The Golden Circle of Iceland by car
The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular day out by car: a loop of about 260 kilometres from Reykjavik past three classics, Thingvellir National Park, the geysers at Geysir and the Gullfoss waterfall, with the Kerid crater as a bonus. You drive it in a single day on paved roads, all year round. You get one Google Maps link for the whole loop that starts wherever you happen to be, plus a GPX.
The route: Reykjavik → Thingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss → Kerid → Reykjavik
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Thingvellir · Geysir (Strokkur) · Gullfoss.
The four highlights of the route
Clockwise from Reykjavik. Allow a full day if you take your time at each stop.
Thingvellir, between two continents
In Thingvellir National Park you walk through the Almannagja, the rift where the North American and Eurasian plates are drifting apart. From 930 AD it was also home to the world's oldest parliament. Follow the path along the rock wall down to the lake; allow an hour.
Geysir and faithful Strokkur
The geothermal field at Geysir gave every geyser in the world its name. The old Geysir is dormant now, but its neighbour Strokkur erupts every few minutes, tens of metres high. Stay behind the ropes: the water is boiling hot.
Gullfoss, the golden falls
A little further on, the glacial river Hvita plunges into the canyon in two steps, often with a rainbow in the mist. The upper platform gives you the whole falls; the lower path takes you close enough to feel the spray.
Kerid, the crater bonus
On the way back lies the Kerid crater, a red-brown volcanic crater with a vivid blue lake at the bottom. A loop around the rim takes half an hour and costs a small entry fee. A quiet, pretty finish before you drive back to Reykjavik.
Making a longer day of it
If you want to make a fuller day of it, there are some good detours along the way. At Fludir you can swim in the Secret Lagoon, the country's oldest hot spring. Near Geysir, Fridheimar grows tomatoes in geothermally heated greenhouses, with a restaurant right among the vines. And a short detour brings you to Bruarfoss, the bluest waterfall in Iceland. Together they turn the loop into a full day out.
When to go and which car
You can drive the Golden Circle all year: the roads are paved and kept clear of snow in winter. Summer brings the longest days and the best chance to carry on down to the south coast; in winter you can pair the drive with a chance of northern lights. An ordinary car is fine; in winter watch for ice and check the roads on road.is. The stops are free, apart from a small entry fee at the Kerid crater.
The Golden Circle in numbers
| Loop length | approx. 260 km from Reykjavik; about 3 hours of pure driving |
|---|---|
| Road surface | fully asphalted, open and maintained all year |
| Thingvellir | parliament site since the year 930; UNESCO World Heritage since 2004; rift between the North American and Eurasian plates |
| Strokkur | erupts every few minutes, up to about 35 m; the old Geysir (origin of the word geyser) is dormant |
| Gullfoss | falls 32 m in two steps (11 m and 21 m) into the Hvita canyon |
| Kerid | crater lake about 55 m deep; entry approx. 600 ISK per person (early 2025 indication) |
| Fuel | approx. 18 litres for the whole loop, based on 7 l/100 km |
| Other costs | sights free; paid parking at some stops, including Thingvellir |
Heights and dates: official park and heritage sources; driving times and fuel are guide values (July 2026).
Golden Circle or the south coast?
Almost everyone with a short stay in Iceland weighs up these two day trips. The Golden Circle is the shortest classic: geysers, the old parliament site at Thingvellir and the Kerid crater in one compact loop. The south coast route answers with waterfalls you can walk behind, plus the black beach of Reynisfjara.
If you have two days, the answer is simple: do both, one on each day. If that only whets your appetite, the ring road around the whole island is waiting. You will find more day drives and loops among all Iceland scenic drives.
How to dodge the crowds
The tour buses from Reykjavik sit at Thingvellir and Gullfoss from late morning to mid-afternoon, and that is exactly when the car parks and paths are at their fullest. Start before 9am or hold off until after 3pm: the same stops, at a far calmer pace. In June and July the midnight sun even makes an evening loop possible, with soft light over Gullfoss as a bonus. In winter, flip it round: drive the loop by day and head out after dark to hunt the northern lights, away from the city glow.
The Golden Circle with children
Few routes suit children as well as this one: the walks are short and flat, and something is always happening. Strokkur is the guaranteed hit, with a fresh eruption every few minutes; do keep children behind the ropes, as the water is boiling hot. The walk around the crater rim at Kerid takes half an hour, and the vivid blue lake goes down well at any age. Plan lunch at the Fridheimar tomato greenhouse, where you eat right among the plants: for many children the highlight of the day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Golden Circle take?
The loop is about 260 kilometres and around three hours of actual driving. With the stops you are out for half a day to a full day; add the Secret Lagoon or Fridheimar and it easily fills a whole day.
Can you drive the Golden Circle yourself?
Yes, and it is the best way to do it. The route is fully paved and well signposted, and with the Google Maps link or the GPX you have every stop in your sat-nav. A rental car and this page are all you need; no tour required.
Can you do it in winter?
Yes. The roads are kept clear of snow all year, so the Golden Circle is fine to drive in winter too. Expect less daylight and some slippery stretches, and you can pair the drive with an evening of northern lights.
In what order do you drive the stops?
We drive clockwise: Thingvellir first, then Geysir, then Gullfoss and back past the Kerid crater. The other way round works just as well; start at Kerid and finish at Thingvellir.
Golden Circle or south coast?
They have different characters: the Golden Circle is about geysers, history and the Kerid crater, while the south coast is about waterfalls and the black beach of Reynisfjara. With two days, do both, one on each day.
How much does the Golden Circle cost?
The sights themselves are free; some stops charge for parking, including Thingvellir. The Kerid crater asks around 600 ISK entry per person (early 2025). On fuel, expect roughly 18 litres at 7 l/100 km for the loop.
Why is it called the Golden Circle?
It is a marketing name, coined after Gullfoss, the golden falls. It is not an official road name; you simply drive a loop over several numbered roads.
Can you combine the Golden Circle and the south coast in one day?
Only at the height of summer, when it barely gets dark, and even then it stays rushed. Two days is the sensible plan: one for the loop, one for the coast.
How far apart are the stops?
Reykjavik to Thingvellir is about 50 kilometres. After that, the legs between the main stops each take well under an hour; treat them as guide values.