Gullni hringurinn and the broad loop beyond Selfoss
Published on 09/15/2026 at 14:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gullni hringurinn is the Icelandic name for the Golden Circle, the road loop that links Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in southwest Iceland. From Selfoss, it reads less like a single attraction than a route stitched together from rift valley, geothermal ground and waterfall.
The loop that defines southwest Iceland
The route is usually described as a circular drive of about 300 kilometres, and its best-known stops sit within a compact landscape of lava, hot springs and highland edges. Þingvellir National Park, one of the anchors of the circuit, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where the Althing was founded in 930 AD.
That mix of geology and history gives the route its character. The Golden Circle name is tied to Gullfoss, whose Icelandic name means “golden waterfall”, while the English label has become the standard way to describe the loop itself.
Three places, three very different settings
At Þingvellir, the ground opens into a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian plates. The site combines open lava fields, lakeside margins and the formal landscape of the old assembly ground, which makes it one of the most layered stops on the route.
Geysir and Strokkur shift the mood again. The Haukadalur area is a geothermal basin with steaming ground and active springs, while Gullfoss is a waterfall on the Hvítá River with a double drop and a rugged canyon setting.
Selfoss as a southern gateway
Selfoss sits on the southern side of the route and gives Gullni hringurinn a point of orientation on the drive back towards the coast. The town belongs to the wider lowland landscape of south Iceland, where the ring road and inland routes meet the touring circuit.
For travellers who know Iceland mainly through Reykjavík, Selfoss marks the transition from the capital area to the roads that lead into the interior. That practical position helps explain why the name Gullni hringurinn is so closely tied to the wider south-western touring pattern.
Visiting Gullni hringurinn: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Gullni hringurinn is reached by road through southwest Iceland, with Reykjavík at one end of the usual touring circuit and Selfoss on the southern side. Route 1, Route 35 and Route 36 are part of the standard road network around it.
- The route links open lava plains, a rift valley, geothermal ground and a waterfall gorge. Those settings mean exposed terrain, uneven paths and large open spaces at several stops.
- The official language is Icelandic and the currency is the Icelandic króna. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
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Frequently asked questions about Gullni hringurinn
Where is Gullni hringurinn?
It is a touring route in southwest Iceland. The loop includes Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, with Selfoss on the southern side of the wider circuit.
What should a visit involve?
The route is a road-based circuit through changing landscapes, not a single monument. It brings together a rift valley, geothermal ground and a waterfall landscape.
What makes Gullni hringurinn distinctive?
Its strength lies in the contrast between geology and historical landscape. Þingvellir, the Haukadalur geothermal area and Gullfoss each show a different side of Iceland in one loop.
