The Thingvellir National Park was established in 1930, the first national park in Iceland. Then, in 2004, it became the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland for its cultural heritage from the Viking era and the significance of its history and nature.

Þingvellir (e., Parliament Grounds) is a fracture zone situated on the tectonic plates of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the North American and the Eurasian continents, which runs through Iceland from its NE corner to the SW corner, forming a significant depression of about 40 km in length and 10 km in width. These boundaries are only visible above ground in very few locations in Iceland. Almannagjá (e., Public’s Rift) forms the eastern edges of the North American plate, while Hrafnagjá (e., Raven’s Rift) forms the western bounds of the Eurasian plate. The area between these two rifts slowly subsides, pulling apart by about 3-4 millimeters yearly.

Alþingi (e., General Assembly) is the Icelandic parliament, established in AD 930 by the Vikings, and is the oldest parliament in the world. Every summer, Icelanders assembled there till 1798 to set laws, settle disputes, trade goods, and carry out punishments and executions. At Althingi, the Icelandic nation agreed to adopt Christianity in AD 1000, superseding the heathen religion Asatru. On 17 June 1944, the establishment of the Republic of Iceland was declared in force after centuries of being under the reigns of the Kingdoms of Norway and Denmark.

Guests can take a short walk to the nearby beach and witness the fascinating process of digging up rye bread. They are then invited to participate in a unique geothermal bakery experience, where bread is slow-cooked in the ground for 24 hours, resulting in delicious and memorable dark rye bread. After an informative walk and entertaining demonstration, guests can enjoy sampling the freshly baked bread, which pairs perfectly with geothermal bathing.

During the tour, guests can witness the bread being dug out from the hot black sand and savor it while it’s still hot from the ground. The bread is served with Icelandic butter. This geothermal energy experience is not to be missed.

The tour lasts between 30-40 minutes and takes place partly outdoors. Guests are advised to dress appropriately for the weather. The activity includes a half-hour demonstration and entertainment during a leisurely walk to the lakeshore, where the bread is baked in the ground. Afterward, guests can indulge in as much bread as they desire and a slice of smoked trout. Please note that the activity is partially outdoors, so suitable attire is recommended.

Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, located in the heart of Iceland’s Golden Circle tourist route, provides a unique opportunity to experience the therapeutic properties of geothermal springs. Guests can enjoy a natural pool, steam rooms fueled by bubbling hot springs, and a refreshing lake dip.

Since 1929, the baths have been a popular destination, harnessing the healing power of steam that emerges directly from the ground through grids in the cabin floors. The steam rooms offer an immersive and natural encounter, with temperatures typically ranging from 40°C (104°F) to 50°C (122°F). The outdoor mineral baths, including Lauga, Sæla, and Viska, offer relaxation and recreation with varying depths, sizes, and temperatures. Viska, the hot tub, provides a panoramic view of the stunning surroundings. Adjacent to the steam room is Ylur, a Finnish-style sauna with lower humidity and a breathtaking lake view. Cold bathing in the lake or on the beach is believed to have numerous health benefits, such as improved blood circulation and relief from muscle soreness.

Laugarvatn Fontana is a must-visit destination along the Golden Circle, where visitors can luxuriate in the mineral-rich healing waters amidst a serene environment. The baths are located on the shores of Lake Laugarvatn, further enhancing the natural charm of the experience. The region has a long-standing tradition of utilizing the geothermal waters for relaxation and rejuvenation. In summary, Laugarvatn Fontana offers a revitalizing experience with its geothermal pools, steam rooms, sauna, and tranquil lake.

The Geysir hot springs geothermal area in Haukadalur (e., Hawks’ Valley) is a high-temperature area with colorful hot springs and mud pools. Its main attraction is Strokkur (e., Churner), the only currently spouting hot spring in this area, which makes this the only place in Europe with a spouting hot spring. Every 5-8 minutes, Strokkur spouts scald geothermal water up to 30 meters into the air, so try staying upwind to avoid the hot water and steam blowing over you when it spouts.

Geysir (e., Spouter) is Iceland’s most renowned geological phenomenon, giving its collective name, geyser, to all other hot springs worldwide. It is currently dormant and has yet to spout since 2016. Still, earthquakes in the area and volcanic activity in our country may cause Geysir to awaken someday, and the other hot springs in this geothermal area show changes in behavior.

Other hot springs in this area to mention are Blesi (e., Blaze), a blue hot spring due to dissolved silica coming in contact with the atmosphere, and Konungshver (e., The King’s Hot Spring), the largest and the most attractive hot spring in the area. Konungshver’s name commemorated the 1874 visit of King Christian IX when Icelanders were still under the reign of the Kingdom of Denmark.

A short and easy hike up to an observation platform on Laugarfell (e., Hot Spring Hill) gives you a view over the geothermal area of these hot springs.

Gullfoss (e., Golden Falls) is a magnificent waterfall believed to have gotten its name from the golden hue shining in its glacial water. Located in a narrow gorge of basalt lava columns, Gullfoss is located in the third-longest river in Iceland, Hvítá (e., White River), a white glacial river flowing from its source Hvítárvatn (e. White River Lake), fed by glacial water from the second-largest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull (e. Long Glacier). Gullfoss consists of two cascades, forming a tiered three-step “staircase,” with white glacial water plunging 32m down into the 2.5km wide basalt gorge Gullfossgljúfur (e., Golden Falls Gorge).

Next to Gullfoss is a walking trail that goes up to the 21-meter lower cascade and the 11-meter upper cascade. On sunny days, a rainbow forms from spraying water by Gullfoss, and sometimes even spectacular double rainbows. Sigríður Tómasdóttir (b. 1871) was the daughter of the farmer Tómas Tómasson, who lived at the farm Brattholt. Gullfoss belonged to her father’s land, but at the beginning of the 20th century, Tómas was tricked into renting Gullfoss to foreign investors who planned to harness its power by building a hydroelectric powerplant to generate electricity. Sigríður loved Gullfoss more than anything else, and so she took the investors to court to annul their contract and protested their plans of harnessing Gullfoss by threatening to throw herself down this waterfall if it would come to be exploited and destroyed. Sigríður went barefoot on a 120 km protest march from Gullfoss to Reykjavik to draw attention to her protests. After her rally on unpaved mountain roads, Sigríður was bleeding from her soles and in terrible shape. She was 86 when she died in 1957, having lived all her life on the Brattholt farm. She is widely seen as Iceland’s first environmentalist and activist and one of the first guides for those visiting Gullfoss. Thanks to Sigríður, Gullfoss was saved, and today, Gullfoss is owned by the state of Iceland for preservation, becoming a permanent nature reserve in 1979. Gullfoss is among the most visited attractions in Iceland, giving its name to the Golden Circle. A memorial sculpture in honor of Sigríður is situated by the walking path leading up to Gullfoss.