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.
Great web site. Lots of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!
Fantastic web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your effort!
You made certain nice points there. I did a search on the matter and found nearly all persons will agree with your blog.
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
Wow! Thank you! I permanently wanted to write on my website something like that. Can I implement a part of your post to my site?
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
I have been reading out a few of your posts and i can state pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your website.
Very interesting points you have remarked, thanks for posting.
Howdy are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Utterly composed subject matter, Really enjoyed looking at.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m making my way to the top as well. I certainly enjoy reading everything that is written on your blog.Keep the posts coming. I loved it!
Definitely, what a magnificent blog and instructive posts, I definitely will bookmark your website.Best Regards!
It’s actually a nice and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
My brother recommended I may like this web site. He used to be entirely right. This submit actually made my day. You can not consider just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Hey very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Cheers!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
Great blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design. Kudos
I wass able to find good advice from your articles.
Some genuinely nice and useful information on this website, likewise I think the layout contains good features.
I will right away grab your rss as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say regards for the post on this great one : D.
Its good as your other posts : D, thankyou for posting. “The squeaking wheel doesn’t always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced.” by Vic Gold.
You can certainly see your expertise in the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
You made some respectable points there. I regarded on the internet for the issue and located most individuals will go together with along with your website.
I?¦ve recently started a web site, the information you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say great blog!
Enjoyed reading this, very good stuff, thankyou. “Love begets love, love knows no rules, this is the same for all.” by Virgil.
The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to learn, however I truly thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you might fix if you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.
I was just looking for this information for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Usually the top web sites are full of garbage.
Of course, what a splendid blog and illuminating posts, I surely will bookmark your site.All the Best!
Awsome post and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is truly the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Appreciate it
Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?
I think this is among the such a lot significant info for me. And i am happy studying your article. However want to commentary on some basic issues, The site taste is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D. Just right activity, cheers
F*ckin’ remarkable issues here. I’m very satisfied to look your post. Thank you a lot and i am taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
of course like your website but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll certainly come back again.
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page yet again.
Absolutely indited content, regards for selective information.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
You are a very intelligent person!
Some truly nice and utilitarian info on this site, as well I think the layout has superb features.
I reckon something truly special in this site.
I am thankful that I discovered this website, precisely the right info that I was looking for! .
Woh I like your articles, saved to bookmarks! .
Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.2