How to Explore Iceland's Golden Circle: What Not to Miss

Walking through a valley separated by tectonic plates, plunging waterfalls, exciting signs of geothermal activity – Iceland’s Golden Circle has it all. Here’s everything you need to know about the Golden Circle.  

What is the Golden Circle?

Following a (loose) circular course, the Golden Circle is a driving route that ticks off some of Iceland’s most incredible natural wonders. It’s the perfect introduction to Iceland’s dazzling landscape and a popular day trip from Reykjavík.

How far is Reykjavík from the Golden Circle?

Most Golden Circle day trips start at Thingvellir National Park, which is around a 1-hour drive from Reykjavík. It’s the most accessible day trip from Reykjavík that shows off Iceland’s extraordinary natural beauty. 

Reykjavík

Can you do the Golden Circle in one day?

Most Golden Circle tours are typically day trips. The drive without stops takes around 4 hours, but we recommend allowing 9 hours for the full experience. 

If you opt for a guided tour, you don’t need to worry about timings – this is especially useful in the winter months when there’s limited sunlight. The tour operator will maximise daylight hours and alter the tour depending on where is best to go and when. 

Where are the lunch stops on the Golden Circle?

Depending on the route you take, or the tour you choose, you can grab lunch at a few of the stops along the way. 

The Panorama Restaurant at Gullfoss sells pastries, sandwiches, and warming Icelandic soup – perfect in the colder months. The views are wonderful, too. 

The Geysir Center next to Strokkur Geyser is also a great lunch spot. There’s a mix of quick lunch dishes, like sandwiches and soup, and more refined meals, like reindeer pate and lemon sole. 

Or, for a unique and delicious Golden Circle lunch stop, hold out for Fridheimar. The family-run restaurant and tomato farm is an experience as well as a lunch stop, with tables dotted around the working greenhouse. If you take a tour that includes the Fridheimar stop, a greenhouse employee will give you a quick, interesting tour and a rundown of how the place runs. Expect delicious, ultra-fresh refillable tomato soup, lots of bread, ravioli, Bloody Mary cocktails, and more. 

Can you do the Golden Circle without a tour?

While most visitors opt for a guided tour, you can absolutely do it by yourself. Tours are an excellent way to relax, let someone else take the reigns, and learn from experts, but if you like to go at your own speed, then exploring the Golden Circle independently can be an incredible experience. 

If you go without a tour, you can veer off the beaten path and explore hidden gems, like Thorufoss Waterfall and Hrunalaug Hot Spring. 

Is it worth taking a guided tour of the Golden Circle?

The stops on the Golden Circle tour are truly extraordinary, but a tour guide’s commentary takes the experience to the next level. Learning about the history, folklore, science, and other factors, gives you a whole new perspective and appreciation for the places you’re visiting. That’s why we recommend a small group tour – like this one – where the guides are full of knowledge and share it with you the whole journey. 

The larger, coach-style tour buses are worth it for those who don’t want to drive in Iceland but also want a budget-friendly tour. However, the smaller tours are more comfortable and great for those who want to learn more about Iceland’s history, nature, and culture.

Gullfoss

How much is the Golden Circle?

Whether you take a tour or drive yourself, the Golden Circle is an affordable day out. 

Self-drive

• Thingvellir National Park: Free to enter, but there is a 1,000 ISK (around £6) parking fee. 
• Strokkur: Free
• Gullfoss: Free
• Secret lagoon: 4,200 ISK (£25)

Car hire, coverage and petrol prices vary but total at around £60 per day.

Guided tours

• Golden Circle including Secret Lagoon and Fridheimar with Holiday Tours: 18,041 ISK (£104) 
• Golden Circle with Holiday Tours: 14,490 ISK (£84)

What type of car is best for the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is a smooth drive, so an SUV isn’t always necessary. However, if you’re visiting in winter, a larger car is needed on the roads. The weather is unpredictable in Iceland, and it can snow as late as April. For peace of mind on the roads and a comfortable drive, we recommend renting an SUV. 

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is an excellent choice for Iceland road trips. You can rent the Eclipse, and other SUVs, with Nordic Car Rental. Their curated fleet of high-quality SUVs is perfect for wintery conditions, with new models, well-maintained snow tyres, and vehicles equipped with snow modes. You can find the best prices for Nordic Car Rental on Enjoy Travel.

What are the stops on the Golden Circle?

There are three main stops on the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Falls, and the Geyser hot spring area. Each showcases a slice of Iceland’s eye-popping landscape and unique topography.

Thingvellir National Park: Not only is Thingvellir a beautiful national park – the country’s first, in fact – but it’s also a site of huge cultural and historical importance. 

Gullfoss: One of Iceland’s most impressive, powerful waterfalls. The split waterfall plunges into an ancient valley, and it’s as magical as it sounds.

Geyser hot spring area: Check out Iceland’s subterranean heating system up close – but stay clear of the splash zone!

While all Golden Circle tours will include these three stops, some also include Fridheimar, Kerid Cater, and Secret Lagoon.

Strokkur Geyser

Is the Golden Circle suitable for kids?

Iceland is a natural playground for all ages, but kids’ innate imagination and wonderment will go into overdrive. The Golden Circle is a fantastic introduction to nature’s incredible diversity and force. 

The natural attractions are properly restricted, with safety measures in place – without taking away from the scenery. There are ropes indicating the safe pathways in the Geyser area, safety railings when needed at Thingvellir National Park, and secure viewing platforms by Gullfoss. Kids will love meeting the docile Icelandic sheep at Fridheimar, too. And to top it all off, the Secret Lagoon (watched on by lifeguards) is the perfect place for the little ones to splash around and float along with the pool noodles.

It’s also quite a low-effort tour – perfect for little legs. And for families with multiple children, keeping the kids close can be enough work without driving. A guided tour takes stress off the day, and you can focus on enjoying the sights and making memories with your family.

What is the best time of year to do the Golden Circle?

Iceland really is a year-round destination. From the snow-cloaked wonderland of winter to the lush, green paradise of summer, there’s no bad time to visit Iceland. 

However, there are contributing factors that might help you decide when to plan your Icelandic adventure. Wintertime brings shorter hours, but there are also fewer crowds. The season comes with its perks – there’s something ethereal about a waterfall  – but the regular snowstorms can be difficult to navigate on the roads. However, tours are led by experienced, skilled drivers.

Summer is Iceland’s peak season, so the most popular sights are busier, but there are longer daylight hours – appealing to those who like to pack a lot into their days. You can try more activities on the Golden Circle tour in summer, too, like kayaking on the Hvítá River. 

March and April are wonderful times to visit – you might just miss out on the unique icy landscapes of winter, but you’ll see the first signs of life start to appear. It’s not as busy as peak season, and if you shudder even at the thought of the cold, then you’ll appreciate the milder weather. The days are longer, too.

Is the Golden Circle worth it?

When something is popular, and particularly when we see it a lot on our screens, we tend to assume it’s overrated. The Golden Circle is a popular tour for several reasons: it’s accessible from Reykjavík, the attractions are truly unique, and it gives you a snapshot of Iceland’s history, natural beauty, and geothermal activity in one day. With tried-and-tested experience, we can absolutely say the Golden Circle is worth it.

Tips for the Golden Circle

• Take your own towel for the Secret Lagoon. You can rent a towel for 1,100 ISK (£6), but this is an unnecessary expense. Save the 1,100 ISK for a drink in the pool!
• If you don’t go with a tour company but want to visit Fridheimar, you’ll need to make a reservation. Tables are booked in advance.
• Do research before choosing your tour company. Lots of companies offer Golden Circle tours, so be sure to check reviews first. 
• Check how many spaces the tour company has – anything over 20 is likely to be in a coach. 
• Take extra layers, even if you’re visiting in summer.
  

Experts at Creating Days to Remember: Holiday Tours

While we generally prefer to explore independently, Holiday Tours’ created a well-managed, well-organised, and thoroughly enjoyable tour that has converted us. We loved our Golden Circle experience with Holiday Tours for a few reasons: 

• The guide was full of knowledge about Iceland’s history, landscape, culture, folklore, and more. Without his consistent stream of stories – punctuated by Icelandic music – we wouldn’t have learnt half of what we did.
• The tour was timed perfectly. When exploring somewhere exciting, you don’t want to be rushed. Additionally, you don’t want to be waiting around when you’re ready to leave. Thanks to their on-point timing, neither was the case!
• The guides know that most people don’t want to be amongst crowds of other tourists. Their tours are timed to avoid the larger tour buses and groups.
• Our guide had the perfect approach. While he provided lots of information in the car and entertained us, when we arrived at our next stop, we were free to explore by ourselves.

For these reasons – and many more – we would choose a guided tour with Holiday Tours over a self-drive experience. Interested? Check out our full review here.