Category: The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is the most popular day trip in Iceland, and for good reason. In a single loop from Reykjavík you get a continental rift you can walk between, a geyser that erupts every few minutes, and a two-tiered waterfall thundering into a canyon — all within about 300 kilometres of driving. For travellers with only a day or two in the country, it’s the easiest way to see a lot of Iceland fast.

This section covers the three headline stops — Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss — in proper detail: what makes each one worth your time, how long to spend, where to park, and the quieter corners most tour groups miss. But the Golden Circle is more than those three sights, and my guides cover the worthwhile detours too: the Secret Lagoon and Fontana for a soak, Kerið crater on the way back, the tomato farm at Friðheimar for lunch, and the Bruarfoss hike for travellers willing to walk a bit for a waterfall most visitors never reach.

I’m honest about how to do it, too. Whether self-driving beats a guided tour for your trip, which order to do the stops in to dodge the bus crowds, and how the route changes between a long summer day and a short, icy winter one. I’ll also tell you when the Golden Circle is enough — and when you’re better off pushing on to the South Coast instead.

Many of the operators, restaurants, and spas along the route partner with me, and my newsletter subscribers get exclusive discount codes for a long list of them.

Browse the guides below and you’ll plan a Golden Circle day that fits your pace — not the tour bus timetable.