The Golden Circle in Iceland

The Golden Circle is a 300 km route taking you to the four most popular attractions in Iceland: Thingvellir National Park & Unesco Heritage Site, Geysir Geothermal Area, Kerið Volcanic Crater and Gullfoss Waterfall. Those four beautiful sites of the Golden Circle are the clear examples of Iceland's unique geological forces, magnificent landscapes and rich history & culture.

The Golden Circle spans a distance of about 300 km. It starts in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and continues on to the east, before turning in a loop and ending back in the city. Iceland is one of the smallest countries in Europe, but it is without a doubt one of the most picturesque places on earth.

As one of Iceland’s most famous tourist routes, this tour gives visitors the best opportunity to see a side of Iceland that is simply breathtaking.

Our day tours will take you to all these essential stops and the options don't stop there! BusTravel offers many variations of the Golden Circle allowing time to include: A bath in the warm geothermal waters of the Secret Lagoon, a soak in the Turkish blue warm waters of the Blue Lagoon or a cultural experience at Fridheimar farm, visiting both greenhouses & the Icelandic horse.

The Golden Circle Tour Attractions

Although there are 4 main attractions to see on the Golden Circle, you can imagine that the loop actually has far more to see than just 4 things. It is best to not rush the adventure even if you are able to see plenty before midday. There is a wide variety of attractions along the way as well as a few lesser-known places to explore. Some of the must-see places include:

Thingvellir National Park

The beautiful Thingvellir National Park is a green oasis, nestled within a rift valley. Only about 40km away from the capital of Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park is filled with lakes, grassy slopes and a variety of hiking trails. The park has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and along with its beauty being an attraction, it is also a place of historical importance, as it is the site where the world’s first parliament was hosted. Photography enthusiasts will find a lot to enjoy here and it is important that you make sure that you pack your camera.

Geysir Geothermal Area

Iceland has become well known for the northern lights as well as its magnificent natural geysers. Haukadalur is the place to see some of the country’s most amazing geysers. The two most prominent geysers are the Strokkur and the Geysir, from which the modern word “geyser” is derived. Of the two geysers, Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes without fail. Geysir erupts less frequently but it is the bigger of the two. Around and close to the geysers are hot springs, fumaroles and mud pools and the smell of sulfur lingers throughout the area.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The Gullfoss Waterfall is a magnificent sight and one that will leave you standing dead in your tracks. It is one of the most unique waterfalls in the world, as it is viewed from above rather than from below as is the norm with most waterfalls. Travelers gaze down at the cascades from a viewpoint at the top of a ravine. It is also a great place to go hiking with many of the trails taking you to the best viewing areas. When traveling here you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the area. While the waterfall can be viewed all year round, some of the viewpoints might be closed at certain times of the year.

Kerid Crater

Kerid is a striking volcanic crater lake decorated with magnificent red, black and green slopes and mesmerising blue green water. Kerid was formed some 6500 years ago when the magma chamber, of the former volcano, collapsed at the end of a volcanic eruption. For a better view of the crater there is a walking path on the crater's rim taking you the whole round. There is also a path heading down to the craters bottom and around the lake that is worth exploring.

You can explore all that the best attractions that Iceland has to offer when you join us for a once in a lifetime Iceland tour. Our tours leave from Reykjavik and include a whole day of traveling. Book your spot today!

Golden Circle Tours