Iceland’s Golden Circle: all the stops

A tour of Iceland could only begin with an Icelandic gem: the Golden Circle, ranked at the top of almost every list of things to do in Iceland. And for good reason.
The Golden Circle includes three stunning sites in southwestern Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Let’s take them one by one...
 

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is a geologically extraordinary place, the first of Iceland’s three national parks to be established and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the first stop on the Golden Circle, located just 45 minutes by car from Reykjavík.
At Thingvellir, you can discover both how this island was formed and the origins of its civil society. The park’s incredible geology comes from the fact that it lies right between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, in the rift valley that runs across all of Iceland. This is the only country in the world where this rift, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, can be seen above sea level, and nowhere is it more visible than at Thingvellir.
It was a pocket of magma rising between these two plates as they drifted apart that began the formation of Iceland millions of years ago. Their constant separation is the reason Iceland has such fascinating volcanic activity: the island is in fact very young and is still being formed. 
Earthquakes continue to occur regularly in the area, since the distance between the plates increases by 2.5 centimeters each year. The fissures created by these quakes fill with fresh water, melted from the Langjökull glacier and flowing underground through porous lava rock toward Lake Thingvallavatn.

But its geology is not the only reason Thingvellir was granted national park status and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These titles are also due to its past: tracing the history of Thingvellir means tracing the history of the Icelandic people.

The first permanent settlers arrived in Iceland in the 9th century and were largely nomadic clans who refused to submit to the new king of Norway. In 930 AD, they decided that some form of collective government would settle disputes on the island, so each of the roughly 30 groups present sent someone to represent them. They named the meeting place “the fields of parliament,” or Thingvellir.

The first parliament was such a success that the tradition continued year after year, decade after decade, century after century. 
In fact, from its founding over a millennium ago, it was suspended only once, from 1799 to 1844. After this interruption, it was moved to Reykjavík, but its function remained the same.
 

The Geysir geothermal area

The second stop on the Golden Circle is the Geysir geothermal area. It is about a 50-minute drive from Thingvellir. 
You then arrive in the Haukadalur valley, where geothermal activity becomes even more intense: the steam rising above it can be seen from miles away. The area is dotted with numerous hot pools, mud pots, and fumaroles, while the hills and ground glow with the vivid colors of minerals. It would be a fascinating place even if it were not home to the two geysers that made it famous.
The first is the one that gave its name to all the others: the Great Geysir. Geysir erupts rarely, while nearby Strokkur bursts about every 10 minutes, with jets of water reaching 20 to 40 meters in height. So yes, we’ve revealed the big secret: the jet of water you see in almost every photo is the geyser named Strokkur.
The reasons why the original Geysir is now almost completely inactive are linked both to the area’s tectonic activity and to invasive human interference: in fact, hundreds of coins were thrown into the crater as “good luck charms,” but instead ended up clogging the geyser. We talk about geysers in greater depth in this article dedicated specifically to Iceland’s geysers.
 

Gullfoss waterfall

The third (and final) stop on the Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls: Gullfoss. A 10-minute drive from Geysir brings you to this powerful waterfall, which plunges in two stages from a total height of 32 meters. Gullfoss is famous not only for its extraordinary power, but also for the rainbows that appear in its mist on sunny days, making the scenery absolutely breathtaking. Like the springs at Thingvellir and the water in the Geysir geothermal area, the river that feeds Gullfoss also comes from the Langjökull glacier.
When there is no ice on the ground, a path opens that leads all the way to the edge of the waterfall, close enough to feel the mist on your face. Here, you can take incredible photos and spend hours captivated by the majestic power of the water.
 

Want to see the Golden Circle in Iceland? Great idea! Take a look at our tour of Iceland.