IS · Southern Region · 64.25°N 21.04°W

þingvellir

Rift-valley paths, clear water and the site of Iceland's early outdoor parliament.

Best time
May–September is best for walking, with long daylight. Winter can be beautiful under snow, but the paths get icy and the days are short.
How long
Half a day, or 1 day with more walking
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Keflavík, usually via London, Amsterdam or Istanbul (about 19–21 hours all in). Þingvellir is about 45 minutes' drive from Reykjavík and the first stop on Golden Circle tours. Iceland is 8 hours behind KL all year.
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IS · Southern Regionþingvellir64.25°N 21.04°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Rift-valley paths, clear water and the site of Iceland's early outdoor parliament.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingÞingvellirIS, Southern Region
KLþingvellir
≈ 11,194 km from KL, as the crow flies
A view of Þingvellir National Park, Iceland from the outlook by the information centre.

Photo: Ivan Sabljak · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

At Þingvellir you walk between the walls of a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart. It's also where Iceland's parliament first met in the open air, in 930, which makes it the country's most important historic site.

Makan

  1. Rye-bread picnicBread with cheese or smoked fish travels well for a day in the park.Map ↗
  2. Tomato soup in a greenhouseFarther along the Golden Circle, greenhouse farms heated by hot springs serve tomato soup among the vines.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. AlmannagjáThe main path runs through a wide fissure between tall rock walls.Map ↗
  2. LögbergThe Law Rock, where the Althing parliament gathered in the open air for centuries.Map ↗
  3. ÖxarárfossA waterfall tumbling over the rift wall, a short walk from the main path.Map ↗
  4. SilfraA water-filled fissure so clear you can snorkel between the continents, in a drysuit with a guide.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Silfra snorkelling is booked through licensed operators; you need to be a confident swimmer, and the water stays around 2°C all year.
  • The paths get icy in winter even when the road is clear, so bring slip-on spikes.
  • There's little food in the park, so pack a picnic in Reykjavík, where the halal options are.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.