This is the number one must-do activity in Iceland. Easy to self-drive in a rental car, the Golden Circle is a 145-mile route that takes in three uniquely Icelandic natural attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir area and Gulfoss Waterfall. Each of these sites on its own is a stunning location but including all three in the circuit makes for a great day (or half day) of outdoor adventure. There’s no need to book a tour, as the route is straight-forward and the flexibility of a self-driving tour is worth the effort. At just under 145 miles, the circuit is quite short and can be completed in a few hours.

To enjoy it properly, I recommend giving yourself at least half a day. We left Reykjivik around 9 am and were able to make it back in time for pre-dinner drinks at Hard Rock Café!

Prepare to be stunned by the natural beauty of Iceland’s Golden Circle attractions!

Our first stop, Thingvellir (you’ll see it written as Þingvellir) National Park, was probably one of my favorites. This UNESCO World Heritage site sits on top of the meeting point of the European and Asian tectonic plates and was home to the first Icelandic parliament from 930 till 1798. The original name for the Game of Thrones books is A Song of Ice and Fire, so it’s fitting that many of the scenes were shot right here at Thingvellir.
With softly rolling hills covered in vibrant green moss, you can walk between the plates weaving back and forth along the paths. There are information signs all along the way, so no tour guide needed here either. I recommend taking a couple of hours to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the park, but, if you’re short on time, you can see the major sites in as little as an hour.

One of the most popular sites in the country, Great Geysir was the first of its kind to be described in print and is the original sources of the English term ‘geyser’. While Great Geysir has become more or less dormant, neighboring Stokkur geyser erupts every 4 – 7 minutes, bursting 65 feet into the air. Make sure to take the time to hike up the nearby hill for the best views and some great shots of the geyser erupting.
Entry is free, but the surrounding Geysir restaurants are expensive. It’s worth bring lunch along if you’re able to and save your money for other treats.

Our last stop on the Golden Circle is Gullfoss, the golden waterfall. This is considered to be the most beautiful waterfall in the country, which is saying a lot in a country with literally hundreds (some estimate thousands) of waterfalls. As the water rushes down the two levels to the narrow river 230 ft below, the spray fills the air creating rainbows, strikingly vivid against the verdant green background of the moss-covered cliffs.