Popular day trips
The Golden Circle
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one loop — the classic first day in Iceland.
The Golden Circle is the route almost everyone does first, and for good reason: three landscapes that could not be more different, all within a comfortable day's drive of Hafnarfjörður.
Þingvellir National Park is where the Icelandic parliament was founded in 930 AD, and where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. You can walk through the rift itself.
Geysir geothermal area is home to Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes and reliably soaks anyone standing downwind. The original Geysir — the one that gave every other geyser in the world its name — is mostly dormant now.
Gullfoss drops in two stages into a canyon. In winter the spray freezes on the path, so wear boots with grip.
The full loop is roughly 250 km. Self-drive takes about six hours with stops; guided coach tours take eight to nine. We can help you book a seat, and pickup points are a short walk from the hostel.
