Golden Circle Guide and Tips | Adventures.com

About Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is certainly one of Iceland’s most beloved tourist routes. It is sometimes referred to as “The Golden Triangle,” as it features three stunningly beautiful locations: an extremely powerful waterfall, a geyser which erupts frequently, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The beauty of the whole region is hallmarked by incredible landscapes and unique sites. The Golden Circle is undoubtedly a precious gem of rare geological features that can barely be found anywhere else in the world, but which are so close to each other that you can visit them in just one day.

When these beauties are combined with local hospitality and traditional cuisine, it is not surprising that the Golden Circle tops almost every visitor’s bucket list. The Golden Circle is the perfect day trip from Reykjavik and is a must-visit for everyone traveling to Iceland.

Activities You Can Do While Driving The Golden Circle

The 3 Must-See Places on the Golden Circle

The classic Golden Circle tour consists of Iceland’s three most popular tourist attractions: Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. The route covers approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) and loops from the capital city to the center of Iceland and back. It is the perfect day trip from Reykjavík, especially for people on a short layover or those that simply do not have much time.

1. Thingvellir National Park

2. Geysir Geothermal Field

3. Gullfoss Waterfall

Map of the Golden Circle – Major Attractions and Detours

Here are all the highlights on the Golden Circle. There are many stops beside the main three, and everything is within driving distance from Reykjavik. It would be difficult to fit all of these, though, on a single day. We recommend picking just a few to maximize your time on the Golden Circle. Read more about these stops below.

Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park

Þingvellir National Park is one of Iceland’s most significant historic and geological sites. Iceland’s first parliament, Althing (Alþing), was founded there in the year 930 AD. Althing is the oldest still-operating parliament in the world.

Thingvellir is also renowned for its geology. Here, you can see where the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates meet as well as the way those plates have been drifting apart. A visit to Thingvellir will allow you to become better acquainted with Iceland’s greatest historical site. As you explore, more natural wonders will be revealed with each step you take.

The national park has a large Visitor Center located close to a viewpoint that offers an amazing view of the area. From here there are footpaths leading down into the fissures between the continental plates. The Visitor Center also offers an interactive multimedia exhibition, a small buffet, and a souvenir shop.

National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Thingvellir was declared a national park in 1930. A law was passed which designated Thingvellir “a protected national shrine for all Icelanders, the perpetual property of the Icelandic nation under the preservation of parliament, never to be sold or mortgaged.”

Thingvellir was nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 2, 2004. The nomination stated that the site is of outstanding universal value and should be preserved as a cultural site as well as for its natural environment.

Althing, the World’s First Parliament

Althing (Alþing) is the national parliament of Iceland. It was founded in 930 AD at the site where Thingvellir National Park is currently located. It was the first democratic national parliament to be founded in the world. Althing was an outdoor assembly held on the plains of Thingvellir until 1844 when the Icelandic Parliament moved to Reykjavík where it has operated ever since.

Geology at Thingvellir

Iceland resulted from massive movement between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. These plates have been drifting apart continuously, currently moving at the rate of about 2 cm (0.79 in) per year. This slow but violent process has been steadily forming the island’s landscapes over millions of years.

At Thingvellir, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plate boundaries are clearly visible. It is very interesting to see where Europe and America meet – but also move apart – in this stunning landscape. The Thingvellir area has a high concentration of volcanic activity and newly-formed lava fields can be seen in many places. There are several lava tube caves to be found in these fields.

Silfra Fissure

This unique place, Silfra, is a newly opened rift between the continental plates. It appeared after a major earthquake in 1789. The fissure is filled with meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier. Incredibly, the water takes up to 100 years to travel 50 kilometers (31 miles) through a lava field before flowing into the fissure.

Therefore, Silfra has the purest natural freshwater on the planet with visibility that can extend to more than 100 meters (300 feet) underwater, making it the most unique diving and snorkeling site in the world!

Geysir Geothermal Field

The geothermal field around Geysir is a world-renowned area for geothermal hot springs. The Great Geysir is the hot spring that many other languages named all other spouting hot springs after. The geothermal field is believed to have a total surface area of approximately 3 km².

Most of the springs are aligned along a 100-meter-wide (328 feet) strip of land running in the same direction as the tectonic plate lines, from south to southwest. You can explore the hot springs, see the steam rising from the ground, and smell the sulfur in the air at this phenomenal natural wonder!

Here you will experience some of the rarest manifestations of underground volcanic activity. A frequently erupting geyser is a sight that is sure to fill you with wonder and awe. Walking along the footpaths, you will see the incredible power of the Earth. Furious fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, boiling hot springs, and steaming ground covered with colorful minerals can be found everywhere.

The Geysir Geothermal Area also has a great Visitor Center. It gives tourists the chance to taste some delicious local dishes and shop for some unique souvenirs, many of which have been manufactured by locals.

The Great Geysir

The Great Geysir is the oldest documented geyser in Europe. It is the one from which English and many other languages adopted the word geyser (géiser, geysir, gejzir, etc.). The name Geysir comes from the Icelandic verb ‘geysa,’ meaning ‘to gush.’

The Great Geysir can hurl boiling water up to an average of 70 meters in the air. Once, in 1845, it is said to reached a height of 170 meters.

The Great Geysir was formed in the 13th century, at around the same time as the eruption of Mt. Hekla. A series of strong earthquakes hit the geothermal valley where the Geysir is located. It spouted multiple times a day up to the beginning of the 19th century. The frequency and the intensity of the eruptions are highly affected by earthquakes.

Around 1910, it was very active, erupting every 30 minutes. In the following years, the time between the eruptions increased up to six hours, until 1916 when the eruptions stopped.

In 1935, a man-made channel was dug around the edge of the geyser to revive its activity. It soon became too clogged and eruptions became rare yet again. In 1981, the channel was cleared so that eruptions could be forced on special occasions. Soap used to be pumped into the vents to make eruptions more dramatic. This practice was later discouraged due to environmental concerns.

An earthquake in the year 2000 revived the geyser and it erupted for two days straight, reaching 122 meters (400 feet) in height. The eruptions then became progressively less frequent until they stopped completely. Over the last decade, eruptions have decreased considerably and it is now considered almost inactive. Some minor eruptions took place in 2016, but nothing compared to its old glory. Whether its silence is eternal or temporary, no one knows.

The Great Geysir may not be an actively spouting hot spring at the moment, but its neighbor, Strokkur, most certainly is.

Strokkur Geyser

Strokkur (‘the Churn’) is currently the most energetic spouting hot spring in Iceland. It spouts every 5 – 10 minutes, generally to a height of less than 10 – 20 meters (32 – 65 feet), but sometimes reaching 40 meters (130 feet).

Not much is known about the age and history of Strokkur. It was set off during an earthquake in 1789, having been inactive for quite some time. In all probability though, it had been active before.

In 1815, its average height was estimated to have been up to 60 meters (197 feet). Strokkur continued to erupt until the turn of the 20th century when an earthquake blocked the conduit. In 1963, based on the advice of the Geysir Committee, locals cleaned out the blocked conduit through the bottom of the basin and the geyser has been regularly erupting ever since.

Geology at the Geysir Geothermal Field

The Geysir Geothermal Field lies on the outskirts of the neovolcanic zone from which it is drifting. It is, therefore, gradually becoming a low-temperature field. Magma may have forced its way out of the neovolcanic zone along one or more fissures, forming intrusions. This would explain the area’s sustained geothermal activity.

Earthquakes have caused significant changes in the neighboring landscapes and have created several new hot springs. Changes in the activities of the Great Geysir and the surrounding geysers are strongly related to earthquake activity.

Records dating back to 1630 show geysers erupting so violently that the valley around them trembled. In more recent times, earthquakes have tended to revive the activity of the Great Geysir which then subsides again in the subsequent years.

Hydrology at Geysir Geothermal Field

The geothermal field is located near active volcanic areas with the geyser effect caused by the proximity of magma. Surface water works its way down to a depth where it comes into contact with the molten rocks. The water then comes to a boil and finds itself under a huge amount of pressure from its own heat. This pressurized water results in hot water spraying out of the geyser’s surface vent.

At a depth of one meter (3.28 feet), the water temperature at Strokkur geyser is about 90 – 95°C. It rises continuously so that at 10 meters depth the temperature is 112°C (233°F) and 130°C (266°F) at the depth of 23 meters (403 feet).

When the water inside the shaft reaches its boiling point, it creates steam. The geyser erupts when the superheated water transforms into steam, creating a large amount of pressure.

When water boils further down the shaft, the eruption is more violent, as happens in the Great Geysir. But Strokkur fills up in just a few minutes, making its eruptions less violent, unlike the Great Geysir that could spend about 12 hours filling with water after an eruption.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The next stop on the Golden Circle Route is the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall. It is, without a doubt, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. The name Gullfoss directly translates to ‘Golden Falls’ or ‘Waterfall of Gold.’ It stems from the glacial river, Hvítá. The waterfall cascades stunningly down two huge steps (11 and 22 meters or 36 and 71 feet, respectively), descending into a deep gorge.

Gullfoss possesses immense power, which you can experience for yourself when you walk towards it. Here you can feel the spray of the glacial water on your face and, on sunny days, it is very likely that a rainbow will appear.

Standing next to this amazing waterfall and watching enormous quantities of water tumble with great fury into the deep and meandering canyon, you will appreciate the power of Icelandic nature. Gullfoss Waterfall is a magnificent natural site that no visitor to Iceland should miss.

About Gullfoss Waterfall

The water in Gullfoss Waterfall flows from Lake Hvítárvatn, which is on the southeast side of the Langjökull Glacier. Langjökull is the second-largest icecap in Iceland, after Vatnajökull. Water stemming from Langjökull Glacier fills the glacial river Hvítá, which in English is ‘the White River.’ This wide river then rushes relentlessly southwards.

Not far above the falls, the river turns sharply to the left and flows down into a wide, curved, three-step ‘staircase.’ Then comes the great fall, where the river abruptly plunges in two stages (11 and 21 meters or 36 and 71 feet), dropping into a crevice which is 32 meters (105 feet) deep. That crevice, which is about 20 meters (60 feet) wide and 2.5 km in length, is at a right angle to the flow of the river.

As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view so that it seems as if this mighty river has simply vanished into the Earth. The average volume of water running over this waterfall is 140 m³/s in summertime and 80 m³/s in wintertime. The highest flood volume ever measured was a massive 2000 m³/s.

The Gullfoss Power Plant

In the first half of the 20th century, a man named Tómas Tómasson owned Gullfoss Waterfall. Tómas was going to sell the waterfall to the authorities so that the first hydropower plant in Iceland could be built by the falls.

Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, loved Gullfoss Waterfall more than anything and protested greatly. Sigríður was determined to preserve the waterfall in its present condition, even going so far as to threaten to throw herself into it.

Thankfully, Sigríður did not have to take such drastic measures as the power plant idea fell through. Now Gullfoss is a protected site. There is a memorial to Sigríður Tómasdóttir at the top of the falls with her profile. As you look at it, be thankful to her that the waterfall is still there for you to see in all its glory.

The Best Golden Circle Tours from Reykjavík