Golden Circle

Golden Circle tours and attractions

Iceland

Things to do in Golden Circle

4.7/5 (87)

The Golden Circle is a tourist route located in southern Iceland that covers over 190 miles, looping from Reykjavik into the southern uplands and back. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland and takes about a day to complete a full visit in each of the three primary stops. These stops along the Golden Circle include: Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park,Geysir Geothermal Field, and the Gullfoss waterfall.

Thingvellir National Park is one of Iceland's most significant historic and geological sites. The national parliament of Iceland (Althing) was founded in 930 AD where the park is currently located. At Thingvellir, you can see where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet as well as how these plates have continuously drifted apart over time. It was declared a national park in 1930 and in 2004, the park was added to the list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one in Iceland.

The Geysir Geothermal Field is known for its hot springs and you will surely experience the areas underground volcanic activities. The two most well known hot springs in the area are The Great Geysir and Shokkur (The Churn). The Great Geysir is the oldest documented geyser in Europe that dates back to the 13th century. When it was active, the geyser used to erupt with heights of around 400 feet but has been dormant for many years. Shokkur is currently the most active hot spring in Iceland and erupts about every 5-10 minutes, reaching heights of 30-60 feet usually, but has reached up to 130 feet. If you get hungry while visiting this part of the Golden Circle, you can stop by the Visitor Center where you can enjoy some local dishes and shop for unique souvenirs that were created by the locals.

The last stop on the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss Waterfall. The name Gullfoss means "Waterfall of Gold" or "Golden Falls" and refers to the golden color of the water on a sunny day. This majestic waterfall is one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls and has two huge "steps", one 36 feet and the other 71 feet. When standing near the falls, you will be able to feel the spray of the water on your face, and if you are lucky and visit on a sunny day, a rainbow just might appear!

The Golden Circle is definitely a place worth visiting on a trip to Iceland and has much more to offer than just these three great sites. You can go snorkeling in between the tectonic plates, go whale watching, see the northern lights, and much more!

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TUI Golden Circle Tour
Activities

TUI Golden Circle Tour

Tick off three of Iceland's must-see attractions on this full-day tour of the world-famous Golden Circle. First up is a trip to Thingvellir National Park, the perfect spot for a selfie amongst a backdrop of glistening lakes and forest. Then, you'll stop by Geysir to watch Europe's only erupting hot springs. You'll round the day off with a visit to one of the country's biggest waterfalls - Gullfoss.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Classic tour of the Golden Circle from Reykjavik
Activities

Classic tour of the Golden Circle from Reykjavik

Book this full-day tour from Reykjavik now to explore Icelandic wilderness and see all the breathtaking sights along the famous Golden Circle route.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon admission tickets with Kerid Volcanic Crater
Activities

Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon admission tickets with Kerid Volcanic Crater

Visit Iceland's Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon in one day with admission tickets included. Stop at the spectacular Kerid Volcanic Crater.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle tour and Blue Lagoon admission
Activities

Golden Circle tour and Blue Lagoon admission

Book this Golden Circle tour with Blue Lagoon admission for a day full of excitement and relaxation taking in some of Iceland's most famous sights.

Duration up to 13 hours
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +5  nl, ja, fi, zh, ko

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Golden Circle tour and secret lagoon
Activities

Golden Circle tour and secret lagoon

Book this Golden Circle tour to see the best of Iceland's nature before enjoying a relaxing visit to the Secret Lagoon, a hidden geothermal hotspot.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +5  nl, ja, fi, zh, ko

Golden Circle and farm visit small group tour
Activities

Golden Circle and farm visit small group tour

Join in an unforgettable expedition with a small group to explore the famous golden circle, including the Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir geothermal area and much more.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle and Langjökull snowmobiling tour
Activities

Golden Circle and Langjökull snowmobiling tour

Combine the Golden Circle tour with a one-hour snowmobile ride and enjoy an adventure of a lifetime. Admire Langjökull glacier, Þingvellir National Park and the geothermal area.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Tour of the Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater
Activities

Tour of the Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater

Join the tour and visit the most iconic natural sights in Iceland in a single day.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon day tour
Activities

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon day tour

Enjoy a relaxing bath in the famous Secret Lagoon. See the magical nature of Iceland and admire geysers and waterfalls on the Golden Circle Tour.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle full-day tour from Reykjavik
Activities

Golden Circle full-day tour from Reykjavik

The Golden Circle tour shows you the best natural sights of Iceland. See the geysers, volcanic crater lakes, hot springs and waterfalls with an expert guide.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Small group Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour with admission ticket
Activities

Small group Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour with admission ticket

Join this small group tour of the Golden Circle combined with a bathing experience in the Blue Lagoon for the ultimate Icelandic experience.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Golden Circle and snowmobile glacier tour
Activities

Golden Circle and snowmobile glacier tour

Explore the Golden Circle and then drive an ATV on the black beaches of Iceland.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

How to get there

Golden Circle

Golden Circle

Reykjavik

Iceland

Reviews Golden Circle

5/5
William, Mar 25, 2024

“The tour was a full day of over 8 hours with some extra little visits given as well. Kristina our driver and guide was very helpful and amusing and talked us all the way round giving us a lot of very useful information. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone visiting Iceland.”

4/5
Nicky, Mar 17, 2024

“Tour guide Joanna was extremely knowledgeable and interesting with just the right amount of talking! We really enjoyed the day but would have liked a little longer at some of the stops to explore. We did have time to see everything and get a drink/food and a comfort break though.”

5/5
FM, Mar 02, 2024
5/5
Al, Feb 19, 2024

“A fantastic experience. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and the whole day was brilliant. Thank you.”

Reykjavik