Golden Circle

Golden Circle tours and attractions

Iceland

Things to do in Golden Circle

4.7/5 (98)

The Golden Circle is a tourist route located in southern Iceland that covers over 190 miles, looping from Reykjavik into the southern uplands and back. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland and takes about a day to complete a full visit in each of the three primary stops. These stops along the Golden Circle include: Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park,Geysir Geothermal Field, and the Gullfoss waterfall.

Thingvellir National Park is one of Iceland's most significant historic and geological sites. The national parliament of Iceland (Althing) was founded in 930 AD where the park is currently located. At Thingvellir, you can see where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet as well as how these plates have continuously drifted apart over time. It was declared a national park in 1930 and in 2004, the park was added to the list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one in Iceland.

The Geysir Geothermal Field is known for its hot springs and you will surely experience the areas underground volcanic activities. The two most well known hot springs in the area are The Great Geysir and Shokkur (The Churn). The Great Geysir is the oldest documented geyser in Europe that dates back to the 13th century. When it was active, the geyser used to erupt with heights of around 400 feet but has been dormant for many years. Shokkur is currently the most active hot spring in Iceland and erupts about every 5-10 minutes, reaching heights of 30-60 feet usually, but has reached up to 130 feet. If you get hungry while visiting this part of the Golden Circle, you can stop by the Visitor Center where you can enjoy some local dishes and shop for unique souvenirs that were created by the locals.

The last stop on the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss Waterfall. The name Gullfoss means "Waterfall of Gold" or "Golden Falls" and refers to the golden color of the water on a sunny day. This majestic waterfall is one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls and has two huge "steps", one 36 feet and the other 71 feet. When standing near the falls, you will be able to feel the spray of the water on your face, and if you are lucky and visit on a sunny day, a rainbow just might appear!

The Golden Circle is definitely a place worth visiting on a trip to Iceland and has much more to offer than just these three great sites. You can go snorkeling in between the tectonic plates, go whale watching, see the northern lights, and much more!

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Small group Golden Circle tour with Kerið crater and Friðheimar farm
Activities

Small group Golden Circle tour with Kerið crater and Friðheimar farm

Join this small group tour for a more intimate experience when exploring the Golden Circle's attractions and some of Iceland's best natural landmarks.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

How to get there

Golden Circle

Golden Circle

Reykjavik

Iceland

Reviews Golden Circle

5/5
Anonymous, 16 Aug 2024

“Our tour guide, Darren, was absolutely entertaining, knowledgeable and very easy to understand. He gave us very clear instructions on what to explore at our stops, how to get there and how much time to spend.”

4/5
Anonymous, 13 Aug 2024

“Peccato per il clima freddo e la pioggia che non ci ha fatto godere a pieno un tour meraviglioso. Ma questo non è certo colpa dell' agenzia alla quale invece vorrei fare i complimenti per organizzazione, puntualità e professionalità. Voto 9.”

5/5
Anonymous, 05 Aug 2024

“Went to 5 places, our driver Sindri was great. It's an do our own kind of tour. The driver gives you so history about the places and you decide hiw far u want explore. Had 30-40 mns to explore. Except lunch 1h+ or blue Lagoon 2h. Definitely recommend”

5/5
Anonymous, 01 Apr 2024

“Our trip on the Golden Circle & the Kerid volcano Crater was fantastic. It was unfortunate that we couldn't visit the Blue Lagoon however it is another reason to visit Iceland again.Our guide was informative & knew the area & locations very well. It was a lovely small group we were with. Thank you”

Reykjavik