This is one of the only places on Earth where you can see two tectonic plates pulling apart. This unique and interesting landscape is a bit of a maze, so here’s a guide to help you plan your trip.
Note: There’s a lot of history here in Thingvellir, from the start of Iceland’s government to its cultural significance. There are lots of signs around the Park for you to learn, I recommend you read them. Or go to wikipedia. This post is just about how to get around and make the most of your time when you visit.
How should you approach Thingvellir? From East or West?
So first, how you visit Thingvellir depends a bit on which way you’re coming from. We came from the East (from Gullfoss and Geysir), going around the Golden Circle counterclockwise. This is the way we recommend seeing the sites on the Golden Circle, since you get the longer drive on the south part out of the way at the beginning. So let’s assume you’re coming from the East (but if you’re coming from the Reykjavik, I’ll put that route at the bottom).
From the East (from Gullfoss and Geysir)
The first thing you’re going to do is stop at the observation point on the East side of the Park on 36. In the map below, it’s the green flag on the bottom right. This observation point is on the edge of the Eurasian tectonic plate, and gives you a great view of the entire Park, as well as the North American tectonic plate on the other side of the valley.
There are signs here; read them. You’ll learn all about the geological significance of this place. Basically, it’s one of the only places in the world where you can see two tectonic plates pulling apart. And you’re literally standing on the edge of one of them. Which is just mind boggling. 🤯
You’ll keep driving until you reach the highlighted intersection in the map below. If you continue straight on the main road, you’ll go to the visitor center. But don’t go that way. Instead, you’ll want to turn left, down onto 361 toward the waterfall (Öxarárfoss).
1. Öxarárfoss
This is the only major waterfall in the Park, and compared to Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, it’s tiny. But it’s still pretty and historically important (again, read the signs).
To get to the falls, you’ll stay to the right at the fork and then park where the road ends. Here’s a map that we’ll refer to a few times throughout this post. Öxarárfoss is at #1.
From here, we made the mistake of walking the rest of the way. Don’t do that. Get back in your car and drive back up 362 to that fork in the road, and then come back down 361 and park at the lot I’ve marked with a 2 (P5 on the map below). That’s where you want to be to explore the rest of the Park. Here’s a map of Thingvellir from their site. The roads are in yellow and the footpaths are in red.
2. Park at P5
Now that you’re parked, you’re going to walk through the map in the order I’ve numbered them. From the parking lot, you’ll see a couple paths leading out into the Park. Take the path that leads toward the observation deck. There’ll be a big ridge in front of you and people will be standing on top of it. That’s the direction you want to head. You’ll walk up some stairs and along a boardwalk. Keep heading toward that observation deck until you get this view:
3. Thingvellir Visitor Center & Observation Deck
From this side, you really get to see all the cracks that have been filled in by the lake. These are all cracks that have formed as the tectonic plates have pulled apart. Many in the last several hundred years.
Behind you is the visitor center. There’s not much in there. Just some bathrooms and pamphlets.
Start walking down the boardwalk hill into the ravine.
4. Almannagjá
Walking down this path, you’re walking along the edge of the North American tectonic plate. It’s really hard to wrap your head around this.
As you walk along this path, you’ll soon see a flag off to your right. Take the side path out to that flag and rocky outcropping. This is Lögberg.
5. Lögberg
This is literally where the original assembly met and formed the government here in Iceland more than 1000 years ago.
This is as far as you’ll walk down the path. From here, take a look out over the valley below and plan the paths you’ll take to get to the church.
6. Thingvallakirkja (Thingvellir Church)
This isn’t the original church building, but a church has been on this site for over 1000 years.
We thought it’d be nice to go in and look around, but it was locked up. But you can look in the windows.
It’s a modest church. Nothing fancy or ornate. Worth visiting for the historical significance, along with the Prime Minister’s summer house next door. You can read all about both of them on the signs.
When you leave the church, walk along the road to Silfra. Some of these roads don’t have sidewalks, but there aren’t a lot of cars driving through here so you should be fine.
7. Silfra
Silfra is a crack that is billed as the only place you can swim between two tectonic plates. They sell it as if the two walls on either side of you are the edges of the tectonic plates. You and I know better, but it’s still cool to see. You can’t go swimming without a group and a guide. Honestly, the water is so cold that I didn’t even want to put my hand in it, let alone go swimming in it.
From Silfra, you can walk along the road back to the parking lot where your car is.
Woohoo! You just saw everything worth seeing in Thingvellir National Park in about 90 minutes. Well done!
From Reykjavik
If you’re driving to Thingvellir from Reykjavik, you’ll pull off 36 right into the parking lot for the visitor center. After taking in the view from the observation deck, head down the boardwalk through Almannagjá along the side of the North American tectonic plate, all the way until you get to Lögberg with the flag. Drop down into the valley from here and make your way to the church and then Silfra. Then head back up the stairs to your car. Drive around and then come back down into the Park to visit Öxarárfoss, and then go back out to the main road and stop at the east overlook on the edge of the Eurasian tectonic plate.
Then continue on your journey to Bruarfoss, Geysir, and Gullfoss.
This was so helpful! Thank you (from 2 lazy American girls who didn’t wanna hike)
This was extremely helpful, thank you for all the information and visual indicators on the maps!! Can’t wait when to see all these locations in person when we visit Iceland next week.
¡Gracias! He leído tanto sobre ir o no a este parque y por fin encontré un artículo sin pretensiones que contesta mis preguntas.
2x8mop
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
F*ckin’ remarkable issues here. I am very glad to look your post. Thank you a lot and i am looking forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
I truly wanted to compose a brief word in order to thank you for those marvelous tips and hints you are sharing here. My particularly long internet research has now been honored with extremely good suggestions to exchange with my family and friends. I would repeat that most of us visitors actually are undeniably fortunate to exist in a wonderful place with so many brilliant professionals with interesting secrets. I feel truly happy to have used your webpages and look forward to some more entertaining moments reading here. Thanks once again for everything.
Fantastic post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Cheers!
You completed several nice points there. I did a search on the issue and found a good number of persons will go along with with your blog.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I found your weblog web site on google and examine a number of of your early posts. Continue to maintain up the superb operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking ahead to studying more from you later on!…
Rattling instructive and good complex body part of subject material, now that’s user pleasant (:.
Its wonderful as your other blog posts : D, regards for putting up. “Even Albert Einstein reportedly needed help on his 1040 form.” by Ronald Reagan.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again
But wanna comment on few general things, The website style is perfect, the subject material is very superb : D.
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Whats up are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Somebody essentially assist to make severely posts I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this actual post extraordinary. Wonderful activity!
I¦ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you put to make such a magnificent informative web site.
I haven’t checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i got here to “return the choose”.I’m attempting to to find issues to improve my website!I guess its ok to use some of your ideas!!
A person essentially help to make significantly articles I’d state. That is the very first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish amazing. Magnificent task!
I believe this web site has some real superb info for everyone : D.
It is in reality a great and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I¦ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i¦m glad to show that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make certain to do not omit this website and give it a glance on a relentless basis.
Sugaring effektive und moderne Haarentfernung in Berlin Die Epilation mit Zuckerpaste wird von unseren speziell dafür ausgebildeten Kosmetikerinnen / Depiladoras an allen Körperregionen durchgeführt. Wir bieten diese effektive und moderne Behandlung sehr erfolgreich und schonend mit einem Maximum in der Hygiene der Anwendung an. Sugaring wird immer beliebter.
Simply wanna input on few general things, The website pattern is perfect, the content material is rattling superb : D.
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
Valuable info. Fortunate me I discovered your site by accident, and I am shocked why this twist of fate didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
It is really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
The heart of your writing while sounding reasonable initially, did not really work well with me personally after some time. Somewhere throughout the sentences you actually managed to make me a believer unfortunately only for a while. I nevertheless have got a problem with your leaps in assumptions and you would do nicely to help fill in all those gaps. When you can accomplish that, I would certainly end up being amazed.
Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your submit is just cool and i could think you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed to stay updated with coming near near post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the enjoyable work.
I’m also writing to let you be aware of of the magnificent experience my wife’s girl found visiting your web page. She picked up too many things, including what it’s like to have an incredible helping mood to let other folks quite simply learn chosen extremely tough things. You really exceeded our own expected results. Many thanks for rendering such powerful, trusted, educational and in addition fun thoughts on that topic to Mary.
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading all that is posted on your website.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
you are in point of fact a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve performed a fantastic task in this topic!
I conceive you have remarked some very interesting points, regards for the post.
Pretty section of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to claim that I acquire actually loved account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing on your feeds and even I fulfillment you get entry to consistently rapidly.
I don’t commonly comment but I gotta say regards for the post on this amazing one : D.
you’ve an ideal weblog right here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my weblog?
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a excellent job with this. Also, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Opera. Excellent Blog!
I am no longer positive where you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or working out more. Thanks for excellent information I was searching for this information for my mission.
naturally like your web site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.
Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful information here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
As soon as I observed this site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thank you
I have been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.