If you’re visiting Iceland, the Golden Circle is not to be missed. From Reykjavik to the South, this famous Iceland itinerary features some incredible sights such as Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park and Great Geysir.
Things to Do in the Golden Circle Iceland
Before heading to the Golden Circle, most travellers will land in Reykjavik, where there’s a lot to see and do. The Golden Circle is a great circuit of some of Iceland’s top attractions, spread over 300 kilometres. Along the way you might be lucky to spot a double rainbow as we did.
There are also many Icelandic horses, one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world.
1. Icelandic Wonders
We recommend a visit to Icelandic Wonders, aka the Ghost and Elf Museum. Storytelling is a huge thing in Iceland and the museum tells some of those tales in an entertaining fashion.
2. Thingvellir
The area of Thingvellir (Þingvellir in Icelandic) is a very popular tourist destination due to its beauty, cultural and geological significance. The site of Iceland’s first parliament, established in 930, it’s possibly the oldest Parliament in the world.
It remained here until 1798 and Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930, to commemorate its 1,000th anniversary. This Iceland landscape became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
This Icelandic national park is also the centre of an unusual phenomenon. You can clearly observe continental drift between Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Earthquakes have caused the plates to split further and further apart, increasing Iceland’s land mass considerably and moving it closer to Europe. See the rocks on the left and right of the photo below – they were originally joined together.
The phenomenon is fascinating to see and thankfully the earth doesn’t actually move. The last earthquake was in 2000.
With the weather being so changeable in Iceland, it’s important to dress appropriately, so this Iceland packing list should prove very helpful.
3. Efsti Dalur Farm
If you have time, there’s a very cool ice cream parlour nearby. At Efsti Dalur Farm, you can see the cows grazing through a glass wall as you sample their delicious organic yoghurt and ice cream.
4. Gullfoss Waterfall
We also recommend a stop at the incredible Gullfoss or Golden Falls, our favourite stop on the tour. Flowing from the HvÃtá river, it’s sometimes known as the double waterfall, since it plunges at two stages into a 32 metre crevice. This natural wonder is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
There were some attempts to use the current to generate electricity and at one point it was rented out to foreign investors but thankfully it was sold back to the State of Iceland and is now a protected landmark. The sheer power of the current is mesmerizing.
Be sure to wear waterproof clothing when you visit as it can get quite wet close to the waterfall! Here are some recommendations of things to pack for Iceland.
5. Fridheimar Greenhouse
By now you’ve probably worked up an appetite so head to Fridheimar Tomato Greenhouse for a lunch with a difference. This famous Iceland restaurant is located inside a tomato conservatory and all the dishes are tomato based.
Their tomato soup is exceptional and the olive bread is a real treat. Wash down your meal with four types of Bloody Mary. The Guardian considers these the best in the world.
Try the tomato flavoured ice cream for dessert, it is surprisingly tasty. The tomato cheesecake is also very moreish.
6. Geysir
After lunch, visit Haukadalur valley and Geysir, world famous as the site of many active geysirs, including tiddly Litli Geysir and big brother Strokkur ;-). Groups of people patiently wait for one of the geysir’s to erupt, which it does every eight to ten minutes.
When the geysirs do blow, the effect is spectacular, although it is over as quickly as it starts. The word geysir comes from the Icealandic word geysa meaning to gush.
These eruptions have been active for around 10,000 years and can project boiling water up to 70 metres high or up to 40 metres in the case of Strokkur. Earthquakes tend to increase the activity of the geysirs.
7. The Icelandic Saga Centre
The Icelandic Saga Centre is another interesting Golden Circle attraction. If you can, participate in the embroidery of a tapestry, the Njáls Saga, that should be finished in 3 years.
Visitors are shown how to recreate the Bayeux stitch that was used in the Viking age. Once finished it will be approximately 90 metres long.
Hotel Ranga
As the only four star hotel in South Iceland and the highest starred Golden Circle hotels, Hotel Ranga is a very convenient base from which to explore Iceland’s highlights. Glaciers, the Westman Islands and Mount Hekla volcano are all within easy reach, and fishing, dog-sledding and river-rafting are just some of the activities on offer nearby.
Popular with celebrities, this is the first Icelandic hotel to become a member of Great Hotels of the World. Overlooking a river, the hotel is constructed in a log-cabin style and has 51 rooms and suites. Hotel Ranga is a scenic 1 hour drive from Keflavik, the main airport.
We were greeted at the door by Fridrik, the hotel’s affable owner who speaks perfect English. Check in is a really quick and efficient process and we were on our room in under five minutes.
The spacious bedrooms have direct access to the porch outside, which would come in especially handy when the Northern Lights are out. In fact the hotel has a special Northern Lights wake up call which alerts guests who’ve signed up for it if the lights are out at some point during the night.
The bathrooms have large jacuzzi baths and amenities included a quirky tea sachet. Hotel Ranga is definitely one of the coolest places to stay in Iceland.
A case in point are these leggy cocktail chairs. There’s also a whacky harp massage chair. If someone plays the harp, the person sitting in the chair feels soothing vibrations in their back.
You might like to sample some Icelandic beers before dinner, from Olvisholt Brewery. They’re all very drinkable but our favourite is the red ale.
There’s an airy upstairs private dining room bookable for events and meetings as well as the main dining room on the ground floor. Head chef Karl Johann Unnarsson has created a concept based on a farmer’s market, using local, seasonal ingredients.
We particularly enjoyed the warming wild mushroom soup with Madeira wine and the slow cooked cauliflower with buttermilk sauce and pickled red onion. The lightly cured and blowtorched salmon with trout roe and spinach vinaigrette…or Northern Lights on a plate as we christened it, was another triumph.
The pan-fried fillet of lamb with spring onion, roasted cabbage purée and demi-glaze sauce had subtle flavour combinations and contrasting textures. Finish with a chocolate mousse with fresh cream, crumble and strawberries.
After this epic 8 course feast, kit yourselves out in the fleecy overalls provided by the hotel. You might even encounter a 10 foot polar bear named Hrammur along the way.
Walk the short distance to Hotel Ranga’s very own Astronomical Observatory. This is totally unique – the most high-tech obeservatory in Iceland, with two 11-inch computerized telescopes, space for 30 people and a retractable roof.
Conditions for the Northern Lights ideally need to be cloudless. It was cloudy on our visit so we couldn’t see any stars but the night before we arrived the sky was star-studded and the Northern Lights made a spirited showing.
You must take a dip in one of the outdoor hot tubs heated with geothermal water. If you’re lucky, a wild goose might even land on the pond right beside you.
It’s another unexpected pleasure and a fitting end to a tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Here are some other unique things to do in Iceland that we love.
In Conclusion: Iceland Golden Circle Tour
If you’re looking for an amazing Icelandic experience that will take your breath away, the Golden Circle Tour is a must. This popular Iceland trip takes you to some of the most beautiful and iconic locations in Iceland, including Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs, and Gullfoss Waterfall. We recommend booking a private guide for your Iceland tour, so you can see the sights at your own rhythm.
With so much to see and do on this tour, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Are you ready to explore everything that Iceland has to offer? Check out our other travel guides for more information on planning your perfect vacation.
Have you ever been to Iceland or seen the Northern Lights?
Hotel Ranga, 851 – South Iceland
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Wonderful photos, must be a great trip!
Have fun 😉
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr/
It was fantastic! Have a great week
Looks glorious. Would love to go to Iceland one day
I hope that you get the opportunity, Ali
Love the last photo of you jumping over the mushroom! Yes, Iceland has been on my bucket list for a few years now. I once had the chance to have a layover at the Reykjavik airport but it was not long enough to wander out and see sights. Your photos show what spectacular sights there are to discover!
The mushroom was a bit surreal, it fitted in well with the hotel’s quirky decor! I’d love to return and hopefully see the Northern Lights
I would love to visit Iceland – it’s on my bucket list. I know my husband has been meaning to go there for years as well. Now that I know you can totally hang with 10 foot polar bears I’m twice as eager, love that pic! 😉
He was a very friendly bear, his bark was definitely worse than his bite ;-0
Wow, I’d love to go here. Iceland is on my list for this year so I’ll definitely check this place out. So cool they have their own observatory!!
The observatory was pretty special, there was cloud when we visited but I can imagine it on a starry night!
Your pictures of Iceland are so gorgeous!! And I love how your hotel room opened up right into the countryside!
http://thecourtneydiaries.com
It was really handy for getting into the hot tub and I can imagine how convenient it would be when the Northern Lights appear too
Ohhhmmy the views and that raindbow photo looks like an incredible encounter.
I heard a lot from Iceland and it was amazing.
Have a great day!
http://www.thebandwagonchic.com/
There really were some spectacular views, Zarrah, I can see why it’s so popular
Hotel Ranga looks like a great place to enjoy your Iceland stay! How lucky you were to see a double rainbow there!
It was pretty special to see a double rainbow, at first I only noticed one – apparently they’re quite frequent there
This looks like such a fun trip Suze! Love that last photo of you!
Ash | Liakada
It looks like I’m jumping quite high but that’s just because the mushrooms were so low 😉
Wonderful place, I love Iceland…
xoxo
www.bellezzefelici.blogspot.com
I can see why it’s so popular!
Hotel Ranga is on my wish list, I’d really love to visit Iceland.
I’m sure you’d love it Angie and fingers crossed you get to see the Lights
Stunning photos! I love Iceland and it has a special place in my heart since it was the first trip with my husband when we were dating. This hotel sounds amazing and the food looks so delicious and flavorful. I would love both the waffles and herring!
Http://leftbankgirl.blogspot.com
It must have been great experiencing Iceland together, I hope you get to return
It looks so amazing and peaceful there!
xo
www.laurajaneatelier.com
That’s very true, there’s so much space that it’s a very peaceful getaway
What an amazing trip! Iceland has been on my hotlist for a long time. Did you bring Hrammur home with you? 😉
Ha ha, sadly he wouldn’t have fit in my suitcase but it was tempting
Ah I remember stopping off at this hotel when we visited Iceland, such an unique place!
I thought you’d been to Iceland, Becky, and you’re right, it’s very unique
Such an amazing place! I love that pic with the bear! Thanks for sharing!
xx
cvetybaby.com
The bear was really cool, a great mascot!
Gorgeous shots, lady- this corner of the world is gorgeous!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Isn’t it just! So many unusual things to visit
I’m so glad you dream of visiting Iceland has come true Suze – this looks like an amazing adventure 🙂 The water feature shown in the fourth photo looks very special, but the rainbow and Icelandic horses combined really do steal the show – wow!
Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice
x
I wish we’d have had more time with the Icelandic horses, we drove past a visitor horse centre on the way to the airport
Now, this is how to see Iceland!
We were really lucky to see so many different things and to enjoy such feasts too
Wow, what an incredible place! This is how I want to experience Iceland. One of my friends is currently in Iceland and it looks absolutely beautiful there. It’s definitely on my never ending list of places to visit…
Eden | Mint Notion
My list of places to visit is longer than my arm!
SUCH a fun post, Suze!!! My bestie is going to Iceland in May, so will be sure to forward this along. I love that they mark which hotel rooms to wake up for the Northern Lights, brilliant! And those chairs are too cool!
She’s going to have a brilliant time! It’s reassuring to know that they wake you up for the Northern Lights, no doubt I’d sleep through them otherwise
Ooh Iceland has been on my bucket list for a long time now, especially since an influx of bloggers took over my instagram feed with dreamy photos of it 🙂 The views – and food – looks stunning, I’d love to see Iceland!
Elle
www.theellenextdoor.com
xx
Everything about this post is amazing!! Seems like you had so much fun!! The food looks so delicious!!
www.fashionstylemogul.com
I was so impressed with the food, they really pulled out all the stops
Such a cool hotel..Iceland definitely seems like a unique place to visit. I’d love to go there someday.
www.leftbanked.com
Iceland is beautiful, it is somewhere that I would happily go back to explore more of the island. We went at Christmas and I can really recommend this, you can read about our adventures here: http://bit.ly/1Ip4xQD. You look like you had a wonderful time. We stayed in the centre at the Hilton which was lovely but I like the idea of getting further out in a cabin. Brave woman to get in the hot tub. Lucy X (FoodieForce)