Thingvellir or Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just under an hour from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. Both geologically and historically, Þingvellir is one of the most significant and iconic places in Iceland.
It is not just a place with a beautiful valley and a stunning lake. This is the place where Iceland’s landscapes and history come together.
This is the place where you can walk through a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This is the place where Iceland’s first parliament, the world’s oldest parliament established in 930 AD, once met over a thousand years ago.
This is the place where cracks in the earth, mossy lava fields, and clear spring water show just how unique this landscape is. This is the place where quiet trails wind through towering cliffs, lead to waterfalls, and raw, untouched nature. This is the place where some of the clearest snorkeling on Earth is found at Silfra fissure, a water-filled crack floating between two continents.
This is Þingvellir National Park!!!
We visited Þingvellir on our second day in Iceland, the first stop on the popular Golden Circle route. We were excited to explore more and honestly just hoping for a sunny day. It was drizzling when we left Reykjavík around 8 am, but it didn’t matter. When we parked our car at Öxarárfoss Parking P2, it was cloudy but not raining. We chose to park there because it is closer to Öxarárfoss waterfall than the visitor center.
After paying the parking fee at the machine, we followed a gravel path from the parking lot, then climbed a few stone steps before continuing along an easy wooden boardwalk. The short 5 mins walk opens up to stunning scenery, with Öxarárfoss waterfall to the left and Langistígur and Dead Man’s Walk to the right.
We walked through Almannagjá gorge, a rift formed by the slow movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates toward the Öxarárfoss waterfall. It is one of the few places in the world where we can literally walk between two continents. The waterfall flows over ancient lava rocks, framed by dark cliffs and green moss. The contrast between the black stone, milky white water, and green patches makes it stunning. Summer brings wildflowers and lush greenery to the trail, making the walk between the cliffs a surreal experience, even on a grey day like we had. In winter, the falls freeze into a magical ice sculpture.
After taking a few pictures, we hiked up the trail to Dead Man’s Walk and Langistígur. The path was a bit narrow and steep, with rocky, uneven steps winding along the edge of the gorge. From the top, we had amazing views of the massive rift valley, the vast mossy lava fields, the valley floor where the old parliament met, Lake Þingvallavatn stretching out below, and the mountains in the distance.
Join us for Part 1 of our Þingvellir walk, from Öxarárfoss to Lögberg: A path through waterfalls, volcanic gorges, and the rift between two continents, on June 19, 2025.
Route 36 
Route 36 
Route 36 
Route 36 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Öxarárfoss 
Öxarárfoss 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Stone steps and silent cliffs — walking Dead Man’s Walk Trail 
Dead Man’s Walk to Langistígur 
View of the rift valley from the top of Langistígur 
View of the rift valley from the top of Langistígur 
View from the top of Langistígur 
View from the top of Langistígur
After climbing down from Dead Man’s Walk, we continued toward Drekkingarhylur and Lögberg. The walk was mostly flat and easy, taking about 20 minutes as it winds through mossy lava fields and over deep cracks. The paths felt like something out of a fantasy movie. We reached the quiet pool of Drekkingarhylur near the bridge over the Öxará River. Drekkingarhylur, also known as the Drowning Pool, is a dark pool with a tragic past where women were once executed.
Next stop was Lögberg, the historic Law Rock where Iceland’s first parliament met over a thousand years ago. From there, we had a panoramic view of the entire valley, looking out over the old parliamentary grounds, the great Almannagjá Gorge, the vast Þingvallavatn lake, the picturesque Þingvellir Church, and the distant cliffs and mountains. The views over Þingvallavatn (Iceland’s largest lake) were stunning, and the fresh air felt unreal.
Afterward, we continued to the visitor center, which has a large parking lot, exhibits, restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe. We also spent some time at the viewpoint, known as Hakið, which offers a stunning, sweeping panorama of the entire rift valley, clearly showing the slow separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, including the vast Þingvallavatn lake and the valley floor below.
After refreshing at the visitor center, we planned to take a stroll to the church, but decided to skip it. Instead, we took a few photos from a distance and headed back to the parking lot, knowing we had a long day ahead.
Join us for Part 2 of our Þingvellir walk, from Lögberg to the Visitor Center: A path through mossy lava fields and breathtaking valley views, on June 19, 2025.
Walking through Almannagjá gorge 
Drekkingarhylur (Drowning Pool) 
Öxará river 
Lögberg (Law Rock) 
Between the plates: Law Rock, Thingvellir Church, and the rift valley 
Lögberg (Law Rock) 
Lögberg (Law Rock) 
Looking out from Lögberg over the Þingvellir plain and the Thingvellir Church in the distance 
Þingvellir plain 
Geese grazing in the meadow with their little ones 
Almannagjá gorge 
Almannagjá gorge 
Almannagjá gorge 
Hakið Viewing Point and Visitor Center 
View from Hakið Viewing Point 
View from Hakið Viewing Point 
Descending into Almannagjá: Boardwalk from Hakið Viewing Point 
Almannagjá gorge 
Geese grazing in the meadow with their little ones 
Hrafnagjá Observation Deck 
Hrafnagjá Observation Deck 
Route 365 towards Gullfoss 
Route 365 towards Gullfoss 
Route 365 towards Gullfoss
And don’t miss the Quick Facts and Tips below to help plan your visit!
Quick Facts and Tips:
- Best time to visit:
- Summer (June to August): Mild and cool weather, lush green landscapes, dry paths, long daylight hours, expect more crowds.
- Winter (November to February): Snowy, frozen waterfalls, and Northern Lights.
- Shoulder seasons (May and September): Mild Weather, Good for hiking, and fewer crowds.
- Check road conditions at road.is and weather forecasts at vedur.is.
- The park is located about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Reykjavík via Route 36 and makes it easy to pair with other Golden Circle highlights like Geysir and Gullfoss.
- The official website is Þingvellir National Park.
- Admission is free, but parking requires a small fee, about 750 ISK for private vehicles. Pay at machines or online at parka.is.
- Admission is free, but parking requires a small fee (pay at machines or online at parka.is)
- The park has several parking areas – Visitor Center P1, Öxarárfoss Parking P2, Öxarárfoss Parking P3 and, choose wisely depending on the order of your point of interest.
- Trails are well-marked, mostly flat or gently sloping, some areas may be gravel or wooden boardwalks. Easy walking paths to key sights like Almannagjá gorge, Öxarárfoss waterfall, and Law Rock (Lögberg). Wheelchair-accessible sections are available near the visitor center.
- Visitor center with exhibits, restrooms, and a café (seasonal hours), several viewpoints, picnic tables, and map boards across the park.
- Try to visit early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds and better light for photos.
- Dress in layers. Even in summer, it can be windy and chilly. Wear comfortable sturdy shoes, paths can be rocky, and slippery when wet or icy.
- Plan to spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours for a relaxed visit.
- Drones are allowed in some areas, but must be flown below 120m and not over crowds, always check posted signs.
- Nearby Attractions on Golden Circle day:
- Geysir Geothermal Area – The Original Geyser
- Gullfoss Waterfall – The Golden Falls
- Kerið Crater – A Vibrant Volcanic Caldera
- Laugarvatn Fontana
Conclusion
This place is truly special, it’s beautiful, peaceful, powerful, and packed with history. It is a definite must-see on the Golden Circle route.
Leave a Reply