Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
The perfect complement to the other sites on the Golden Circle Loop in Iceland, the Golden Circle Geysir area is definitely a ‘hot spot.’ Sorry for the pun! The Golden Circle Geysir area includes hot pools, boiling mud pools, and geysers and is a must-see for anyone visiting some of the other nearby sites such as Gullfoss or the Secret Lagoon.
Not only is it worth the visit, but is an easy place to visit and many of the most interesting things to see are close to the parking lot. We stopped at the Geysir area and watched the active Strokkur Geysir erupt 4 times and then spent about 30 minutes wandering to visit some of the other pools and sites.
See more about our 7 day Iceland Itinerary: Driving the Amazing Ring Road.
Looking for a printable ebook or downloadable version of this Golden Circle Itinerary. This 11 page ebook shares the best things to do on the Golden Circle and everything you need to know to help plan your trip. The Iceland travel guide will help you figure out how much time you need, where to stay and where to eat.
You can also find a complete printable Ring Road Itinerary as well.
Quick Look at 7 Things to Know About Visiting the Golden Circle Geysir Area
Below is a list of 7 things to know about visiting the Golden Circle Geysir. You can also scroll down for more details on each of the tips and everything you need to know to plan your visit at the Golden Circle Geysir area along the Golden Circle Drive.
- The Geysir Area is easy to visit on a Golden Circle Trip and is always open
- The geothermal field has shifted in intensity over the years
- You should plan your visit for 15-60 minutes and there is no entrance fee
- Avoid the crowds by visiting in the morning or late afternoon
- Geysir can also be spelled geyser
- There are some facilities located near the geothermal area
- Iceland is the only place in Europe where you can see geysers
Details on the 7 Tips for Planning Your Visit to the Golden Circle Geyser Area
The Geysir Area is easy to Visit on a Golden Circle Trip and is always open
Located directly on the Golden Circle Route, this is one of the highlights of this classic day trip and one of the easiest Icelandic geysers to visit. If you are driving straight from Reykjavik, it is about 107 km to get to the Geysir Area. Many people visit the Golden Circle Geysir area after a stop at Gullfoss. This is what we did and the drive is just 10 minutes between these two amazingly different sites. If you are taking your own car, make sure you plan a visit, or if you don’t want to rent a car, you can check out some of the Golden Circle tours from Reykjavik. This tour gets great reviews and includes a visit to the Geysers and a farm visit.
There are no set opening and closing times at the Geysir area so you can visit whenever you want.
The geothermal field has shifted in intensity over the years
This geothermal area became active over 1,000 years ago and has multiple boiling pools and erupting geysers. The site was originally active following a series of earthquakes. The most famous feature is the Great Geysir (perhaps second in fame only to Old Faithful in Yellowstone). Today the Great Geysir is dormant although in 2000, this famous geyser had a brief period activity. The Geysir has been dorman since 2009.
The most impressive geyser erupting today is the Strokkur Geysir (or the Churn). This Geysir can reach heights of 30 feet and spouts every few minutes. When you visit, plan on watching the geyser erupt a few times. The geyser erupts when the water in the pool reaches a certain temperature and pressure. The water will gurgle and churn in the meantime until water comes spraying up.
We saw the Strokkur Geysir go off a few times, but most of the spouts were more like 10-15 feet during our visit.
You should plan your visit for 15-60 minutes and there is no entrance fee
One of the best things about the Golden Circle Geysir Area is how easy it is to get to. It is worth stopping to visit this geothermal area even if you only have a few minutes to visit. If you have more time, I would recommend about 1 hour so you have time to watch the Stokkur Geysir a few times and walk around to see some of the other pools.
There is no fee to visit the Golden Circle Geysir area.
Avoid the crowds by visiting in the morning or late afternoon
The geothermal area on the Golden Circle is a popular destination and can get crowded, especially during the months of June, July, and August. Even when it is crowded in midsummer, it doesn’t feel nearly as crowded as other top tourist destinations such as the geyser areas in Yellowstone National Park in the US.
To avoid crowds, visit in the early morning or late afternoon during the summer months.
Geysir can also be spelled Geyser
There is more than one way to spell this destination and you will see both spellings throughout this article. The word Geysir is the Icelandic spelling, while the word Geyser is the English spelling
There are some facilities located near the geothermal area
Located right next to the Geyser area, you can find the Geysir Center. There are toilets, a small store here, and some food. You can also find a few restaurants nearby: Hotel Restaurant Geysir, Restaurant Geysir GlÃma, and the Súpa restaurant in the Geysir Center.
Iceland is the only place in Europe where you can see geysers
Since Iceland is the only place in Europe to see Geysers, you should definitely prioritize this stop on the Golden Circle. Unlike most of Europe, Iceland is located in an active geothermal area, and the land here is relatively new. This makes Iceland a fascinating and different place to visit!
Common Questions about Visiting the Geyser Area
Are there hot springs at the Golden Circle Geysir Area?
There are no hot springs that you can swim in at the Golden Circle Geysir area. All the hot pools here are too hot to get into. Use caution when visiting these volatile and sensitive areas!
Is the Golden Circle Geysir Worth it?
Yes – we fully believe it’s worth a visit. If you’ve been to other geothermal areas, you might not find this as impressive, but since it is directly on the Golden Circle Route, you should plan to stop. We visited Yellowstone recently, so while my kids enjoyed this stop, they weren’t as impressed as they might have been if it was their first geyser.
How often does the Golden Circle Iceland Geysir Erupt?
The Strokkus Geysir erupts every few minutes all day long. Even if you visit for a short time, you will likely see it erupt several times.
Do you have to Pay to See the Geysir – Golden Circle Iceland?
No – it is free to visit the Geysir on the Golden Circle in Iceland.
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