Iceland - The Golden Circle

Intro

The Golden Circle is a roughly 3 hour loop (not including stops), that includes many of Iceland's most famous natural attractions.

What I Did

For our trip around the Golden Circle, we went off of the most frequently travelled path. We skipped things like the Great Geysir and Gullfoss in favor of a hot spring and hidden waterfall. We still drove through most of the route - and Iceland's stunning landscape means that no matter where you go you are still likely to encounter something incredible - but we did miss some of the most famous and most photographed sites on the loop.

Getting Around

There are plenty of tour companies offering day trips from Reykjavik around the Circle, with stops at a number of the sites, but if you want to travel at your own pace you need your own car.

Attractions

Thingvellir National Park -Historic site and national park known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries.

The Great Geysir - The first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans. The English word geyser derives from Geysir.

Gullfoss - One of Iceland's most iconic and beloved waterfalls.

Secret Lagoon - Thermal bath in Flúðir.

Bruarfoss - Off-the-beaten-path waterfall with a naturally-occuring bright blue hue.

Food & Drink

Friðheimar Farm - Geothermal greenhouse specializing in tomatoes.