Are you visiting Reykjavik and looking to visit the Golden Circle without a car? This guide will detail everything you need to know about taking a tour of the Golden Circle, but without the means of your own vehicle to do so.
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Iceland’s Golden Circle is a must for first-time visitors. The 250 km (155 mi) route covers some of Iceland’s most famous sights, including Geysir and Gullfoss.
The route itself is a great scenic drive for those renting a car, but thankfully, if you do not plan to rent a car, there are plenty of tour options for all budgets.
In this guide, I will talk about my experience taking a more budget-friendly coach tour of the Golden Circle from Reykjavik and highlight some options for different tours that might fit your travel needs.
It is no secret that Iceland is far from being off the beaten path and experiences a high volume of visitors throughout the year.
While places such as Finnish Lapland or Northern Norway have low and high seasons, Iceland is a year-round destination. You will find that when you visit (and if it is without a car), you will most likely end up on a large-volume coach tour as a result of Iceland’s popularity.
I booked my tour with Bus Travel Iceland through Get Your Guide, my preferred booking platform. They allow me to organize all my tours on one website and pay for the excursions all at once instead of needing to switch between individual websites. Payment can be done with all major credit/debit cards along with online payment platforms like PayPal.
Get Your Guide also allows you to reserve your spot on the tour and pay for it at a later date, which is good for those wanting to save up for their trip or need some flexibility in their planning.
Key Tour Information
Below, I have outlined the key information for the tour I took to to visit the Golden Circle.
Provider: Bus Travel Iceland
Tour Length:Â 7-8.5 hours
Pick-up: Yes, but only from designated bus stops throughout Reykjavik
Booking Period: Year-round
My Experience Visiting The Golden Circle Without a Car
The tour offers several different starting times. I chose to opt for the earliest tour that departed from bus stop 12, as this would allow me to maximize my day, and the afternoon tours do not stop at Kerid Crater.
You need to be at the bus stop at least 15 minutes before departure. The bus stop is a little bit of a free-for-all, with multiple tours departing at similar times to different places.
Keep eye out for a vehicle with your tour operators name on it and then make sure they call your name out. I found this experience a little bit stressful, as several buses for BusTravel Iceland arrived, but for different excursions.
Once I found the correct bus and got on, we were taken out of the city, where we waited for another bus, and some of the people switched to a different bus.
The first stop of the tour is at Hveragerdi. This is a short stop where you can buy some snacks and drinks at a Bonus supermarket or get a drink at the cafe.
There are also restrooms available here, and if you need to go, I would go when you first arrive, as the queues are long! In the building with the cafe, you can see an open crack in the earth where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
The first proper stop of the trip is Kerid Crater. We had around 30 minutes at this stop, and you can essentially either walk around the top of the crater or down to the lake at the bottom.
I managed to do both in the 30-minute stop, but it felt rushed. I suggest prioritizing walking around the crater rim as you get the best views of the lake within it and the surrounding landscapes.
After departing Kerid crater, we had a bit of a longer drive to our next stop, which included driving past the greenhouses that grow much of Iceland’s locally produced fresh produce, including tomatoes.
We made an additional short stop at a canyon downstream from Gullfoss, which is often used for rafting. This stop isn’t on the official itinerary, and our guide said it is only included when the bus is making good time. The stop was beautiful, but if you don’t stop there, you are not missing out.
The next lengthy stop is Gullfoss, where we had around 45 minutes. Gullfoss was stunning; the power of the waterfall cascading into a canyon was immense.
There are two viewing points; the first one is close to the parking area and is easily accessible for those with mobility issues. The second part is along a more uneven path that takes you right above Gullfoss.
Along the route, you will also find a sculpture dedicated to SigrÃður Tómasdóttir, who saved Gullfoss from being a victim of industrialization.
The waterfall kicks up a lot of mist, and the closer you get to the end of the trail, the wetter everything becomes. This can make the trail quite icy in winter!
After Gullfoss, you start the journey towards Geysir, probably Iceland’s most famous sight. Before we reached Geysir, we made a very quick stop to meet some Icelandic horses.
The horses were friendly and waiting close to the fence and were happy to have their photograph taken and meet all the tourists. This stop lasted about 5 minutes; while short, it was one of my highlights.
The longest stop of the tour is at Geysir, where you can witness Iceland’s famous geysers erupt and shoot water high into the air. The stop here lasts for 70 minutes and is the designated lunch break.
We arrived around 2 pm, so if you are a fan of an early lunch, I would bring snacks with you! Currently, there is only one geysir erupting, with the larger, more famous one lying dormant.
Thankfully, its smaller brother still shoots water 30 meters (98 feet) into the air. The geysir erupts every few minutes, however, the intensity varies between eruptions, meaning you may want to wait to watch it happen a few times to see the maximum height.
There is also a small walking route that takes you around other hot springs that bubble away but do not erupt.
Within the Geysir center itself, you will find a restaurant, selling basic meals like burgers and fish and chips. There is also a cafe where you can buy a hot drink and a sweet treat. If you are looking for a souvenir, there is a large gift shop with a 66° North shop combined.
The final stop of the tour is Þingvellir National Park. This is a 40-minute stop at a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area was known for hosting the annual Icelandic parliament between around 930 AD and 1738 AD. The establishment of the parliament is considered the founding of Iceland as a nation.
The park is also famous for being the meeting zone between the North American and Eurasian plates, where you can walk between tectonic plates. Part of the rift valley is submerged under water and is where you can snorkel between the plates, however, this is its own dedicated tour that you will need to book another day.
The 40 minutes you have at Þingvellir National Park are, in my opinion, not enough. There is just about enough time to walk down to the parliament area and back, but it felt very rushed given how unique of an area it is.
After visiting the park, you will drive back to Reykjavik. You can exit the bus at any stop in the city, and you do not have to wait until the exact stop you got on at.
Taking a Tour vs Self-Driving
The major positive of taking a tour is that you do not have to pay for parking on entry at any of the sites. When you factor in the cost of renting a car, gas and parking and entry fees, organized tours come out significantly cheaper.
If you are visiting in winter and are not used to driving on ice and snow, then I would also definitely book a tour, as the weather can change quickly.
FAQ
When Can I Take a Golden Circle Tour?
The Golden Circle tours run all year. However, the differences between winter and summer are stark. Winter brings cold, short days. While Iceland sits below the Arctic Circle and does not experience true polar nights, the days in December and January are short.
Winter also brings beautiful snowy landscapes, but the weather can cause tours to be cancelled if the conditions are not safe.
Summer, with the midnight sun, is a popular time to visit Iceland, and the nearly never-ending days provide plenty of light. I took the tour in May, which is a somewhat less busy time in Iceland, as it is no longer the northern lights season but too early for the midnight sun.
I should note that while May was not the busiest time, there were still plenty of people everywhere!
Can I Fly a Drone When I Visit the Golden Circle?
No! Drones are pretty much banned at every tourist site in Iceland, and I would not bother bringing yours along on this tour.
What to Bring on Your Golden Circle Tour
No matter the season, you will want layers of clothing! In winter, it can get fairly cold, and you will want some thermal layers and a hefty wool sweater to keep you warm.
While the sun shines all day in summer, it never gets too warm. I would also have a waterproof layer with you for sporadic rain storms and visiting Gullfoss. I would also bring a thermos with a hot drink, as the hot drinks can be pricey at the cafes.
I bought lunch with me as it meant I could enjoy Geysir more without the stress of needing to buy lunch. Finally, I recommend bringing a camera with you so you can take plenty of epic photographs!
Alternative Golden Circle Tours
While I do recommend this tour, especially for those wanting to explore Iceland on more of a budget, I would also recommend considering the following tours as alternatives:
- Full-day Golden Circle Tour with East West. I took their tour of Iceland’s South Coast, and it was fantastic. Their tours are generally smaller groups and provide a more intimate experience.
- The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour is perfect for those wanting to maximize their time in Reykjavik, as they will be able to do two bucket list activities in one day. Before booking, I would check to make sure the Blue Lagoon will be open due to volcanic activity.
- If the Blue Lagoon is closed, I recommend taking the Golden Circle and the Secret Lagoon tour instead!
If you have any questions about visiting the Golden Circle without a car, let me know in the comments below!