Iceland · Mid-Atlantic Ridge · UNESCO World Heritage

Thingvellir Tours

Golden Circle days, Silfra snorkeling and private visits to the rift valley — compared by the time each one gives you in the park

Thingvellir tours take you into the rift valley where Iceland’s Alþing met from around 930, down the Almannagjá gorge and, on a snorkel, into the clear water of Silfra. Compare Golden Circle days, Silfra snorkels and private visits by the time each gives you in the park, and book the day that suits you.

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Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on every tour below, so booking early costs you nothing if the weather changes your plans.

c. 930The Alþing first met

40 kmFrom Reykjavík

From $85Per person

Hours, prices and access verified by the Thingvellir Tours team — last checked 2026-09-10

Thingvellir Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-10

Most booked

Top Thingvellir Tours for 2026

Three ways into the park: a snorkel in Silfra that meets at the fissure, a Golden Circle coach from Reykjavík with Kerið on morning runs, and two unhurried hours with a private driver.

Top rated

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location

★★★★★ 4.9 (5,154 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes)

Snorkel in SilfraMeet at Silfra — you driveDrysuit + permitMax 6

Snorkel Silfra at Thingvellir, from Silfra Hall through the Cathedral to the Lagoon, with a PADI instructor and no more than six in the group. The drysuit, warm undersuit and all snorkeling gear, the Silfra permit, a heated changing van and hot chocolate with cookies are in the $159 fare. This Thingvellir snorkeling tour meets at the Silfra car park, so it pairs well with a self-drive day on the Golden Circle. Snorkelers must be at least 12 and 150 cm tall, and photos are extra if you want them.

Drive to the Silfra car park at Thingvellir
Meet your PADI instructor at the company vans
Change in the heated van into a drysuit
Guided snorkel through Silfra Hall and Cathedral
Finish in Silfra Lagoon
Hot chocolate and cookies back at the vans

From $159 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.7 (3,623 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes)

40 min at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkKerið entry, morning runs

Board at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, for an eight-and-a-half-hour Golden Circle day with ninety minutes at Geysir and Strokkur, forty at Gullfoss and forty at Thingvellir. A professional guide narrates on the coach, and morning departures add twenty minutes at the Kerið crater before the drive home. Kerið is not on departures at 12:00 or later, so choose a morning slot if the crater matters to you. The fare is $89, with food, drinks and tips left to each passenger.

Depart Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Reykjavík
Ninety minutes at Geysir and Strokkur
Forty minutes at Gullfoss
Forty minutes at Thingvellir National Park
Twenty minutes at Kerið crater (morning departures)
Return to Reykjavík

From $89 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Thingvellir National Park Tour ( Þingvellir )

★★★★★ 5.0 (5 reviews · 4 hours)

2 h at ThingvellirFrom Harpa, ReykjavíkYour group only

Meet the driver at Harpa and spend two hours inside Thingvellir National Park on a four-hour private tour, four times the half-hour a classic coach allows. The $713 fare covers the car for a group of up to three, so the park is seen at the group's pace rather than to a timetable. Of the Thingvellir National Park tours from Reykjavík, this one gives the park itself the day, with no Geysir or Gullfoss to leave time for. It suits you if the rift valley, not the whole Golden Circle, is the reason for the trip.

Meet your driver at Harpa, Reykjavík
Private drive out to Thingvellir
Two hours inside Thingvellir National Park
Private drive back to Harpa

From $713 per group, up to 3

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Why book here

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

★

Best Guides

Walk the rift with guides who can show you where the Law Rock is thought to have stood, or snorkel Silfra with PADI-trained guides and no more than six in your group.

✓

Book With Confidence

Every tour refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and each card shows the time you get in the park before you pay a thing.

☼

Experience of a Lifetime

Walk down into the gorge where the assembly gathered, float in water that spent about 30 years underground, and leave knowing you saw the rift valley properly.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours in advance on every tour — the line under each price says so.

Everything available

All Thingvellir Tours & Tickets

There are no Thingvellir tickets to buy at a gate: the park charges no admission, so what you pay for is the tour, or 1,000 ISK to park if you drive. These Thingvellir tours and tickets are grouped by how you visit, and every card shows your time in the park, where the day starts and what the fare includes. Thingvellir ticket prices for parking, the exhibition and the permits are on the visiting page.

Golden Circle day tours

A day from Reykjavík by coach or minibus, with Geysir and Gullfoss on every one and Kerið, a lagoon or a horse farm on some. The first chip on each card is the time you get at Thingvellir, from 45 minutes down to a photo stop, so start there.

Small-group Golden Circle Classic Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.8 (2,405 reviews · 8 hours)

45 min at ThingvellirPickup in ReykjavíkKerið entryMax 19

Spend 45 minutes at Thingvellir on an eight-hour Golden Circle loop by minibus, with pickup in Reykjavík and Geysir and Gullfoss later in the day. An English-speaking guide leads the group, and there is free Wi-Fi on board. With no more than 19 passengers, the minibus gives the park fifteen minutes more than the classic coaches allow. Lunch is not in the fare, so bring your own or budget for a stop, and note that the minibus is not wheelchair accessible.

From $121 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Meet the Icelandic Horses

★★★★★ 4.7 (705 reviews · 9 hours)

45 min at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkHorse farm visit

Feed Icelandic horses at a local farm on a nine-hour Golden Circle day that also takes in Geysir, Gullfoss, the Kerið crater and 45 minutes at Thingvellir. Horse candy for the feeding, an English-speaking guide and a new coach with a toilet and Wi-Fi are part of the fare. The horse farm is the stop that sets this Golden Circle apart, and children tend to remember it longest. Board at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, or add pickup when you book.

From $85 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Golden Circle, Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (2,739 reviews · 11 hours)

45 min at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkBlue Lagoon Comfort ticketMax 18

End an eleven-hour small-group day in the Blue Lagoon after the Golden Circle, the Kerið crater and 45 minutes at Thingvellir. The Blue Lagoon Comfort ticket is in the fare, with a towel, a silica mud mask and a first drink, and a professional guide leads a group of no more than 18. Kerið entry is included as well, so the extras come down to meals and tips. Pickup is from designated meeting points in Reykjavík, and the return is late, so eat at the lagoon if you can.

From $268 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Golden Circle & Kerið Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (269 reviews · 8 hours)

40 min at ThingvellirPickup in ReykjavíkKerið entry

Travel by Mercedes minibus from select Reykjavík hotels, bus stops or the Skarfabakki cruise harbour on an eight-hour Golden Circle, with 40 minutes at Thingvellir. Entry to the Kerið crater is included, and a local English-speaking driver-guide leads the day with Wi-Fi and USB power on board. Meals are not in the fare, but the route stops at a restaurant or grocery shop, or you can bring a packed lunch. Joining from the harbour makes it a practical shore day for cruise passengers.

From $135 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best value

Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★☆ 4.5 (5,737 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes)

30 min at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkAudio guide app

Leave the BSÍ Bus Terminal, or ask for pickup, on a six-and-a-half-hour guided Golden Circle coach with 30 minutes at Thingvellir. A professional guide rides along, and an app-based audio guide covers other languages for anyone who brings headphones. The fare starts at $85, and in summer the coach also collects from the Skarfabakki cruise port. It is one of the Thingvellir guided tours with wheelchair access, which matters if your party includes a wheelchair user.

From $85 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The Golden Circle Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.8 (2,624 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes)

30 min at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkAudio guide app

Take a guided coach from the BSÍ Bus Terminal or a pickup point near your accommodation on a six-and-a-half-hour Golden Circle, with 30 minutes at Thingvellir. Local guidance, free Wi-Fi and an app-based audio guide in several languages come with the fare, and the tour runs carbon neutral in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. Cruise passengers can add a port pickup as a booking option. Food and headphones for the audio guide are not included, while strollers and infant seats are welcome on board.

From $88 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best seller

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (6,458 reviews · 10 hours)

Photo stop at ThingvellirFrom ReykjavíkSecret Lagoon entryKerið entry

Soak in the Secret Lagoon at the end of a ten-hour Golden Circle day from Reykjavík, with Geysir, Gullfoss and the Kerið crater on the route. Entry to the Secret Lagoon and to Kerið is in the fare, along with a guide and Wi-Fi on board. Thingvellir is a photo stop on this itinerary rather than a walk, so the lagoon is the reason to pick it. Board at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, or add hotel pickup, and bring a towel or rent one at the lagoon if you forget.

From $133 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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See every Golden Circle tour

Silfra snorkeling and diving

The one thing you do inside the park rather than look at: a drysuit, a guide and water at 2–4 °C all year. Choose between driving to the fissure yourself and being collected in Reykjavík, and between a snorkel and a dive for certified drysuit divers.

Likely to sell out

Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive

★★★★★ 4.9 (3,668 reviews · 3 hours)

Snorkel in SilfraMeet at Silfra — you driveUnderwater photosMax 6

Drive to the Troll meeting point by P5 at Thingvellir and snorkel the Silfra fissure in a group of no more than six, on a three-hour outing. A drysuit with thermal undersuit, mask, fins, hood and gloves, a PADI divemaster guide and GoPro photos from above and below the water are included. Parking is not, so allow 1,000 ISK for the car for the day. Every snorkeler must complete the medical form, the upper age limit is 69, and hot chocolate waits when you climb out.

From $149 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Silfra Wetsuit Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photos - From Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (133 reviews · 5 hours)

40 min in SilfraPickup in ReykjavíkUnderwater photosMax 6

Be collected in Reykjavík and spend 40 minutes in the Silfra fissure at Thingvellir on a five-hour outing, in a group capped at six. A PADI divemaster or instructor guides the swim, the snorkeling equipment is provided, and underwater photos and hot chocolate come with the fare. Among the Silfra snorkels it is the one that pairs Reykjavík pickup with a stated time in the water. Bring swimwear, a towel and waterproofs, since your own clothing is not supplied.

From $219 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Silfra: Diving Between Tectonic Plates and Pick Up from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 5.0 (597 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes)

Dive in SilfraHotel pickupDrysuit + permitMax 3

Dive Silfra, the fissure in the northern part of Thingvellir's lake, in a group of no more than three, with pickup from central Reykjavík or the BSÍ Bus Terminal. The fare covers the drysuit, a warm undersuit and all diving equipment, a PADI instructor as guide, the Silfra permit, a heated changing van and hot chocolate. The park admits certified drysuit divers only, with a drysuit certificate or ten logged drysuit dives in the past two years. Bring your logbook, and budget for photos, which are extra.

From $349 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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See every Silfra snorkeling tour

Private tours

Your group only, at your own pace. Two of these give the park the whole trip, four hours of it; the others fit Thingvellir into a private Golden Circle. Read the price line on each card: some are per person with a minimum of two, and one covers the car for up to three.

Exclusive Thingvellir National Park Private Day Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (5 reviews · 4 hours)

4 h at ThingvellirHotel pickupYour group only

Four hours inside Thingvellir National Park, private and collected from a Reykjavík hotel, make this a park-only day with nothing else on the route. Air-conditioned transport, Wi-Fi, bottled water and all fees and taxes are included, priced per person. The time goes to the rift valley alone, which suits walkers who want Almannagjá, Öxarárfoss and the old assembly site at an unhurried pace. Food is not in the fare, and the car takes wheelchairs, strollers and infant seats if you need them.

From $477 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Day Trip to the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (49 reviews · 10 hours)

1 h at ThingvellirHotel or port pickupLagoon ticket not includedYour group only

Pair the Golden Circle with the Blue Lagoon on a ten-hour private day, collected from a Reykjavík hotel or the cruise port, with a full hour at Thingvellir. The guide is a professional photographer, and the route and pace are set around a single party. The price is per person with a minimum of two, and lagoon, museum and exhibition tickets are extra, so book the Blue Lagoon slot separately. Wheelchair access and infant seats are both available, which makes it an easy choice if you travel with a wide age range.

From $470 per person (min. 2)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Golden Circle Tour by Luxury SUV from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (66 reviews · 7–9 hours)

45 min at ThingvellirHotel pickupFull-size SUVYour group only

Ride a full-size luxury SUV from a Reykjavík hotel on a private Golden Circle of seven to nine hours, with 45 minutes at Thingvellir. A professional driver-guide, Wi-Fi on board and all fees and taxes are in the price, which is per person with a minimum of two. Because the car carries only one party, the time at each stop and the lunch break are the group's call. It is wheelchair accessible, with room for a stroller and infant seats if your family needs them.

From $820 per person (min. 2)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 5.0 (26 reviews · 6–7 hours)

30 min at ThingvellirPickup anywhere in the capitalYour group only

Start from any address in the capital area and see the Golden Circle by private car, with 30 minutes at Thingvellir inside a six-to-seven-hour day. The $1,650 fare covers the whole air-conditioned vehicle for up to three travellers rather than each seat. Pricing per group rather than per head is what separates it from the per-person private tours. Strollers and infant seats are accommodated, so a young family can bring what you would pack for any day out.

From $1,650 per group, up to 3

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Multi-day tours

Thingvellir as the first stop of a longer trip: 30 minutes to an hour in the park, then the south coast, the glaciers or the whole ring road, with your nights arranged.

3 Day Summer South Coast, Golden Circle and Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon

★★★★★ 4.9 (149 reviews · 3 days)

1 h at ThingvellirFrom Reykjavík2 nights + glacier hikeMax 18

Three days by minibus take in the Golden Circle, with an hour at Thingvellir, then the south coast as far as the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Two nights' accommodation with breakfast, a glacier hike with safety equipment and a visit to the Katla ice cave are in the fare. An hour in the park is double what the classic day coaches allow, and the group is capped at 18. Lunch, dinner, gear rental and the Jökulsárlón boat ride are extra, so pack your own hiking boots and waterproofs.

From $948 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Small-Group Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (397 reviews · 3 days)

30 min at ThingvellirPickup in Reykjavík2 nights + ice caveMax 16

Cover the Golden Circle and the south coast in three days by minibus, starting with 30 minutes at Thingvellir and reaching Jökulsárlón and the Diamond Beach. A guided ice cave with safety equipment, two nights in rooms with private bathrooms and two breakfasts are included, with stops at Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. Groups are capped at 16, and lunch and dinner are extra. Solo travellers share a twin room with someone of the same gender unless you add the single supplement.

From $989 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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8-Day Small Group Tour Around Iceland from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (692 reviews · 8 days)

30 min at ThingvellirFrom Reykjavík7 nights + ice caveMax 18

Circle the whole of Iceland in eight days by minibus, with a 30-minute stop at Thingvellir on the Golden Circle section. Seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, a whale-watching trip from Hauganes, an ice cave and a glacier hike with safety equipment are in the fare. An English-speaking driver-guide leads a group of no more than 18, and Wi-Fi runs on board. Lunch and dinner are extra, and horse riding or the Vök Baths can be added through the operator if you want them.

From $2,724 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The park

About Thingvellir

Thingvellir (Þingvellir), about 40 km north-east of Reykjavík, is where Iceland’s Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and met every summer until 1798. The park lies in a rift valley on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a seven-kilometre-wide graben between the Almannagjá and Heiðargjá faults, covered by lava about 10,000 years old. It has been a national park since 1930 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, and it reaches the northern shore of Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake. Join us for the three things to know before you go.

History

For two weeks each summer, people came from all over the country, the farthest east riding 17 days to arrive, to hear rulings announced at Lögberg, the Law Rock. Iceland accepted Christianity here in the summer of 1000, and Lögberg is where the declaration of independence was signed in 1944.

Visiting

The park has no gate and charges no admission, so you pay only for what you use: 1,000 ISK to park a car for the day in P1, P2 or P5, and 1,200 ISK for adults at the Heart of Iceland exhibition. The visitor centre at Hakið opens 09:00–18:00 from April to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to March.

Nature

Silfra’s water stays at 2–4 °C all year: groundwater that has spent about 30 years travelling from the Langjökull glacier. The lake holds brown trout and four forms of Arctic charr, 172 species of higher plants grow in the park, and the birch, willow and heath turn gold and red in autumn.

Öxarárfoss dropping off the fault wall into the Almannagjá rift at Thingvellir, seen from above, with the viewing platform below

The boardwalk running down Almannagjá between the moss-streaked fault walls at Thingvellir

A snorkeler floating at the surface of Silfra, the fissure dropping away into deep blue below

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour to Visit Thingvellir?

No, and it is worth knowing before you pay. The park has no gate and no admission, it lies about 40 km north-east of Reykjavík on Route 36, and a car pays 1,000 ISK to park for the whole day. If you have a car and only want the park, driving yourself is the better value, and you can stay as long as you like.

What a tour buys is the rest of the day. On the Golden Circle that means the transport, a guide who explains the ground you are standing on, and Geysir and Gullfoss before you are back in the city. In Silfra the tour is the whole point: you never go into the water alone, and the guide, the drysuit and the equipment come with your fare.

See Top Tours Going on your own

Every tour refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so a booking made now costs you nothing if your plans change.

What you will see

Six Places to Find at Thingvellir

From the gorge at the top of the rift to the lake at its foot, these are the places your day is built around.

AlmannagjáThe gorge along one of the two faults that bound the rift. From the viewing platform at Hakið you walk down into it, towards the old assembly site.
Lögberg, the Law RockWhere anyone at the assembly could speak and rulings were announced. A flagpole stands on the ledge most often named as its site.
ÖxarárfossThe Öxará river drops into Almannagjá here; the Sturlunga saga says it was diverted to give the assembly fresh water. Car park P2 sits below it.
SilfraA fissure in the northern lake, at most 10 m wide, where you snorkel or dive with a guide in water named for its silver clarity.
PeningagjáPeningagjá, the Money Fault, is a branch of the Flosagjá fissure, bridged in 1907, where visitors began throwing coins into water up to 25 m deep.
Lake ÞingvallavatnIceland’s largest natural lake, about 84 km², with its deepest point 114 m down and four forms of Arctic charr living in it.

Compare

Which Thingvellir Tour Is Right for You?

Read the time column as well as the price: a Golden Circle coach gives the park 30 to 45 minutes, while a private half-day gives you two hours or more.

Tour	Rating	Price	Time at Thingvellir	Best for
Silfra: Diving Between Tectonic Plates and Pick Up from Reykjavik	5.0 (597)	From $349 per person	Dive in Silfra	Certified drysuit divers who want Silfra from a Reykjavík hotel door	Book
Private Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik	5.0 (26)	From $1,650 per group, up to 3	30 min at Thingvellir	Groups of three who want a private car from any capital-area address	Book
Thingvellir National Park Tour ( Þingvellir )	5.0 (5)	From $713 per group, up to 3	2 h at Thingvellir	Couples and small groups who want two unhurried hours in the park	Book
Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location	4.9 (5,154)	From $159 per person	Snorkel in Silfra	Self-drivers aged 12 and up who want to snorkel Silfra with an instructor	Book
Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive	4.9 (3,668)	From $149 per person	Snorkel in Silfra	Self-drivers who want Silfra with free photos and a small group	Book
8-Day Small Group Tour Around Iceland from Reykjavik	4.9 (692)	From $2,724 per person	30 min at Thingvellir	Travellers who want the whole ring road without driving it themselves	Book
Golden Circle & Kerið Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavik	4.9 (269)	From $135 per person	40 min at Thingvellir	Cruise passengers who want a minibus day with the Kerið crater	Book
3 Day Summer South Coast, Golden Circle and Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon	4.9 (149)	From $948 per person	1 h at Thingvellir	Travellers with three days who want a glacier hike and an ice cave	Book
Silfra Wetsuit Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photos - From Reykjavik	4.9 (133)	From $219 per person	40 min in Silfra	Snorkelers without a car who want Reykjavík pickup and underwater photos	Book
Private Golden Circle Tour by Luxury SUV from Reykjavik	4.9 (66)	From $820 per person (min. 2)	45 min at Thingvellir	Parties of two or more who want a private SUV and their own pace	Book
Day Trip to the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik	4.9 (49)	From $470 per person (min. 2)	1 h at Thingvellir	Couples and families who want the Blue Lagoon on a private day	Book
From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour	4.8 (6,458)	From $133 per person	Photo stop at Thingvellir	First-time visitors who want a hot-spring soak and Kerið in one day	Book
Golden Circle, Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour	4.8 (2,739)	From $268 per person	45 min at Thingvellir	Travellers who want the Golden Circle and a Blue Lagoon ticket in one day	Book
The Golden Circle Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik	4.8 (2,624)	From $88 per person	30 min at Thingvellir	Cruise passengers and hotel guests who want a straightforward guided coach day	Book
Small-group Golden Circle Classic Tour from Reykjavik	4.8 (2,405)	From $121 per person	45 min at Thingvellir	Travellers who want a minibus and 45 minutes in the park	Book
3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Small-Group Tour	4.8 (397)	From $989 per person	30 min at Thingvellir	Travellers who want the south coast, an ice cave and two nights arranged	Book
Exclusive Thingvellir National Park Private Day Tour	4.8 (5)	From $477 per person	4 h at Thingvellir	Keen walkers who want four hours in the park with a private car	Book
Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik	4.7 (3,623)	From $89 per person	40 min at Thingvellir	Budget travellers who want Kerið and can take a morning departure	Book
Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Meet the Icelandic Horses	4.7 (705)	From $85 per person	45 min at Thingvellir	Families with children who want to feed Icelandic horses on the way	Book
Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik	4.5 (5,737)	From $85 per person	30 min at Thingvellir	Budget travellers and wheelchair users who want a shorter guided coach day	Book

We took the 9am slot and it was far quieter than later in the day.Kelsey C. · Traveller · September 2026

A private tour of Thingvellir National Park with an excellent guide and car.Cathanne B. · Couple · June 2026

My husband and I had a great small-group day on the Golden Circle despite gusts and heavy showers.Mary B. · Couple · August 2026

Plan your visit

Plan Your Thingvellir Visit

CostsGetting thereWhen to goIn the park

No gate and no admission. The park charges 1,000 ISK to park a car for the day and 1,200 ISK for adults at the Heart of Iceland exhibition, free to anyone 17 and under, and sells permits for Silfra, camping and fishing. Guided Golden Circle days start at $85 per person.

See every fee and opening time

About 40 km north-east of Reykjavík on Route 36, Þingvallavegur. Headlights stay on at all times in Iceland, and in winter you check umferdin.is or phone 1777 before you drive. The snorkels that meet at the fissure start from the car park by Silfra.

Roads and driving

About 21 hours of daylight at the June solstice and about 4 in late December. The church opens from 1 June to 31 August when a ranger is present, the birch turns in autumn, and the water in Silfra stays at 2–4 °C whatever the month.

Month by month

Start at Hakið by car park P1, where the visitor centre opens 09:00–18:00 from April to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to March. From the platform you walk down the gorge to the Law Rock, then on to the waterfall or to the church and the fissure by P5.

Map and car parks

What to expect

How a Thingvellir Day Runs

Where you start changes with the tour, but the park itself unfolds in the same order.

Pickup, or your own car

A Reykjavík bus stop or hotel, Harpa for the private half-day, or the car park by the fissure if you drive to snorkel.

The drive out on Route 36

About 40 km north-east of the city, with your guide explaining the rift on the way.

Hakið and the viewpoint

The platform at the top of the gorge, beside the visitor centre and car park P1.

Down the gorge to the Law Rock

Between the walls of the rift to the flagpole, then on to the waterfall at the far end.

Silfra, or the rest of the loop

Into the water with your guide, or on to Geysir and Gullfoss on a Golden Circle day.

See Top Tours

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour starts.

Traveller reviews

Thingvellir Tours Reviews

Travellers’ own words after a day at Thingvellir, with the stars each of them gave — the mixed ones too, because they tell you what to expect.

★★★★★

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location · Snorkel in Silfra

Everyone in our group was handled with patience and good humour, and the clean, modern gear kept us warm in the fissure. A couple of us were very anxious about going in, and our guide Arman made it feel safe enough that they enjoyed all of it.

Deborah W. · Group · August 2026

★★★★★

Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik · 40 min at Thingvellir

Two friends and I chose our excursions before the trip, and this was my pick; the waterfall, the geysers and the park won over all three of us. Our guide knew a great deal, sang well, played music and told stories about life in Iceland.

Regina L. · Friends · September 2026

★★★★★

Thingvellir National Park Tour ( Þingvellir ) · 2 h at Thingvellir

Coaches tend to give this park half an hour, and on foot it deserves two hours at least. I went with a friend and my son, who is 18, and Thorir explained the place kindly and patiently. He even stayed with us while we photographed relatives on a different snorkel trip in the park.

Rona A. · Family · November 2025

★★★★★

Silfra Wetsuit Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photos - From Reykjavik · 40 min in Silfra

I did this as a woman travelling solo and found it easy and great fun. Everyone was kind from start to finish.

Elizabeth S. · Solo traveller · June 2025

★★★★☆

The Golden Circle Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik · 30 min at Thingvellir

A lot of driving and not much time at each stop; the direct tour keeps them short, and we had only 20 minutes at Thingvellir. Next time we would choose a longer tour.

Lisa C. · Traveller · August 2026

★★★★★

Golden Circle & Kerið Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavik · 40 min at Thingvellir

We had done the Golden Circle before, in December, so seeing it in summer was a treat. This route adds the Kerið crater, where the walk around the rim is worthwhile, and the Brúarfoss waterfall. Gullfoss was outstanding and the transport comfortable.

Michael D. · Repeat visitor · August 2026

★★★★★

Private Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik · 30 min at Thingvellir

My wife and I were first-time visitors and felt we covered more than we could have on our own. A great day with beautiful scenery.

Don J. · Couple, first-time visitors · September 2023

★★★☆☆

Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik · 30 min at Thingvellir

Interesting, but the coach was very crowded. Friends took a small-group tour and had more personal time, and next time I would do the same.

MaryLou L. · Traveller · September 2026

★★★★★

Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive · Snorkel in Silfra

My boyfriend and I loved it, and Steven was thorough and attentive throughout. Worth knowing: the plates are about 5 km apart, so the rock walls you see underwater are not the plates themselves.

Deanna R. · Couple · August 2026

★★★★★

3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Small-Group Tour · 30 min at Thingvellir

A great trip for our family of two adults and two teenagers, with enough at each stop to keep the teenagers engaged. Frey was kind, and the lodging was comfortable rather than fancy. If you want Iceland without driving or planning it yourself, this does the job.

Kristi A. · Family · May 2026

★★★★★

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour · Photo stop at Thingvellir

Both our guides were informative and funny, and the day flew by. If you want Iceland's geological highlights in a single day, this covers them.

Jonny · United Kingdom · September 2025

★★★★★

Golden Circle, Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour · 45 min at Thingvellir

I did this tour solo and felt at ease all day, and met good company along the way. Mikki was friendly and informative, and there was time for the sights, the toilets and food without rushing.

Yana T. · Solo traveller · September 2026

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Thingvellir ticket?

No. Thingvellir National Park has no gate and charges no admission, so there is nothing to buy to walk into the rift. The park charges for parking (1,000 ISK for a car for the day), for its Heart of Iceland exhibition (1,200 ISK for adults) and for permits for Silfra, camping and fishing. A Golden Circle fare pays for the transport, the guide and the other stops, not for the park.

What do Thingvellir tours cost?

Guided Golden Circle days that stop at Thingvellir start at $85 per person. Silfra snorkels run from $149 to $219 per person, and the certified-diver trip is $349. Private tours start at $470 per person with a minimum of two, and Oak Travel's half-day is $713 for a group of up to three. Multi-day tours that pass through the park run up to $2,724.

Do you need a tour to visit Thingvellir?

No. The park has no gate and no admission, it lies about 40 km north-east of Reykjavík on Route 36, and if you drive you pay only for parking: 1,000 ISK for a car for the day. A tour earns its price on transport, a guide and the rest of the Golden Circle in the same day. Silfra is the exception most people book, because the snorkel fares bring the guide, the suit and the equipment.

How long do tours spend at Thingvellir?

Anything from a photo stop to four hours. The classic Golden Circle coaches allow 30 minutes, most minibus days 40 to 45, and the Mercury Grail private day an hour. Oak Travel's private half-day spends two hours in the park and Prime Tours' private day four.

Who can snorkel Silfra, and how cold is the water?

Silfra stays at 2–4 °C all year, so snorkelers wear full cold-water protection: a drysuit over a thermal layer, or a thick wetsuit, which the park allows for snorkeling. The minimum age is 12 on the snorkel tours (14 for the adult fare on the Adventure Vikings trip), with a height minimum of 150 cm on DIVE.IS and 135 cm on Troll. Everyone completes a medical screening form, and the park never lets anyone into the water alone.

Should you book a tour in advance?

For Silfra, yes: snorkel groups run at six per guide, and the Troll snorkel carries a likely-to-sell-out flag. Golden Circle coaches carry far larger groups, up to 100 on the Gray Line classic. Every tour refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so booking early costs nothing if your plans change.

Do the tours include hotel pickup?

Most Golden Circle days collect from a Reykjavík hotel or a nearby bus stop, or start at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, or the BSÍ Bus Terminal. The DIVE.IS and Troll snorkels meet at the Silfra car park, so you drive there yourself, while Adventure Vikings collects in Reykjavík. Oak Travel's private half-day meets at Harpa, and Pickmeup starts from any address in the capital area.

How far is Thingvellir from Reykjavík?

About 40 km north-east of the city, on Route 36, Þingvallavegur, which leaves the Ring Road just outside Reykjavík. Golden Circle days take six and a half to eleven hours in all because they add Geysir, Gullfoss and other stops. Oak Travel's private tour fits the round trip and two hours in the park into four hours.

How much does parking cost at the park?

1,000 ISK for a car with up to five seats, 1,200 ISK for six to nine seats and 400 ISK for a motorcycle, paid once for the whole day. One payment covers all three paid car parks: P1 at Hakið, P2 at Efri-Vellir below Öxarárfoss, and P5 at Valhöll, nearest the church and Silfra. Cameras read your number plate, and you pay at the machines by the visitor centre, at P2 or P5, or online at Checkit.is.

Is the national park open all year?

Yes. The park itself has no gate and is open all year. The visitor centre at Hakið opens 09:00–18:00 from April to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to March, with shorter hours over Christmas. Þingvallakirkja, the church, opens from 1 June to 31 August when a ranger is present, commonly 09:00–10:00 and 13:30–17:00.

When is the best time to visit Thingvellir?

June to August gives the longest days, about 21 hours of daylight at the solstice, the warmest weather and the only months the church opens. Autumn turns the birch, willow and heath, and May and July were the driest months on the park's own weather record. Winter works too, but plan around about four hours of daylight in late December.

Can you see the tectonic plates?

You can walk through the rift between them. Thingvellir lies in a seven-kilometre-wide valley on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and the Almannagjá gorge runs along one of its two boundary faults. The plates are about 5 km apart, so you do not touch both continents at once, even in Silfra. Silfra sits inside the rift zone, between the North American plate and the Hreppar microplate.

Is the park worth visiting in winter?

Yes. The park stays open, the visitor centre keeps 09:00–17:00 hours from November to March, and Silfra's water is 2–4 °C whatever the season. Daylight falls to about four hours around 21 December and December averaged −2.3 °C on the park's 1949–1983 record, so check umferdin.is or phone 1777 before you drive. A coach or minibus tour hands the winter driving to someone else.

Is it a good day out with children?

Yes. The Heart of Iceland exhibition is free for anyone 17 and under, and the trails at the assembly site are well signed. The Golden Circle day with a horse-farm visit lets children feed Icelandic horses, and the private tours and the Gray Line and Reykjavik Excursions coaches have infant seats. Silfra is for older children only, with a minimum age of 12 and a height minimum.

Can you cancel a tour and get your money back?

Yes, in full, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. That applies to every Golden Circle, Silfra, private and multi-day tour featured, so booking early carries no risk if the weather turns. Check the start time rather than the pickup time when you count the 24 hours.

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Photographs

Thingvellir Gallery

Öxarárfoss at Thingvellir pouring over dark basalt, a visitor seated on the rocks with her back turned

Snorkelers in black suits climbing down the metal steps into Silfra between the lava walls, seen from behind

A scuba diver swimming low between the lava walls of the Silfra fissure, bubbles rising to the surface

Frost on the wooden kit-up benches by Silfra at sunrise, snow-covered mountains across the plain

Strokkur erupting in low sun, a line of onlookers in silhouette at a distance

Gullfoss dropping into its canyon with a rainbow in the spray, yellow flowers on the bank

View full gallery

Read before you go

Thingvellir Guides and Advice

Comparison

Private vs Group Thingvellir Tours: What the Extra Money Buys

A coach seat from $85 or a private car from $713 for up to three. What the difference buys you is time in the park, and the price table never shows it.

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What to see

Walking Almannagjá, the Gorge at the Heart of Thingvellir

The western wall of the rift, the path down from the visitor centre, the Law Rock flagpole and the waterfall at the far end. How you walk Almannagjá.

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Silfra

Is Silfra Snorkeling Cold? What 2 °C Water Feels Like at Thingvellir

Water at 2 to 4 degrees all year, a drysuit over a warm undersuit, and a hot drink afterwards. What the cold is like, and how you stay warm in it.

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Read all guides Planning guides

Where it is

Finding Thingvellir

Thingvellir National Park
806 Selfoss, Iceland

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Name

Thingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum), in a rift valley about 40 km north-east of Reykjavík.

Address

Thingvellir National Park, 806 Selfoss, Iceland

Phone and email

+354 488 1800 · thingvellir@thingvellir.is

Hours

The park has no gate and is open at all times. The visitor centre at Hakið, by car park P1, opens 09:00–18:00 from April to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to March, with shorter hours over Christmas.

Getting there

Route 36 from the Ring Road just outside Reykjavík. The three car parks and every tour meeting point are on the park map.

Book Your Thingvellir Tour

Choose by the time you want in the park, then book. A Thingvellir reservation made through these pages costs you no more than booking with the operator, and every Thingvellir booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead. Whether your Iceland Thingvellir tour is a Golden Circle day, a snorkel in Silfra or a Thingvellir National Park guided tour by private car, pick the one that gives you the time you want.

See Top Tours

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on every tour.