Iceland’s Golden Circle: Popular For A Good Reason

Please be careful when visiting the Golden Circle and make good decisions!

The Golden Circle is neither golden nor a circle. The Golden Circle is really just a marketing term. However, that said, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go and experience this wonderful part of Iceland. What the Golden Circle really is, is a wonderful day trip for visitors to Iceland.

You can access this great day trip by paying for a bus tour or even renting a car and driving yourself to the big three stops. There are additional stops to visit along the way while exploring the Golden Circle, but I’m going to stick with the top three stops which make the Golden Circle worth your time and a day of driving or riding. The three places that make up the core of the Golden Circle experience are: Pingvellir or Thingvellir National Park; Geysir and Strokkur; and Gullfoss.

Please keep in mind that all three of these places are very much on the radar of everyone visiting Iceland. These are not places you visit to escape the hordes of tourists. However, each of these places is entirely worth every person that bumps into you, walks into your photo, or asks you for directions. Each place is absolutely wonderful in its own way.

Pingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is full of natural beauty.

Pingvellir National Park, also known as Thingvellir by English speakers, is a truly important site for the Icelandic people. Vikings established what is said to be the world’s first democratic parliament here in 930 CE. It became Iceland’s first national park in 1930. In 2004, Thingvellir also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To this day, you can still find some foundations from those ancient camps located in this park. This park is also known for being a place where the earth’s European and North American tectonic plates meet. Thingvellir National Park has some waterfalls, ponds, and streams. With the mountains behind all of these marvelous sights of natural beauty, you can be forgiven for thinking that you have left the real world and somehow stepped into a fairy tale.

You can find the Park Service Center on Route 36. If you’re arriving from Reykjavik, then the visitor center should be just beyond the intersection and on your left. I recommend that you purchase your parking pass and pick up a map of the park from one of the rangers there as well as buy any snacks and/or drinks you might require. Use of the bathroom was free with a purchase of food or drink when I was there. Note - the bathroom that I saw later inside the park was not free. When you’re ready to visit the park, you’ll make the turn onto route 361. You’ll be on 361 for only a little bit before you will see a fork in the road. Go to the right. You’ll see a parking lot called P2 on your right. I recommend that you park in P2, if at all possible. If you’re able to find a spot in P2, then walk up the hill in front of P2. That path will lead you to a T intersection. If you go left, then you’ll get to see Oxararfoss. This waterfall beautifully flows down onto some rocks. When I was there, the short hike to Oxarafoss was filled with many people. I recommend that you get some photos and enjoy the sound of the water roaring and crashing onto the rocks. I recommend visiting Logberg or the Law Rock next. Simply put this where laws were recited, speeches where given, and legal actions were given during the days of the Alpine or old parliament. It is a cool place to learn more about Iceland’s history of government and laws. From Logberg you should consider making your way up to the top of the hill.

At the top of the hill is the Hakid viewpoint as well as another visitor center and bathrooms that you must pay to use. After you’re done soaking in the view from the top, it’ll be time to make your way down again. I recommend making your way to the P5 parking lot at the bottom of the hill instead of the path you took to get to the view point. Walk through P5 and over the bridge. Make a left there and spend a few minutes exploring the area surrounding the church. If nothing else, it is a beautiful little walk. Once you pass the church, then you’ll make your way to the area where you walk between two continents. Look for Flosagja on your map or just ask someone walking by. The water in this rift was clear with an incredible blue tint when I was there. You might get lucky and see some divers exploring the rift. It is here that you can walk back and forth across the bridge between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It’s not often you get an opportunity to walk between two continents! Please respect the signs and don’t throw change into the water. From Flosagja head back to your car that you parked in P2 or explore more of the beautiful places found in Thingvellir National Park.

Thingvellir National Park is a must for nature lovers.

Rules of Thingvellir National Park

All of the nature inside the park is protected. Do not mess with any natural or man-made feature.
Do not damage the vegetation. No fires are permitted within the park.
No littering in the park.
Do not drive off road.
Owners must keep all dogs on a leash and clean up after their pets.
There are many fissures, cracks, and other hazards inside the park. Guests must be aware of this and take care when walking around the park.
You may only camp at designated campsites. Camping permits can be bought at the visitor center at Leirar. Camping quiet hours are midnight to 8 AM.
Angling or fishing permits are also sold at the visitor center.
Boats must not be launched from National Park Land.
Drunkenness will not be tolerated in the park. Expect to be kicked out of the park if you are drunk.

You can find additional information by visiting www.thingvellir.is.

You won’t be the only one visiting the park.

Geysir

Everyone is waiting for Strokkur to put on a show.

Geysir is another one of Iceland’s most popular places to visit. You’ll know that’s the truth when you see the parking lot or visitor center across the road when the area is busy. I had to find a parking spot way in the back, but thankfully parking is ample at the complex housing Geysir. The name Geysir means gusher. This is the water spout that all others are named after. Although Geysir has been active for maybe as long as 800 years, it has been in a period of lessened activity since 1916. Eruptions these days are rare, but an earthquake has been known to stir Geysir from its slumber. Have no fear though, there is another more active geyser that sits nearby. Strokkur is the reason you will visit the Haukadalur geothermal region. Most of Strokkur’s eruptions that I witnessed occurred within a few minutes of each other. It has been said that you’ll rarely have to wait for for more than ten minutes to see the hot water shoot into the air. Remember to stand down wind only if you want a shower. Also, be prepared for the sulfur rotten eggs smell. The geothermal area containing Geysir and Strokkur was free when I was there, but there is talk of possibly charging a fee in the future. Honestly, I think they should charge a small fee to get into the park in order to help raise more money to keep the area clean. The area wasn’t necessarily dirty when I was there, but there were so many tourists visiting during the short time I was there. I can only imagine how a few full trash cans could lead to a mess that could ruin the majesty of the geothermal area.

Strokkur putting on a show for the tourists.

Honestly, unless you’re taking a tour there really isn’t much to see once you’ve done the loop around the complex and watched a few of the shows put on by Strokkur. I recommend making this the spot to stop for food at the visitor center if needed and hitting the highlights of the complex. That will allow you to spend more time at Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, or add another stop to your itinerary for the day.

Gullfoss

If you’ve done any research already on Iceland, then you’ve heard of Gullfoss. Proof of that can be found in the massive parking lot for Gullfoss. When I was there the parking lot was just as full or even more full than the one at Geysir. It took me several minutes of driving around to finally find a parking spot as someone was leaving. There is a nice shop, cafe, and information center at the top. I recommend checking them out. If you haven’t heard of this waterfall, then boy, you’re in for a treat. This waterfall is a total monster! It is massive to the point that it almost seems unreal. If you’re lucky like I was, then you’ll get to see a rainbow over Gullfoss. The paths around Gullfoss are well maintained as indeed they should be. You’ll be visiting Iceland’s most famous waterfall with thousands of your newest friends. Be prepared to wait your turn to get a front row view of the waterfall from its popular viewpoints. Please respect the ropes, barriers, and signs telling you to stay back. If you cross the ropes or barriers and fall, I don’t see that ending well. It’s a long way down with millions of gallons of water swiftly moving below you. That awesome selfie or unique photo isn’t worth your life. Be sure to stop and read the signs that tell the story of Gullfoss and how it was almost destroyed by a dam being built. Thankfully Gullfoss is now protected after being donated in 1975. It is now a nature reserve.

For more information visit www.gullfoss.is.

These tourists are on the wrong side of the barrier.

Expect between driving and spending time at these three places for you to be out all day. In addition, you probably can easily make time to throw in an extra site during your daytrip. However, one thing to consider during your visit to Iceland is the amount of time you have available and how much of that time you are willing to spend at each place you visit. There is just so much to see! You might want to consider seeing Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss one day and the other places around the Golden Circle on another day.

Gullfoss will remind you how powerful nature really is.

Three Places to Visit on the Golden Circle