Hotels near Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a 300 km loop from Reykjavik that passes through three of Iceland's most spectacular natural sites, and it is the single most popular day trip in the country. Thingvellir National Park is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates visibly drift apart - you can walk between the continents in a rift valley that also served as the site of Iceland's Viking-age parliament (Althingi) from 930 AD. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next is the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur geyser erupts a column of boiling water 20-30 metres into the air every 5-10 minutes. Finally, Gullfoss ("Golden Waterfall") thunders down two tiers into a 32-metre-deep canyon in a display of raw natural power that will leave you speechless. Self-driving the Golden Circle takes 5-7 hours with stops. Guided bus tours cost ISK 8,000-12,000 (~€53-80) and typically run 8-9 hours, while small-group or super-jeep tours with extras like Silfra snorkelling or Fontana geothermal baths cost ISK 18,000-35,000 (~€120-233).

Pro Tip: If driving yourself, leave Reykjavik by 08:00 and do the loop counter-clockwise (Thingvellir first) to stay ahead of the tour buses. Bring a waterproof jacket for Gullfoss - the spray reaches the viewing platform. In winter, the roads are paved and ploughed but studded tyres or a 4WD are recommended.