Learn everything you need to know about driving Iceland's Golden Circle, the country’s most popular sightseeing route. Explore top attractions, dining spots, and self-drive and guided tour options for your trip.
If you're traveling to Iceland for the first time, the Golden Circle is one of the most popular destinations. Even if you've been on Golden Circle tours before, you can try self-drive tours to discover unique locations along the way.
The Golden Circle is easy to reach from Reykjavik and includes three of the most iconic locations in Iceland: a breathtaking waterfall, a geothermal area with hot springs, and a historic national park with gorges and ridges.
If you plan on staying along this famous route, book accommodation in the Golden Circle for a more convenient trip. After reading this article, you can choose the best route for your visit with our Golden Circle itineraries and maps.
Key Takeaways
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The Golden Circle is a 140-mile (230-kilometer) loop featuring three main attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
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A self-drive tour offers flexibility and freedom, while a guided tour provides expert insights and stress-free travel.
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Be prepared for varying weather conditions. A four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicle is ideal during winter months for safety.
What Is the Golden Circle?
In short, the Golden Circle is a scenic route between three beautiful natural attractions in Iceland. The main attractions include:
Instead of driving back and forth from Reykjavik the same way, people typically drive a short circle that's just under 140 miles (230 kilometers) long.
The Golden Circle shouldn't be confused with the Ring Road, an 828-mile (1,332-kilometer) drive around the entire island of Iceland. The latter can take several days to a week to complete.
There are hundreds of different Golden Circle tours to choose from, but if you'd rather drive this route yourself, here's how to do it.
Renting a Car in Iceland to Tour the Golden Circle
Self-driving the Golden Circle is a great way to see everything at your own pace. First, you'll need to find a rental car. If you plan on visiting during winter, you'll want to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle.
A 4x4 car is important to your safety on the road when there's heavy snow on the ground. However, the Golden Circle is the most popular route in the country, so if you find yourself stuck in a pile of snow, help shouldn't be far off.
In the summer, consider renting a camper van and spend a night at the campsite in Thingvellir National Park.
Iceland's Golden Circle Map: The Classic Route
The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most famous scenic drives, featuring a stunning mix of geological wonders and historical landmarks. The route typically begins at Thingvellir National Park, where you can walk between tectonic plates before heading on to your next location.
Golden Circle Routes and Itineraries
The Golden Circle route is extremely popular, and there are hundreds of ways to explore it. If you're looking for a good place to start, here are five of the most popular routes:
7-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland
This tour covers the Golden Circle with optional activities such as glacier hiking, whale watching, and visits to geothermal baths that can be added to enhance your experience.
2-Week Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland and the Westfjords
Embark on a 14-day self-drive adventure around Iceland's Ring Road and the remote Westfjords, including the iconic Golden Circle route.
10-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Top Attractions and Snaefellsnes
Enjoy a 10-day self-drive adventure around Iceland, including the stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle, and more. With accommodations and a rental car provided, you'll journey through diverse landscapes, ensuring a memorable Icelandic experience.
One-week Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland and Golden Circle
This 8-day self-drive tour takes you around Iceland’s iconic Ring Road, showcasing breathtaking waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and geothermal wonders.
10-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland with Waterfalls and Glaciers
Experience a 10-day summer self-drive tour around Iceland's Ring Road, designed for in-depth exploration of the country's south, east, and north regions. This itinerary includes the renowned Golden Circle route.
How Long Does It Take To Self-Drive the Golden Circle?
One of the benefits of driving the Golden Circle yourself is that you choose when to begin and how long you'll stay at each attraction. Since the Golden Circle is the most popular attraction in Iceland, hundreds of different tours go there every day. You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking the best Golden Circle sights.
With the flexibility of having your own car, you can choose exactly how long you spend exploring these attractions and which route to take. There are many possibilities.
If you want to rest, you can do the circle in the afternoon or evening. During the summer, nights don't get dark, so you could even go at night and visit the attractions under the midnight sun.
Driving the 140 miles (230 kilometers) of the Golden Circle can take as little as three hours if you take the shortest route. You could do the whole circle in about five hours with stops, but most people prefer to spend a few days to a week to self-drive the Golden Circle.
To beat the crowds, get up at the crack of dawn and leave early so you can spend the full day exploring at a relaxed pace. Perhaps you'd like to visit these attractions like the locals and then spend a night or two in the area.
Thingvellir National Park has a great campsite and a modern and stylish hotel. The Geysir Geothermal Area also has a luxurious hotel called Hotel Geysir and a campsite.
By Gullfoss Waterfall, you can find Hotel Gullfoss and multiple summer cabins along the way that you can rent for a more private experience. Nothing beats being in the clean, quiet countryside while sitting in a private hot tub on the deck of a cabin.
You could also add a 4-hour hike to Reykjadalur Valley and hot springs to your Golden Circle route and then choose to stay at a lovely hotel in the village of Hveragerdi.
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See also: Where to Stay in Iceland
How To Avoid the Crowds
If you're driving the Golden Circle, you're more likely to avoid crowds and enjoy greater privacy along the way. Most Golden Circle tours depart from Reykjavik between 8-10 AM or 12-2 PM and return by 8 PM. Select midnight sun tours are also available in the summer.
The busiest times at the Golden Circle's major attractions of Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir Hot Spring are between 9 AM and 7 PM. Plus, the long daylight hours in Iceland from October to February allow for longer viewing hours.
If you leave early in summer (or spend the night in the area), you can see the attractions in broad daylight before 9 AM or after 7 PM. These are perfect times to capture sunrise and sunset photos in the spring or fall or admire the northern lights during wintertime.
If you spend a night at one of the hotels or campsites in the summer, the midnight sun allows you to enjoy the area's natural attractions without too many other visitors around.
Golden Circle Sights and Attractions
As we've mentioned, there are three main attractions on every Golden Circle itinerary. Let's look at each one more closely before sharing ways for you to go off the beaten path when visiting them.
1. Thingvellir National Park
The first stop on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park, Iceland's first national park and the only one recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's 29 miles (47 kilometers) northeast of Reykjavik.
The North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and form a rift valley here. Within the park, you can take turns standing on the North American and Eurasian continents. The plates shift about two inches per year, causing ongoing earthquakes.
As a result of this ongoing activity, a fissure, Silfra, opened in the ground in 1789. It has since filled with purified glacial meltwater, making it a popular snorkeling and diving destination.
2. Geysir Geothermal Area
The second significant stop on Iceland's Golden Circle is the Geysir geothermal area, about 38 miles (61 kilometers) east of Thingvellir National Park on Route 37. This geothermal area is named after Geysir, a 59-foot (18-meter) wide hot spring active since at least 1294.
Today, Geysir, its name deriving from the Icelandic word meaning "to erupt," is rarely active. However, you can still see where it used to spout off, as well as other, more active geysers in the area.
Strokkur is a geyser that became active following an earthquake in 1789. It erupts about every eight minutes, shooting a water column 82 to 115 feet (25 to 35 meters) into the air.
3. Gullfoss Waterfall
Six miles (10 kilometers) east of the Geysir Geothermal Area on Route 35 will bring you to the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall. This is the third major stop on the Golden Circle in Iceland.
If you only see one waterfall in Iceland, make it Gullfoss. This natural wonder is fed by glacial waters from the Hvita River, which flow over the two stages of the falls at about 459 cubic feet (140 cubic meters) per second in the summer and 358 cubic feet (109 cubic meters) in the winter.
The first stage of the waterfall is about 36 feet (11 meters), followed by a second, more significant waterfall with a drop of 69 feet (21 meters). Thanks to the amount of mist kicked up by Gullfoss, rainbows frequently appear at the falls.
Gullfoss Waterfall is open year-round, but the path to the lower-level observation area is closed in winter due to icy conditions.
Meet-On-Location Experiences
Beyond the three main attractions, you can also visit other points of interest along the Golden Circle with meet-on-location tours and experiences, such as:
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Snorkeling in Silfra: Located in Thingvellir National Park, Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, offering crystal-clear waters for snorkeling.
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Snowmobiling on Langjokull: Langjokull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier, is near Gullfoss Waterfall, making it a popular adventure activity along the Golden Circle.
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Reykjadalur Valley: Bathe in a naturally heated river surrounded by scenic hills.
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The Secret Lagoon: A historic geothermal pool offering a relaxing soak in warm, mineral-rich waters.
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Kerid: A striking volcanic crater lake with vibrant red slopes and turquoise waters.
It's always a joy to explore new corners of Thingvellir National Park. No matter how many times you visit, it's possible to see something new.
There's so much more to Thingvellir than just Almannagja Gorge, Peningagja Rift Pool (the Money Rift), Silfra, and Oxararfoss Waterfall.
Autumn is a great season to explore the park when the low shrubs covering the area turn multi-colored. The ground's red, yellow, and green colors contrast nicely with a fresh snow layer.
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Read more: Iceland in Fall - The Ultimate Travel Guide
Tours will give you ample time at each location to see the main sights, but with your own car, you can choose to go for a short hike within the national park or perhaps bring a picnic and settle down in some mossy clearing with a view over the lake.
Most visitors stick to one section near the information center. But the park is much larger and encompasses the entire lake of Thingvellir, which would take about an hour to drive around or a one- to two-day hike (it's about 37 miles or 60 kilometers, but the route is almost flat).
Alternative Way of Driving the Golden Circle
Above is an alternative one-day drive map of the Golden Circle, as a local might do it. This suggestion is mainly for spring, summer, and autumn when the weather is pleasant and the days are long.
If you want to make this a two-day trip, we suggest camping in Thingvellir National Park. Of course, you can also choose to spend the night in a hotel somewhere along the way.
First, have breakfast at one of the best breakfast places in Reykjavik and grab some snacks for the road. We suggest trying out the pastries and coffee at Te & Kaffi, a popular chain of cafés in Reykjavik.
If you plan on making this a two-day trip, you can also buy some food for breakfast the next day or get something to put on a barbeque for the evening (if you like - you can also decide to do that later on in the trip).
Head towards Hveragerdi, but turn left onto Route 431, which turns into Route 435. Parts of this road are gravel, so take your time and go slowly.
The route is beautiful, and you likely won't meet many others on the way. When you get to Nesjavellir Geothermal Plant, you might want to check out their geothermal exhibition.
Continue along Route 360, a stunning gravel road that goes through the less-visited Grafningur area of Thingvellir. The winding road offers charming picnic spots and stunning lake views — perfect for a photo stop or a breath of fresh countryside air.
You can book a variety of cottages in this area. If you are driving in autumn (late August or even early September), you can also look for wild berries to pick.
At the end of Route 360, there's another geothermal power station, Ljosafossstod, that has a free, fun, interactive exhibition daily; it's worth checking out for half an hour or so.
Then head towards Skalholt Historical Site on Road 36 and then 35. On the way, make a stop by the crater Kerid, which takes about half an hour to walk around.
You can also stop by Skalholt to visit its historic church and learn about its rich past as the residence of Iceland’s bishops for centuries.
After lunch, head to the Secret Lagoon hot spring in the village of Fludir and relax for a couple of hours in hot water.
We recommend arriving early for a less crowded experience. Book your admission to the Secret Lagoon ahead of time to secure your spot.
Photo from Golden Circle Tour with Secret Lagoon
Following a soak in the Secret Lagoon, head towards Gullfoss waterfall. It would be best to arrive in the afternoon as most tour groups will have left the area.
After admiring the powerful waterfall and walking down the hiking path to its rim, it's time to head towards Geysir, which should also be relatively quiet in the late afternoon/early evening. If you've become hungry for dinner, you could check out the menu at Hotel Geysir.
For dessert (or an appetizer in case you'll have dinner later), try locally made ice cream at the Efstidalur Farm. If this is only a one-day trip, then head to Thingvellir National Park and go for a stroll in the evening sun before returning to Reykjavik.
On the other hand, if you want to camp for the night and haven't had dinner yet, shop for charcoal and something to put on a barbeque in the small village of Laugarvatn. The Icelandic lamb is highly recommended.
Make your way to your accommodation for the night, such as the Golden Circle Luxury Cottages, Golden Circle Villas, or Golden Circle hotels.
The next day, you can get up early and enjoy the quiet morning before most people arrive or sleep in and go for an extended walk around the area in the afternoon. You could be back in Reykjavik in the early afternoon (from Thingvellir, it's only about a 29-mile or 47-kilometers drive to Reykjavik) or spend the whole day exploring Thingvellir National Park.
If you are looking for more activity, you could book a snorkeling tour in Silfra by Thingvellir or a horseback riding tour on the outskirts of Reykjavik and get back to the city in the late afternoon or early evening.
FAQ About Driving Iceland's Golden Circle
How Long Does It Take To Drive Around the Golden Circle in Iceland?
Driving the complete Golden Circle without stops takes about 4-5 hours but with sightseeing, plan for a full day to fully enjoy the main attractions.
What Should I Not Miss on the Golden Circle Iceland?
Don’t miss Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall — these are the Golden Circle’s must-see highlights.
Can You Do Golden Circle Yourself?
Yes, the Golden Circle is easy to explore on your own with a rental car, well-marked roads, and plenty of stops for sightseeing. However, guided tours allow you to enjoy the views without planning logistics.
Do You Need 4x4 for Golden Circle in Iceland?
No, a 4x4 isn’t required to drive the Golden Circle, as the roads are paved and well-maintained year-round, but it can be helpful in winter conditions.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Golden Circle?
The Golden Circle is accessible year-round, but summer offers longer daylight hours, while winter provides the chance to see the northern lights.
How Crowded Does the Golden Circle Get?
It can get quite busy, especially in peak summer months. To avoid crowds, start early in the morning or visit in the off-season.
Self-Drive or Guided Tour? The Best Ways To Explore the Golden Circle
Whether you choose the freedom of a self-drive adventure or the ease of a guided tour, exploring the Golden Circle is an unforgettable experience.
A self-drive tour allows you to explore at your own pace, with options like this 5-day self-drive tour of South Iceland with the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon or the one-week South and West Iceland self-drive tour.
Guided multi-day tours let you explore more of Iceland with expert guides handling the logistics. They're especially useful in winter when driving conditions can be challenging. Enjoy the 8-day guided winter circle of Iceland tour and explore well beyond the Golden Circle.
No matter which option you choose, the Golden Circle’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and geothermal wonders make it a must-see in Iceland.
We hope this gives you ideas on what to do on the Golden Circle. What is your favorite attraction on the route? Where do you plan to go? Let us know in the comments below!
