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The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most popular travel routes, bringing together several of the country’s most famous natural landmarks in one unforgettable journey. Along the way you can visit Þingvellir National Park, the original site of Iceland’s parliament and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, witness the erupting hot springs at Geysir, and experience the power of Gullfoss waterfall.

The route is accessible all year round, with main roads regularly serviced and generally easy to drive in both summer and winter. Many travelers choose to explore the Golden Circle as a self-drive, while a wide range of guided tours are also available.

Must-See Highlights on the Golden Circle

Þingvellir
Þingvellir (Icelandic "Þing": parliament, "vellir": plains) is a place in the southwest of Iceland near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area.
Geysir
One of the greatest natural attractions of Iceland and part of the famous "Golden Circle Tour", The Great Geysir, or Stori-Geysir, has been dormant since 1916 when it suddenly ceased to spout.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 metres and the lower one 21 metres. The rock of the river bed was formed during an interglacial period.

More Places to Visit on the Golden Circle

Kerið Crater
Kerið is a 55 m deep volcanic crater, about 3000 years old. It is a part of a group of volcanic hills called Tjarnarhólar and is now filled with water, creating a lake whose steep circular slopes rese…
Skálholt Church
Situated in the lower part of the Biskupstungur valley between the rivers Hvítá and Brúará, Skálholt is one of Iceland's places of special historical interest. For seven centuries it was the scene of …
BORG
There is a growing community in Borg in Grímsnes, where there is a wide range of services for locals and tourists, including schools, kindergartens, social homes, shops, accommodation, and camping sit…
LAUGARÁS
Laugarás is a vibrant village in South Iceland known for its geothermal energy, lush greenhouses and great visitor services. The newly opened Laugarás Lagoon offers a relaxing geothermal bathing exper…
REYKHOLT
The development of the small village Reykholt started in the first half of the 20th century, when geothermal activity was discovered in the area. There are numerous horticultural farms in the region a…
FLÚÐIR
Flúðir is a rapidly growing community in the center of the Hrunamannahreppur district, about 25 minutes off the main Ring Road. The area is considered to be very fertile and beautiful. Litla-Laxá, a c…
SÓLHEIMAR ECO-VILLAGE
Sólheimar is considered the oldest Eco-Village in the world. Sólheimar was established as a children's home in 1930. Still, today, Sólheimar focuses on offering people with special needs varied and cr…
LAUGARVATN
Laugarvatn is a shallow lake, about 2 km2 in size, and is located in the inlands of Árnessýsla, midway between Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir, 100 km from Reykjavík. Under its floor there are hot spr…
Brúarhlöð
Brúarhlöð is a narrow gorge in the Hvitá River about three kilometers south of the Golden Waterfalls (Gullfoss). The river has formed the rocks into beautiful pillars and formations through the centur…

Accommodation on the Golden Circle

Hotel Grímsborgir - Your luxury retreat in the Golden Circle
Hotel Grimsborgir is a four-star hotel located 70 km east of Reykjavik in the heart of the Golden Circle, nestled on the bank of river Sogid surrounded by stunning landscape. Some of the highlights of…
Hotel Skálholt
Hótel Skálholt is a house of culture that offers accommodation, a restaurant and a variety of events such as concerts, stand up, book presentations and more. The rooms are spacious and cosy and the ar…
Efsti-Dalur II
In Efstidalur you will get a unique and different experience. Right in the middle of the Golden Circle, you get a glance of the farm life in Iceland. This family farm has opened up for tourists and of…
Hotel Geysir
The trademark of Iceland, the great Geysir, gave the hotel its name and Geysir is situated right outside the front door of the hotel. Haukadalur is one of Iceland’s most famous historical sites, both …
Torfhús Retreat
The idea of Torfhús Retreat was to create an extraordinary environment for guests from around the world to enjoy the Icelandic countryside at its best. Our passion is to bring the rugged building trad…
Héraðsskólinn Historic Guesthouse
Staying a night should be more than just a place to stay. That’s why we at Héraðsskólinn Historic Guesthouse believe in more than just a room. With us you can walk in the footsteps of Icelandic histor…
Hotel Laugarvatn
Perfect location, right at the Golden Circle, a well equipped and spacious Hotel. Hotel Laugarvatn offers comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price. Our hotel has 30 rooms that sleep up to 80 p…
Vorsabær 2
Holiday houseCosy holiday house in the country side where up to 7 people can sleep. Vorsabær 2 is situated only 80 kilometers from Reykjavík. In the house there are 2 bedrooms, one of which has a doub…
South Central Apartments
South Central Apartments South Central Apartments offers personal home convenience while traveling in the south of Iceland. All Apartment units are fully equipped with easy 24-hour access and private …
Sólheimar History Museum
Sólheima history museum was offically opened in the fall of 2022 in the oldest house of Sólheimar. It‘s been renovated to its original look and there you can read loads of information about the histor…
Eyvindartunga
Set in Laugarvatn in the South Iceland region, Eyvindartunga farm cottage is a lodge featuring a terrace and mountain views. Guests staying at this lodge have access to a fully equipped kitchen. The l…
Miðdalskot Cottages
At farm Miðdalskot we offer 5 apartments for rent. Our apartments are fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and barbeque. Each apartment has two bedrooms each with two 90x200cm beds and a double sl…
Blue View Cabins
We are a family-run business located in the center of the Golden Circle, where we have many of Iceland’s most precious attractions around us, such as Geysir hot spring, Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir …
Blue Hotel Fagrilundur
Blue Hotel Fagrilundur is a new 40-room hotel in Reykholt in Biskupstungur.  All rooms have a private bathroom with a shower and a refrigerator with a freezer in each room so our guests can cool their…

Other (1)

Hotel Gullfoss Brattholt 806 Selfoss 4868979

Activities on the Golden Circle

Friðheimar
Food Experience In Friðheimar we create a pleasant Food Experience for our guests where lunch is enjoyed among the tomato plants, as the restaurant is located inside the greenhouse. Enjoy the special …
Arctic Rafting
From Gullfoss waterfall, a glorious canyon descends down, creating the perfect scenario for a fun rafting experience. The Hvítá river originates from Langjökull glacier and has a perfectly balanced mi…
Laugarvatn Fontana
Laugarvatn Fontana is the place for relaxation and an authentic Icelandic experience. Soak in the warm geothermal pools and get energized in the natural steam rooms, with the hot spring bubbling right…
Riding Tours South Iceland
Riding Tours South Iceland is a family company. Our goal is to meet the needs of every customer as best we can with personal service. We are located in Syðra-Langholt 3 845 Hrunamannahreppur. We are a…
Flúðasveppir Farmers Bistro
Flúðasveppir is the only mushroom farm in Iceland, located in Flúðir, only 2km from the secret lagoon and in the middle of the Golden Circle. We also own one of the biggest horticulture farms in Icela…
Secret Local Adventures
Secret local adventures is a family-owned business and was founded in 2016 and we are located 5 km. (about 3 miles) from the small town Flúðir. The company is owned by the friends Guðmann (Manni) and …
Understand Iceland
Understand Iceland is a family owned and fully licenced travel agency. We specialize in educational tours to Iceland for people of all ages. We lead you away from the tourist throngs to unique destina…
Laugarás Lagoon
Laugarás Lagoon is the newest addition to The Golden Circle, Iceland’s most popular tourism route. Situated upon the banks of the Hvítá river near the Iðubrú bridge in the town of Laugarás, the lagoon…
Arctic Trailblazers - Private Snowbike and Enduro Adventures Iceland
Arctic Trailblazers specializes in private snowbike and enduro adventures in the Icelandic highlands. Our day trips offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each ride is tailored to the customer’s skill…
Sleipnir Glacier Tours
Embark on an extraordinary adventure across Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier, aboard our custom-built Sleipnir trucks—engineered for safety, comfort, and an unbeatable experience. Designed…

Other (1)

Laugarvatn Adventure Laugarvatnshellar 840 Laugarvatn 862-5614

When to Travel the Golden Circle?

January
Ave. temp 1°C / 33.8F
Daylight hours 5
February
Ave. temp 1°C / 33.8F
Daylight hours 9
March
Ave. temp 2°C / 35.6F
Daylight hours 12
April
Ave. temp 4°C / 39.2F
Daylight hours 15
May
Ave. temp 7°C / 44.6F
Daylight hours 19
June
Ave. temp 10°C / 50F
Daylight hours 19
July
Ave. temp 12°C / 53.6F
Daylight hours 20
August
Ave. temp 11°C / 51.8F
Daylight hours 17
September
Ave. temp 9°C / 48.2F
Daylight hours 13
October
Ave. temp 5°C / 41F
Daylight hours 10
November
Ave. temp 3°C / 37.4F
Daylight hours 7
December
Ave. temp 1°C / 33.8F
Daylight hours 5

Watch a short video showcasing the main highlights of the Golden Circle route.

 

Print out a map of the Golden Circle route.
Open it in full screen, zoom in to see attractions, roads, and services, and then download or print it to take with you on the road. It’s ideal for marking your stops and getting an overview of distances and driving times along the route.
The Golden Circle Area - Banner Map