The Golden Circle in Iceland: Itinerary, Map & Tips for 2026

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular day trips in Iceland, and for good reason. This roughly 300 km loop from Reykjavik takes in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, erupting geysers and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country, all on well-paved roads that are accessible year round.

We’ve driven the Golden Circle multiple times, in both summer and winter, and it’s one of those routes we’d recommend to anyone visiting Iceland. Whether you’ve got a single day in the country or you’re kicking off a longer road trip, it’s a fantastic introduction to what makes Iceland so special.

In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about Iceland’s Golden Circle. That includes all the major stops and plenty of lesser-known ones, a suggested itinerary for driving it yourself, current parking fees and practical tips, tour options, and where to stay. We’ve also got answers to the most common questions at the end.

One thing worth mentioning: if you’ve seen references to the “Golden Triangle” in Iceland, that’s the same route. The Golden Circle has three main stops arranged in a rough triangle, and some visitors use the names interchangeably. In this guide we’ll stick with Golden Circle, which is the established name.

What is the Golden Circle in Iceland?

The Golden Circle is a circular route in southern Iceland that stretches for around 300 km / 186 miles and starts and ends in Reykjavik.

The route is popular, either as a day trip from the city, or as a precursor to exploring Iceland’s south coast. Often, instead of returning to the city, travellers continue along the south coast and then on around Iceland’s Ring Road.

The popularity is largely down to the easy accessibility of the route from the capital, and the fact that many of Iceland’s top attractions can be found along the route. We definitely recommend the Golden Circle to anyone visiting Iceland.

 

Why is it called the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle gets its name from Gullfoss, one of the major waterfalls on the route. Gullfoss means Golden Falls in Icelandic. The circle part of the name is simply down to the route that you follow being roughly circular.

The name is also a clever bit of marketing as it sounds pretty cool. In the north of Iceland you can also find the Diamond Circle, another circular driving route which visits a number of popular attractions.

 

How Long Does it Take to Drive the Golden Circle?

The driving time for the Golden Circle is around three and a half to four hours if you start and end in Reykjavik, without stopping. In practice, you’ll want significantly more time than that.

For most visitors, the Golden Circle works well as a full day trip. We’d suggest allocating between 7 and 10 hours for the complete circuit, depending on how many stops you make and whether you add any of the side trips we cover below.

If you’re short on time, you can cover just the three main highlights (Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss) in around 5 to 6 hours. If you’ve got more time, you can easily stretch the Golden Circle across two days and include hot springs, waterfalls and lunch stops that most day-trippers miss.

 

Can I do the Golden Circle as a Day Tour from Reykjavik?

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular day tours from Reykjavik, so yes, you absolutely can.

We recommend some more tours at the end of the post, but here are a few quick examples to give you an idea of what’s available.

• An 8 hour tour of the Golden Circle which includes the major highlights plus Kerid Crater.
• A full day tour of all the highlights of the Golden Circle, which includes the option to visit the Blue Lagoon as well.
• A private full day tour of the Golden Circle which includes all the highlights as well as Kerid Crater, Faxi waterfall, and time for ice cream at Efstidalur II.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of choice, whether you want a private tour or a group tour.

 

When to Visit Iceland’s Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle can be visited year round. Most of the attractions here are open year-round and the roads are open and well-maintained in both summer and winter.

It’s also one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik, meaning it can get quite busy.

Most of the tours from Reykjavik depart in the morning between 8am and 10am. Some half-day tours also depart in the afternoon, between midday and 2pm. The majority of all the tours are back in Reykjavik in the early evening.

The three most popular stops for tours are of course the highlights, which are Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss. Expect these locations to be busy from 10am until 6pm. In winter, due to the reduced hours of daylight, these locations will likely be busy from 10am until around 4pm.

If you want to avoid the crowds on the Golden Circle, the best option is to drive yourself, and to visit outside of the busy times. If you are visiting Iceland in summer, you will have almost unlimited hours of daylight at your disposal, so if you toured the highlights before 9am or after 6pm, you are likely to be visiting with fewer people.

However, we would say that you shouldn’t let the possibility of crowds put you off. The attractions are all fairly large with plenty of space, and are all worth seeing even if they are a bit busy when you visit.

If you’re planning a summer 2026 trip, there’s an extra reason to visit: on 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Iceland. This is expected to drive significant demand for accommodation and tours during that period, so if you’re planning to be in Iceland around that date, book well in advance.

 

Parking Fees on the Golden Circle

Most of the major stops on the Golden Circle now charge for parking. This is a relatively recent change, so if you’ve read older guides that say parking is free everywhere, that’s no longer the case. Here’s a summary of current fees as of 2026.

Thingvellir National Park: 1,000 ISK per car. Your ticket is valid for all parking lots within the park for the entire day, so you can move between them without paying again. Payment is by card at the machines on site, or you can pay in advance via checkit.is.

Geysir Geothermal Area: 1,000 ISK per car. Payment is via the Parka app.

Gullfoss: Free. No parking charge.

Brúarfoss: 750 ISK per car. Payment via the Parka app.

Kerið Crater: 600 ISK per person (this is an entry fee rather than a parking fee, payable at the kiosk).

Reykjadalur Hot Spring: 200 ISK for the first hour, then 250 ISK per hour. Payment via the Easy Park app.

We’d recommend downloading the Parka app before you arrive in Iceland, as it covers most paid parking sites around the country. For Thingvellir specifically, the checkit.is system handles payment. All sites accept contactless card payment as well.

 

Highlights of the Golden Circle in Iceland

The Golden Circle has three major highlights that you should visit, as well as a number of other attractions. We’re going to go through the three major highlights in the order you might visit them, and then share an example itinerary for visiting the Golden Circle.

Almost all Golden Circle day tours will include all three of these sites.

 

Þingvellir National Park

The first attraction you will come to on the Golden Circle, assuming you are driving it in a clockwise direction, is Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir in English).

This is a UNESCO world heritage site, and was Iceland’s first national park. It’s important from both a cultural point of view, and also from a geological point of view.

Suffice to say, you won’t want to skip it!

Thingvellir was the location for Iceland’s first parliament, known as the Althing, which first met on this site in 930 AD. This was around fifty years after Iceland was first settled. Thingvellir continued to be used as the parliament’s meeting location until 1798.

Thingvellir was chosen as the location for the parliament as it was deemed to be relatively easy to reach from all the different regions of Iceland. Parliamentary meetings were held over the warmer summer months, and it was a major focal point for the Icelandic people.

Laws were passed, judicial hearings took place, and the basis for Iceland’s present day cultural roots and heritage were essentially formed.

This would make Thingvellir National Park worth visiting alone, but there’s more to see here.

As you may know, Iceland sits right on the middle of two continental plates, the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. These plates are slowly drifting apart from each other, and Thingvellir is found in the rift valley of these two plates.

This means that you can see and even walk in the cracks that have opened up in the earth as these massive plates move apart from each other. You can even go snorkelling or diving in these fissures, for a truly unique experience.

Fans of Game of Thrones will also be excited to visit Thingvellir, as a number of scenes from the show were filmed in the park.

Most recognisably, the so called Bloody Gate, which forms a part of the path to the Eyrie, was filmed here for Season 4 of the show. More on this, and lots more other locations for the show, in our guide to Game of Thrones locations in Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park is also home to a lovely waterfall, Oxararfoss. This is a ten minute walk from the parking lot, and is a gorgeous waterfall that is well worth the visit.

As you can see, there is plenty to see and do at Thingvellir, so expect to spend at least an hour to 90 minutes here. There are also more walking trails and sights to see if you want to extend your visit.

Visiting Thingvellir is free, though there is a parking charge of 1,000 ISK per car. This is valid across all parking lots in the park for the entire day. Payment is by card at the machines or via checkit.is. See the official parking page for full details.

 

Haukadalur Geothermal Field

The next major highlight after Thingvellir National Park on the Golden Circle is the Haukadalur Geothermal Field,  also referred to as the Geysir Geothermal Area.

This is around an hours drive from Thingvellir, and is home to a range of geothermal wonders. These include mud pots, fumaroles and hot springs, as well as two of Iceland’s most famous geysers – Strokkur and Geysir.

Geysir (the name means “to gush”) is where our modern day word geyser comes from, and Geysir was the first geyser ever to be described in print.

If you want to see geothermal activity in Iceland, then the Haukadalur Geothermal field is a must-stop on the Golden Circle.

The two main geysers are Strokkur and Geysir. Of late, Geysir has been fairly dormant, although as he’s believed to have been erupting for at least 10,000 years, we think taking a break from time to time is only natural. When he does go off though it’s spectacular, with eruptions of boiling water and steam reaching over 400ft.

The good news though is that Strokkur, which is around fifty metres from Geysir, is far more reliable, usually erupting every five to ten minutes. This eruption is not quite as big as Geysir, generally averaging around 50ft in height, but it is still very impressive.

It’s free to walk around the Haukadalur Geothermal Field itself, though there is now a parking fee of 1,000 ISK per car, payable via the Parka app.

Just be aware that this is an active geothermal area with thousands of gallons of boiling water pouring out of the ground, so take care when visiting and stay to the marked paths. Keep a close watch on children.

 

Gullfoss Waterfall

The last of the three major highlights of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss, which means golden falls, is where the name of the Golden Circle comes from.

Gullfoss is a truly spectacular waterfall, and is one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland.

The waterfall, which is on the Hvítá river, is found around ten minutes drive from Haukadalur. There are two main parking areas which offer different views of the falls, one at a lower elevation, and one at a higher elevation.

The views from both locations are worth seeing, and a set of steps links the two. It’s also possible to walk along the edge of the river above the falls for different views.

The falls themselves are across two stages, with the first around 36 feet in height, and the second around 70 feet in height. Before these stages there’s a wide three-step drop that spans the width of the river. The falls are impressive due to their large volume of water, with approximately 4,900 cubic feet of water passing over the falls each second in summer.

Gullfoss is beautiful in both summer and winter. In summer, it’s surrounded by lush green vegetation, and there’s a good chance of seeing rainbows in the spray if you visit in the afternoon, as we did. In the winter, it’s a whole different scene, with snow covered landscapes stretching off into the distance.

The Falls have a visitor centre, shop, and cafe on site. It is free to visit and park here.

As well as being an impressive sight in of itself, Gulfoss is also the starting point for a number of experiences that many visitors to Iceland are interested in doing.

For example, you can book an ice cave and glacier tour, or you can take a snowmobiling tour on a glacier. These are seasonal tours, but might be worth considering if these activities are on your wishlist.

 

Other Attractions On or Near the Golden Circle

As well as the three major attractions along the Golden Circle, there are a number of other stops that you might consider. Some tours will include some of these locations, whilst others will require you to drive your own car, and even to do a short hike.

These attractions are listed in the order that you would encounter them if you depart from Reykjavik and drive the Golden Circle in a clockwise direction. Some of them do require taking a small detour from the main Golden Circle route.

 

þórufoss

þórufoss, or Thorufoss, is just a five minute detour from the Golden Circle route, and we think is a detour that is very much worth doing.

The waterfall is just off Route 48, and there’s a small parking lot off the road. Note that you can’t see the falls from the roads, and there’s not much in the way of a sign, meaning many visitors miss it.

From the small parking area, it’s a five minute walk across flat ground to a viewpoint, where you can see the falls. You can also descend down the fairly steep path to the pool at the base if you are so inclined, but we thought the view was just fine from the viewing area.

The falls are not huge, but they are very picturesque. They have around a 54ft drop and are around 100 ft wide. They were also used as a Game of Thrones filming location. A good stop if you have an extra 15 minutes or so.

 

Laugarvatn Fontana

When you visit Iceland, the chances are high that you will want to take a soak in some sort of geothermal spring. Iceland has no shortage of these, from the famous Blue Lagoon, to hot rivers, and everything in between.

On (or near) the Golden Circle, there are at least three places for you to stop off for a refreshing soak, and the first of these is Laugarvatn Fontana.

The natural geothermal springs here have been a popular attraction since 1929. There are a series of experiences you can have here, including steam rooms, and warm pools that overlook the lake. There’s also a hot tub and sauna.

Those of you feeling brave can even take a refreshing dip in the lake itself, which is accessible from the bathing area.

Another reason to visit Laugarvatn Fontana, even if you aren’t planning on using their spa facilities, is for their famous lava bread. They bake their own bread using geothermal heat (a process that takes around 24 hours) and the end result is delicious.

Laugarvatn Fontana is in the town of Laugarvatn, which is on the Golden Circle between Thingvellir National Park and Haukadalur Geothermal Field. There’s free parking on site, but entry to the spa itself does have a fee, which you can see on their website here.

Towels are available for hire, so we recommend packing a travel towel like this to save on that fee.

They also have a nice on-site cafe which serves traditional Icelandic fare and snacks, including that delicious lava bread.

If you’re looking for a tour that includes time at Laugarvatn Fontana, this is a good option.

 

Friðheimar Tomato Farm

If you’re looking for a lunch stop on the Golden Circle that goes beyond the usual tourist cafe, Friðheimar is worth knowing about. It’s a working tomato farm with a restaurant inside the greenhouse, where everything on the menu is built around the tomatoes they grow on site.

The greenhouse restaurant has become extremely popular in recent years, so if you want to eat here you’ll need to book in advance via their website. They’re open daily for lunch from 11:30 to 16:00.

Friðheimar is located on Route 35, between Laugarvatn and the Geysir area, so it fits naturally into a clockwise Golden Circle route. The farm also runs horse shows in the summer months (more on Icelandic horses below).

 

Faxi

Faxi (also known as Vatnsleysufoss) is another beautiful waterfall on the Golden Circle, found on the Tungufljót river. It’s not a very high waterfall at around 22 ft, but it is 300ft wide, and is unusual enough to warrant a visit we think.

You can either view the falls from the road above them, or drive down to the parking lot at the base. It’s a popular place for salmon fishing, so expect to see fishermen during the fishing season.

The falls are around a five minute detour off the Golden Circle route, and if you have the time are worth visiting for some photos. There’s also a restaurant on-site here, Vid Faxa, which offers meals with nice views.

This private tour includes a stop at Faxi.

 

Brúarfoss

Brúarfoss is one of the most striking waterfalls on the Golden Circle, and one we’re really pleased to be able to recommend now. When we first visited, there was no official access. Visitors were often parking illegally and crossing private land to reach the falls, which wasn’t something we were comfortable encouraging.

That changed in 2023, when an official parking area and a proper trail were opened. You can now visit Brúarfoss without any of the access issues that used to make it problematic.

The waterfall itself is beautiful. The water flows through a narrow channel of blue-grey rock and cascades into a vivid turquoise pool. It’s not a huge waterfall by Icelandic standards, but the colour of the water is genuinely extraordinary. On a clear day, the blues are almost unreal.

The parking area is located in Hlauptunga, close to Efstidalur, and is accessible from Route 37. Parking costs 750 ISK per car, payable via the Parka app. From the parking area, it’s a short walk to the falls. There’s also a longer hiking trail (around 3.5 km each way) from a separate trailhead if you’d prefer a more extended walk along the river.

For full details, including a map, see the official Brúarfoss website. Note that the hiking trail is closed in winter, though the parking area and shorter access route are open year round.

 

Secret Lagoon Hot Spring

The Secret Lagoon Hot Spring is the second of the geothermal baths you can visit whilst travelling the Golden Circle. Despite the name, it must be said that the secret is definitely out on this one.

The Secret Lagoon dates from 1891, making it the oldest man-made swimming pool in the country. However, it fell into disuse until around 2005, when the present owner started to use it himself as a private pool, and hence it got its name.

Today the pool is open to all for a fee, and offers a lovely bathing experience. It’s part of a larger geothermal area, so you can also see a baby geyser (Litli Geysir) as well as boiling pools.

It’s around a 10 minute detour from the main Golden Circle route to get to the Secret Lagoon, which is found in the town of Flúðir. There’s a fee to use it, and you can opening hours and prices on the official website here. You can also buy your tickets in advance online here.

Your entry ticket includes access to the segregated changing rooms, lockers and showers. Towel and swimsuit hire is available as an extra charge, so we recommend bringing your own.

Note that in Iceland it is required to shower fully naked prior to bathing, and whilst the changing rooms and showers are normally segregated, there are not usually private shower cubicles. So do keep this in mind prior to booking any spa experience.

The Secret Lagoon can be visited on a self-drive trip.

 

Kerið Crater

Kerið Crater, also called Kerid Crater, is a lovely volcano crater and crater lake just off the Golden Circle as you return to Reykjavik.

The crater is one of the best examples of its type in Iceland. It only formed around 3,000 years ago, so weathering and erosion have not had too great an impact, meaning it’s very visually recognisable.

When you visit, you have the option of walking around the crater, and you can also descend the approximately 200 feet down to the lake itself if you wish. It’s a lovely colourful red colour with a fairly circular lake inside it, and makes for a great stop.

There’s an entry fee of 600 ISK per person to visit the crater, payable at the kiosk on site.

It’s also included on this tour, or this private tour.

 

Bobby Fischer Center

Those of you with an interest in chess will likely be interested in visiting the Bobby Fischer Center, one of the few museums in the world dedicated to a world champion chess player!

This is found in the town of Selfoss, and would be around a five minute detour from your Golden Circle route.

Here you can learn all about Bobby Fischer, often regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Bobby was originally from Chicago in the USA, but lived the last years of his live in Iceland, largely as a way to avoid deportation to the USA following his violation of US sanctions in Yugoslavia.

There’s a small entry fee, and the museum is open from mid-May to mid-September. See the official website for opening times.

 

Horse Riding

Iceland is home to the beautiful Icelandic horse, a tough breed which has a wonderful flowing mane.

Many people want to meet, take photographs with, learn about, and of course, ride, an Icelandic Horse when in Iceland.

As mentioned above, Friðheimar runs a horse show during the summer months. You can also pre-book a visit to the stables.

It’s also possible to take a tour of the Golden Circle which includes horse riding.

 

Reykjadalur Hot Spring

Last, but by no means least, on our list of attractions near the Golden Circle, is the Reykjadalur Hot Spring. Unlike the other geothermal springs in this guide, this one is entirely free to visit, and is also a largely natural feature.

This one is just off the Golden Circle, with the parking lot for the hike around a five minute detour through the town of Hveragerði.

Hot water bubbles out of the ground and joins a natural river, and you can get into the river at different points and relax in the pools. To adjust the temperature, you’ll just want to go up or downstream!

There are of course a few caveats to this natural attraction. First, it’s about a 1 hour walk each way from the parking area to the bathing area. The path is well marked and fairly easy to follow, but it does go uphill for quite a while.

Second, there are no formal changing areas, showers, toilets, or anything like that. There is just a wooden boardwalk area with wooden modesty panels, but they are not enclosed.

So if you are nervous about getting undressed in public, you may want to put your swimsuit on underneath your clothing before you start the hike.

There’s also no shelter here for your or your stuff. So if it’s raining, you’ll want to be sure to have some sort of waterproof cover for your gear.

We advise against visiting in winter or when there is a lot of snow or ice on path as it can be more difficult to follow the path and to distinguish safe and unsafe areas.

All that said, this is a really wonderful natural bathing experience, especially in nice weather. If you are driving the Golden Circle in the summer months when you have lots of light, it would make a great last stop on your adventure!

 

Itinerary for Iceland’s Golden Circle

If you are planning on hiring a car and driving the Golden Circle, we’ve put together this quick suggested 1 day Golden Circle itinerary that departs from Reykjavik in the morning and returns to Reykjavik in the afternoon / evening.

These timings assume an 8:00am departure from central Reykjavik. If you’re leaving earlier or later, just shift everything accordingly. In summer you’ve got almost unlimited daylight, so there’s plenty of flexibility. In winter, with shorter days, you may want to start earlier and skip some of the optional stops.

It could also be used as the starting point for a longer trip in Iceland, and for some inspiration in that department, see our itineraries for 3 days in Iceland, 7 days in Iceland, and the Iceland ring road.

Stop 1: þórufoss (~8:45am)

Our first suggested stop on your Golden Circle trip is þórufoss. It’s a pretty waterfall and it’s not usually too crowded. Depending on the traffic out of the city and where you are leaving from, expect this to take you around 40 minutes of driving. You shouldn’t need more than 10 – 15 minutes here.

 

Stop 2: Thingvellir (~9:15am, allow 1.5 to 2 hours)

From þórufoss it’s about a 20 minute drive to Thingvellir National park. There’s a lot to see and do here. Don’t forget to pay for your parking! Highlights include Þingvallakirkja (the church), Lögberg (rock formations), the various fissures, and the Öxarárfoss waterfall.

You can also book snorkelling here. You’ll want to book this in advance and expect to allocate at least 2 – 3 hours to them if you choose to do those, which will impact how much you can see over the rest of the day.

Otherwise, we’d suggest scheduling around 90 minutes to two hours for Thingvellir. There’s a lot of ground to cover and it’s worth taking your time.

 

Stop 3: Lunch — Efstidalur II or Friðheimar (~11:30am)

By now you might be getting hungry. You’ve got two great options for lunch in this area.

Our go-to has always been Efstidalur II, a farm restaurant around a 40 minute drive from Thingvellir. They have delicious food made from locally sourced ingredients, and we really enjoyed their burger. They are also famous for their ice cream, so even if you are travelling on more of a budget and are rocking a packed lunch, we highly recommend indulging in some ice cream anyway!

The other popular option is Friðheimar, the tomato farm greenhouse restaurant we mentioned above. If you’d prefer something a bit different, eating lunch surrounded by tomato plants in a greenhouse is certainly a unique experience. You’ll need to book in advance.

Expect to spend 45 to 90 minutes at either spot if you’re having a full lunch, or a quick 15 minutes for ice cream at Efstidalur.

 

Stop 4: Haukadalur Geothermal Field (~1:00pm, allow 45 mins to 1 hour)

After lunch, it’s a 15 minute drive to Haukadalur Geothermal field where you can see the bubbling mud points, steaming fumaroles, and erupting geysers.

This is a wonderfully photogenic location and is a lot of fun to visit. You’ll want to see at least a couple of Strokkur’s eruptions, so expect to spend around 45 minutes to an hour on site.

 

Stop 5: Gullfoss Waterfall (~2:15pm, allow 45 mins to 1 hour)

From Haukadalur it’s just a short 10 minute drive to Gullfoss, which is often the major highlight for most visitors touring the Golden Circle.

It’s not hard to see why, and this waterfall is truly impressive. There are viewing areas at two different elevations connected by steps, and it’s worth seeing the falls from both. Expect to spend at least 45 minutes to an hour on site. There’s also a gift shop, cafe and restrooms here.

 

Stop 6: Faxi waterfall (~3:30pm)

It’s time to turn around and start heading back to Reykjavik. If you’re still keen on seeing some waterfalls, then a stop at the quieter Faxi waterfall, 20 minutes drive from Gullfoss, is worth it.

It’s just off the road, and shouldn’t take up more than 10 – 15 minutes of your time.

 

Optional Stop: Brúarfoss (~4:00pm if visiting)

If you visited Brúarfoss earlier (between Thingvellir and lunch), you can skip this. If not, and you still have time and energy, the detour to Brúarfoss from this part of the route is straightforward. The parking area is just off Route 37, and the walk to the falls is short. It adds maybe 30 to 45 minutes to your day, and the turquoise water is unlike anything else on the Golden Circle.

 

Stop 7: Kerið Crater (~4:30pm)

From Faxi, continue on Route 35 for around half an hour until you come to Kerid Crater. This is another very worthwhile stop on the Golden Circle, giving you the opportunity to explore a real volcano crater up close.

You can spend a fair amount of time here if you choose to hike around the crater and go down to the crater floor, or you can just swing by and take a few photos. We’d suggest allocating between 15 minutes and an hour here, depending on your interest level.

 

Stop 8: Choose a Hot Spring (~5:30pm onwards)

If you are interested in visiting a hot spring in Iceland, the Golden Circle provides three options for you.

The two hot springs on the way around the Golden Circle, Laugarvatn Fontana and the Secret Lagoon, are very easy to visit as you travel round, and there are tours available which stop at one or the other.

See this tour which includes Laugarvatn Fontana.

Another option, if you are driving the Golden Circle over the summer months and want a bit of a hike to end out your day, then we definitely recommend taking the time to visit Reykjadalur Hot Spring.

It will take you around 25 minutes to drive to the parking lot here from Kerid Crater, after which you’re looking at at least an hours hike each way to reach the bathing area.

After all that hiking, you’ll likely want to enjoy the pools, so expect to spend around an hour lazing around. We’d not recommend doing this in winter, or if you need to get back to Reykjavik to return your hire car by a certain time.

From Reykjadalur to Reykjavik it’s about a 45 minute drive.

Another option is to add on a visit to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon at the end of your trip. The Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport, whilst the Sky Lagoon is closer to Reykjavik city centre. If you are driving yourself, neither are too great of a detour.

A quick note on the Blue Lagoon: the nearby Sundhnúkur volcanic system has been active since late 2023, with several eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula through 2024 and 2025. The Blue Lagoon has occasionally closed temporarily during eruption events. It’s always worth checking the Blue Lagoon website and SafeTravel.is before booking, to make sure it’s open during your visit. The Sky Lagoon, located in the Reykjavik area, is not affected by the volcanic activity.

The Blue Lagoon makes for a good option if you are flying out the following day as the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport, and there are hotels in this area you can overnight at.

It’s also possible to take a Golden Circle tour which includes a trip to the Blue Lagoon at the end of the trip.

Total driving time on the Golden Circle: approximately 4 hours

Total sightseeing time: 4 to 8 hours, depending on how many stops you make

Overall time: 8 to 12 hours. Following the itinerary above with an 8:00am start, expect to be back in Reykjavik by around 6:00 to 6:30pm without a hot spring stop, or 8:00 to 9:30pm if you add one in.

 

Map of Iceland’s Golden Circle

To help you visualise the Golden Circle and plan your route, we’ve put together this map. This has the standard Golden Circle Driving Route, as well as the major highlights and other attractions marked. You can see also see this on Google Maps here.

 

Where to Stay on the Golden Circle

The majority of travellers driving the Golden Circle do it either as a day trip from Reykjavik, day tour, or as the start of larger trip around the country.

However, you can also stay on the Golden Circle too, and thus not feel rushed to get back to the city.

If you have more time in Iceland, you can easily split it up into 2 much more manageable days and have more time to explore this route, with plenty of time for side attractions, day-hikes and thermal baths!

We’ve stayed at a few properties on the Golden Circle itself, as well as in Reykjavik, and wanted to share some options to help you plan.

Accommodation on the Golden Circle

• Héradsskólinn Guesthouse – A great value and well reviewed hostel close to the Laugarvatn Spa. There’s an on-site restaurant, and rooms range from dorms to private accommodation.
• Efstidalur Farm hotel – A lovely option that is close to both Haukadalur Geothermal Field and Gullfoss. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar, a geothermal outdoor hot tub, and they offer Icelandic horse riding in the summer
• The Hill Hotel at Flúðir (formerly Icelandair Hotel Flúðir) — We stayed here during a trip around the Golden Circle and it was very comfortable, with an on-site restaurant and outdoor hot tubs. It’s well positioned for the Secret Lagoon, which is just a short drive away.
• Garður Stay Inn by the Secret Lagoon – This is a well reviewed property which is very handy for the “Secret Lagoon”
• Midgard basecamp – Found in Hvolsvöllur, this highly rated hostel is a great budget option with a hot tub
• Skyr Guesthouse — An excellent option just a couple of minutes drive from the Reykjadalur Hot Spring hike start point. We stayed here for a night and enjoyed the comfortable rooms and delicious food in the on-site restaurant.

Accommodation in Reykjavik

• KEX Hostel — A popular and well-located hostel in central Reykjavik with a great bar, restaurant and social atmosphere. Rooms range from dorms to private doubles.
• Berjaya Reykjavik Natura (formerly Icelandair Reykjavik Natura) — This hotel offers free parking, an on-site restaurant and spa facilities. We stayed here on our first visit to Reykjavik.
• Guesthouse Galtafell – A good value option around ten minutes walk from the city center and quick walk from the BSI bus station. Offers both guest rooms in the main house as well as apartments that come with a small kitchenette. We’ve also stayed here.
• Grand Hotel, around 1.2 miles from the city center, offering four star accommodation, free wifi, spa & fitness center and free parking. We’ve also stayed here.
• Reykjavik Marina — Berjaya Iceland Hotels (formerly Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina) — A very central 4-star hotel right on the marina within a short walking distance of the highlights of the city. Rooms are all en-suite, some have balconies, and there’s a gym and restaurant on site.

 

Options for Visiting the Golden Circle

You have two main options for visiting the Golden Circle – you can drive yourself, or you can take a guided tour.

Guided tours are a very popular option, and because so many companies offer them, prices are competitive so you can get a full day tour at a good rate. See the next section for some of the tours and companies we suggest you look into for touring the Golden Circle, which includes both group and private tours.

The closest guided tour we found to the itinerary we put together is this full day tour.

The other option is to rent a car and drive yourself. There are a number of options for car rental in Iceland, but we recommend you check either Discover Cars here or on Northbound here.

Discover Cars compare a number of providers in the country so you can find the best price for you.

Northbound is based in Iceland, and they also search a range of providers with the added advantage that you can add the various insurances that are unique to the country should you so choose. This can help avoid the hard sell that you will otherwise likely get for these insurances at the checkout counter when you pick up your car.

See more on insurance in Iceland, plus general advice for driving in the country, in our tips for driving in Iceland post.

The Golden Circle follows good paved roads, so you won’t need a 4×4 for the Golden Circle. However, if you are doing it as part of a longer trip and are driving in winter, or are planning any time in the highlands in summer, you might consider a 4×4 vehicle.

At around 300 kms, the Golden Circle is easily driveable as a day trip from the city.

Fuel prices in Iceland have actually come down somewhat in recent years (roughly 185 to 230 ISK per litre as of early 2026), partly due to the introduction of a per-kilometre road tax that car rental companies add to your final bill (currently 6.95 ISK/km). You won’t need more than a tank to drive the whole Golden Circle distance.

That said, if you are travelling on your own or even as a couple, and budget is a consideration, you might find that a tour works out to be more cost effective than the cost of vehicle rental, insurance, and gas. This is because Golden Circle tours are really well priced in Iceland.

One practical tip for driving the Golden Circle: make sure you have a way to get online. You’ll want data for navigation, checking parking apps and looking up opening times. We’d recommend picking up an eSIM before you travel, as these are much more convenient than hunting for a physical SIM card at the airport. We’ve got a full guide to getting online when travelling if you want more detail.

For budget tips, see our guide to travelling Iceland on a budget for more tips on saving money in the country.

 

Best Tours of the Golden Circle

As already mentioned in the post, one of the most popular ways to experience the Golden Circle is on a tour. There’s a wide variety of Golden Circle tours to choose from, and taking a tour means you can just enjoy the sight-seeing without having to worry about the driving or other logistics.

Here are some suggested tours of the Golden Circle to consider, all of which depart from Reykjavik.

• An 8 hour tour which includes the three highlights of the Golden Circle plus Kerid Crater. One of the lower cost Golden Circle tours.
• A year round 9 hour tour which covers all the Golden Circle highlights and also includes time at the Laugarvatn Fontana.
• A full day tour of all the highlights of the Golden Circle, which includes the option to visit the Blue Lagoon as well.
• A 10 hour full day tour of the Golden Circle which also includes snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure
• A private full day tour of the Golden Circle which includes all the highlights as well as Kerid Crater, Faxi waterfall, and time for ice cream at Efstidalur II.
• An 11 hour tour of the Golden Circle which includes all the highlights, as well as an Icelandic Horse Riding experience

See many more tour options on GetYourGuide here and Viator here.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Iceland’s Golden Circle

How long does it take to drive the Golden Circle?

The driving time alone is around three and a half to four hours if you start and end in Reykjavik. With stops at the three main highlights (Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss), expect a full day of 7 to 10 hours. You can also spread the Golden Circle across two days if you want a more relaxed pace.

Is the Golden Circle the same as the Golden Triangle in Iceland?

Yes. The three main stops on the Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss) form a rough triangle, and some visitors refer to the route as the Golden Triangle. It’s the same route and the same attractions.

Do I need a 4×4 to drive the Golden Circle?

No. The Golden Circle follows well-paved roads that are maintained year round. A standard car is fine. That said, if you’re driving in winter, make sure you’re comfortable driving on roads that may have ice or snow, and check conditions on road.is before setting out.

Is it better to drive the Golden Circle or take a tour?

Both work well. Driving yourself gives you the flexibility to visit at your own pace, start early to avoid crowds, and add side trips like Brúarfoss or Reykjadalur. Tours are great if you’d prefer not to drive, and because so many companies operate Golden Circle tours, prices are competitive. If you’re travelling solo or as a couple, a tour can actually work out cheaper than car rental plus fuel plus parking fees.

Is parking free on the Golden Circle?

Not at most stops. Thingvellir and Geysir both charge 1,000 ISK per car. Kerið Crater charges 600 ISK per person as an entry fee. Gullfoss is the exception: parking there is still free. We recommend downloading the Parka app before your trip, as it handles payment at most sites.

Can I see the Northern Lights on the Golden Circle?

If you’re visiting between September and March, yes. The Golden Circle area has relatively little light pollution once you’re away from Reykjavik, making it a decent spot for Northern Lights viewing. Some tour operators run evening Golden Circle and Northern Lights combination tours. For photography tips, see our guide to photographing the Northern Lights.

 

Further Reading

That summarises our guide to Iceland’s Golden Circle. We’ve visited Iceland a number of times in both summer and winter, and have put together a number of detailed guides to help you plan your own trip. Here are some we think you will find useful:

• We have a detailed guide to the best day trips from Reykjavik, if you choose to base yourself in the city and explore from there
• We also have a guide to the best group tours of Iceland, if you want a longer guided experience. These range from a few days to a few weeks and cover all budgets
• For overall planning, see our guide to planning a trip to Iceland
• If you are looking for a self guided road trip in Iceland, we have some suggested itineraries. These include a 3 day stopover itinerary, a 5 day Iceland itinerary, a 7 day Iceland winter itinerary, and an Iceland ring road itinerary
• Iceland has lot of attractions to suit different types of traveller! For some specific advice on different sights, see our guides to finding puffins in Iceland, Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland, and waterfalls in Iceland
• If you’re visiting Iceland in winter, we have a winter packing list for Iceland, suggested winter activities in Iceland, and tips for driving in Iceland in winter
• A popular attraction in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon – we wrote a whole guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon to help you plan your visit and make the most of your time there
• Iceland is a fairly expensive country to visit. To help you save money, we put together a guide to visiting Iceland on a budget
• If you’re lucky, you might see the northern lights in Iceland if visiting in winter. See our guide to photographing the Northern Lights for some tips on getting great shots
• Speaking of photography, we have a guide to the best photography locations in Iceland, as well as a guide to finding the Iceland plane crash, which is a popular photography location

And that’s it for our post on visiting Iceland’s Golden Circle! As always, we’re happy to hear your feedback and answer any questions – just use the comments section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!