Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik – Is it Worth it?

Are you considering taking a Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik? From our experience with this tour, here’s everything you need to know.

The Golden Circle is an Icelandic classic. Almost everyone who visits the country will see this iconic route at least once. This was the first-ever tour we did in Iceland and our first day trip outside of Reykjavik.

If we’re perfectly honest, we have mixed feelings about the Golden Circle. Yes, it’s one of those places that everyone will tell you to see and it’s probably on every Iceland itinerary. But, I think this is kind of why it’s losing its charm. 

We first visited in December 2021, so it was pretty quiet (understandably, given the times). However, visited again in April 2024 and the crowds were noticeably larger. We had to weave through throngs of people to watch the geyser erupting.

We’d be wary about visiting this area at all during the high season. The crowds make it less enjoyable and, if we’re perfectly honest, there are much prettier places to visit in Iceland.

But, if you’re planning a Golden Circle tour in the off-season, it might be worth it. If you do decide to book one, this was the tour we took during our first-ever trip to Iceland.

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❤️ This is the tour we booked and we had the best time!

What to expect on a Golden Circle Day Tour?

We were picked up from Center Hotels Plaza in Reykjavik at around 8:30am. Since we were visiting Iceland in December, it was still pitch black, which was odd.

The drive to our first stop took around an hour. We stopped halfway for a quick toilet break, and to pick up more people, so overall, it was around 1 hour and 15 minutes in the minivan.

By the time we arrived, the sun was up, but it was cloudy, so there was no pretty sunrise. 

Our first stop

Our first stop was Kerid Crater. This is an extra stop on a traditional Golden Circle tour, but a lot of tours are now including it. We thought it was more than worth it, and the scenery here is beautiful. 

When we visited, it was raining (a LOT), which was our first real taste of how unpredictable Icelandic weather can be. We were very glad that we’d packed properly for the winter weather, especially with a reliable winter coat. 

Despite the less-than-perfect weather, we still loved this stop. The colours on the crater were incredible – a mixture of greens, reds, browns, and purples. 

Because of the weather, we weren’t allowed to walk around the crater or head down the steps to the bottom because it was too dangerous. But we could explore the top and take a lot of photos. 

We only stayed here for around 15-20 minutes in the end and when we got back into the van, we were dripping wet. Luckily, on the way to our second stop, the rain eased, and it was dry for the rest of the day.

Our second stop

Our second stop was the impressive Geysir Geothermal Area.

This was around 45 minutes from Kerid Crater and is home to the most famous geyser in all of Iceland: Strokkur. The huge geyser erupts roughly every 10-15 minutes and draws very large crowds to watch it. 

Our guide gave us a lot of information about the area before giving us free time to explore.

Once you leave the car park, cross the road and follow the path towards the geyser. There are several smaller hot springs along the way, including ‘Little Geysir’, but after a short walk, you’ll reach the main attraction. 

I recommend waiting for Strokkur to erupt before exploring the rest of the area. It erupts quite frequently, but sometimes it’s only a small eruption. Waiting for one of the larger ones can take longer.

When we went on this tour, the guides gave us around an hour here, so it was plenty of time to see a few eruptions of Strokkur and explore the rest. 

There are several other hot springs and geysers here, although most are dormant. Some are really beautiful colours, though, including a bright blue one. 

After our exploration, and a quick stop in the visitor centre to use the toilets and grab a hot drink, we hopped back in the van.

❤️ This is the tour we booked and we had the best time!

Gullfoss has two viewing platforms which are open year-round and several others that you can only explore during certain times of year. Since we visited during the winter months, we were only able to explore the top two platforms. 

These are both viewing platforms, and you can walk down a set of metal stairs from one to the other. Be careful if you’re visiting in icy conditions though, as the ground can get slippery. 

You can also walk along the top to view Gullfoss from a third angle. If you’re visiting in summer, there is a fourth path that takes you to a rocky platform right above the waterfall. This is closed in winter as it’s too dangerous.

We spent less time here than we did at Geysir, so we spent the remainder of our time in the visitor centre cafe. They sell hot food, drinks, and sandwiches, so it was the perfect place to grab some lunch.

Our fourth stop

Our fourth and final stop of the day was Thingvellir National Park. This place is mostly known for the tectonic scenery and you can walk between two tectonic plates.

Our guide parked at the main visitor centre and walked with us to the viewpoint over the park.

We stopped here for a few minutes while he gave us some information about the landscapes around Thingvellir. Then, he took us through the gorge and the plates.

We went on a walk through the gorge to one of the viewpoints, and then back to the car park.

The scenery was stunning, but this was the one stop where we would’ve liked to explore more.

Unfortunately, because it was winter, the daylight was fading quickly, and we needed to head back before it got completely dark and we couldn’t see anything.

We recently came back here as a self-drive of the Golden Circle and were able to see things like Oxarafoss Waterfall and Thingvellir Church.

We didn’t see either of these on our Golden Circle Tour, but we don’t know for certain that this wasn’t due to the time of year.

Once we’d finished exploring Thingvellir National Park, we drove the final 45 minutes back to Reykjavik and were dropped off near our hotel, marking the end of our tour.

How long does the tour take?

The Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik is a full-day tour. You’ll usually be picked up between 8am and 9am and will be out exploring for the full day before being dropped back off in the capital around 5pm – 6pm. 

The Golden Circle is quite a compact area, but there’s still a lot to see. Some of the drives between the stops are around 40 minutes, so a full day is necessary.  

How long do you get at each stop?

One of the things I liked most about this tour was how long we had at each stop.

Just like our tour of the south coast of Iceland, we had more than enough time to explore on our own and didn’t feel rushed. 

The only downside was the very last stop, where it started getting too dark to see anything. But we think this may have been down to the time of year we visited rather than the tour itself. 

The Best Golden Circle Tour

There are lots of tours available to the Golden Circle, so we took our time deciding which company to book with. 

We wanted a company that would have a pickup location near our hotel, that had plenty of good reviews, and that included Kerid Crater (because not all of them do). 

We booked this tour and really enjoyed it. I recommend booking in advance because the tours can sell out really quickly, especially in the high season.

❤️ This what we booked and we think it’s the best Golden Circle tour!

Can You See Everything on the Golden Circle in One Day?

This is a tough question because, on one hand, you can definitely see all 4 of these stops on the Golden Circle in one day. However, there is a lot more to this part of Iceland than just these places. 

If you have more time, it’s well worth exploring the Golden Circle in depth.

You can find more waterfalls and interesting canyons, bathe in geothermal pools, and even visit Iceland’s only tomato farm. But, if you’re doing this, you’ll need to drive rather than go on a guided tour.

Is it Best to book a Tour or Drive Yourself?

This depends on what you want from the Golden Circle. If you only want to see the area’s main tourist attractions, don’t want to drive, and are staying in Reykjavik, we’d recommend a guided tour.

Whereas, if you want to go a little off-the-beaten-path and explore the area in depth, we’d recommend driving the Golden Circle route yourself. 

It’s a pretty well-trodden route, so most of the roads are easy to navigate. You may find a few rougher dirt paths (like the one to Bruarfoss waterfall), but most will be fine.

If you want to do this, we also recommend staying on the Golden Circle. There are plenty of hotels, especially around Geysir and Gullfoss.

The other benefit of this is that you’ll be able to explore the popular attractions before the tour group crowds arrive. 

👉 TOP TIP: If you want to chase the aurora, consider staying at one of the many of the best Northern Lights Hotels on the Golden Circle.

What’s the Best Time to Visit the Golden Circle?

One of the best things about this part of Iceland is that you can visit it all year round. In the winter months, you’ll get beautiful snowy scenery and chilly weather, whereas in the summer, you’ll find warmer weather and greenery, but more crowds. 

We visited the Golden Circle both in December and in April, and both times it was enjoyable. It was definitely more crowded in April, though. 

It’s also worth noting that you won’t be able to access all of the paths in the winter months. For instance, the path down to the edge of Gullfoss is closed. 

Personally, we’d recommend visiting the Golden Circle from late September to October and March or April.

You’ll have better weather during these times but will miss the summer crowds. Plus the scenery won’t be completely iced over.

Is a Golden Circle Tour Worth It?

Yes, we think this is one tour in Iceland that everyone should do at least once. It’s one of the best things to do from Reykjavik, and skipping it would be like going to London and not seeing the London Eye!

Nonetheless, we still think other parts of Iceland are much more beautiful. 

If you’re staying in Reykjavik, this is one of the easiest and most popular day trips from the capital. You can expect crowds to some degree, even if you visit during the off-season.

We’ve visited both as part of a guided tour and as a self-drive. If you decide to drive yourself, you’ll have more flexibility to explore. Here’s our recommended itinerary. 

And, if you really want to beat the crowds, we suggest staying on the Golden Circle. This area has its own charm but the crowds ruin it a little, so staying here is 100% worth it and will give you a much nicer experience overall.

👉 Planning on staying on the Golden Circle? These are the most unforgettable hotels.

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