The Golden Circle is the most popular touristic route in Iceland and consists of the 3 following main sights: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall. Starting from central Reykjavík you can reach all of them within 116 km (72 miles). You will first pass through Thingvellir, then Geysir and – last but not least – beautiful Gullfoss. The roads are all paved and well maintained.
If you then continue to Mirror Lodge, it will only take you around 15 minutes to enjoy the comforts of your exclusive accommodation! The driving time from Geysir is 5 minutes. For increased privacy the exact location will only be revealed upon booking.
Below you can find a Golden Circle Iceland map as well as a list of my favorite stops along the route.
Thingvellir is the oldest of 3 national parks in Iceland, and was founded in 1930. It is also a World Heritage Site since 2004.
The area is geologically and historically noteworthy: Thingvellir is located at the junction of two tectonic plates, which creates major rifts in the ground and enables you to walk between the continents! It is also the birth ground of the Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, which was established in Thingvellir in 930 AD – it eventually moved to Reykjavík in 1881.
In Thingvellir you can enjoy beautiful sights like the waterfall Öxarárfoss, the canyon Almannagjá and the crystal clear Silfra fissure, where snorkeling tours are offered.
Geysir is the erupting hot spring that actually gave its name to all others geysers – worldwide! It has recently been inactive, but the neighboring geyser Strokkur offers an equally impressive display, and erupts every 5-10 minutes. Geysir and Strokkur are located in a geothermal area called Haukadalur.
Visiting Geysir you will see steam rising from the ground, hear the gurgling noises of bubbling hot springs and witness an amazing color display. The minerals in the ground create beautiful tones of yellow, blue and copper.
At Geysir you can also find a very nice restaurant, a lunch time canteen and café. Geysir is only a 5 minutes drive away from Mirror Lodge Iceland.
Gullfoss, meaning “the golden waterfall”, is an impressive feature, just 10 minutes drive from Geysir. The glacier river Hvítá plunges over two steps in a 32 meter deep canyon, creating this amazing natural display. The two cascades are creating a powerful spray, and if you are lucky you will see a rainbow!
The massive power of Gullfoss was once supposed to be used to generate energy. We need to thank the energetic and resistant Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of the landowner, who prevented the plan of a hydroelectric power station: In the beginning of the 20th century she walked to Reykjavík many times to meet with her lawyer (a distance of over 100 kilometers!) and finally won the battle against an English businessman.
Below you can find other spots I marked in the Golden Circle Iceland map , which make for great stops along the route!
Here you can enjoy short guided tours of the caves named Laugarvatnshellar, where people actually used to live in the beginning of the 20th century. The caves were now rebuilt to resemble how they used to look like, approximately 100 years ago. More information can be found here.
The Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths are located in the village of Laugarvatn, adjoining beautiful lake Laugarvatn. The geothermal activity in the region is said to be the reason for the settlement, and the hot springs have since been used for all kinds of practical as well as wellness purposes. Locals even bake bread in the ground close to the lake.
The baths offer modern comfort and several hot tubs as well as a small heated swimming pool. You should not miss the steam baths, which are build directly over a hot spring. You can even try a dip in lake Laugarvatn, which surely will get your blood flowing. If you are hungry after your bath, there is also a canteen style restaurant.
This waterfall has a fascinating blue color, and although it is not as high or powerful as Gullfoss, it has its own magic. You can use the new paid parking lot, from which Brúarfoss is just a few steps away. Alternatively, a marked trail leads from the “old” parking lot along the Brúará River, a total of 3.5 km each way. The hike is relatively easy, but depending on the weather of the previous days, some sections can be quite muddy. Please note that there are no toilets along the way.
Once you arrive at Brúarfoss, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view from the bridge over the river.
Faxi is another beautiful waterfall in the region. The Tungufljót river flows over a 80 meters wide step, creating this idyllic natural display. There is an official parking lot where you will be charged a small fee for the stay. From the lot you can walk down to the waterfall and all the way to the lower level. You will see an interesting feature next to the waterfall: a salmon ladder, which enables salmon to “swim” up the waterfall.
At Friðheimar you can visit an operating greenhouse and have a unique lunch experience in their restaurant. They grow different kind of tomatoes and cucumbers in their greenhouses, which lights are powered by geothermal energy. One greenhouse contains the restaurant and bar as well as a small shop, where visitors can purchase a variety of foods and drinks – mainly based on their very own tomatoes.
You should not miss their famous tomato soup, which is served with homemade bread and fresh basil. The atmosphere inside the greenhouse restaurant is very cosy and exotic. If you are interested you can book guided greenhouse tours (for groups) and visits to their adjoining horse stable.
The Secret Lagoon is a geothermal swimming pool in the village of Flúdir. It was made in 1891, making it the oldest pool in Iceland. The pool is quite natural, so the ground is muddy/sandy and partly framed with stones. There are new dressing rooms and showers at site, but you can still see the old dressing rooms next to the lagoon. Guests can also buy snacks and drinks. Please note that there is an entrance fee.
Surrounding the pool there is a nice display of geothermal energy in form of several bubbling hot springs and even a small geyser.
If you are interested in history, Skálholt is the place to be. The site is a former monastery and still today a church community. It is also the birth ground of Icelands first school, Skálholtsskóli, founded in the 12th century.
From 1056 to 1785 Skálholt was one of two main religious centers in Iceland, giving it great cultural and political importance. During the Middle Ages the area had an impressive size and featured multiple buildings such as a cathedral, monastery, school and smithy. Skálholt, as many religious places, unfortunately also has a bloody history, since Icelands last catholic bishop and his two sons were beheaded there in 1550.
If you visit today you will still be able to see a bigger church (finished in 1963) and several archaeological relics which were found in 1954. In the summer, the community in Skálholt hosts concerts and other events.
Sólheimar is a sustainable community and was established as a children’s home in 1930. Today, more than 100 people live and work together in the eco village, where people with disabilities are given the opportunity for employment, artists enjoy creative freedom and much more. Everyone is welcome at Sólheimar and guests can enjoy a visit in the local café, shop and art gallery.
The community is growing organic vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and salad and producing lovely handmade items.
This approximately 3,000-year-old volcanic crater not only displays amazing colors, but also has a lake in its base. From the parking lot, you can hike down to the shimmering blue lake or along the side of the crater. The walls of the crater show beautiful reddish colors and are partly covered with green moss, which makes for great photos!
If the water level is not too high, you might also be able to walk all around the lake, in the bottom of the 55 meters deep crater. There is a small fee for parking.
