Iceland
Things to do in Golden Circle
13 places11 stories2 routes
Sightlore has 13 places to explore in Golden Circle, and 11 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Golden Circle's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Þingvallakirkja
The church in Þingvellir National Park; the present building was erected in 1858 and consecrated on Christmas Day 1859. The first church here is thought to date from 1017.
- 2
Thingvellir National Park
Þingvellir was the site of the Alþing, the annual parliament of Iceland from the year 930 until the last session held at Þingvellir in 1798. Since 1881, the parliament has been located within Alþingishúsið in Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. Þingvellir is now a national park in…
Read its story → - 3
Skálholt church
Skálholt Cathedral is a Church of Iceland cathedral church. The church is the official church of the Bishop of Skálholt, currently Kristján Björnsson.
- 4
Silfra
Silfra is a rift formed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the divergent tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates – and is located in the Þingvallavatn Lake in the Þingvellir National Park in Iceland.
- 5
National Cemetery (Þingvellir)
A large, raised circular burial ground at Þingvellir, east of the church, created and consecrated on 27 January 1940 for the funeral of the poet Einar Benediktsson.
- 6
Great Geysir
Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, is a geyser in south-western Iceland, that geological studies suggest started forming about 1150 CE. The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir.
- 7
Öxarárfoss
Öxarárfoss is a waterfall in Þingvellir National Park, Iceland. It flows from the river Öxará over the Almannagjá. The pool at the base of the waterfall is filled with rocks and is often extremely icy during winter.
- 8
Kerið
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, along the Golden Circle.
- 9
Strokkur
Strokkur (Icelandic, "churn") is a fountain-type geyser located in a geothermal area beside the Hvítá River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavík. It typically erupts every 6–10 minutes.
- 10
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland, between the municipalities of Bláskógabyggð and Hrunamannahreppur.
Discovery routes in Golden Circle
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Þingvellir: between the continents
From the Almannagjá rift to the Öxarárfoss waterfall, the Þingvellir church and the National Cemetery, and on to the Silfra fissure.
The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
From Þingvellir to the Brúarfoss waterfall, the Great Geysir and Strokkur, Gullfoss, the Faxi waterfall, Skálholt Cathedral and the Kerið crater lake.
Places to visit
Historic sites
National Cemetery (Þingvellir)
A large, raised circular burial ground at Þingvellir, east of the church, created and consecrated on 27 January 1940 for the funeral of the poet Einar Benediktsson.
Places of worship
Þingvallakirkja
The church in Þingvellir National Park; the present building was erected in 1858 and consecrated on Christmas Day 1859. The first church here is thought to date from 1017.
Skálholt church
Skálholt Cathedral is a Church of Iceland cathedral church. The church is the official church of the Bishop of Skálholt, currently Kristján Björnsson.
Nature
Almannagjá
A rift at Þingvellir marking the western edge of the boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates; the Öxará river falls into it as the Öxarárfoss waterfall.
Öxarárfoss
Öxarárfoss is a waterfall in Þingvellir National Park, Iceland. It flows from the river Öxará over the Almannagjá. The pool at the base of the waterfall is filled with rocks and is often extremely icy during winter.
Silfra
Silfra is a rift formed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the divergent tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates – and is located in the Þingvallavatn Lake in the Þingvellir National Park in Iceland.
Thingvellir National Park
Þingvellir was the site of the Alþing, the annual parliament of Iceland from the year 930 until the last session held at Þingvellir in 1798. Since 1881, the parliament has been located within Alþingishúsið in Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. Þingvellir is now a national park in…
Brúarfoss
A waterfall in southern Iceland where the Brúará river drops a total of 5 metres in two steps; a footbridge crosses the river just below it.
Great Geysir
Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, is a geyser in south-western Iceland, that geological studies suggest started forming about 1150 CE. The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir.
Strokkur
Strokkur (Icelandic, "churn") is a fountain-type geyser located in a geothermal area beside the Hvítá River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavík. It typically erupts every 6–10 minutes.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland, between the municipalities of Bláskógabyggð and Hrunamannahreppur.
Faxi
The Faxi waterfall is located on the Golden Circle, a popular tourist trail approximately 120 km east of Reykjavik. The waterfall is located on the Tungufljót river, a tributary of the river Hvita.
Kerið
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, along the Golden Circle.
Explore Golden Circle with your camera
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