Getting from Reykjavik to the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a loop of three sights in southwest Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. It's an easy day trip from Reykjavik. You can join a group tour or hire a private driver, but I still think the best way to see it is to drive yourself, stop when you want and stay as long as you like. Here's how.

The route at a glance

The full loop from Reykjavik and back is about 300 km, according to Icelandair's own Golden Circle notes. The roads are paved and open all year, though winter brings ice, wind and short days. Plan on 6 to 8 hours with stops, longer if you add a swim or a long lunch.

Map points are approximate and the line is not the road; follow the route numbers below.

Reykjavik to Thingvellir

Take Route 1 north out of the city through Mosfellsbaer and turn right onto Route 36, which climbs over the Mosfellsheidi heath and drops down to Thingvellir and the lake, Thingvallavatn. It's roughly 50 km. You could do it in under an hour, but you'll want to stop for photos, so allow more.

Park at Hakid (P1), at the top of the Almannagja gorge, and walk down through the rift. Thingvellir charges a parking fee of 1,000 ISK for a car with five seats or fewer (as of 2026). Cameras read your plate, and you pay at the machines or online at Checkit.is. One payment covers all three main lots (P1, P2 and P5) for the day. The visitor centre at Hakid is open 9:00 to 18:00 from April to October and 9:00 to 17:00 the rest of the year, and its Heart of Iceland exhibition costs 1,200 ISK for adults. Give Thingvellir at least an hour. This is where the Althing, Iceland's parliament, met from around 930 until 1798, and it's where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart.

If you've booked a snorkel or dive in the Silfra fissure, the nearest parking is the P5 Valhöll lot.

Thingvellir to Geysir

From Thingvellir, head east on Route 36, then take Route 365 over the Lyngdalsheidi heath to Laugarvatn, and follow Route 37 to Route 35, which runs up to Geysir. Allow 45 minutes to an hour of driving.

Laugarvatn is a good place to break the drive. Laugarvatn Fontana has geothermal baths and steam rooms on the lakeshore and bakes rye bread in the hot ground. It reopened on 1 August 2026 after a full renovation.

Geysir itself, the one every other geyser is named after, has been mostly dormant for a century, according to Visit South Iceland. The show is its neighbour Strokkur, about 100 m to the south, which erupts every 10 minutes or so, sometimes as high as 30 m. Stay behind the ropes; the water is boiling. Apart from the geysers there isn't a lot to do here, unless you stop for lunch. Thirty to 45 minutes is plenty.

Geysir to Gullfoss

Gullfoss is about 10 km further up Route 35. It's two drops, 11 m and then 21 m, into a narrow canyon on the Hvita river. Allow at least an hour to walk down to the lower viewpoint and back up.

Be careful in winter. The lower path gets icy and is sometimes closed; Visit South Iceland suggests checking safetravel.is before you go. Wear shoes with grip, or bring ice cleats.

Past Gullfoss, Route 35 turns into the F35 Kjolur highland road. It's only open in summer and you need a 4x4. The Icelandair notes say it's typically open June to September and that there's no fuel north of Gullfoss, so fill up at Geysir.

Getting back to Reykjavik

You have two choices:

• Retrace your route through Thingvellir. It's the most direct way back, 2 hours or so.
• Loop south on Route 35 past Reykholt and the Kerid crater to Selfoss, then take Route 1 west over Hellisheidi to Reykjavik. It's longer, but you see new country and can stop in Hveragerdi.

Biskupstungnabraut (Route 35) runs 69 km from Route 1 near Selfoss up to Gullfoss, so the southern loop adds a fair bit of driving.

Can you do it without a car?

Not easily. Straeto's regional buses reach Laugarvatn, Reykholt and Fludir from Selfoss (routes 72 and 73 on the countryside fare tables), but no public bus runs the whole loop in a way that works for a day trip. If you're not driving, take a tour. There are plenty of day tours from Reykjavik with hotel pickup, and guided sightseeing tours are another option.

Before you go

• Check umferdin.is for road conditions and vedur.is for wind, especially from October to April.
• Don't stop on the road or the shoulder for photos. Safetravel says that's behind a lot of accidents. Use the pull-offs.
• Headlights stay on all day, all year.
• In December and January you get only four or five hours of good light, so start early and do the loop in one direction without backtracking. More in driving in Iceland and car rental in Iceland.

FAQ

How long does the Golden Circle take?

Six to eight hours from Reykjavik is realistic for the three main stops with short breaks. Add a couple of hours for a swim at Laugarvatn or a long lunch.

Do I need a 4x4?

No. The loop is on paved roads. You only need a 4x4 if you head up the F35 into the highlands, which is open in summer only.

Is it worth doing in winter?

Yes, if you're careful. Gullfoss half-frozen is quite a sight. Just check the weather and road conditions that morning, and turn back if the wind is up.

Photo by sayela