

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is an important part of Iceland’s natural heritage, as well as its cultural history. To the south is Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. The park sits in a rift valley on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Well, if you start out travelling the Golden Circle clockwise in Reykjavik, you’ll find Thingvellir National Park awaiting just 45 minutes away. But what exactly can you expect in each of these three stops? What are the Golden Circle’s Top Attractions?Īs mentioned, the Golden Circle’s top attractions are Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and the Gullfoss waterfall. The waterfall’s name means “Golden Falls,” and so the Golden Circle is named similarly (and, obviously, the route is more or less a circle). The Golden Circle is named after Gullfoss, one of its top three main attractions. It also can start at Reykjavik, making it an extremely easy self-driving route in Iceland for those who don’t necessarily want to take the time needed to drive all of a larger route, such as the Ring Road that encircles the country.

The Golden Circle isn’t just popular because it allows you to see these three attractions easily, though. In this short guide to visiting the Golden Circle of Iceland by car, we’re breaking down and explaining everything you need to know about a self-drive tour of this popular area in Iceland.įirstly, what exactly is the Golden Circle? In plainest terms, the Golden Circle is a popular driving route that travels between three of Southwest Iceland’s most popular attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and the Gullfoss waterfall. The Golden Circle in Iceland is one of the country’s most famous scenic routes, and a Golden Circle self-drive tour can allow you to see everything along it - from towering waterfalls to magical vistas.īut before you hop in your car for your Golden Circle road trip, you probably have a few questions, and we have answers.
