Geysir geothermal area

About Geysir

The Great Geysir has been active for hundreds of years and is the namesake for every other geyser on Earth, though it now erupts only rarely, sometimes after earthquakes. In practice, almost everyone comes to see Strokkur instead, a smaller but far more reliable geyser a short walk away that shoots boiling water 15–20 metres into the air every few minutes, and now and then a good deal higher.

The wider geothermal field around Strokkur has bubbling mudpots, steaming vents and mineral-stained ground, all fed by the same underground heat that powers much of Iceland. A raised boardwalk keeps visitors at a safe distance from the hottest pools while still giving a close view of the eruptions.

Geysir lies in the Haukadalur valley and is one of the three classic stops on the Golden Circle, together with Þingvellir National Park and Gullfoss waterfall. That makes it an easy day trip from Reykjavík, with or without a guide. Paths and boardwalks lead between the hot springs, and signs along the way explain the history and geology of what you are looking at.

Quick facts

A history of Geysir: the geyser that named them all

The English word “geyser” comes directly from Geysir, a name taken from the Icelandic verb geysa, to gush. Hot springs in Haukadalur are described in a chronicle for the year 1294, when earthquakes opened new springs in the valley, and the name Geysir itself appears in writing in 1647. For a long time the Great Geysir was famous across Europe as a natural wonder, drawing early travellers to this remote valley long before the Golden Circle existed as a tourist route.

At its strongest, Geysir was one of the tallest geysers in the world. An eruption in 1845 is recorded at 170 metres, and eruptions of 70–80 metres followed an earthquake in 1896. Its activity has always come and gone with the earthquakes that open and close the channels underground. After the South Iceland earthquakes of 2000 it erupted for two days, reaching about 122 metres, and then went quiet again. Today it is largely dormant.

Strokkur, first described in 1789, was cleared and reopened after a blockage, and today is the far more dependable performer of the two. The Geysir area passed through private hands, including foreign owners, before it was given to the Icelandic nation in 1935.

How to get to Geysir

Strokkur: the star attraction

The Great Geysir rarely stirs, so Strokkur, about 50 metres to the south, is the one everyone waits for.

Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes, usually to 15–20 metres and occasionally much higher, so you never have to wait long and you can easily watch several eruptions in one visit. That reliability also makes it a favourite with photographers.

Watch the pool before each eruption. The water rises and falls, begins to bubble, then swells into a blue dome for a split second before a jet of steam and boiling water bursts through it. People gather behind the rope around the basin to wait for that moment. Sometimes two or three eruptions follow each other in quick succession, so do not walk away after the first one.

Other hot springs and geothermal features

There is more here than the two famous geysers. The field has around thirty smaller geysers and hot pools, plus steam vents and mud pots. Allow time to walk the whole loop.

How geysers work

Geysers are rare. They only form where volcanic heat, plenty of groundwater and the right kind of narrow underground channel come together.

After the eruption the channel refills with water and the cycle starts again. At Strokkur that takes a few minutes. At other geysers it can take hours, days or, as with the Great Geysir, years.

Safety at Geysir

The water in the springs is at or close to boiling, around 80–100°C at the surface and hotter below, and the crust around the pools can be thin and unstable. Visitors have been burned by testing the water with a hand or stepping off the path.

Stay on the marked paths and behind the ropes, follow the signs, and keep children close. Stand upwind of Strokkur if you want to stay dry. Do not throw coins, stones or anything else into the springs: it damages them and can block the vents.

Best time to visit Geysir

Strokkur erupts reliably in any season, so there is no wrong time of year to see it.

Safety and practical tips

• Stand back from the rim of Strokkur; boiling water can splash further than it looks.
• Never touch the water in any of the pools, and stay on the marked paths and boardwalk.
• Watch the water in Strokkur's bowl bulge upward just before it erupts, a useful cue for your camera.
• Wind can blow steam and spray sideways, so check which way you are standing before an eruption.
• The café and shop opposite the geothermal field are a good stop for lunch on a Golden Circle day.
• Come early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the midday tour groups.
• Walk up past Strokkur to the Great Geysir and Blesi. Many visitors stop at the first eruption and miss them.
• Do not throw anything into the hot springs.

Facilities and accessibility

There is a large visitor centre with a café, restaurant, gift shop and toilets across the road from the geothermal field, and a hotel next to the site for those who want to stay the night. Paths and boardwalks with information signs run through the area.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

Gullfoss32-metre waterfall a short drive further onÞingvellir National ParkTectonic plates and Viking historyFriðheimarGreenhouse tomato farm with lunchLaugarás LagoonGeothermal lagoon nearbyFaxiWide, quiet waterfall south of GeysirBrúarfossBright blue waterfall between Laugarvatn and Geysir

Where to stay near Geysir

There is a hotel right beside the geothermal area. The villages of Reykholt, Flúðir and Laugarvatn, all within a short drive, also have hotels and guesthouses convenient for the Golden Circle.

Geysir FAQ