The Golden Circle, the smart way
Turn the route around to avoid the tour-bus crowds! Start early with Gullfoss, the furthest stop, then move on to Geysir and finish the day at Þingvellir. That way you move against the big coach groups all day long.
South Iceland
Suðurland
With its unique waterfalls, jet-black beaches and blue glaciers, South Iceland brings the island’s most iconic scenery together along a single fairy-tale line
- Suggested time
- 4 days
- Places
- 76
- Best months
- All year
Having the island’s most iconic natural wonders (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara) just three hours from Reykjavík makes this the country’s most popular region. Yet push into the highlands on the rough mountain roads open only to 4x4s and you can have untouched valleys like Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk, and their spellbinding silence, all to yourself.
Quick tips
Before you go to South Iceland
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
With its black sand and basalt columns Reynisfjara looks spellbinding, but sadly it is one of the most dangerous places in Iceland. Watch out for sneaker waves.
F-Roads and the Insurance Trap
The F208 up to Landmannalaugar includes river crossings. Water damage isn’t covered by any insurance, and most rental companies don’t allow 2WD cars at all.
Places to see
76 places in this region
Laugavegur Trail
Hiking trailLinking Landmannalaugar with the Þórsmörk valley, the Laugavegur Trail is one of the world’s most popular hikes. The roughly 55-kilometre route passes multicoloured rhyolite mountains, glaciers, valleys and lava fields, giving nature lovers unique views.
2 days
Hekla Volcano
VolcanoKnown in the Middle Ages as the “Gateway to Hell”, Hekla is one of Iceland’s most active and dangerous volcanoes. The climb to its summit, with steep paths, volcanic ash fields and panoramic views, draws adventurers. Because of the eruption risk it’s a mountain to climb with caution.
8 hours
Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
Bird colonyOff the coast of South Iceland, Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) is a group of 15 volcanic islands. The main island, Heimaey, known for the 1973 Eldfell eruption, is home to the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colonies, dramatic cliffs and a rich marine ecosystem.
8 hours
Þórsmörk Volcano Huts
AccommodationBased in the Húsadalur area of the Þórsmörk valley, Volcano Huts is a popular place to stay for Laugavegur hikers and nature lovers. With wooden cabins, campsites, a geothermal sauna and a restaurant, it offers a warm and comfortable break in the heart of untouched wilderness.
8 hours
Bárðarbunga Volcano
VolcanoLying beneath the Vatnajökull glacier, Bárðarbunga (2,009 m) is one of Iceland’s highest and most active volcanic systems. This subglacial stratovolcano, the source of the huge 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption, plays a key role in the island’s seismic activity.
5 hours
Kerlingarfjöll Geothermal Valley
Hiking trailIn Iceland’s Highlands, Kerlingarfjöll is a volcanic mountain range famous for its orange and yellow rhyolite peaks. With steaming springs, boiling mud pools and hiking routes in the Hveradalir geothermal valley, it is a true natural wonder for nature lovers.
5 hours
Strútslaug Hot Spring
Hot springHidden in the empty Icelandic Highlands, Strútslaug is an untouched, authentic geothermal hot pool in the mountains between Torfajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Reachable only by 4x4 and a tough hike, it offers a unique sense of peace.
5 hours
Þórsmörk (Thor’s Valley)
Hiking trailNamed after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, Þórsmörk is a lush green valley ringed by the Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull glaciers. With tough tracks requiring river crossings, birch woods and canyons, it is one of the country’s most spellbinding hiking paradises.
5 hours
Landmannalaugar
Hot springIn Iceland’s interior Highlands, Landmannalaugar is famous for its multicoloured rhyolite mountains and natural hot springs. The starting point of the Laugavegur trail, it’s a favourite with nature lovers for its steaming lava fields, turquoise crater lakes and breathtaking views.
4 hours
Katla Ice Cave
CaveInside the Kötlujökull glacier, the Katla Ice Cave is spellbinding with its layers of black volcanic ash and electric-blue ice. One of the rare caves you can visit all year, it shows veined patterns formed in the glacier by historic ash from the Katla volcano.
3 hours
Katla Volcano
VolcanoLying beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Katla is one of Iceland’s most dangerous and active volcanoes. Known throughout history for the huge glacial floods (jökulhlaup) and ash clouds it has caused, its giant caldera, mysterious ice caves and wild scenery are both frightening and spellbinding.
3 hours
Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
GlacierIn South Iceland, Mýrdalsjökull is the country’s fourth-largest glacier and hides the active Katla volcano beneath it. With its thick ice cap, glacier walks, snowmobile tours and spellbinding natural ice caves visited in winter, it’s an important hub for adventurers.
3 hours
Reykjadalur Hot River
Hot springNear Hveragerði, Reykjadalur, the “Steam Valley”, is famous for the hot geothermal river flowing between the hills. Reached after a scenic hike, you can relax in the open air at whichever spot suits the water temperature and enjoy the calm of nature.
3 hours
Westman Islands Cliffs
Bird colonyThe sheer basalt cliffs ringing the Westman Islands stand up to the wild waves of the North Atlantic. Home to millions of puffins and seabirds in summer, these giant cliffs impress visitors with hiking routes and boat tours.
3 hours
Eldgjá Fire Canyon
CanyonFormed by a colossal eruption in 934, Eldgjá (“Fire Canyon”) is the world’s largest volcanic canyon, about 40 km long and up to 200 metres deep. With the spellbinding Ófærufoss waterfall inside it, it is a magnificent natural wonder.
2 hours
Laugarvatn Fontana
Hot springOn the Golden Circle by Lake Laugarvatn, Fontana is famous for its natural steam rooms, geothermal hot pools and lake views. A tasting of traditional rye bread (rúgbrauð), baked buried in geothermally heated sand, adds an authentic flavour to the spa experience.
2 hours
Seljavallalaug
Hot springHidden in a narrow valley at the foot of Eyjafjallajökull, Seljavallalaug, built in 1923, is one of Iceland’s oldest outdoor swimming pools. Fed by warm natural spring water seeping from the mountainside, this historic stone pool has a nostalgic atmosphere amid wild, dramatic scenery.
2 hours
Skógar Museum
MuseumIn the village of Skógar, this extensive open-air and folk museum shows traditional rural life in Iceland. Bringing the island’s history to life with historic turf houses and collections of fishing and farming tools, it is a unique stop for anyone wanting to discover Icelandic culture.
2 hours
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
ViewpointThe fuselage of a US Navy DC-3 cargo plane that made an emergency landing in 1973 lies on the empty black basalt sand of Sólheimasandur. Left from an accident everyone survived, this metal wreck, with the wild monochrome coast around it, is an iconic stop for photographers.
2 hours
Surtsey
VolcanoFormed by undersea volcanic eruptions between 1963 and 1967, Surtsey is one of the youngest volcanic islands in the world. On the UNESCO World Heritage list, the island is fully protected so scientists can observe an ecosystem forming from scratch, and is closed to the public.
2 hours
Þingvellir National Park
Historic siteA UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir is where the Alþingi, one of the world’s oldest parliaments, was founded in AD 930. Split by deep gorges and fissures where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates pull apart, the national park, with its unique geology and lake, is Iceland’s national heart.
2 hours
Hundafoss
WaterfallIn Skaftafell National Park, Hundafoss is on the hiking route to the famous Svartifoss. Rushing through a narrow birch-lined gorge, this graceful waterfall, with its lush surroundings and calm atmosphere, is a great place for hikers to pause and look.
1.5 hours
Hveragerði
TownHveragerði is the “hot springs town”, famous for its geothermal energy and greenhouses. It’s known for the hiking route into the Reykjadalur hot river valley, its bakeries and its geothermal park. Bringing nature and geothermal riches together, it’s an essential stop for travellers.
1.5 hours
Ófærufoss
WaterfallFlowing deep inside the Eldgjá volcanic canyon, Ófærufoss is a spellbinding waterfall dropping in two tiers over basalt steps. The natural stone arch that once spanned it collapsed in the 1990s, but with its wild canyon setting and exuberant water it remains a hidden jewel of the highlands.
1.5 hours
Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel
CaveNear Reykjavík, Raufarhólshellir is one of Iceland’s longest and most accessible lava tunnels. Formed in a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, this underground cave is spellbinding with shafts of light falling through its skylights, icicles in winter and colourful rock textures.
1.5 hours
Secret Lagoon
Hot springIn the village of Flúðir, Gamla Laugin (the Secret Lagoon) is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, dating back to 1891. Accompanied by a little geyser and rising steam, the lagoon gives visitors an authentic hot-spring experience in healing, mineral-rich water at 38–40 °C.
1.5 hours
Skógafoss Viewing Stairs
Hiking trailRising just to the right of Skógafoss, this steep staircase of around 500 steps leads to the top of the falls and a viewing platform. Letting visitors watch the water pour over from above, the route is also the starting point of the famous Fimmvörðuháls trail.
1.5 hours
Fagrifoss
WaterfallPouring over black volcanic rock, Fagrifoss is a spellbinding natural wonder on the 4x4 route to the Laki craters.
1.3 hours
Brúarfoss
WaterfallOn the Brúará river, Brúarfoss is an iconic waterfall known for its spellbinding turquoise-blue water. Its name, “Bridge Falls”, comes from a stone bridge that once crossed it. With its wooden viewing area and unique colour, it is a favourite stop for photographers.
1 hour
Dyrhólaey Viewpoint
ViewpointOn Iceland’s south coast, Dyrhólaey is famous for its giant black volcanic rock arch rising from the sea, its historic lighthouse and superb panoramic views. This dramatic headland overlooking the black beaches is also a popular puffin nesting site in summer.
1 hour
Eldfell Volcanic Cone
VolcanoOn the island of Heimaey, Eldfell is a volcanic cone formed in a sudden eruption in 1973. The ground at the summit is still warm from the geothermal heat beneath it. The panoramic view of the island, the sea and the lava fields from the top is spellbinding.
1 hour
Eldheimar Volcano Museum
MuseumOn the island of Heimaey, Eldheimar is a volcano museum about the homes buried in ash by the 1973 Eldfell eruption and the islanders’ struggle. Built around a real house dug out of the ash, it’s known as the “Pompeii of the North”.
1 hour
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano
GlacierIn South Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull is an active stratovolcano known for the ice cap on its summit. The giant mountain whose 2010 eruption stopped Europe’s air traffic is, with its magnificent scenery, one of the island’s best-known landmarks.
1 hour
Fimmvörðuháls Trail
Hiking trailBetween the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers, Fimmvörðuháls is a legendary route linking Skógar and Þórsmörk. With 26 magnificent waterfalls on the Skógá, and fresh lava fields and craters from the 2010 eruption, it gives nature lovers an unforgettable hike.
1 hour
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
CanyonAbout two million years old, 100 metres deep and 2 kilometres long, Fjaðrárgljúfur is one of Iceland’s most magnificent canyons, with sheer moss-green walls, a winding riverbed and spellbinding viewpoint paths along its rim.
1 hour
Flúðir
TownIn the south of Iceland, Flúðir is a peaceful village known for its geothermal springs and greenhouses. It’s home to the Secret Lagoon, the country’s oldest natural geothermal pool, and is known for its hot water, fresh local produce and calm atmosphere.
1 hour
Gjáin
WaterfallHidden in the Þjórsárdalur valley, Gjáin is like a fairy-tale oasis of waterfalls, clear springs, volcanic rock formations and lush greenery. A little corner of paradise in the middle of barren lava land, the valley is also known as one of the filming locations of Game of Thrones.
1 hour
Grímsvötn Volcano
VolcanoHidden beneath the Vatnajökull glacier, Grímsvötn is one of Iceland’s most active and powerful volcanic systems. Known for the glacial lake above its caldera and its frequent eruptions, it has a huge impact on the island through the glacial floods (jökulhlaup) caused by meltwater.
1 hour
Gullfoss
WaterfallTumbling into a canyon in two steps on the Hvítá river, Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”) is the most impressive natural landmark on the Golden Circle. Known for its exuberant summer flow and the rainbows in its rising spray, the waterfall is also a symbol of Iceland’s unique history of nature conservation.
1 hour
Háifoss
WaterfallAt 122 metres, Háifoss on the Fossá river is one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls. Pouring into a deep, magnificent canyon near the Hekla volcano, together with the neighbouring Granni falls it makes a spellbinding sight and an adventurous nature experience.
1 hour
Haukadalur Geothermal Valley
GeyserIn South Iceland, the Haukadalur valley is one of the Golden Circle’s most famous geothermal areas. Besides the legendary Geysir and the constantly erupting Strokkur, it is home to bubbling mud pools and hot springs: a spellbinding, colourful stop.
1 hour
Hella
TownOn the banks of the Ytri-Rangá, Hella is a popular base and stopover for exploring South Iceland. A charming, strategically placed town known for its proximity to Hekla, its historic man-made caves, salmon fishing and northern-lights viewing in winter.
1 hour
Hjörleifshöfði (Yoda Cave)
Historic siteRising from the black sand desert on Iceland’s south coast, this historic hill is a mysterious and magnificent natural monument, known for the summit grave of Hjörleifr, one of the first Viking settlers, and the giant Hjörleifshöfði Cave (Yoda Cave) at its foot.
1 hour
Hvolsvöllur
TownIn South Iceland, Hvolsvöllur is a charming town in the shadow of the Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes. Famous for its sagas, this historic settlement is an ideal stop for nature and adventure lovers, with the LAVA Centre and easy access to Þórsmörk and Seljalandsfoss.
1 hour
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
TownIn South Iceland, Kirkjubæjarklaustur is a peaceful village dating back to a medieval convent. Known for being close to attractions like Fjaðrárgljúfur and Skaftafell, it is an important stop with the Kirkjugólf basalt “church floor” and the hiking trails around it.
1 hour
Lakagígar (Laki Craters)
VolcanoKnown for the 1783 eruption, Lakagígar (the Laki craters) is a row of more than 135 volcanic craters along a 25-kilometre line in south Iceland. With moss-covered lava fields and a geological landscape that shows nature’s destructive power, it is a unique and spellbinding place.
1 hour
LAVA Centre
MuseumLocated in Hvolsvöllur, the LAVA Centre is an interactive museum about Iceland’s seismic and volcanic activity. With real-time earthquake monitoring, volcanic eruption simulations and lava corridors, it teaches visitors up close about the tectonic forces that shape the island.
1 hour
Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station
ViewpointIn the Hengill volcanic area, the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station is Iceland’s second-largest geothermal plant. Supplying electricity and hot water to Reykjavík, it is an impressive example of modern sustainable energy technology and engineering in harmony with nature.
1 hour
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
BeachNear Vík, Reynisfjara is one of the world’s most famous beaches, with jet-black volcanic sand, the giant Gardar basalt columns and roaring waves. Facing the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, the beach is known as much for its dangerous sneaker waves as for its spellbinding beauty.
1 hour
Selfoss
TownBuilt on the banks of the Ölfusá river, Selfoss is the largest commercial and residential centre in South Iceland. The main link for the Golden Circle and south coast routes, the town stands out for its lively centre, rebuilt in historic style, with cafés and restaurants.
1 hour
Selfoss Supplies Stop
TownFor anyone travelling in South Iceland and along the Ring Road, Selfoss is the most complete service and supply hub. With supermarkets, petrol stations, car rental and repair services, it covers everything travellers need before heading to the south coast or the highlands.
1 hour
Sigöldugljúfur Canyon
CanyonA hidden jewel of the Icelandic Highlands, Sigöldugljúfur is also called the “Valley of Tears”. Countless fine waterfalls trickling down its lush, moss-covered basalt walls and the bright turquoise glacial water at its bottom make it one of the country’s most photogenic and spellbinding canyons.
1 hour
Silfra Fissure
ViewpointIn Lake Þingvallavatn, the Silfra fissure lets you snorkel between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Thanks to glacial water filtered through layers of lava, the fissure has underwater visibility of more than 100 metres and is considered one of the clearest dive sites in the world.
1 hour
Skógafoss
WaterfallOne of South Iceland’s grandest waterfalls, Skógafoss is 25 metres wide and 60 metres high. Famous for the double rainbows its heavy spray creates on sunny days, it is spellbinding with its majestic curtain of water and the fact that you can walk right up to its base.
1 hour
Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk
GlacierA guided walk on Sólheimajökull, an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull, is one of Iceland’s most popular adventures. Walking in crampons between crevasses, moulins and layers of black volcanic ash gives visitors a direct look at glacier geology and the melting process.
1 hour
Stöng Viking Farm
Historic siteIn the Þjórsárdalur valley, Stöng is an authentic Viking-age farm preserved under volcanic ash after Hekla erupted in 1104. Known as the “Pompeii of Iceland”, this historic site is a unique museum that brings the architecture and farm life of the period to the present.
1 hour
Strokkur Geyser
GeyserIn the Haukadalur geothermal valley, Strokkur is Iceland’s most active and reliable geyser. Shooting boiling water 20 to 40 metres into the air every 6 to 10 minutes, it gives onlookers unforgettable moments with the huge blue dome of water that swells just before each eruption.
1 hour
Vík
TownAt the southernmost tip of South Iceland, Vík í Mýrdal is known for its famous black beaches and the Reynisdrangar basalt stacks rising from the ocean. With its red-roofed church on the hill, the grand cliffs around it and its services, it is the essential base for anyone on the southern route.
1 hour
Vík Beach
BeachCompared with Reynisfjara, known for its dangerous sneaker waves, this stretch of beach in front of Vík lets you experience the black volcanic sand in a calmer, safer setting. An ideal stop for a panoramic view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and a walk along the shore.
1 hour
Geysir
GeyserIn the Haukadalur valley, the Great Geysir is the legendary hot spring that gave every geyser in the world its name. It rarely erupts these days, but its active neighbour Strokkur, shooting hot water into the air every few minutes, is the Golden Circle’s favourite stop.
45 min
Gjábakkahellir Lava Cave
CaveNear Þingvellir National Park, Gjábakkahellir is a historic lava cave shaped by lava flows thousands of years ago; with its untouched natural structure and spellbinding basalt ceiling it offers an adventurous glimpse into Iceland’s volcanic underworld.
45 min
Hrunalaug Hot Spring
Hot springNear the village of Flúðir, Hrunalaug is a small, authentic natural hot spring tucked away in the countryside. It’s known for its historic stone pools surrounded by greenery and its peaceful atmosphere, ideal for relaxing in natural geothermal water and enjoying rural Iceland.
45 min
Kvernufoss
WaterfallHidden in the deep canyon just behind the Skógar Museum, Kvernufoss is a spellbinding waterfall dropping 30 metres. One of the rare falls you can walk behind, like Seljalandsfoss, this natural wonder offers a unique, calm detour away from the crowds.
45 min
Loftsalahellir Cave
CaveOn the slope of a hill near the Dyrhólaey peninsula, Loftsalahellir is a small tuff cave carved by wind and water. Its round mouth frames the south coast’s black beaches and the ocean like a painting, making for extraordinary photographs.
45 min
Seljalandsfoss
WaterfallOne of Iceland’s most famous natural wonders, Seljalandsfoss falls from a height of about 60 metres. Its most spellbinding feature is the path that loops behind the curtain of water, giving visitors an unforgettable, unique view, especially at sunset.
45 min
Gljúfrabúi
WaterfallNext to Seljalandsfoss in South Iceland, this mysterious waterfall hides behind a narrow cleft in the rock. Its name means “dweller in the gorge”, and you reach it through the narrow rock passage. Pouring into a cave-like canyon, it gives visitors a spellbinding, adventurous atmosphere.
30 min
Hjálparfoss
WaterfallIn the Þjórsárdalur valley, Hjálparfoss is a unique twin waterfall where the Fossá and Þjórsá rivers combine and pour into a symmetrical basalt pool. Its name, “Help Falls”, comes from travellers of old who rested and grazed their horses here after crossing the tough Sprengisandur route.
30 min
Kerið Crater Lake
VolcanoFormed about 3,000 years ago, Kerið is a deep, circular explosion crater ringed by red volcanic rock. The vivid aquamarine and turquoise lake at its bottom makes a superb contrast with the black and red scoria slopes, and a path lets you walk down to the crater floor.
30 min
Öxarárfoss
WaterfallA graceful waterfall pouring over basalt cliffs inside the Almannagjá gorge in Þingvellir National Park. According to the Icelandic sagas, the river’s course was changed by people to supply water to the parliament, a symbolic stop combining history and natural beauty.
30 min
Systrafoss
WaterfallPouring in two graceful streams over steep basalt cliffs in the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Systrafoss means “Sisters’ Falls”. Named after the nuns of the village’s historic convent, this natural wonder enchants visitors with the crater lake above it and its peaceful green paths.
30 min
Urriðafoss
WaterfallThundering on the Þjórsá, Iceland’s longest river, Urriðafoss is the country’s second most powerful waterfall by volume. With water rumbling across a wide lava plateau, a calm rural setting and a rich salmon population, it is a peaceful spot for nature lovers.
30 min
Ytri Vík Beach
BeachStretching along the outskirts of Vík, the Ytri Vík shoreline shows off the area’s dramatic black volcanic sand in a calmer atmosphere.
30 min
Þjófafoss
WaterfallOn the Þjórsá river, Þjófafoss (“Thieves’ Falls”) makes a breathtaking silhouette with the Hekla volcano rising behind it. According to legend, thieves were thrown from its rocks to drown in the old days; with its wide turquoise flow and lava fields, it is very impressive.
30 min
Þórufoss
WaterfallFalling in a quiet valley on the Laxá í Kjós river, Þórufoss is a peaceful, majestic 18-metre waterfall. Made famous by the Game of Thrones scene in which a dragon hunts a goat, it’s ideal for anyone wanting a taste of calm away from the Golden Circle crowds.
30 min
Faxifoss
WaterfallFaxi, on the Tungufljót river, is a wide and peaceful waterfall on the Golden Circle route, known for its salmon ladder and picnic area. There’s a parking fee.
25 min
Foss á Síðu
WaterfallNear Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland, Foss á Síðu is a spellbinding waterfall spilling from sheer cliffs. It’s known for being blown backwards in strong winds. With its striking basalt columns and farmstead setting, it’s one of the most photogenic stops on the Ring Road.
15 min
Times are time spent on site, not including the drive. Limited months show when the highland F-roads and fjord passes are open.