A guide to Iceland's Golden Circle

Looking for something to add to your Iceland itinerary that gives you a flavor of what this country has to offer? Allow us to recommend the Golden Circle!

It's an experience you won’t want to miss: This iconic tourist route is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, and offers visitors the chance to see a handful of spectacular natural wonders in one convenient loop.

Along the route you’ll encounter breathtaking sights, including the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area with its erupting Strokkur geyser, and the historic Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And since it’s easily accessible from Reykjavík, the Golden Circle route can be tailored to your trip whether you have half a day, a full day, or even a few days to spare.

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about Iceland’s Golden Circle. From an overview of the route and details about its three main attractions to lesser-known stops and tips for planning your visit, this guide will help you make the most of your Icelandic adventure.

Before we go on, it’s worth noting that the Golden Circle is different from the Ring Road (also known as Route 1), the national road that circumnavigates Iceland over 822 miles (1323km). This route connects most of Iceland’s towns and is considered the country's main road – and it's very popular for longer road trips. There’s also the Diamond Circle, a popular tourist route in North Iceland.

Now that that’s cleared up, let’s take a look at the Golden Circle in a bit more detail.

If you’re wondering how many miles the Golden Circle is, the loop is just under 150 miles (around 240km), heading directly from Reykjavík to the three main stops and back the same way. Of course, many people choose to add a few stops along the way, such as coming back into the city via towns like Reykholt and Fluðir, or even heading further south to the towns of Selfoss and Hveragerði and then re-entering Reykjavík via Route 1, making the drive a proper loop.

You can discover the Golden Circle either as part of an organized tour or day trip, or as a self-led road trip. If you’re planning on doing it on your own, how long it’ll take will depend on the stops you choose to add to the classic trip. It can easily be done in one day, but you might prefer slow travel, and adding in some quality detours to extend it into a multi-day journey through the area.

The route is not exactly circular! However, many people would say that the Golden Circle starts and ends in Reykjavík. From the capital, the route goes northeast along road number 36 to Þingvellir National Park (about 31 miles or 50km), with Geysir about 37 miles (60km) further east, and Gullfoss just 6 miles (10km) east of Geysir.

The three main sites are a total of only 75 miles (120km) from Reykjavik, and each one is an hour’s drive maximum from the next. This makes the route ideal for a day trip and exploring beyond the city. Plus, given that it’s a loop, the capital is a great place to stay near the Golden Circle.

Wondering what to see and do on the Golden Circle? The route is made up of three must-see attractions – Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall – each of which gives an insight into Iceland’s geography and cultural heritage.

Every organized Golden Circle tour will include these three stops, and we definitely recommend adding them to your list if you’re planning a self-driving trip. All three attractions are free to visit – but you’ll need to pay for parking if visiting independently – and if you’re planning your own trip, you can spend as little or as long as you like exploring each one.

Ready to discover the highlights of the Golden Circle? Let’s take a closer look.

Now that you know what wonders the Golden Circle has to show you, here are some tips for making the most of your visit.

Take a tour of the Golden Circle

One of the best ways to experience the Golden Circle is as part of an organized tour. This way you can make sure to hit all the top spots without having to do any of the admin, or the driving. Some tours include additional activities – like our Golden Circle and Snowmobiling tour – which promise memorable detours alongside the main attractions of the route.

Tours are often the best option if you’re short on time too. You’ll also be led by an expert guide who'll be able to answer any of your questions or help you capture the best photos.

Drive the Golden Circle

If you have longer to spend, many visitors choose to rent a car and go on a self-driven tour of the Golden Circle instead.

If you’re wondering how long it takes to drive the whole Golden Circle route, the answer depends on how much time you want to spend at each highlight. Since distances between each attraction are quite short, you could easily hit all three sights in one day, starting and ending in Reykjavík. You could also opt to take your time, staying somewhere more rural and adding more activities to your itinerary.

If you’re traveling during the winter, you’ll need to be mindful of road conditions and prepare for the weather. Safe Travel provides some great information about how to keep safe while driving in Iceland.

Given it's a showcase of some of Iceland’s most memorable and best-loved sights, the Golden Circle is well worth adding to your itinerary – especially if you're a first-time visitor keen for a taste of what this beautiful country has to offer.

And if you want to see more, we also offer a range of Golden Circle packages that combine this route with other iconic Icelandic experiences like a visit to some geothermal bathing spots or a northern lights hunting trip.

So, are you ready to book your Icelandic adventure? For more travel inspiration, discover our blogs on how to see the northern lights or how to visit Iceland’s volcanic sights, or browse flights to Reykjavík to start planning your trip.