Iceland’s Golden Circle Tour + Secret Stops Along the Way

For obvious reasons, Iceland’s Golden Circle tour is the country’s most popular tour. It covers three famous attractions… all of which will take your breath away! If you plan your tour correctly, you actually can cover a lot more than just 3 stops during this unmissable day trip.

The three primary stops along your Golden Circle journey are Gullfoss Waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, and the geothermal area of Haukadalur (where you’ll see the geysers Strokkur & Geysir). Each of these landmarks are amazing and photogenic. However, my favorite photos from the tour actually came from other stops throughout the day. I would consider a few of these “secret stops” since they are not on ordinary tour routes. Continue reading to learn more about each destination along the Golden Circle, in order of how we visited them.

1. Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station (Secret Stop!)

The first place we visited ended up being a secret stop, which was a great start to the tour. When our tour guide mentioned this “power station” to us before arrival, I was pretty underwhelmed. What’s the big deal about a power station? I was ready to get on to the main stops! He informed us that this is how many people in Reykjavík receive their hot water, and that the views we would see are amazing. I had no other choice but to trust him, and luckily, he did not disappoint.

A short & easy hike up a hill will allow you to see Iceland’s second-largest geothermal power and water heating station from above. The views here were actually breathtaking. You can see panoramic views of the power station (more importantly, the cool steam coming from it), mountain landscapes, and some of the most unique roads I’ve ever seen in my life.

The photos from this quick stop along our route ended up being some of my favorites from the entire day! I spotted this road on the hike down from our viewpoint, in the direction of the lake.

Overall, I definitely recommend taking a few minutes to see Nesjavellir.

2. Þingvellir National Park

There is no doubt that Þingvellir National Park will be a stop along your Golden Circle tour. It is one of Iceland’s two UNESCO world heritage sites, which is yet another reason why you need to visit! This national park contains the Silfra Fissure, a crack between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. If you zoned out after reading all of those uncommon words, just remember this: it’s the only place in the world where you can go diving between two continental plates! If you have the time, you need to experience that amazing opportunity.

But, if you’re like me (someone who is on a scheduled tour, and more importantly, not yet a certified diver), then you can do what most tourists do: walk along the unique path between the massive rock formations. If you look closely at the photo, you can see the how tiny the people are in comparison to the fissures!

Fun fact: The “Þ” is pronounced “th,” so Þingvellir is typically referred to as Thingvellir.

3. Icelandic Horses (Secret Stop!)

I knew that while in Iceland, petting Icelandic horses was an absolute must. It just so happened that we stopped after seeing Þingvellir National Park and on the way to Haukadalur Geyser Valley. You will easily spot Icelandic horses all throughout your stay, so this stop can really be done on any day. Some people don’t actually take the time to photograph these beauties, which blows my mind. There are SO beautiful and SO friendly! It’s very normal for people to walk up and pet the horses, so don’t be afraid to do so. However, I would avoid feeding the horses anything but the grass nearby, for obvious reasons. Enjoy these few moments of memories because they sure were some of my favorite.

4. Haukadalur Geyser Valley

Your next stop will probably be to experience the famous (and very much active) Strokkur Geyser. It will not be hard to miss this natural phenomenon as it erupts 20-30 feet in the air every 8-10 minutes. If for some reason you just can’t find Strokkur, follow the sound of people gasping in awe… or laughing at getting soaked from the mist.

Continue exploring the area to see “Geysir“, the famous hot spring that is most well-known for having lent its name to geysers all around the world. It is currently inactive but is still beautiful to witness.

This famous stop along Iceland’s Golden Circle is a pretty cool experience, especially if you’ve never seen a geyser erupt before.

5. Gullfoss Waterfall

The “Golden Circle” tour would not be complete without a stop to the attraction that bears the same name. Gullfoss means “golden waterfall,” and prepare to be amazed… it is massive, powerful, and peaceful all at the same time. You need to view Gullfoss both from above and along the main walking trail in order to truly appreciate its beauty. Literally photograph it from every angle possible – and if you want a photo similar to the one above, hike out to very edge of the rocks for a neat perspective.

With this being the first waterfall I visited while in Iceland, it was here that I truly began to fall in love with this beautiful country.

6. Wild Lupines + River (Secret Stop!)

If you’re traveling to Iceland in the spring and summer months, you will see an endless supply of these gorgeous wild lupines. The purple & blue hues were unmissable anywhere we went, so naturally, we had to make a photography stop. My favorite place to photograph the flowers was at the bridge tourists drove on to & from Gullfoss. We parked right off the bridge and walked down to view the river up close. The river seemed to flow from Gullfoss, but don’t take my word… it’s just a possibility! I believe that this area leads into private property, so please don’t wander too far away from the bridge (out of respect for the property).

7. Friðheimar Greenhouse (Secret Stop!)

With a visit to Friðheimar, you will gain a unique insight into the processes of greenhouse horticulture and have the opportunity to taste the famous and delicious Friðheimar tomato soup (with freshly baked bread!). It is warm inside no matter what time of the year you visit, making the visit 100x better. I’ve never experienced a more peaceful meal in such a natural environment… which is why this stop made it onto my recommended itinerary.

One thing to mention – there are bees everywhere. No need to freak out though (like I did) because these bees are completely used to people and do not bother you. When I was told this, I was in the mindset of, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” since I’ve never been around peaceful bees. Sure enough, the bees stayed out of our way throughout the entire visit. I even got to see a contained bee hive up-close, which made for some really unique video shots.

Friðheimar also breeds horses and puts on a horse show during the summer months. The display is followed by a visit to the stable, where visitors can enjoy a hot drink, meet the riders and their steeds, and take photographs. We did not see a show or the stables but passed by a few carriages that were pulling visitors.

Overall, the greenhouse was a 10/10 experience. Eat a late lunch or early dinner here which is sure to be one of your favorite meals of the trip. I ordered the fresh Ravioli pasta with home made pasta sauce and pesto… and it was delicious. I don’t normally eat tomatoes, so the ravioli was perfect. The dish still had a hint of the fresh tomatoes so I felt like I was partaking in the greenhouse culture. Many people opt for just the unlimited tomato soup & bread. There’s no way you can go wrong!

8. Kerið Crater Lake

Have you ever walked around a crater lake? Probably not – it’s a very unusual thing to write on your bucket list! For most tourists in Iceland, however, Kerið Crater Lake is on the top of their bucket lists. It actually ended up being such a gorgeous natural area.

Walk the rim of the lake and stare down towards the lake. Or, hike down many *many* stairs to the bottom of the lake. The bottom view gives you an entirely new perspective of the lake, which will make you realize just how enormous the rock walls are. Or, be like me and do both! Seeing Kerið Crater Lake from above and below was an unforgettable experience.

This was our last stop, so we got to see how the sun affected the color of the lake as it was setting.

More Iceland tips and tricks for your next trip there…