The Golden Circle is a sightseeing route in southwest Iceland of about 300 km, and non-stop driving takes roughly 3 to 4 hours. Route 1 is Iceland's main national road at 1309 km, and travellers commonly allow about 7 to 10 days to drive the full Ring Road at a relaxed pace.
What the Golden Circle actually is
The Golden Circle is a sightseeing route in southwest Iceland, not a single officially numbered road. The Golden Circle has three main stops: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. Thingvellir is about 49 km from Reykjavik via Route 36. At the Geysir geothermal area, the geyser Strokkur erupts roughly every 5 to 10 minutes. Gullfoss is a powerful two-tiered waterfall on the Hvita river.
What driving the whole Ring Road involves
The Ring Road is Iceland's main national road, numbered Route 1. Route 1 has a total length of 1309 km. Route 1 is paved for all of its length and is mostly two lanes wide. The Ring Road circles the entire island and was completed in 1974, coinciding with the 1100th anniversary of Iceland's settlement. The final section to complete Route 1 involved opening the longest bridge in Iceland, crossing the Skeidara river in the southeast. Clockwise from Reykjavik, Route 1 links towns including Borgarnes, Blonduos, Akureyri, Egilsstadir, Hofn, Vik, Selfoss, and Hveragerdi. The Ring Road passes through the south coast, the eastfjords, north Iceland around Akureyri and Lake Myvatn, and the west. Route 1 is described as the longest ring road in Europe.
How the two routes compare on distance and driving time
The Golden Circle is commonly described as a loop of about 300 km. Driven as a there-and-back trip from Reykjavik to the main sights and back the same way, the Golden Circle is about 230 km. Adding the Kerid crater detour brings the Golden Circle loop to about 242 km. Non-stop driving of the Golden Circle takes roughly 3 to 4 hours, but most visitors spend about 6 to 8 hours with stops. Route 1 has a total length of 1309 km. Travellers commonly allow about 7 to 10 days to drive the full Ring Road at a relaxed pace. Use the Driving Distance Calculator to help plan your trip.
Which route fits your trip length and travel style
The Golden Circle can comfortably be done in a single day as a round trip from Reykjavik. The Golden Circle route sits entirely inside southwest Iceland and does not require driving around the island. Travellers commonly allow about 7 to 10 days to drive the full Ring Road at a relaxed pace. The Golden Circle and the Ring Road are not mutually exclusive. The Golden Circle can be added as a loop off a Ring Road trip near Selfoss and Reykjavik.
Comparing Golden Circle tours and building your plan
The Golden Circle is one of the easiest routes to do as a guided day tour departing from Reykjavik. You can compare Golden Circle tours to see the current options.
