Thingvellir National Park

Why I recommend it

Thingvellir is one of those places that becomes much more impressive once you understand what you are looking at. The park sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are moving apart. The landscape between the faults is literally subsiding and stretching; the plates move apart at roughly two centimetres per year. And then you add the history. Iceland’s Alþing was established here in 930, making Thingvellir the meeting place of one of the world’s oldest parliamentary institutions. That combination of natural and cultural importance is why the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to do

Walk through Almannagjá. The trail through the huge fissure gives you the clearest sense of being inside the rift valley rather than simply looking at it. Continue towards the historic assembly site, Öxaráfoss and the viewpoints over Þingvallavatn if you have time. This is definitely somewhere worth exploring on foot rather than treating as a single viewpoint.

Good to know

Thingvellir is big, so allow more time than you would for a normal Golden Circle stop. It is also exposed, and Icelandic wind and rain can completely change how long you want to stay. Bring layers and proper shoes if you plan to explore beyond the main paths.