A Guide to Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Thingvellir National Park is a must-visit place on the Golden Circle near Reykjavik. Read our Thingvellir National Park travel guide, including the best things to see and do, top attractions, suggested itinerary, and practical information on how to get there, where to park, how much things cost, and where to stay.
Thingvellir (Þingvellir), Iceland's oldest national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of great importance.
And local people are rightfully proud of this site, which connects both natural and cultural heritage.
Thanks to the location close to Reykjavik and the fact Thingvellir National Park lies on the famous Golden Circle, no visitor to Iceland should miss this place.
The park offers several hiking trails, adventure activities, and many best things to do, so every type of traveler, either a history buff or nature enthusiast, will leave this place super-excited.
Thingvellir National Park stretches around Thingvallavatn, Iceland's biggest lake, and the whole area is geologically significant.
Add the appealing history that reveals the origin of Iceland's parliament, and you get one of the most popular travel sites in the country.
Before visiting Thingvellir, we could not get a clear picture of what the park looked like, what are the must-see attractions, how to get around, and how much time we need to enjoy this place to the fullest.
As the famous Golden Circle and Thingvellir National Park was the first stop on our Iceland 2-week itinerary, we arrived in the area with increasing anxiety.
In the end, our trip to the park was delightful, and we had a great time while there.
As our goal is to provide you with a similar experience, we decided to put together this travel guide, including all the information you should know before visiting Thingvellir.
How to Get to Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir covers over ninety square kilometers, so it's a relatively large place to explore.
Our first question was how do we get there and what is the best way to get around.
When we saw the map of Thingvellir for the first time, the layout of the park looked quite confusing. Fortunately, it was not that bad.
It turned out that most of the must-see places in the park were within walking distance from each other and very close to the parking lot.
It also means that you don't need to worry that much about the parking situation.
There are only three ways to get to Thingvellir National Park.
You can travel either by car or take an organized tour.
The third option is hitchhiking, but that's only for those who travel on a super low budget. We would not recommend it unless you really know what you're doing.
As most of the visitors to Iceland get around the country by car or campervan, we consider this way of getting to Thingvellir National Park the best.
Moreover, it allows you to continue road tripping the Ring Road after the visit and see places such as East Fjords or Diamond Circle without any issues.
Car or Campervan
If you want to get the best of Iceland, then you should consider renting a car or campervan.
The entrance to Thingvellir is only 45 minutes from Reykjavik, so if you want to avoid crowds, set off early in the morning.
Thingvellir is one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik among locals, especially on weekends, so don't expect to have this place for yourself.
From Reykjavik, follow Ring Road (Road 1) for 17 kilometers. Then turn onto Road 36 near Mosfellsbær.
Stay on this paved road for another 30 kilometers until you reach the turnoff to the main parking area, Thingvellir Parking 1.
Then turn right onto the access road that will take you to the parking lot.
If you travel the Golden Circle counterclockwise, getting to Thingvellir National Park is equally straightforward.
Before reaching the park, don't also forget to visit Geysir Geothermal Area or Bruarfoss Waterfall.
We left the car at Thingvellir Parking 1, near the Visitors Center, as there was enough space.
As we've already mentioned, the park can get super-packed, so you might need to find a parking spot elsewhere.
Luckily, there are another four parking lots within the park that are easily accessible.
More importantly, all the top attractions in Thingvellir are within walking distance from every parking lot.
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Tour
Those of you who do not want to rent a car or travelers short on time who prefer tours also have a chance to visit Thingvellir National Park.
Since this place is well accessible and close to the capital city, many tours start in Reykjavik.
On top of that, most of the tours usually include the national park but also top stops along Golden Circle.
Here you can reserve a super popular Thingvellir and Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Thingvellir National Park.
Parking
However, the Thingvellir is not entirely free for travelers arriving by car, as you must pay for the parking 750 ISK per day.
You can pay by credit card. Alternatively, it is even possible to buy a parking ticket online in advance.
How Much Time Do I Need for Thingvellir National Park
As your schedule is very likely packed, you might want to figure out how long does it take to see everything in Thingvellir National Park.
On average, we would say that most of the visitors spend in Thingvellir about two hours.
And that was roughly about the same time we spent in Thingvellir National Park ourselves.
During this time, you'll be able to walk most of the trails close to the Visitors Center and see all the attractions.
If you plan to take either a snorkeling or horseback riding tour, it is necessary to add an extra two to four hours, depending on the tour length.
When is the Best Time to Visit Thingvellir
Thingvellir is open year-round. Still, the best time to visit Thingvellir is between May and October as you will have the best chance of good weather.
Spring to autumn guarantees that all roads and paths within the park will be open, and even though the weather can be chilly and rainy, temperatures are still fairly pleasant.
On the other hand, with the right gear, such as a down jacket, windbreaker, or rain jacket, Thingvellir in the winter must be magical.
Roads are plowed in this area several times a week during the winter, but some of the hiking trails might be inaccessible due to snow.
We recommend you contact the Visitors Center to get up-to-date information on the current trail conditions.
The main trail leading between tectonic trails to Oxararfoss Waterfall should be usually open, though.
What to See and Do
This Thingvellir National Park itinerary aims to show you the best things you should not miss during your visit.
We put the top attractions in the same order as we visited them, but you should know that we parked our car at Thingvellir Parking 1.
In case you have to use a different parking lot, you may need to change the order a bit to make sense of it.
If you decide to follow the same loop as we did, be prepared to walk 4.2 kilometers in total.
Thingvallavatn Lake
Before entering the national park, we stopped in a small parking lot by the road overlooking Iceland's largest lake.
There's not much to do except enjoy the views, take a few photos, and stretch your legs a bit.
Honestly, we enjoyed the Hakid Viewpoint a bit more, but it was still a nice stop.
If fishing is your hobby, it is good to know that this lake and the Oxara River within the park are great spots for this activity.
Hakid
After we paid for the parking at the payment machine, we headed to Hakid, a newly-built viewing platform overlooking the area.
Here you can check out the map of the Thingvellir trails and admire the park's geology.
By the way, all trails in the national park are well-marked, so it's impossible to get lost here.
Almannagja
Probably the most iconic photo from Thingvellir National Park is the one of Almannagja.
Are you wondering what it is?
It is basically a gorge between continents because Almannagja is a fissure between two tectonic plates, Euroasian and Northamerican.
These plates are slowly drifting apart, and it is pretty cool to see the edges of each tectonic plate so exposed.
As a matter of fact, this phenomenon is best to be seen under the water's surface.
Thingvellir is, therefore, one of the places in the world where you can see such unique geology.
Another place close to Thingvellir that features two tectonic plates above the sea surface is a nearby Bridge Between Continents on Reykjanes Peninsula.
The best part about Almannagja is that the walking trail goes directly through the gorge, making this experience unforgettable.
Althingi
Then we walked along Oxara River to a place that is probably not that visually spectacular but is much more important because of its historical significance.
Since 930, Thingvellir, alias Assembly Plains, was a place where the world's oldest parliament was held under the open sky.
If you haven't guessed it yet, know that Althingi translates as a Parliament.
The gatherings were held here for centuries and only in the 19th century were moved to Reykjavik.
It was pretty interesting to stand at the same place where the local people made some of the most important decisions in Iceland's history.
You can read many information boards explaining the historical evolvement of this place and the importance to the nation's history.
One of the most notable sites here is Logberg, alias The Law Rock, which was used as a podium for speakers.
Oxararfoss
Oxararfoss Waterfall is another top attraction in Thingvellir National Park.
You can reach the waterfall via a 1.6 km hike from the parking area, and the trail is mostly flat.
As there were quite a few interesting places along the way, we arrived at the waterfall's base without even noticing it.
With only 20 meters, Oxarfoss is not the highest or even most impressive waterfall in Iceland.
We say 'only' because now we know what gems such as Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, or Gullfoss await you further on the Golden Circle or South Coast.
But at the very beginning of our journey, we found it absolutely stunning.
Here we decided not to walk any further, and from the waterfall, we slowly returned to the parking lot.
Fortunately, you do not have to walk the same way back, but it is possible to make a loop via a very picturesque church and Silfra.
Thingvellir Church
Wooden boardwalks and a few bridges led us to the other side of the river, where we found Thingvallakirkja, a photogenic small church that dates back to 1859.
Old stories say that there was always a church in Thingvellir, probably from the 11th century.
Unfortunately, neither the structure nor the original location was preserved.
Unlike the church in Stykkisholmur on Snaefellsnes Peninsula, this church is relatively small and has traditional architecture.
Next to the church is a small but notable Icelandic National Cemetery.
Silfra Diving
Have you ever wondered what snorkeling in really cold water feels like or wanted to experience it yourself? Thingvellir is one of the best places in Iceland to find out the answer to this burning question.
It was a beautiful, partly cloudy day when we arrived at the national park.
After two hours, the weather had changed, and the dark clouds rolled over the Thingvallavatn.
So when we saw a group of tourists heading in dry suits towards the dark lake, we were really glad we didn't take this tour.
However, on a clear sunny day, it will be a different story.
Moreover, snorkeling at the site where the tectonic plates of two continents are drifting apart is not something you do every day.
Yes, the water will still be extremely cold, but you will have a much better opportunity to enjoy one of the cleanest waters with fantastic visibility in the world.
They say that visibility in the lagoon is more than 100 meters in perfect conditions, which is unique.
Even from the shore, we could easily see that there is some truth to this claim.
If you are interested in this activity, you can book the Silfra Snorkeling Tour in advance.
And by the way, Silfra is sometimes referred to as the real blue lagoon of Iceland.
While we won't question this opinion, the water temperature in Blue Lagoon was much more to our taste.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Where to Stay in Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park is visited by locals and tourists as well, and if you know where to look, you can find some great hotels in this area.
Depending on your travel itinerary, search for accommodation in the most convenient location for you.
If traveling Ring Road counterclockwise, Hveragerdi, Laugarvatn, and Selfoss are towns with excellent locations where you can stay overnight before venturing further east.
When traveling Iceland clockwise, search for hotels in Reykjavik.
From traditional guesthouses and remote cottages to modern hotels, the area surrounding Thingvellir National Park offers a wide range of accommodation for everyone.
We've hand-selected the best hotels near Thingvellir National Park.
Ulfljotsvatn | Borealis Hotel - Situated only a 10-minute drive from Thingvellir, Borealis Hotel offers affordable rooms, scenic views, free lakeside golfing, and an on-site restaurant. Great value for money who don't want to spend a fortune on accommodation.
Selfoss | Hotel South Coast - Located in the heart of Selfoss, Hotel South Coast features stylish decor, excellent facilities, and a spa. The rooms are clean and modern. The staff is helpful, and this hotel offers everything you need for a good night's sleep. The hotel is the perfect base to explore the Thingvellir National Park and Golden Circle.
Laugarvatn | Austurey Cottages - Tired of soulless hotels? Located on a family-owned farm, Austurey Cottages offers a very different experience. These cottages have a charming style, hard-to-beat location, and herds of sheep all around you. Also, this will be an excellent spot for watching the Northern Lights if arriving in winter.
Reykjavik | Sand Hotel by Keahotels - This boutique hotel offers excellent value for the price, clean, spacious rooms, and a top location on Laugavegur Street, Reykjavik's main shopping promenade. Most of the major tourist sites are within walking distance as well.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
