The Golden Circle is one of the major highlights of any trip to Iceland. Start in Reykjavik and set off on the self-drive adventure of your life. You’ll see some of the country’s most impressive sights and really get a feel for those unique Icelandic landscapes. Geysers, waterfalls and geological marvels are waiting for you. Here’s what you need to know about the Golden Circle.
Before you begin, take the time to think about your holiday. Yeah, we know planning is always the boring bit. Still, it’s better to figure things out now rather than show up at Reykjavik airport and hope for the best, right?
What is the Golden Circle?
Put simply, the Golden Circle is a ring road in Iceland. The loop starts and ends in Reykjavik, but that’s the only city you’ll see. The rest of the time, you’ll be driving through stunning natural landscapes.
The best way to see the Golden Circle is by hiring a car and self-driving. Yes, there are organised tours that will take you around in a coach, but you’ll be limited to what the guide wants you to see. Plus, you may not be able to spend as long as you’d like at some of the attractions.
You can follow the main ring road using a standard 2-wheel drive car. That being said, we really recommend hiring a 4×4 for the Golden Circle. There are lots of opportunities to take detours off the beaten track, and a 4-wheel drive makes them more accessible to you.
How long does the Golden Circle take?
Driving from start to finish will take just four hours, as the route is around 300 kilometres long. But let’s be honest: you didn’t come all the way to Iceland to sit in a car with your foot on the gas. Along the way, you’ll probably want to stop and get a closer look at some of the attractions. At least, we hope you will!
Keep in mind that you may also want to take a few detours. Many of the most interesting sights in Iceland are actually located just off the Golden Circle. Planning to spend at least three days exploring the Golden Circle is more realistic, but many travellers like to take a full week or more.
What’s the best time of year to visit the Golden Circle?
Iceland is a country of contrasts, and that’s never more true than when you’re talking about the seasons. Summer offers midnight sun, with 18 to 22 hours of daylight from May to August. On the other hand, winter brings polar nights, when the sun never really rises for weeks on end.
You can drive the Golden Circle at any time of year, but we reckon that summer is the best choice for sightseeing. There’s one simple reason for that: you can actually see the sights! In winter, it’ll just be too dark. The main benefit of visiting in winter is the chance to see the Northern Lights. Even at the height of summer, you’ll be able to enjoy activities like exploring the glaciers of the Golden Circle with snowmobiles, so you won’t miss out.
Is driving the Golden Circle route safe?
In general, Iceland’s roads are well-maintained and in good condition. The emergency services are excellent and respond quickly to calls. However, there are a couple of hazards to consider, depending on the time of year that you visit.
Driving in the Icelandic winter can be difficult if you’re not used to it. High winds and sudden snowstorms are likely. Icelandic weather is notoriously unpredictable, and being caught driving in a blizzard is pretty scary, especially if you’re from a country with little or no snow.
You might think that driving in summer would be a lot easier, but it brings its own hazard —in the form of driver fatigue. Those incredibly long days can really mess with your body clock, making you feel like you’ve got jet lag, even if you’ve only crossed a couple of time zones. Don’t overdo it. Take frequent breaks, and never get behind the wheel when you’re too tired.
Should you drive the Golden Circle clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Ah, the eternal debate. Which way should you tackle the Golden Circle? Most people head out clockwise, visiting Thingvellir National Park first. However, if you prefer to do your own thing, you might prefer to go anti-clockwise, starting with Gullfoss Waterfall.
There are two main advantages to going clockwise: firstly, you’ll reach the first attraction sooner. Secondly, you’ll be on the inside lane of the road. If you’re uncomfortable with heights or winding mountain roads, you may well feel a bit safer following the clockwise route.
On the other hand, going anti-clockwise has one major point in its favour. Almost all the bus and coach Golden Circle excursions and day tours travel clockwise, so you’ll be able to avoid the crowds. It will take you a bit longer to reach the first attraction, but that may be a fair trade-off if you want peace and quiet.
The best things to see in the Golden Circle
Now that you’ve got an idea of planning your trip, it’s time to think about your itinerary. Here are some of our favourite attractions that you’ll see when you explore this legendary Icelandic route.
Thingvellir National Park
If you travel clockwise, this is the first stop you’ll come to. Thingvellir is not only Iceland’s first national park, but it’s also one of the most intriguing historical sites in the country. This is where the first Icelandic parliament took place, set up by the early Norsemen in the year 930 AD. Incredibly, parliament continued to be held here right up until the 1790s, when it finally moved to Reykjavik.
Not a history buff? You can still enjoy Thingvellir. Check out Oxararfoss Waterfall, an easy 10-minute walk from the car park, or go deeper into the park, following its many hiking trails.
Scuba divers will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Thingvellir. This park is set in a rift between two tectonic plates, and you can dive into the Silfra Fissure, allowing you to swim between them. There’s nowhere else on the planet that diving between tectonic plates is possible. The water is extremely cold, so you’ll need a drysuit, but it’s also crystal clear as you move between the rocks. Offering visibility of up to 100 metres, this is one of the world’s most amazing diving sites.
One of the coolest things to do in the park is pay a visit to Gjabakkahellir Cave. 9,000 years ago, one of Iceland’s many volcanoes erupted, creating this cave. It’s essentially a long tube carved out of lava, and it’s a weird and wonderful place to see. In winter, its unique shape means that natural ice sculptures form, giving it an eerie charm.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Iceland is known for its geysers, and this is where you’ll find the best of them. In fact, the country’s most active geyser, Strokkur, is here in the Geysir Geothermal Area. It never gets tired, erupting every 6 to 12 minutes throughout the day. Most of its eruptions shoot spouts of boiling water 15 to 20 metres into the air, but if you’re lucky, you may see one that goes an incredible 40 metres.
There are around 30 geysers in total here. Some are largely inactive, while others erupt regularly. The biggest of them all, Geysir itself, is pretty sluggish these days. When it does erupt, it can create spouts 120 metres high — but it hasn’t erupted since 2016, so you’ll need to cross your fingers.
Take care when exploring this unique part of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Leave the sandals at home because boiling water tends to leak from the ground in many spots. Never get too close to a geyser — yes, they’re pretty, but remember, that water is boiling. Even if you don’t touch the water itself, you could end up very badly scalded by a cloud of steam. No perfect Instagram shot is worth a trip to the burns unit, trust us.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The name Gullfoss means “golden”, so in fact, this waterfall gives its name to the entire route. While Icelanders may argue over what, exactly, is the most beautiful waterfall in the country, Gullfoss is definitely high on the list. It also has the unique advantage of being easy to pronounce — a rare treat when it comes to Icelandic waterfalls!
Set on the Hvita River, Gullfoss is a two-tier waterfall. The first tier is the smaller of the two, just 11 metres high, while the second is an impressive 21 metres. During summer, when snowmelt means that the water levels are at their highest, almost 140,000 litres cascade down the waterfall every single second.
There are dedicated observation points around the waterfalls, but they’ve all been chosen and built with care so as not to disturb the natural beauty. Two separate car parks are available, one at the top and one at the bottom. If you’ve got time, it’s worth walking from one to the other to see different perspectives of the falls. You’ll also find a visitor centre and a café, where you can stop for a bite to eat.
The best Golden Circle detours
Many organised coach trips just focus on the big three of Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss — but that’s where the joy of self-driving really comes in. When you plan your own trip, you can add detours to the route and wander off the main route. Here are some of our favourite side trips:
Thingvalla Kirkja Church
This was one of the earliest Christian sites in Iceland. According to the country’s legendary sagas, a church has stood here since 1017, when Christianity first came to the island.
The present church doesn’t have quite such a long pedigree, as it was built in 1859, but it’s certainly charming. It’s one of the prettiest churches in the country, with its traditional Icelandic architecture, and it’s well worth a visit. It’s also one of the true hidden gems of the Golden Circle, so it’s a great place to relax and take a break away from the crowds.
Kerid Crater
Here’s another unique sight that owes its existence to Iceland’s many volcanoes. Kerid Crater is a volcanic caldera filled with amazingly pure water. The vivid turquoise colour is a sight to behold, particularly as it contrasts with the fiery red and orange rocks of the crater.
Kerid Crater is known for its unique acoustic properties, so it sometimes gets used as a concert venue. If you have the chance to take in a show in this spectacular, unusual open-air venue, don’t miss out!
The Golden Circle Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. Although the pool itself is man-made, the heating system is all-natural. The water flows from nearby hot springs, giving the pool a pleasant, warm temperature all year round. In fact, the temperature tends to hover around 38°C, so this is more of a bath than a pool. Also, you’ll probably just want to sit back and soak rather than swim laps.
Okay, it may not be such a secret anymore, as this lagoon has become very popular with tourists in recent years. In fact, you’ll now have to book tickets in advance, which can be a bit annoying. Still, we reckon it’s definitely worth a trip. The warm water is fabulously soothing, and you’ll have wonderful views of the lush volcanic landscape all around you.
Langjökull Glacier
Even in the height of summer, there’s still enough snow on Langjökull Glacier to make it stand out. The real highlight here is the chance to hire a snowmobile and drive it across the glacier, admiring the breathtaking snowy landscapes. If that’s not enough of an adventure for you, you can also visit a local ice cave.
We reckon that a trip to the glacier is the perfect way to end your Golden Circle tour. It’s definitely one of the coolest things to do in the area — in every sense of the word!
Are you ready to come to Iceland and see the Golden Circle for yourself? Our self-driving Iceland express tour lets you enjoy the best sights. You can also join us in winter for a Northern Lights adventure as we go in search of the world’s finest natural light show. And if you want to come but don’t know what to bring, we have the solution to that too – The ultimate Iceland packing list.
