Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Kerid Crater Afternoon Tour

Three of Iceland's most visited natural sites in one afternoon, starting whenever you're ready to leave the city.

You get picked up from Reykjavik in the afternoon, visit three of Iceland's most recognizable natural sites with a professional guide, and return without arranging transport or timing the stops yourself. Strokkur erupts on schedule, Gullfoss delivers the scale, and Thingvellir shows you where two continents meet. The 10:30 departure includes Kerid Crater. Later times are shorter and skip it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Golden Circle1h
2. Gullfoss40m
3. Strokkur1h
4. Thingvellir National Park40m · entry included

Golden Circle and Kerid Crater tour

• Depart Reykjavik in afternoon
• Visit Thingvellir National Park
• Explore Strokkur geyser area
• See Gullfoss waterfall
• Visit Kerid volcanic crater

The experience

Hands gripping the railing as water erupts from Strokkur every seven to ten minutes. That's the geothermal area in the Golden Circle, and it's the second stop on this afternoon tour from Reykjavik. Before that, you're already at Gullfoss, where the White River Hvítá drops in two stages, eleven meters then twenty-one, pushing over a hundred cubic meters of water through the gorge every second. The sound hits you before you're close enough to feel the spray. Your professional guide handles the timing and the route, which means you're not calculating distances or worrying about whether you've seen the main things.

Strokkur is where most people linger. You can watch it blow several times, and there's a small café if you want to grab something warm. After that comes Thingvellir National Park, where the landscape does something unusual: you're standing between two continental plates, the Eurasian and the North American, and the ground actually shows it. The park is also where Iceland's first parliament was founded in the late 900s, so the geology and the history are both visible in the same place. If you book the 10:30 departure, Kerid Crater gets added to the route. A volcanic crater fifty-five meters deep that rounds out the geology part of the day. Later departures skip Kerid and run seven hours instead.

The tour operates in all weather, which in Iceland means you dress for wind, rain, or sudden sun, sometimes all three in one afternoon. Groups stay manageable, and the guide sets the pace at each stop so you're not rushed through Gullfoss or stuck waiting at Strokkur. If you're a cruise passenger, contact the operator after booking to confirm your pickup point at the port. They'll coordinate around your ship's departure time so you're back before re-boarding.

What’s included

• Your afternoon includes hotel or port pickup from Reykjavik, a professional guide for the entire route, entry to Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Strokkur geothermal area.
• If you book the 10:30 departure, Kerid Crater is also included.
• A small café operates at Strokkur where you can purchase food and drinks.
• Transport between all stops is provided, and you return to Reykjavik at the end of the tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English10:30, 12:00 and 14:00

Pickup at set Reykjavik stopsGuide in English · 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (16 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 39 pickup points.Operator's directions: “Tour Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 1 (64.144389,-21.910327)”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by BusTravel Iceland

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want the Golden Circle's main attractions without arranging their own transport or timing, and who don't mind an afternoon departure. The 10:30 start is the only one that fits Kerid Crater into the route. Later times are shorter and skip it, so choose based on whether you want all four stops or just three.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What time does the afternoon Golden Circle tour leave Reykjavik?

The tour departs in the afternoon, making it suitable if you want to sleep in. Exact departure times vary. Check your booking confirmation. The 10:30 departure is the only one that includes Kerid Crater.

How long is the Golden Circle afternoon tour?

The 10:30 departure with Kerid Crater runs the full duration. Later departures are seven hours and do not include Kerid Crater.

What is included in the tour?

A professional guide is included. Transport between stops, entry to the attractions, and Kerid Crater (on the 10:30 departure only) are covered. Food is not included, though there is a café at Strokkur.

How often does Strokkur erupt?

Strokkur erupts every seven to ten minutes, so you will see multiple eruptions during your stop.

Is this tour suitable for cruise passengers?

Yes. Cruise port pickup is available, but you must contact the operator after booking to confirm your exact meeting point and coordinate around your ship's departure time.

What should I wear?

Dress for Icelandic weather: wind, rain, and sudden changes are common. The tour operates in all weather conditions.

Is Kerid Crater included in all departures?

No. Kerid Crater is only included in the 10:30 departure. Later departures do not visit Kerid and are seven hours long.