10 Amazing Things to do in Thingvellir National Park
Are you planning on visiting the Golden Circle? If so, here are the 10 best things to do in Thingvellir National Park in Iceland.
If you’re planning on visiting Iceland, chances are, you’ll be heading to the Golden Circle at some point. And, while many people choose to do this route on a day trip, we recommend staying a little longer than 24 hours.
Located just under an hour from Reykjavík, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a blend of breathtaking natural landscapes, fascinating geology, and history.
It’s one of the only places on Earth where you can walk between two continental plates, snorkel in crystal-clear glacial water, and stand on the site of the world’s oldest parliament – all in one day. Þingvellir really is a must-see in Iceland.
So, here are 10 unforgettable things we recommend doing while you’re there.
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Thingvellir Must-Do’s!
Short on time? You NEED to do these 3 bucket-list things in Thingvellir! ❤️
Where to stay: Hotel Laugarvatn
1. Go Snorkelling in Silfra Fissure
If you’re just driving the Golden Circle, chances are you might miss this experience, but it’s so worth it! Silfra is one of the most beautiful places in Thingvellir.
This fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is full of glacial meltwater that’s been naturally filtered through lava rock over decades.
The water is crystal clear and you can see up to 100 meters in every direction underwater – it also makes it look a lot shallower than it is! It’s also so pure you can actually drink it.
Snorkelling in Silfra is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Iceland and honestly, anywhere in the world.
There are lots of tours of Silfra, from a snorkelling tour where you stay on the surface, to a scuba diving tour when you are exploring the depths of the fissure.
Which one you go for will primarily depend on your confidence in the water and, of course, the cost!
But it’s an absolutely fantastic experience and one we definitely recommend if you’re in Thingvellir.
❤️ If you want to snorkel between tectonic plates we highly recommend this tour!
2. Visit Þingvellir Church
One of our favourite hikes around the National Park is a loop which passes by this church. It’s a traditional Icelandic Church, similar in style to those you’ll see on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and along the South Coast.
It was originally built in the 11th century but has been reconstructed several times. The current church dates back to 1859 and is a symbol of Iceland’s Christian history.
It’s white with pale green windows the colour of pale moss and a dark grey roof. It’s strikingly beautiful and, whilst you can’t go inside, it’s still well worth a short stop as it’s incredibly photogenic.
It’s also surrounded by a few traditional turf-roofed farm buildings
3. Hike to Oxararfoss Waterfall
This is one of our favourite things to do in Thingvellir National Park. I absolutely love waterfalls and this one is gorgeous.
It flows from the Öxará River over the Almannagjá Gorge and is approximately 20 meters tall.
Admittedly, it’s not as tall or as impressive as many of the waterfalls along the southern coast, but it’s still beautiful to look at.
Plus, it’s actually somewhat manmade. The Öxará River was diverted during the establishment of the Alþingi (Iceland’s ancient parliament) to provide water for the people attending. This inadvertently created Öxarárfoss.
It’s easily accessible and the hike to the waterfall is quite a short one along well-marked trails. It only takes around 20 minutes from the visitor centre and is mostly along a flat boardwalk, so almost anyone can do it.
Once you arrive, you can take photos of the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get a closer look or simply admire the dramatic cascade of water.
In winter, the area becomes particularly picturesque, with huge icicles and snow on the rocks.
👉 Check out this article for a complete guide to this hike!
4. Stroll through Almannagjá Rift
Most people visit Thingvellir to do this and it shouldn’t be missed! The Almannagjá Rift is one of the most striking geological features in Þingvellir National Park.
This massive fissure marks the edge of the North American tectonic plate, where it is slowly drifting apart from the Eurasian plate at a rate of about 2 centimetres per year.
You’ll have towering rock walls on either side of you which were carved over million years ago by seismic activity and erosion.
The walk is easy and flat but it can also get super busy in the summer months, due to the popularity of the Golden Circle.
5. Admire Lake Þingvallavatn
The scenery in the park is stunning and you’ll be able to admire this lake from most of the viewpoints.
It’s Iceland’s largest natural lake, covering approximately 84 square kilometres and reaching a depth of 114 meters. It’s pretty impressive.
The lake lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge, resulting in a landscape rich with geological formations.
This also contributes to its exceptionally clear waters, offering excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving, particularly in areas like the Silfra fissure.
As well as this it’s a prime fishing location, especially for Arctic char and brown trout, which you may try if you go on a food tour in Reykjavik.
6. Visit Hakið Viewing Platform
When you first leave the car park and the Thingvellir visitor centre, this is the first viewpoint you come to. Hakið Viewing Platform gives you stunning views over many of the places mentioned on this list.
From the elevated deck, you can see over the rift valley, the two tectonic plates and the vast expanse of the lake, set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
The platform is an ideal starting point for exploring the park, with pathways leading down into the Almannagjá Gorge. Most people will start their exploration of Thingvellir from here and it’s very easy to see why.
7. Chase the Northern Lights
To spot the Northern Lights it needs to be completely dark and Thingvellir happens to be one of the best dark sky preserves in Iceland.
You get very little artificial lighting here meaning, during the dark winter months, from late September to early April, the clear skies above Þingvellir provide a perfect place to watch the aurora borealis.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and completely mesmerising.
Plus, many of the best aurora tours from Reykjavik will take you to Thingvellir on a northern lights chase as the landscapes are so optimal for spotting the natural phenomenon.
❤️ You’ll need to book this bucket list experience well in advance!
8. Go Husky Sledding
I bet you didn’t know you could go husky sledding on the Golden Circle, but there are a few companies that offer this experience right within Thingvellir National Park.
When we visited Iceland in March we saw several husky sledding companies out on the frozen lakes.
We haven’t done this ourselves – we’ve only been husky sledding in Akureyri – however, it looked absolutely magical and a great thing to do in the winter months in Thingvellir.
9. Camp out Under the Stars
If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can actually go camping here. Thingvellir is home to one of the best campsites in Iceland and it’s the perfect way to spend a little longer exploring the park.
You can explore the park during the day, pitch up a tent, spend a night out in the wilderness under the stars, and then go snorkelling between the Tectonic plates the following morning.
The campsites are typically open in summer between the 1st of June and the 1st of September but they are sometimes open until the end of October.
So, you could combine your camping trip with northern lights spotting if you visit later in the year!
It’s very affordable and only costs 1,800 ISK per person per night (around £10 or $14), so it’s also a great hack if you’re travelling around Iceland on a budget.
10. Explore the Rest of the Golden Circle
Of course, if you’re visiting Thingvellir, then you’ll most likely also want to explore the rest of the Golden Circle. It’s very easy from here and Thingvellir makes a great starting point or ending point for this road trip.
The other stops you may want to visit are Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Park, and Kerid Crater.
But we also recommend stopping at Bruarfoss Waterfall, to see the bright blue hues and perhaps heading to the famous tomato farm for lunch!
❤️ If you’d rather book a tour, this is the one we recommend!
Is it worth visiting Thingvellir National Park?
Yes, it’s 100% worth a visit. This is one of the most popular spots to visit in Iceland for a reason. It’s beautiful, historic, and one of the most unique landscapes in the country.
There’s also a great range of things to do that will keep you busy for much longer than a quick stop on a Golden Circle tour.
So, if you’re planning on visiting this beautiful National Park, I hope you found this article helpful! Any further questions, pop them in our Facebook Group!
👉 Need a place to stay? Here are our favourite hotels on the Golden Circle!
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