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Golden Circle Bus Tour from Reykjavík

Name: Golden Circle Bus Tour from Reykjavík
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 69285
Price: 11990 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 8.5 hoursGroup: Larger group, by coachEasyLarge bus from ReykjavíkAge 2+All year

5.0(1 review)

Rivers and green plains at Þingvellir from the air

This Golden Circle bus tour is our lowest-price way to see Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one day from Reykjavík, with a guide on board and Kerið crater added on morning departures.

Þingvellir National ParkGeysir geothermal areaGullfoss waterfallKerið crater

Our lowest-price Golden Circle day tour
Þingvellir, where the tectonic plates meet and Iceland's parliament first met
Strokkur geyser erupting every few minutes at Geysir, with time for lunch
Gullfoss, a powerful two-step waterfall in a deep canyon
Kerið, a red volcanic crater with a blue lake, entry included on morning departures
Many departure times through the day, with free WiFi on the bus

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Start in ReykjavíkMeet the bus at Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel, Þórunnartún), or be picked up from your hotel if you added pick-up.

Þingvellir National ParkWhere the tectonic plates meet and the Vikings held their parliament.

Þingvellir is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, first met in 930, and it lies in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart. Chieftains gathered here every summer, laws were recited from the Lögberg (Law Rock), and the plain below still shows where the assembly booths stood. The lake beside it, Þingvallavatn, is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The park is free to enter and open all year. You walk through Almannagjá, a rift at the edge of the North American plate.

Walking · roughly 1–2 km on easy pathsFacilities · visitor centre and toilets

Read our Þingvellir National Park guide →

Geysir geothermal areaHot springs, Strokkur erupting every few minutes, and time for lunch.

Geysir gave every geyser in the world its name. The original Great Geysir now erupts only rarely, sometimes after earthquakes, so the show is Strokkur, a short walk away. It throws boiling water 15 to 20 metres into the air every 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes a good deal higher, so you will see several eruptions while you are here. Keep to the paths between the pools and stay behind the ropes, as the water is very hot.

Lunch · time for lunch here (not included)Walking · short, flat pathsFacilities · restaurants, café, shop and toiletsTip · stand upwind of Strokkur to avoid getting splashed

Read our Geysir guide →

Gullfoss waterfallA two-step waterfall dropping into a deep canyon.

Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, drops about 32 metres in two steps into a narrow canyon roughly 70 metres deep and 2.5 kilometres long. The water comes from the Hvítá river, which is fed by the glacier Langjökull. Glacial water often turns golden-brown in sunlight, and rainbows hang in the spray on bright days. A path with stairs leads down to a lower level, closer to the water.

Walking · upper viewpoint is easy; the lower path has stairsWinter · the lower path can close due to iceFacilities · café, shop and toilets

Read our Gullfoss guide →

Kerið craterA red volcanic crater with a blue-green lake. Morning departures only.

Kerið is a volcanic crater about 270 metres long, 170 metres wide and 55 metres deep, with a blue-green lake at the bottom. Unlike the black basalt found almost everywhere nearby, its walls are deep red, from oxidised volcanic rock. It is thought to have formed when a magma chamber emptied and the ground above collapsed, rather than in a violent explosion. You can walk the rim and, where allowed, down to the water. There is a small entry fee. The entry fee is included.

Entry · includedWalking · path around the rim; steps down to the lake

Read our Kerið guide →

6Return to ReykjavíkThe bus drives back to Reykjavík.

About the Golden Circle bus tour

This is the Golden Circle at the lowest price we offer: a guided day tour on a large bus. It covers the three famous sights, Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and on morning departures it adds a stop at Kerið volcanic crater, with the entry fee included. The tour takes about 8.5 hours and leaves several times a day, so it is easy to fit into your plans.

At Þingvellir you walk through Almannagjá, a rift where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, and see the site of Iceland's original outdoor parliament from the year 930. At Geysir, Strokkur shoots up every few minutes, and this is also where you stop for lunch. Gullfoss drops about 32 metres in two steps into a canyon, and Kerið is a 3,000-year-old crater with red and black slopes around a blue-green lake.

The tour meets at Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel, Þórunnartún) in Reykjavík. Hotel pick-up can be added when you book, for an extra fee. Because it is a large-group bus tour on a set schedule, the time at each stop is fixed. If you would like a smaller group, more time at each stop or extra sights, look at our small-group Golden Circle tours; they cost a little more but give a more personal day.

Included

Guided bus tour from Reykjavík
English-speaking guide
Kerið crater entry (morning departures)
Free WiFi on the bus

Not included

Hotel pick-up and drop-off (can be added for an extra fee)
Food and drinks

What to bring

Warm, water- and windproof jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
Money or a card for lunch at Geysir
Hat and gloves outside summer

Good to know

The tour takes about 8.5 hours
Minimum age 2. Child prices for ages 2–11, youth prices for ages 12–15
Runs all year, with many departure times each day
Meeting point: Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel, Þórunnartún). Hotel pick-up can be added for an extra fee
Departures at 12:00 and later do not stop at Kerið
Full charge if cancelled less than 24 hours before the tour
E-tickets, so there is no need to print anything
This is a large-group bus tour

Questions people ask

Where does the tour start?

At Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel, Þórunnartún) in Reykjavík. You can add hotel pick-up when you book, for an extra fee. The bus can take up to 30 minutes to arrive at the stop, so be there on time and wait.

Is Kerið crater included?

Yes, on morning departures, with the entry fee included. Departures at 12:00 and later skip Kerið.

Is lunch included?

No, but there is time for lunch at Geysir, where there are restaurants and a café.

How is this different from your small-group Golden Circle tours?

This is our lowest-price option, on a large bus with a set schedule. The small-group tours cost a little more but have fewer people, more flexible stops and often extra sights.

Does the tour run in winter?

Yes, all year, though daylight is shorter and the lower path at Gullfoss can close due to ice.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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Great Organization!

I was a bit hesitant about doing a large group tour, but the Golden Circle Classic exceeded my expectations! The tour was well-organized, with enough time at each stop to explore and take photos without feeling rushed. Our guide was fantastic at keeping everyone engaged, sharing insights about the history and natural wonders of Iceland along the way. Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss were each spectacular in their own right, and it was a great way to meet other travelers. This tour is perfect if you want to see Iceland’s famous sites efficiently and with a knowledgeable guide!

Daniel R. · October 2024

From11,990 ISKPer person