A DAY TOUR AROUND ICELAND’S GOLDEN CIRCLE: IS IT WORTH A VISIT?

The Golden Circle in southern Iceland is the most popular scenic tourist route in the country. It’s about 250 km (155 miles) long and is open year round.

Visitors can self drive or join a bus tour around the Golden Circle. On the way, you’ll see several attractions that Iceland is known for. This includes epic Strokkur Geyser, a volcanic crater, stunning Gullfoss Waterfall, Icelandic horses, and awe-inspiring vistas!

Many tourists only stay in Iceland for a short time. So the Golden Circle is the perfect daytrip from the capital of Reykjavik. You’ll get a good first impression of a few of Iceland’s highlights and will be back in the city for dinner.

I booked a Day Tour around Iceland’s Golden Circle from Reykjavik with Bus Travel Iceland in June 2024. So I’m thrilled to share this action-packed day experience with you and if it’s worth taking this tour! Here’s a map of the Golden Circle so you can follow along:

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Kerið Crater Lake

Address: 24R7+GW9, 805 Klausturholar, Iceland

After about an hour on the bus, we got out at Kerið Crater Lake, the first stop of the day. It is one of multiple crater lakes in the Grímsnes region of Iceland. Its deepest spot is at 7 to 14 meters (23 to 46 ft), depending on the time of year and how much it rained recently.

Most scientists believe that Kerið Crater was formed around 6,500 years ago, when the cone-shaped Kerið Volcano erupted and exhausted its magma reserve. As the years passed, the crater kept filling up with water.

First we walked along Kerið Crater’s upper rim, which was perfect to take shots of the beautiful aquamarine lake! You can also walk down the trail to the water’s edge. The rocky trail can be steep and slippery though, so be sure to not rush and wear sturdy, non-slip footwear!

The best thing about Kerið Crater are the spectacular colour contrasts. The stark black and deep red slopes and green spaces combined with the blue-green lake colour create an out-of-this-world scenery!

Self driving visitors can park next to Kerið Crater Lake and need to pay an entrance fee of 600 ISK at the ticket booth. There’s no admission fee if you’re on a bus tour. It’s not allowed to swim in the lake, as the temperature is insanely cold!

Kerið Crater Lake is open from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM from June-August and during daylight hours only from September-May. While it’s beautiful under a blanket of snow, it can get very icy! So be sure to put on crampons and watch out for ice patches.

Meet Icelandic Horses and Eat Lunch at Friðheimar Farm

Address: 5HH4+225 Friðheimar, 806 Reykholt, Iceland

The next stop on the tour was Friðheimar Farm. This local family-run business specializes in breeding around 40 Icelandic horses and growing tomatoes and cucumbers in an environmentally-friendly way.

After meeting some Icelandic horses at the horse riding centre, the hostess told us about the history of this unique breed. She also put on a quick horse riding show. The Icelandic horse is famous for its five gaits, variety of colours, strength, endurance, and gentle personality.

Next, walk over to the greenhouses, where thousands of tomatoes grow all year. How is this possible? Well, Iceland is the world leader for taking advantage of renewable energy, which includes heating buildings with geothermal water. Friðheimar Farm is no exception to this.

Besides, the company is proud to use clean water and organic pest controls to grow their tomatoes. This is why they are so healthy and flavourful! There are also 1,200 bumblebees flying around and pollinating the tomato plants.

So trying one of their mouthwatering tomato-themed meals at their restaurant (inside the greenhouse) is a must! I ordered their creamy tomato soup with homemade bread, it was so good!

There’s a wine bar and bistro, too, or buy an awesome souvenir (e.g. tomato jam) at The Little Tomato Shop by the exit!

Strokkur Geyser Geothermal Area

Address: 8M7X+3PJ, Hafnartún, 806 Selfoss, Iceland

Another unique attraction you have to see in Iceland is a geyser eruption!

So it’s perfect that Strokkur, Iceland’s most visited active geyser, is a part of the Golden Circle route! The first thing I noticed even before the geyser was in sight was the “rotten eggs smell”. This is hydrogen sulphide, a chemical that’s created by Iceland’s geothermal activity.

Every five to ten minutes, Strokkur is putting on an awesome (but very short) show by blasting hot water in the air! The water usually goes up to 15 to 20 meters (49 to 65 ft), but sometimes it reaches up to 40 meters (131 ft) as well.

The inactive Geysir and other smaller geysers (e.g. Litli Geysir), as well as fumaroles, hot springs, and boiling mud pits are scattered around the Geysir Geothermal Area and the Haukadalur Valley as well. Active geysers like Strokkur are quite rare around the world.

You can only find them in certain parts of highly geothermal areas where the magma is close enough to the surface of the earth, so the rocks are hot enough to boil water. Since Iceland is between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, this is possible here.

Visiting the Geysir Geothermal Area and Strokkur is free of charge and it’s open 24/7. Across from the geyser site is also a restaurant, café, campground, hotel, and gift shop. Finally, feel free to walk up the pathway after Strokkur for a breathtaking panoramic view of the area!

Gullfoss Waterfall

Address: Bláskógabyggð, 801 Selfoss, Iceland

Are you dying to see some of Iceland’s epic waterfalls on your trip? Then Gullfoss, which flows into Hvítá River canyon, is a good start! While this scenic two-tiered waterfall is not the highest in Iceland, it’s very wide (175 meters/574 ft), and is the most popular waterfall in the country.

Besides, what sets Gullfoss apart is that you’re looking at it from above instead of from the bottom (like the other waterfalls I visited on my Iceland trip)! The various viewpoints on the trail around the falls allow you to admire it from different perspectives, too.

Gullfoss in the summer and winter. Pic #2 is by Erik on Unsplash.

By the way, Gullfoss means Golden Waterfall in Icelandic. Why? Well, if you’re lucky, the sun may hit the water on a sunny day, which will make the falls look golden! On days like these, you may even spot a rainbow on top of Gullfoss.

Visiting Gullfoss is free and it’s open all year. While the falls look epic in the winter, it can get snowy and icy on the trail, and some viewpoints are not open. So it might be better go in the spring or summer, and don’t forget to bring a waterproof jacket and shoes, as you’ll probably get wet!

Grab Homemade Ice Cream at Efstidalur II

Address: Bláskógabyggð, 801 Laugarvatn, Iceland

Need a pick-me-up after being amazed by all the hotspots around the Golden Circle? Then take a break and grab a scoop of yummy ice cream at Efstidalur II! This local dairy farm has been run by the same family since the 1750’s.

You can eat at their cozy Coffeehouse or take your ice cream to go. They have different flavours every day, but some standard ones (like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) are always available. I chose chocolate ice cream and the edible spoon that came with it was tasty, too! 😀

You can also wave at some cute dairy cows through the Coffeehouse window!

If you’re in this area for longer, consider staying at Efstidalur II’s rustic, but peaceful Farm Hotel, trying homemade meals at their restaurant, or booking a guided Icelandic Horse riding tour (June-August only)!

Efstidalur II is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm (10 am to 9 pm in the summer months).

Þingvellir National Park

Address: 806 Selfoss, Iceland

Last but not least, we stopped at Þingvellir National Park (also spelled Thingvellir). This natural landmark is a must to visit for several reasons. First of all, it’s the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland’s mainland.

Secondly, Þingvellir is where Iceland’s first parliament was founded back in 930 AD. Norse clans had settled across Iceland since 874 AD, but conflicts were pretty common. So a meeting was launched at Þingvellir (it was easy to reach for every clan representative) to solve these issues.

Besides, this is where Iceland’s Independence Celebration happened in 1944.

Is walking between two continents on your bucket list? Then Þingvellir National Park is THE place to be! Iceland is split by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so some parts of the country sit on the North American tectonic plate, while others sit on the Eurasian tectonic plate.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge was created by volcanic eruptions about 24 million years ago. Iceland is the only place on earth where it is above sea level and the edges of the plates are most obvious at Þingvellir National Park.

The tectonic plates have been drifting apart for about 2.5 cm (1 inch) each year for millennia. This is very obvious inside the national park, e.g. with lava fields, dormant volcanoes, and ravines. Apparently, earthquakes happen here every day, but the majority are too weak to be felt.

You can also book a diving or snorkeling tour between the tectonic plates at Silfra ravine at Þingvellir National Park. The water is crystal clear thanks to Langjökull Glacier filling it with meltwater. It’s one of the Top 5 Diving Sites in the World!

Þingvellir National Park on dry land and a diving tour around Silfra ravine. Pic #2 is Photo Credit of Guillaume Baviere on Wikimedia Commons.

Finally, Game of Thrones fans will get a kick out of visiting Þingvellir National Park, as part of the series was filmed here! The small, but pretty Þingvallakirkja (Þingvellir Church), built in 1859, is worth checking out as well!

There’s no cost to visit Þingvellir National Park and it’s open 365 days a year.

Self-Driving vs. Taking a Bus Tour around the Golden Circle

So now you may ask yourself, should I drive or join a bus tour around the Golden Circle?

Well, if you’re flexible and like to take your time, driving is the better option. I heard that renting a car in Iceland is quite easy and affordable, and the roads are usually in good shape. Signs on the road are very helpful, too. On average, it takes 7-9 hours to see the attractions along the Golden Circle in a day.

You’d be able to visit some off the beaten track attractions along the Golden Circle as well. You can go clockwise or counterclockwise on the Golden Circle and it’s quicker, as you won’t have to wait for other travelers! But of course, there will be additional costs for fuel.

On a bus tour, you’re free to relax, read, or enjoy the beautiful scenery, and let someone else do the driving. Buses in Iceland have free Wi-Fi, are safe, air-conditioned, and the local guide shared great insights about Iceland with us. You may also make new friends on the bus!

Besides, there are many pick up and drop off locations to choose from in downtown Reykjavik. But the tour felt a bit rushed sometimes, as we only had limited time to walk around and take photos at every stop before having to meet the guide back at the parking lot. 

Finally, most buses carry 50+ passengers, which can be exhausting for some people. I was very lucky to be upgraded to a smaller bus the day before the trip, that only carried 10-15 people. In total, the bus trip around the Golden Circle took around 8.5 hours.

Wrap Up: Is a Day Tour around Iceland’s Golden Circle Worth it?

Yes, I think driving or joining a bus daytrip around the Golden Circle is worth it! While some people may think that this route is a tourist trap, I disagree. The stops around the Golden Circle are great examples of Iceland’s many natural landmarks, especially if you’re visiting for only a short time.

Whether you’re into waterfalls, geysers, volcano craters, or want to learn about Iceland’s history and geology, the Golden Circle will have you covered! The epic views and supporting local family businesses on the way are just another bonus of this trip.

My favourite attractions around the Golden Circle were Kerið Crater Lake, Strokkur Geyser Geothermal Area, and Þingvellir National Park. I loved learning about what makes them special, and the scenery around them, especially the various colours, was just breathtaking!

Traveling to Iceland for the first time? Then check out this post:

A First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland

Sharing is caring!