During a stay or a simple stopover in Iceland, don’t miss visiting the Golden Circle, you’ll find everything that makes the charm of this island within a day.
When you prepare a trip to Iceland, and whatever the guide or site you visit, the Golden Circle quickly appears as a must. But what is it? Simply a tourist route – the most famous of Iceland – which includes three flagship sites and some other nice surprises.
History of the Golden Circle
Photo credit: Shutterstock / b-hide the scene
The expression is relatively recent. It was designed by Icelandic tourist services to promote this region and encourage travellers to visit the Golden Circle. The goal is to encourage the curious to discover the incredible beauties of this small country crossed by the Arctic Polar Circle. Easily accessible from Keflavik or Reykjavík, the Golden Circle gathers, in a loop of just over two hundred kilometers, several sites of exceptional beauty and great geological interest.
To understand the specificities of the Icelandic landscape, it is necessary to know that the island was created by volcanic eruptions. The rift which has separated the U.S. tectonic plate is on the current location of Iceland. The surging magma of volcanoes was able to crack the earth’s crust that had diminished in this place. The consequence? The creation of this island of a hundred thousand square kilometers over the last millions of years.
Volcanic activity is still well present. It sculpts fantastic landscapes from which sources of warm, benevolent water sometimes spring. Visiting the Golden Circle allows access to the continent separation fault. But that’s not all! Follow us to discover the wonders of this road of the Fire of the Gods!
What to see and what to do at the Golden Circle?
Reykjavik region
Photo credit: Shuttertsock / Madalin Olariu
From Reykjavik? , you pass through a plain with shaved grass sprinkled with black rocks. These rocks are all testimonies of volcano activity. We would like to stop to immortalize this show in photo, but the road is narrow and it is rare to find a clear space on the coast. However, a first stop leads to the Icelandic tundra* on a small path leading to Lake Leirvogstvan. Vegetation is much more varied than what the distant looks suggest.
Parliament Complaint
Photo credit: Shuttertsock / Guy Drory Traveling
Then we go along the great Lake Thingvallatvatn. This immense lake announces the first stage of the Golden Circle: Thingvellir ( ♪ ) or Parliament Complaint. It is both a historical and geological site. This is where one of the oldest parliaments in the world was created in 930. This is a sacred symbolic place for Icelanders. For travellers, it is especially the opportunity to walk inside a tectonic flaw. The landscape begins to change, we enter an area of cultivation and horse breeding.
The Geyser of Strokkur
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Jakub Barzycki
About 60 kilometers further, we reach the geothermal zone of Geysir. He who gave his name to the phenomenon of sprinkling groundwater is no longer very active, but his neighbor Strokkur takes charge of the show every five or ten minutes. Prepare your camera or video to capture the whole process: the water stirs, makes bubbles bigger and bigger, then a blue dome is formed and the water springs several meters high. Better to have spotted the wind direction before choosing its observation post, under pain of being watered with warm water!
Gullfoss
Photo credit: Shuttertsock /ollie taylor
About ten kilometers from there are the Gullfoss Falls. It is a succession of two waterfalls that fall from 32 metres on the Hvítá River. Gullfoss means “gold fall”, because, according to legend, the rich farmer, on whose land she was, would have thrown her gold in so that no one else could take advantage of it! Unless it is due to the rainbow that is very often formed in this place... The day would not be complete without a good bath in the Secret Lagoon, Fludur or Laugarvatn Fontana Laugarvatn.
How to get to the Golden Circle?
Access to Iceland is made by air, from many airports in France and Europe. Our partner Ulysses will offer you the best offers according to your availability. Remember: in Iceland, the night lasts almost all winter. Tourist trips are possible but the opportunities for visits slightly different.
To visit the Golden Circle, the ideal is rent a car , in order to be able to stop where one wants and to have his time at each stage. If you do not drive, you have two options to do the loop:
Visit the Golden Circle by public transport
- SBA-Nordurleid bus 610, which connects Reykjavik to Akureyeri between June and September, makes stops at Geysir and Gullfoss, four times a day
- Sterna offers a day circuit, which includes the three flagship sites and the Secret Lagoon, four times a week
Guided tour of the Golden Circle
From Reykjavik you have a wide choice of guided tours, by bus, minivan or jeep. Depending on the case, they include the three sites and other services, such as the Lagon Secret, the volcanic crater of Kerið, an evening in search of the Northern Lights...
How to visit the Golden Circle? Schedules, transport, parking
If you hold the car rental option, you can visit the Golden Circle at your own pace and schedule. Access to the sites is free, so you can also go during the day, as early in the morning or late in the evening.
Thingvellir
Access to the site is free, but the parking lot is paid. There are three separate sites to park his car near, or near, the Visitors Information Centre and the departure of the hike to the fault. It will cost you in Icelandic crowns (ISK):
- 750 for a car up to 5 seats
- 1,000 for 6 to 8 seats
- 1 800 for a minibus
- 3 500 for a bus of more than 20 places
The payment is made by bank card, with automatic cash. In case of difficulty, you can also pay inside the Visitors Center. Don’t make the impasse on the payment, your registration plate was flashed when you entered the parking lot! The Visitors Information Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It also houses an exhibition on the history of the Icelandic Parliament and on local geological formations.
The entrance costs 1000 ISK for adults, 500 ISK for students and seniors (from 67 years old) and is free for disabled and children up to 18 years old. There is also a Service Centre, near the campground, where you can get information about the park. It has a cafeteria and is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the summer (from May 15 to late August) and from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the winter.
Geysir
Free parking in front of the path that leads to the geothermal field. On site you will find a visitor information centre, a large boutique, a hotel and a restaurant. Opening hours range from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter. The Geyser Center organizes excursions including the entrance to the exhibition center, a river cruise and a guided tour of the geysers area. Prices range from 9 to 15 € depending on your situation and it’s free on your birthday!
Gullfoss
Two free parking lots. The first one is at the bottom of the falls and the second at the top, requiring a flight of stairs. The car park at the top has a Visitors Information Centre and a self-service. The toilets, located a little further, are paid (200 ISK), provide currency to pass the door.
Good to know.
- It is also possible to visit the Golden Circle in the opposite direction, starting with Gulfoss. If you leave Keflavik Airport, you can walk along the coastal road and admire the wonders of the Reykjanes Peninsula, stop near Fludir, leave the next day to visit the three sites and finish in Reykjavik for example.
- Provide rain clothes for Gullfoss and Geysir, to avoid being wet by water projections. Also think about protecting your camera, which can suffer from moisture and sulphur vapours.
- The view of Gullfoss falls is different depending on whether you choose the parking lot from the bottom or the top. If you have time, do both! From the high hiking path, you have great views of the Langjökull glacier in the distance.
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