This article contains affiliate links. When you book a hotel, a car rental or an activity through these links, we receive a commission from the advertiser at no extra cost to you 💕. By using them, you support us while paying exactly the same price 🙏. We earn a commission from the advertiser at no extra cost to you 💕. Thank you!
Our partners
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 💥
The Golden Circle is one of the most popular destinations in Iceland 🇮🇸. This very touristy region, close to the capital Reykjavik, is home to three of the most visited sites in the country 😉:
- Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir)
- The Geysir geothermal area (Haukadalur)
- Gullfoss waterfall
The Golden Circle is often the first stop on a trip to Iceland, as it’s so close to Reykjavik 🙂. That’s what we did on the first real day of our 12-day road trip in Iceland, in March, and it would be hard not to include it in your itinerary 😎. We even ended it at the Kerið crater, on the way to Selfoss.
In this article, we take you to each of these sites in the order we visited them, with our impressions, the time to plan, the parking prices (the ones we paid and today’s) and all our tips for visiting the Golden Circle in winter as well as in summer 😍!
🗺️ Planning your trip? Find all our tips and articles in our complete guide to traveling in Iceland.
THE MAP OF OUR ICELAND ROAD TRIP 🗺️
To help you plan your itinerary, we’ve gathered every place from our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸 on an interactive map: waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, hot springs and stopover towns, all the way around Route 1. Click on each pin to discover the place in detail 📍. And to keep it handy during your trip, open it in Google Maps: you’ll find it easily on your phone 📱.
Our itinerary
Our trip to Iceland
12 days10 stops1 full loop of Route 1Dacia Duster 4x4 in winter
The stops, in order
- 1
Reykjavik
1 night
Arrival at Keflavík and car pick-up
- 2
Selfoss
1 night
Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið
- 3
Hof
2 nights
South coast waterfalls, Reynisfjara, ice cave and Diamond Beach
- 4
Reyðarfjörður
1 night
The Eastfjords and the pebble beaches of Hvalnes
- 5
Egilsstaðir
1 night
Seyðisfjörður, its blue church and its rainbow street
- 6
Mývatn
1 night
Dettifoss, Hverir and the Mývatn Nature Baths
- 7
Akureyri
1 night
Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss
- 8
Bifröst
1 night
Glaumbær turf houses, Grábrók crater
- 9
Hvalfjörður
1 night
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell
- 10
Reykjavik
1 night
Fagradalsfjall volcano, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon
DISCOVERING THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 🌟
Almost everyone drives the Golden Circle clockwise, starting with the sites closest to Reykjavik: Thingvellir, then Geysir and finally Gullfoss. That’s exactly what we did, and in our opinion it’s the best order: you discover everything little by little, with no detours 👌.
The three natural sites that make up the Golden Circle are all must-sees 💙. On this day full of emotions, we toured the Golden Circle by car 🚗, and we spent about 1.5 to 2 hours at each site to stroll around at our own pace. For me, discovering Iceland by car, at your own pace, is essential. Of course, you can also book with tour companies to discover this region by bus or minibus (it all depends on your budget).
1. THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK (ÞINGVELLIR)
Let’s start exploring the Golden Circle with Thingvellir National Park, also written Þingvellir in Icelandic, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its geological and historical importance. Just a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik, Thingvellir stands out for its vast rifts in the Earth’s crust, caused by the Eurasian and North American plates drifting apart 😱.
Around the park, several parking lots serve as starting points for short hikes 🥾. We recommend parking lot P1, at the visitor center. When we visited, we paid 750 ISK (about €5). Today, expect 1,000 ISK per car per day, a ticket valid for parking lots P1, P2 and P5 (2026 rate). Visiting the park itself is free.
⚠️ Watch out in winter: it’s extremely slippery! In the Almannagjá rift, then all the way to the waterfall, we almost fell several times 😂. Wear good shoes and walk slowly.
ÖXARÁRFOSS WATERFALL (THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK)
Öxarárfoss is a waterfall in Thingvellir National Park, named after the Öxará river. You reach it via a short walk on a well-maintained trail, either from the visitor center (parking lot P1) or from a parking lot a few hundred meters above the falls.
Very popular with tourists thanks to its easy access, Öxarárfoss often draws crowds, with tour buses stopping at the visitor center parking lot 🅿️. In winter, between the ice and the water freezing on the wooden walkways, this is where we slipped the most!
2. THE GEYSIR GEOTHERMAL AREA (HAUKADALUR)
We leave Thingvellir for the second stop on the Golden Circle: the Geysir geothermal area (Haukadalur), about a 50-minute drive away. The most famous geyser, Geysir, which gave its name to all the geysers in the world, is barely active today. But right next to it, Strokkur puts on a show every 5 to 10 minutes, shooting water to an impressive height 😱.
We must have seen at least fifteen eruptions, and we never got tired of it! It’s impressive because it’s so powerful, and very unusual: you wait, the water starts to bubble, then everything explodes all at once. It’s truly an experience worth living 🤩. Around it, you can also walk among the hot springs, the fumaroles and the bubbling mud pools.
🅿️ Entry is free. When we visited, parking was too, but it’s now paid: about 1,000 ISK, payable via the Parka app (2026 rate). You’ll also find a restaurant, restrooms and a gift shop right across the road.
3. GULLFOSS WATERFALL
Finally, the last stop is Gullfoss (the “golden falls”), one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, just 10 minutes from Geysir, at the end of Route 35. It drops 32 meters in two majestic tiers, with a flow that can reach 140 m³ per second in summer, when the glaciers melt.
We fell in love with Gullfoss 💙: when we arrived, a beautiful rainbow 🌈 was waiting for us, under bright sunshine. There are two parking lots: one at the top, with a panoramic view of the waterfall, the other lower down, which lets you get as close as possible via a path and steps (the lower path may be closed in winter).
💦 Gullfoss is in our top 3 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland: discover the 18 waterfalls from our road trip.
KERIÐ: THE FINISHING TOUCH TO YOUR DAY 🤩
After Gullfoss, you have two options: either head back to Reykjavik (about a 1.5-hour drive), or go discover Kerið, on the way to Selfoss. The Kerið crater stands out for its contrasting colors: intensely blue water and red volcanic rocks in summer, an all-white landscape in winter.
For us, the crater was snow-covered and the lake frozen ❄️. It’s nice to do, you walk around the crater in about twenty minutes, but it’s not the experience of the year either: worth it if you’re passing by, like us, as we were continuing to Selfoss to drive around the island on Route 1. Unlike the other sites, here there’s an entrance fee: we paid 400 ISK per person, compared with 600 ISK today (2026 rate).
🌊 After the Golden Circle, the road continues to waterfalls, glaciers and the black sand beach: discover all our stops in our article on the south coast of Iceland.
WHERE TO STAY TO VISIT THE GOLDEN CIRCLE? 🏡
The Golden Circle is easy to do in one day from Reykjavik. For our first night, we stayed at 201 Hótel, in Kópavogur, right next to the capital. And on that very first night, we were lucky enough to see the northern lights appear over the city 😍: an incredible start to the trip.
On the evening of the Golden Circle, we stayed at Lambastaðir Guesthouse, near Selfoss, a quiet guesthouse with a hot tub and sauna, perfect for heading off to the south coast the next day. Find all our accommodations in our article where to stay in Iceland 👇.
PRACTICAL INFO: TIME, PRICES AND PARKING FOR THE GOLDEN CIRCLE ⏰
HOW MUCH TIME TO PLAN FOR THE GOLDEN CIRCLE?
Plan for a full day. The loop is about 230 km from Reykjavik, i.e. 3 to 4 hours of driving in total, plus the time spent at each site. We spent 1.5 to 2 hours at each site: that’s the right pace to stroll around without rushing.
GOLDEN CIRCLE PRICES AND PARKING
- 🏞️ Thingvellir: free park, parking at 1,000 ISK per day (we paid 750 ISK).
- 💨 Geysir and Strokkur: free site, parking at 1,000 ISK via Parka (free when we visited).
- 🌈 Gullfoss: site and parking free when we visited.
- 🌋 Kerið: entrance at 600 ISK per person (we paid 400 ISK).
👉 Prices noted in 2026: they may still change, so check on site. Download the Parka app before you leave, along with our other essential apps for Iceland 📱.
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE IN WINTER
We did it in early March, and it was magnificent: snowy landscapes, half-frozen waterfalls and bright sunshine. The Golden Circle roads are well maintained, but check their condition every morning on road.is. Bring warm clothes, and above all good shoes: that’s the main trap in winter.
HOW TO DO THE GOLDEN CIRCLE?
A car is by far the most flexible option: you leave whenever you want and stay as long as you like at each site. We rented a 4×4 from Blue Car Rental for our whole road trip. All our tips are in our article on car rental in Iceland 👇
RENTING A CAR IN ICELAND 🚗
To explore Iceland, we think a rental car is the best option: you’re free to string together waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and hot springs at your own pace, and stop whenever a landscape catches your eye, without depending on organized tours 🏔️.
We drove all the way around Iceland on Route 1 in a 4×4, in the middle of March, and everything went really well. Here’s the agency we used and recommend, plus an alternative if you’d rather compare 👇
Our rental tip
Renting a car in Iceland
The agency we used, and an alternative to compare.
Blue Car Rental
Iceland's largest local rental company
We rented our Dacia Duster 4x4 with them for the whole loop around the island: we recommend them without hesitation!
Our budget€62013 days, full insurance · ~€48/day
- Tested on all of Route 1
- Insurance included, no deposit
- Free cancellation
DiscoverCars
Rental comparison site
To compare several Icelandic rental companies in a single search.
Excellent rating290,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 1,000+ rental companies compared
- Free cancellation
- 24/7 support
To compare before you choose
Good to know before you rent
- Gravel, sand and ashThe wind blasts gravel and sand onto the bodywork: make sure these protections are included.
- Check the roads every morningLook at road.is and safetravel.is before setting off: in winter, a road can close within a few hours.
- Your French driving license is enoughIt's accepted in Iceland. The international driving permit is optional: only if you want one.
- Photos and video at pick-upFilm the car from every angle when you collect it, to avoid any dispute when you return it.
- Fill up whenever you canGas stations are rare in the East and North, and often self-service: bring a card with a PIN code.
- Hold on to the doorsIn strong winds, a door can be ripped off as it opens: park facing the wind and open gently.
DISCOVERING THE GOLDEN CIRCLE ON A TOUR 💸
▶️ If you don’t have a car, the Golden Circle is very easy to do on a tour from Reykjavik: it’s one of the most popular excursions in the country. Some packages add Kerið, a hot spring or even a northern lights hunt in the evening.
In high season, I recommend booking in advance. You’ll find plenty of tours on GetYourGuide, most of them with free cancellation 👇.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As in all our articles, here are a few tips and tricks for visiting the Golden Circle:
- At each site you’ll find a visitor center, somewhere to eat and restrooms 🚾.
- The sites are free, but parking at Thingvellir and Geysir is paid, as is the entrance to Kerið.
- Drive the loop clockwise: Thingvellir, Geysir, then Gullfoss.
- The wind can be your worst enemy 💨: bring something to protect yourself, especially in winter.
- In winter, the ground is very slippery, especially at Thingvellir. We did it without crampons, but with good hiking boots.
- A car is highly recommended to visit Iceland at your own pace.
- No need to book to visit the sites if you have a vehicle.
- Your phone 📱 will be your best ally: the internet works almost everywhere.
- To plan the rest of your trip, read our 10 things to know before visiting Iceland and our article on paying in Iceland 💳.
The weather changes quickly, and an old Icelandic saying goes: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”
OUR REVIEW OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 💭
It was our first real day in Iceland, and it was exactly what we needed! The total change of scenery had started on our very first night, with the northern lights over Reykjavik 😍. Iceland is a fascinating country, where the simple pleasure of being behind the wheel, taking in the scenery and realizing how lucky you are to live such moments is simply extraordinary 😉!
We loved Gullfoss and its rainbow 🌈, and the eruptions of Strokkur, which we could have watched for hours. Not a drop of rain and bright sunshine made this day even more special. For me, it’s a must-see stop in Iceland, especially since it’s often the starting point of the trip: you might as well make the most of it. And if you’re continuing to the south coast, don’t miss the Jökulsárlón ice caves 💙.
👉 What about you? Have you been to the Golden Circle? Which site appeals to you the most?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOLDEN CIRCLE ❓
These are the questions people often ask before visiting the Golden Circle in Iceland. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add them to this FAQ 💬.
The Golden Circle is a tourist loop from Reykjavik that links three major sites: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. It isn’t really a circle, but a route that’s easy to do in one day.
In southwest Iceland, east of Reykjavik. The first site, Thingvellir, is about 45 minutes from the capital, and Gullfoss, the farthest, about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Plan for a full day. The loop is about 230 km from Reykjavik, i.e. 3 to 4 hours of driving. We spent 1.5 to 2 hours at each site, which lets you see everything without rushing.
The most logical way is clockwise: Thingvellir, then Geysir, then Gullfoss. That’s the order we followed. You can then finish with the Kerið crater on the way to Selfoss.
The sites are free, but some parking lots are paid: about 1,000 ISK at Thingvellir and Geysir (2026). The Kerið crater has an entrance fee of 600 ISK per person. When we visited in 2023, parking at Geysir was still free.
Yes, and it’s magnificent with the snow. We did it in early March. The roads are well maintained, but the trails are very slippery, especially at Thingvellir: bring good shoes and check road conditions on road.is.
Strokkur erupts roughly every 5 to 10 minutes. We saw about fifteen eruptions during our visit. The Great Geysir, on the other hand, is barely active today.
No, many tours leave from Reykjavik. But a car lets you stay as long as you want at each site and add Kerið or other stops. That’s what we did with our 4×4 rented from Blue Car Rental.
The Kerið crater is the easiest stop to add, on the way to Selfoss. From there, you can continue to the waterfalls of the south coast, then all the way to the Jökulsárlón ice caves if you’re driving around the island.
In Reykjavik if you’re doing a day trip, or around Selfoss if you’re continuing to the south coast. We stayed at 201 Hótel near Reykjavik the night before, then at Lambastaðir Guesthouse near Selfoss on the evening of the Golden Circle.
WHERE TO STAY IN ICELAND 🏨
During our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸, we slept in 9 different places, alternating between hotels and guesthouses, almost all booked on Booking. Changing accommodation every night is the best way to loop around the island without piling up hours of driving 🚗.
OUR TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE TO STAY
- 📅 Book ahead: outside Reykjavik, accommodation is scarce and the best places go fast.
- 🍳 Breakfast included: very handy, because cafés and restaurants are rare on the road. We often used it to make our lunch sandwiches.
- 🛒 A kitchen in remote areas: around Jökulsárlón, the nearest supermarket can be more than an hour’s drive away. Do your shopping before you arrive.
- ♨️ A hot tub: after a day in the cold and wind, it’s pure bliss. Several of our places had one.
- 🌌 Away from the lights: in winter, a place in the countryside gives you a better chance of seeing the northern lights right from your door.
- ✅ Free cancellation, to stay flexible if the weather forces you to change your itinerary.
HOTEL OR GUESTHOUSE IN ICELAND?
Both have their advantages. A guesthouse is often cozier, sometimes with a kitchen to cook your own meals. A hotel is more convenient for a one-night stop, with a reception desk, a restaurant and often breakfast included. As for us, we liked both. It all depends on what you want, your budget and how you like to travel.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST IN ICELAND?
Iceland isn’t a cheap destination, and accommodation is one of the biggest items in the budget. We paid between €78 and €162 a night for two. To be completely transparent with you: €1,366 for 11 nights, or about €124 a night on average (that was in 2023, prices may have changed since).
👇 Here are the 8 places where we slept during our road trip that still welcome travelers, in the order of our itinerary.
Tested during our road trip
Our 8 places to stay in Iceland
GuesthouseHotel
-
HotelReykjavik201 Hótel (Kópavogur)
Right next to the capital, handy for the first and last night of the road trip.
- Double room
- Breakfast included
- Close to Reykjavik
- Guesthouse
SelfossLambastaðir Guesthouse
A quiet guesthouse, perfect for sleeping after a day on the Golden Circle.
- Hot tub and sauna
- Breakfast included
- After the Golden Circle
- GuesthouseOur favorite
SvínafellThe Potato Storage
Our absolute favorite of the trip: an exceptional place at the foot of the glaciers.
- Our best place to stay
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Close to Jökulsárlón
- Hotel
EgilsstaðirHótel Eyvindará
A quiet hotel on the edge of Egilsstaðir, with a hot tub to unwind.
- Hot tub
- Breakfast included
- Near Seyðisfjörður
- Hotel
MývatnVogafjós Farm Resort
A farm on the shores of Lake Mývatn, chosen for watching the northern lights.
- Ideal for the northern lights
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Hotel
AkureyriCentrum Hótel
Right in the town center, a stone's throw from Akureyri church: you can do everything on foot.
- Town center
- Breakfast included
- Superior room
- Hotel
BifröstHraunsnef Country Hotel
A country hotel in the middle of nowhere, with a hot tub and a restaurant.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Guesthouse
HvalfjörðurHótel Laxárbakki
A stop on the edge of the fjord, ideal after a day on Snæfellsnes.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Heading back to Reykjavik
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL GEAR 🧳
It’s a question that comes up a lot when preparing a trip “What should I bring?” And in Iceland even more than elsewhere, because the cold, wind and rain can quickly ruin a day if you’re poorly equipped 🥶. That’s why you’ll find below the travel accessories we had in our bags. Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid paying for some of them on the spot, where everything costs much more 💸 These are the accessories we took to Iceland in the middle of winter 👇.
Our road trip checklist
What to pack for Iceland?
What we had in our bags for 12 winter days. Good news: the outlets are the same as in France, no adapter needed.
0 / 12 in my suitcase · check what you already have
- Essential
Cold & snowHeat Holders thermal socks
The ones we took: to keep your feet warm on walks in the snow.
- Essential
Cold & snowThermal underwear
Thermal leggings and T-shirt under your clothes: the basics for facing the Icelandic wind.
- Essential
Cold & snowWarm gloves
A pair of ski gloves against the wind, and a thin pair for taking photos.
- Essential
Cold & snowBeanie and neck warmer
The wind is often strong, especially near the waterfalls and on the black sand beaches.
- Essential
Cold & snowWaterproof hiking boots
Icy trails, snow and waterfall spray: dry feet all day long.
- Essential
ElectronicsPower bank
The cold drains batteries fast: your phone lasts until evening.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWaterproof phone pouch
To take photos in the hot baths with no risk to your phone.
- Recommended
Baths & waterMicrofiber towel
Light and quick-drying: handy for baths and hot springs.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWater bottle
Tap water is excellent in Iceland: no need to buy bottles.
- Bonus
Travel & securityEmergency blanket
Keep it in the car, in case a closed road forces you to wait.
- Bonus
Travel & securityTSA lock
To lock your suitcase on the plane, with no risk of it being broken at security.
- Bonus
Travel & securityAirTag
To track your suitcase if your luggage is delayed or lost.
THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 
Thanks for reading this article all the way to the end 🙏! We hope it helps you plan your trip.
A question, a doubt about your itinerary, or simply want to tell us what you thought? Write to us in the comments. Your messages also help other travelers plan their trip, and they always make us very happy 💚.
And if our articles are useful to you, a quick review on Google or Trustpilot helps us enormously to spread the word about the blog ⭐. Thanks for following us!