If you are driving this route, raise your right hand and say, “I swear on my love for nutella, that I will not speed. I do not care how many cars pass me, how quickly I’m losing daylight, or how much I need to go to the bathroom. I understand that one speeding ticket in Iceland could cover the flights and accommodation for a deserving family of four to Disneyworld for a week.” It’s true, Google it.

Ok, great! Now that the severity of speeding has been addressed, let’s explore the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle

A perfect day trip, The Golden Circle is approximately a 190 mile loop into Iceland’s Interior from Reykjavik. It’s a favorite tourist route because it runs through three major points of interest:  þingviller National Park, the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur with two large geysers, and lastly, Gullfoss waterfall.

Additionally, it’s just a beautiful drive and great opportunity to see the countryside and still feel like you’re fulfilling your tourist duties. So, when your well-traveled and very vocal neighbors regale you of their trip, you can nod slowly and say, “yes, we did in fact see that too.” (What obnoxious snobs; they probably have a travel blog or something.)

Stop 1: Þingvellir National Park 

Þingvellir National Park (Pronounced Thingvellir) is most noted for it’s historic and geological significance. In 930 AD, Iceland’s first parliament, Alpingi, was established here which is also the world’s oldest.

Pingviller National Park

I drove the circle in a rental car with a few new friends from my hostel but I can also see the benefit of taking a tour bus here as well. The guides are always great resources and full of interesting information.  I found myself lingering a couple of times in hopes they were speaking English, but placards are placed along the walkways explaining the history. I remember two things: It was the 1^st Icelandic parliament and eighteen “witches” were drowned here. Those girls probably got around. Too bad, too sad.

Pingvellir National Park

But in all serisousness, it’s pretty spectacular and mind boggling to think of what took place here in 930AD and to wonder how life must have been.  The church and cemetery rest silently among the conflicted rocky landscape and still waters, seemingly carrying the burden and beauty of its past.

A rift resulting from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Speaking of conflicted landscape, this is also home of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the rift is actually above sea level and in plain view. What does it look like? A giant crack in the Earth’s surface surrounded by two large rock walls from the two plates pulling away from each other. Smaller cracks in the surface exist in a few other places in the park filled with still, clear water and of course, coins from all over the world representing the wishes of thousands of tourists (as pictured above).

Stop 2: Haukadalur 

The geothermally active valley of Haukadalur  consists of a few small geysers and two large ones, Geysir and Strokkur that erupt about every 6 minutes.

Strokkur geyser, Before

Strokkur, After

I watched Strokkur erupt a couple of times then retreated to the café for an overpriced fish sandwich. This stop was underwhelming to me. If you’ve never seen a geothermally active area, it’s probably pretty incredible, but I’ve spent some time in Yellowstone National Park and let’s just say, Old Faithful has my heart. So, call me a geyser snob. They’re like caves to me: you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

I know many would disagree with this sentiment, which is why I still recommend stopping–if not for the geysers, it’s just a nice spot for a pit stop, snack, and nice souvenir shop. (Just don’t get the fish sandwich.)

Stop 3: Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall is just a massive and powerful display of nature. I was impressed. What I enjoyed the most about this stop was the freedom I had to roam. Tourists have very little limitations and can walk incredibly close to the falls and up on the rocks. It’s not as dangerous as it sounds, I promise.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The air is chilly, breezy, and damp so bring a raincoat. There is a restaurant, coffee and souvenir shop which is convenient for warming up those chilly hands. The food looked respectable so I’d recommend eating here over the geyser stop, as I mentioned my overpriced, soggy, fish sandwich covered in sautéed onions, right? Yes, yes, it was bad.

Shae, Me, Santo, and Matt

Despite my fish sandwich, driving the Golden Circle was a great experience. Three spectacular peeps from my hostel joined and after a day of exploring and car games we were fast friends from all walks of life and corners of the world.  Matt, Shae, and Santo: Would you rather belch “Hello” when you answer your phone OR do the chicken dance every time you receive a call?