, you could drive the Golden Circle over a few days and add in more side trips.

When is the best time to visit the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is open year round and each season has its pros and cons. Summer sees more tourists while winter sees fewer. Sometimes landscapes are green and other times they’re covered in snow.

I’ve visited Iceland in October and in January, doing the Golden Circle route on both trips. It was, as you can guess, much colder on the route in January. We also had less daylight as winter days in Iceland are quite short.

October was much more comfortable weather-wise, easier to drive in with no snow on the ground and still not too crowded with tourists. For those reasons, I would aim for spring or fall for your Golden Circle road trip.

If you are visiting Iceland in the summer, take advantage of all that daylight! With 15-22 hours of daylight from May to August, you can visit some of the spots on the Golden Circle at off-peak hours when there are no tourists, without having to stumble around in the dark.

What are the main stops on the Golden Circle?

The three main stops on the Golden Circle tour of Iceland are Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs and Gullfoss Falls.

Everything else – like the Secret Lagoon and Kerid Crater I added in my itinerary above – are just fun extras!

Where should you stay on the Golden Circle?

As you probably know, Iceland is a notoriously expensive place to stay. To save some money, I stayed in a hostel outside of Reykjavik on my first trip to Iceland and a budget hotel out by the airport on my second trip.

Most people who are doing the Golden Circle stay in Reykjavik, as this is the closest main city and where many tour buses leave from. You could also choose to stay in accommodation directly on the Golden Circle route.

If you have a car, I’d definitely recommend staying outside of Reykjavik to save some money. Or if you don’t have a car, make sure your tour bus can pick you up from wherever you’re staying.

Check out Golden Circle Iceland hotels here:

How do you get from the Golden Circle to Reykjavik?

The closest point on the Golden Circle to Reykjavik is Thingvellir National Park, which is a 45 minute drive away. You can get there by self-drive or on a tour bus.

All of the Golden Circle attractions are within two hours of Reykjavik, making the Golden Circle route a very popular and easy day trip from the city.

Where should you go after the Golden Circle?

While the Golden Circle is amazing, there’s lots more of Iceland to see!

If you’re only in Iceland for a few days, the next most popular route is heading to the South Coast where you can see more epic waterfalls and an incredible black sand beach.

Many visitors also like to check out the Blue Lagoon. Of course, you shouldn’t miss out on exploring the extremely cool city of Reykjavik. Their brunch and pastry game is incredible!

With more time, you can drive Iceland’s ring road around the entire island, checking out places to the east and north that most visitors miss. I’ve never done this but it is certainly on my bucket list!

Of course, Iceland is also a great stopover on the way to/from Europe. On my first visit to Iceland, I stopped there on the way to Amsterdam. And on my second, I stopped in Iceland on my way back from London.

Wrapping up: Is Iceland’s Golden Circle route worth it?

Absolutely, Iceland’s Golden Circle route is so worth it!

While undoubtedly the most touristed route in Iceland, the Golden Circle is popular for a reason. Within a day you get to see stunning national parks, erupting geysers, powerful waterfalls and volcanic craters. Plus you can soak in a hot springs pool!

To avoid the crowds, I’d recommend visiting in the off-season or self-driving and going at off-peak times. You can also add some lesser-known stops to your itinerary, like Bruarhlod canyon or Fontana geothermal baths.

Before you head out on your Golden Circle route, don’t forget to check the weather and pack layers. You’ll want to have options in case it gets cold or rainy. I also recommend packing snacks!

If you’re driving, make sure you feel comfortable behind the wheel and that you stick to roads your car is rated for. Iceland has a number of F-roads that are only accessible at certain times of year in 4×4 vehicles, but you shouldn’t need to drive on any for the Golden Circle.

I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to experience Iceland’s Golden Circle twice – by tour bus and by car. It’s one of my favourite road trips I’ve done around the world.

Despite seeing some of the same sites, I loved both of my trips and would gladly visit the Golden Circle again. After all, who gets sick of waterfalls and geysers? Not me!