Thingvellir National Park
The first stop on your self driving Golden Circle Iceland day is Thingvellir National Park. It takes 45 minutes to get here from Reykjavik. This Park has historical & natural significance to Iceland. It lies on two tectonic plates (North American & Eurasian) which causes the dramatic landscape you can see. Explore fault lines, snorkel in Iceland’s largest & clearest lake or learn about the world’s oldest existing Parliament. It’s free to visit Thingvellir except for a daily parking fee. You will also need to pay if you wish to see the exhibit inside the Visitor’s Center. Check out our previous post for more things to do here: Thingvellir National Park.
Geysir
From Thingvellir, you’ll want to drive another 50 minutes to Geysir Hot Springs. It is free to park here and they have a visitor center with shops & bathrooms. In this area you’ll find boiling mud pits and the geyser Strokkur, which explodes every 7-10 minutes. The English word for geyser originally comes from these Geysir hot springs. Strokkur geyser will spout water 100 ft into the air at times! You can tell when it is ready to erupt because the water begins slightly gurgling. Keep in mind that you’ll most likely get wet from the mist of geysir so dress accordingly! For more information visit Geysir Hot Spring.
Gullfoss
Only 10 minutes down the road from Geysir, you will find Gullfoss. It is also free to park here and there are shops, food & bathrooms as well. Gullfoss translates to Golden falls and is one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. Similar to geysir, you’ll want to dress in waterproof gear. You can view the Falls from a viewing platform above, or follow the path to see it up close. Check our our post: Gullfoss Waterfall for more info on the unique story behind preserving these falls.
Fridheimar Greenhouse
Now that you’ve had a busy morning filled with natural wonders, it’s time to stop for lunch. Only 25 minutes driving from Gullfoss is the Tomato Greenhouses of Fridheimar. Year round, these greenhouses are able to produce about a ton of tomatoes each day using geothermal energy. You can dine at Fridheimar Greenhouse for lunch to try some of their delicious tomato soup or other tomato themed meals & drinks. You’ll need to make reservations in order to dine here.
Secret Lagoon
After you’ve enjoyed lunch, it’s time to relax! Less than 15 minutes driving, you’ll arrive at the Secret Lagoon. This is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool. Many people think of the Blue Lagoon when they think of Iceland’s thermal baths, but if you’re looking for a more authentic experience, you won’t want to miss the Secret Lagoon! It costs 3,000 ISK (~$23) for adults, which includes access to the locker rooms and showers. Learn more about this geothermal pool in our post: The Secret Lagoon.
Kerid Crater
From the Secret Lagoon, you’ll want to drive another 30 minutes to Kerid Crater, your final stop along the Golden Circle. This crater is 3,000 years old, which is relatively young in comparison to others across the country. This crater was believed to be a cone shaped volcano, and upon eruption, collapsed inward. Since it is a newer crater (geologically speaking) the iron deposits are rather fresh, causing the rocks to be red, rather than volcanic black. There is a small fee of 400 ISK ($3) to visit the crater to help landowners preserve the area. (Yes, Kerid Crater is on privately owned land!)
It takes another hour to get from Kerid back to Reykjavik, making your total driving time about 4 hours for this day-long adventure. If you’re not comfortable self driving the Golden Circle in Iceland, you may want to consider a day trip through a guided tour*, though the roads you are driving on are well kept & very easy to navigate.
If you’ve got a limited time in Iceland, the Golden Circle will allow you to see a lot in a short amount of time. In our opinion, self driving the Golden Circle is the best way to see it at your own pace and should not be missed when visiting!
