Iceland’s Golden Circle trip draws people from all over the world. The Golden Circle is a 3-½ hour drive around Pingviller National Park, which is filled with scenic and unique natural wonders. For tourists, driving around the large Pingviller national park may be a little overwhelming, as you’ll want to see it all while not getting lost. The itinerary below routes you between all of the Golden Circle sights in the best way possible, and a navigation device will take you right to reach sight.

Day 1: The Keflavik Airport is Cool

The main airport of Iceland is Keflavik; once you’ve arrived you’ll pick up your rental car and drive to your place of stay. There are many rental car vendors at the Keflavik airport as well as others in Reykjavik. Typically the rental car vendors in the city are cheaper, but no matter what manual cars are always cheaper than an automatic.

SOD – EOD: You’ve arrived at the Keflavik airport. Now go pick up your rental car and hang around the cozy city of Reykjavik, before heading off to your Golden Circle Adventure



Day 2: Golden Circle!

Seeing all the sights in the Golden Circle in one day would be very rushed so it helps to know what’s in Pingviller so you can see what interests you the most. If you decide to stay in Iceland an extra day, you can always catch up on what you aren’t able to make the first day. You may also take some Golden Circle Adventure Tours to enhance your experience!

9:30 – 10:00: Wake up and gather energy for a long day with a filling breakfast then leave Reykjavik and head out to Pingviller national park where the Golden Circle is located (35m)

Wake up and gather energy for a long day with a filling breakfast then leave Reykjavik and head out to Pingviller national park where the Golden Circle is located 10:35 – EOD: The destinations below are ordered based on driving efficiency

The destinations below are ordered based on driving efficiency 10:35 – 11:00: Flosagja Fissure/entrance of Pingviller. You’ll know you’ve come to the correct place because there is a park information center. This building includes a small café and store; it is also used to meet up with many tour groups (8m)

Flosagja Fissure/entrance of Pingviller. You’ll know you’ve come to the correct place because there is a park information center. This building includes a small café and store; it is also used to meet up with many tour groups 11:08 – 1145: Another Iceland beauty! Go to the Oxararfoss Waterfall (10m)

Another Iceland beauty! Go to the Oxararfoss Waterfall 13:10 – 14:00: Drive to the famous Geysir. In this area, there are restaurants, a store, and even a hotel (15m)

Drive to the famous Geysir. In this area, there are restaurants, a store, and even a hotel 14:15 – 15:00: One of Iceland’s biggest, soak it up at the Gullfoss Waterfall (10m)

One of Iceland’s biggest, soak it up at the Gullfoss Waterfall 15:10 – 16:30: The Faxi Waterfall makes for great pictures! (20m)

The Faxi Waterfall makes for great pictures! 16:50 – 18:00: Grab a bite and hang around for a bit at the Fridheimar Farm. This farm is a large supplier of produce for the entire country (15m)

Grab a bite and hang around for a bit at the Fridheimar Farm. This farm is a large supplier of produce for the entire country 18:20 – 22:00: Go night swimming in the secret Lagoon/Gamia Laugin hot spring (15m)

Go night swimming in the secret Lagoon/Gamia Laugin hot spring 22:15 – 23:00: check out the Skaholt Cathedral, small Nordic cathedral, but significant in Icelandic history nonetheless. (40m)

check out the Skaholt Cathedral, small Nordic cathedral, but significant in Icelandic history nonetheless. 23:40 – EOD: Drive back to Reykjavik and enjoy the lively nightlife

Day 3: Golden Circle two!

Getting to all of the sights of the Golden Circle is a bit rushed, so if you choose to spend an extra day exploring it, here is a good second list of hitting the places you’ve missed.

8:30 – 9:00: Wake up and gather energy for a long day with a filling breakfast

Wake up and gather energy for a long day with a filling breakfast 9:00: Leave Reykjavik and head out to Pingviller national park where the Golden Circle is located (35m)

Leave Reykjavik and head out to Pingviller national park where the Golden Circle is located 9:35 – EOD: The destinations below are ordered in based on driving efficiency

The destinations below are ordered in based on driving efficiency 9:35– 12:00: What’s cooler than snorkeling in the clearest water in the world? How about also snorkeling between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Go snorkeling in glacial meltwater of Silfra (30m)

What’s cooler than snorkeling in the clearest water in the world? How about also snorkeling between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Go snorkeling in glacial meltwater of Silfra 12:30 – 13:50: Drive over to the Kerio crater and look down in its glory. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb to the bottom and even take a swim (30m)

Drive over to the Kerio crater and look down in its glory. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb to the bottom and even take a swim 14:20 – 17:00: Have at some pampering, at the Laugarvatn Fontana hot springs spa (20m)

Have at some pampering, at the Laugarvatn Fontana hot springs spa 17:20 – 19:00: Visit the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station. This is a geothermal plant that is open to tourists, it is interesting to see how Iceland utilizes its natural energy (45m)

Visit the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station. This is a geothermal plant that is open to tourists, it is interesting to see how Iceland utilizes its natural energy 19:45: – 21:30: What’s Iceland without the hot springs? If you weren’t feeling the Laugarvatn Fontana spa earlier today, you can visit the Hverageroi hot springs instead which are embedded in the grassy ground (45m)

What’s Iceland without the hot springs? If you weren’t feeling the Laugarvatn Fontana spa earlier today, you can visit the Hverageroi hot springs instead which are embedded in the grassy ground 21:25 – EOD: Stay up a little late and while driving back to Reykjavik, check some solar winds forecasts online or follow Icelandic Northern Lights Twitter accounts for updates on how the Aurora Borealis. Park your car on a pull off in the road and waiting for the Northern Lights in Pingviller you may catch an amazing show! This is good because its away from the city lights

Day 4: Departure

If you can, give Reykjavik another go and see as much of the city before departure.

SOD – EOD: Departure

Estimated Cost $250