The Diamond Circle is a loop of about 250 km. Most visitors spend 6 to 8 hours on the Golden Circle with stops at the main sights, while most visitors give the Diamond Circle a full day or more.

What the Golden Circle and Diamond Circle actually are

The Golden Circle is a sightseeing loop in southwest Iceland that starts and ends in the Reykjavik area. The Diamond Circle is a sightseeing loop in North Iceland, most easily reached from the town of Akureyri. The Diamond Circle became an official designated tourist route in 2020. The Diamond Circle is often described as North Iceland's answer to the Golden Circle.

Comparing the two loops by distance, drive time and starting point

The Kerid crater is a common detour on the Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park sits about 45 km northeast of Reykjavik on Route 36. Godafoss sits on the Ring Road about 35 minutes from Akureyri. Use the Driving Distance Calculator to help plan your trip.

The headline sights on each route

The Golden Circle has three main stops: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Thingvellir became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and sits in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Iceland's parliament, the Althing, was founded at Thingvellir in the year 930. At the Geysir area the Strokkur hot spring erupts every few minutes, throwing water up to about 30 meters into the air. Gullfoss drops in two stages of 11 meters and about 20 meters for a total of about 30 meters, on the Hvita river.

The Diamond Circle connects Godafoss, Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss, Asbyrgi canyon and the town of Husavik. Godafoss is about 12 meters high and 30 meters wide, on the Skjalfandafljot river. Dettifoss is 44 meters high and about 100 meters wide, with an average flow of about 193 cubic meters per second. Asbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon about 3.5 km long and over 1 km wide, with cliffs up to 100 meters high. Folklore says Asbyrgi is a hoofprint of Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of the god Odin.

Which loop to choose for your Iceland itinerary

The Golden Circle is close enough to Reykjavik to be done as a single day trip and is served by many day tours. The Diamond Circle suits travellers already in North Iceland or driving the Ring Road around the country. Lake Myvatn is known for geothermal features and nearby nature baths. Husavik is a coastal town in North Iceland known as a base for whale watching. Dettifoss is often called the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Compare North Iceland tours and plan your visit

You can compare North Iceland tours to see the current options.