Gullni hringurinn from Selfoss, Iceland’s volcanic touring loop

Gullni hringurinn, the Icelandic name for the Golden Circle, is a road circuit in southwest Iceland that arcs between Reykjavík, Selfoss and the volcanic interior, linking rift valleys, geothermal fields and a glacier-fed waterfall in one journey.

Gullni hringurinn as Iceland’s classic Golden Circle route

Gullni hringurinn is a tourist route in southwest Iceland laid out as a loop of about 300 km (190 mi), starting and finishing near Reykjavík and curving through the southern uplands before returning to the coastal lowlands around Selfoss.tourist route in southwest Iceland The circuit has become closely associated with three named stops: Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal valley of Haukadalur around Geysir and the waterfall Gullfoss on the Hvítá river.three named stops

At its simplest, the loop leaves Reykjavík along main highways, climbs inland to Þingvellir, crosses to the geothermal fields around Geysir and then continues to Gullfoss before turning back towards Selfoss and rejoining the Ring Road to close the circuit.loop that starts and ends near Reykjavík It is a landscape of road, water, steam and rock rather than a single monument, making the drive itself part of the experience of the region.

Selfoss as a gateway to the volcanic loop

Selfoss, a town in Suðurland, sits on the eastern bank of the Ölfusá river in southwest Iceland, south-east of Reykjavík, with the Ring Road crossing the river on its way across the southern coastal plain.town on the Ring Road Inland roads branch from the Selfoss area towards Þingvellir, Haukadalur and the Hvítá valley, making the town a practical orientation point on the southern side of the circuit.

Route 1, the Ring Road, links Reykjavík with Selfoss and the wider south, and numbered inland roads such as Route 35 run north from near Selfoss towards the Golden Circle region.anchored by Routes 36, 365, 37, 35 and 1 This crossroads character means travellers can base themselves in Selfoss and choose whether to drive the circuit as a single long loop or as a series of shorter excursions into different parts of Suðurland.

Landscape contrasts along the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle route is known for the way it links contrasting landscapes visible from the road: the tectonic rift valley at Þingvellir, the steaming geothermal ground around Geysir and the tiered waterfall Gullfoss where the Hvítá river drops into a canyon.tectonic rift valley and waterfall At Þingvellir, the valley lies between tectonic plates, while around Geysir the surface is punctuated by pools and vents and Strokkur, the most active geyser in the area.

Further inland, Gullfoss forms part of the Hvítá river system, fed by meltwater from the Langjökull glacier, with the water dropping in stages into a canyon that has become one of the named anchors of the Golden Circle.Gullfoss waterfall on the Hvítá river Between these points, sections of the drive cross volcanic plains and low hills, giving the route its reputation as a condensed introduction to the geology and surface features of southern Iceland.

Visiting Gullni hringurinn: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Gullni hringurinn lies in southwest Iceland and is most directly reached by road from Reykjavík and Selfoss, with the Ring Road and inland routes forming the circuit.
• The terrain along the loop is varied, including paved highways, sections across upland plateaus and approaches to viewpoints near waterfalls and geothermal areas that may involve short walks on uneven ground.
• Selfoss is in Iceland, where 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.

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Frequently asked questions about Gullni hringurinn

Where is Gullni hringurinn in relation to Selfoss?

Gullni hringurinn is a road loop in southwest Iceland that passes close to the Selfoss area in Suðurland, with the town marking the southern side of the circuit.

What should travellers expect when driving the Golden Circle?

Travellers can expect a circuit that links a tectonic rift valley, geothermal fields and a glacier-fed waterfall, with sections of highway and short walks to named viewpoints.

What makes Gullni hringurinn distinctive among Icelandic routes?

It is distinctive for combining Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in a single loop near Reykjavík and Selfoss, giving a compact tour of southern Iceland’s volcanic and tectonic landscapes.