Golden Circle Iceland Holidays
Golden Circle
Holidays
Iceland's most iconic day trip — three of the country's greatest natural wonders in a single 300km loop: the ancient parliament at Þingvellir, the erupting Strokkur geyser and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall
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Flight Time
2h 45min to Reykjavík (KEF), then 45min–1.5h by road to the Golden Circle sites
Best Time
June to August (long daylight hours, all roads open, best weather); February to April (Northern Lights possible en route, dramatic snow-covered landscapes); accessible year-round
Country
Iceland
Suppliers
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Golden Circle Holiday Guide
The Golden Circle is the most efficient way to experience Iceland's greatest natural highlights — three world-class sites in a single day's driving, all within 130km of Reykjavík. It works perfectly as a day trip from the capital, but staying overnight in the area (Laugarvatn, Selfoss or Flúðir) allows a much more relaxed pace and the chance to add the Secret Lagoon, Kerið crater and Friðheimar without rushing.
Self-driving vs guided tour: A rental car gives the most flexibility — you can stop when you want, spend as long as you like at each site and add the lesser-visited stops (Kerið, Friðheimar, Secret Lagoon) that guided tours often skip. The route is straightforward and well-signposted. Guided day tours from Reykjavík (from approximately £60pp, 8-10 hours) are excellent if you prefer not to drive — most include Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss with commentary.
Recommended order: Þingvellir first (closest to Reykjavík, best in morning light), then Geysir (midday — the geyser erupts regardless of time), then Gullfoss (afternoon light on the falls is beautiful), then Secret Lagoon or Kerið on the return. Allow at least 1.5 hours at Þingvellir, 1 hour at Geysir and 1 hour at Gullfoss.
Winter driving: The Golden Circle is accessible year-round but winter driving requires care — roads can be icy and conditions change rapidly. Rent a 4WD with winter tyres (mandatory in Iceland from November to April), check road conditions at road.is before setting out, and allow extra time. The reward is extraordinary: snow-covered lava fields, frozen waterfalls and (on clear nights) the Northern Lights above Þingvellir.
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Average Temperatures
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0°C
Feb
1°C
Mar
2°C
Apr
5°C
May
9°C
Jun
12°C
Jul
13°C
Aug
13°C
Sep
9°C
Oct
5°C
Nov
2°C
Dec
1°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Golden Circle
The tectonic rift valley, erupting geysers, thundering waterfalls, volcanic craters and geothermal pools that make the Golden Circle the most rewarding single day's driving in Europe.
Þingvellir National Park — Where Two Continents Meet
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is Iceland's most historically and geologically significant site — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the world's oldest parliament (the Alþingi) was established in 930 AD and where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are visibly pulling apart at a rate of approximately 2cm per year. The Almannagjá rift valley (a dramatic canyon up to 40m deep and 7.7km long) marks the boundary between the two plates — walking through it is one of the most extraordinary geological experiences in the world. The Öxará river flows through the park and into Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural lake. The site of the original Alþingi (the Lögberg, or Law Rock, where the Lawspeaker recited the laws from memory each year) is marked by an Icelandic flag. The park is also excellent for hiking, bird watching and (in winter) ice climbing on the frozen canyon walls.
Silfra Fissure — Snorkelling Between Two Continents
Silfra is one of the most extraordinary dive and snorkel sites in the world — a fissure in the Þingvellir rift valley filled with glacial meltwater from the Langjökull glacier, filtered through porous lava rock for 30-100 years before emerging at Silfra with a visibility of over 100m (among the clearest freshwater in the world). Snorkelling or diving in Silfra means floating between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates — you can touch both continents simultaneously. The water temperature is a constant 2-4°C year-round (dry suits are provided by tour operators — no prior diving experience needed for snorkelling). The colours are extraordinary: the 'Silfra Cathedral' section has walls of vivid green algae ('troll hair') and the visibility extends so far that the fissure appears to go on forever. Tours depart from Reykjavík and include transport, equipment and a guide.
Strokkur Geyser — Erupting Every Five Minutes
The Geysir geothermal area is home to Strokkur — one of the most reliably active geysers in the world, erupting every 5-10 minutes to heights of 15-40m (occasionally higher). The eruption sequence is hypnotic: the water in the vent bulges upward into a blue dome, then explodes skyward in a column of boiling water and steam before collapsing back into the vent. The area is named after the Great Geysir (from which the English word 'geyser' derives) — the original geyser that erupted to heights of 70m but is now largely dormant, erupting only occasionally after earthquakes. The geothermal field around the geysers is extraordinary — boiling mud pools, steaming vents and brilliantly coloured mineral deposits cover the hillside. The visitor centre has an excellent exhibition on geothermal energy and Iceland's volcanic geology. Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the tour bus crowds.
Gullfoss — The Golden Waterfall
Gullfoss ('Golden Falls') is one of Iceland's most powerful and dramatic waterfalls — the Hvítá river, swollen with glacial meltwater from the Langjökull glacier, plunges in two stages (11m then 21m) into a 70m deep canyon, generating a permanent rainbow in the spray on sunny days and a roar audible from kilometres away. The viewing platforms (upper and lower, both accessible on foot) bring you close enough to feel the spray — in winter, the falls are partially frozen and the ice formations are extraordinary. Gullfoss was nearly destroyed in the 1920s when a foreign investor planned to harness it for a hydroelectric scheme — it was saved by the passionate campaigning of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the farmer's daughter who threatened to throw herself into the falls if the plan went ahead. A monument to her stands near the upper viewing platform.
Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake
Kerið is one of Iceland's most visually striking volcanic features — a 3,000-year-old explosion crater (55m deep, 170m wide) filled with a vivid turquoise-green lake, its steep walls striped in red, black and ochre volcanic rock. Unlike most Icelandic craters, Kerið is believed to have formed not by a violent explosion but by the collapse of a magma chamber after the volcano exhausted its supply — the result is a perfectly bowl-shaped depression with unusually colourful walls. A path runs around the entire rim (approximately 15 minutes) and a steeper path descends to the lake shore. Kerið is a small but unmissable addition to the Golden Circle route — it adds only 15 minutes to the journey and the colours are extraordinary, particularly in low winter light. The Icelandic musician Björk once performed a concert on a floating platform in the crater lake.
Secret Lagoon — Iceland's Oldest Geothermal Pool
The Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin) in the village of Flúðir is Iceland's oldest swimming pool — a natural geothermal pool that has been used for bathing since 1891, set in a field of steaming hot springs and geothermal vents. Unlike the Blue Lagoon (which is a man-made facility built around a power plant by-product), the Secret Lagoon is a genuine natural hot spring — the water temperature is a consistent 38-40°C, the surroundings are wild and natural, and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. A small geyser erupts every few minutes at the edge of the pool. The Secret Lagoon is significantly less crowded and less expensive than the Blue Lagoon (approximately £25pp vs £60pp+) and is perfectly positioned as a late-afternoon stop on the Golden Circle route before returning to Reykjavík. Advance booking is recommended in peak season.
Friðheimar — Geothermal Tomatoes, Horses & Lunch
Friðheimar is one of the most charming and unexpected stops on the Golden Circle — a working geothermal greenhouse farm near Reykholt that grows tomatoes year-round using Iceland's abundant geothermal energy, and serves lunch in the greenhouse itself surrounded by the tomato plants. The tomato soup (made entirely from their own tomatoes) is legendary — one of the best meals on the Golden Circle route. The farm also breeds Icelandic horses and offers horse shows demonstrating the unique tölt gait (a smooth, four-beat ambling gait found only in the Icelandic breed). The greenhouse lunch is popular — advance booking essential. Friðheimar is a perfect example of how Iceland uses its extraordinary geothermal resources: the greenhouses are heated entirely by geothermal energy, allowing tropical crops to grow at 64°N latitude.
Laugarvatn Fontana — Lakeside Geothermal Spa
Laugarvatn Fontana is a small, beautifully designed geothermal spa on the shore of Lake Laugarvatn — a series of steam rooms, geothermal pools and an outdoor pool with views over the lake and the surrounding mountains, built directly above natural hot springs that bubble up through the floor of the steam rooms. The spa is far less crowded than the Blue Lagoon and has a more authentic, local atmosphere — it is used by Icelandic families as well as tourists. The lake itself is geothermally heated in places and swimmable in summer. The Fontana bakery bakes traditional Icelandic rye bread (rúgbrauð) in a pot buried in the geothermal ground beside the lake — the bread is slow-cooked for 24 hours by the earth's heat and served warm with Icelandic butter. The village of Laugarvatn is also home to a good hotel and restaurant, making it an excellent overnight stop on the Golden Circle.
Explore Golden Circle on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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