Gullni hringurinn and the route through Selfoss
Published on 08/23/2026 at 07:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gullni hringurinn is the Icelandic name for the Golden Circle, a touring route in southwest Iceland that passes near Selfoss and links Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.touring route in southwest Iceland It is a landscape of road, water, steam and rock rather than a single monument.
The route’s structure is easy to grasp: a loop through the south-western part of the country, with Selfoss on the approach into the region.loop through the south-west That makes Gullni hringurinn a name for movement as much as for place.
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss on one loop
The classic circuit brings together Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal valley of Haukadalur and Gullfoss waterfall.Þingvellir National ParkGeysir Geothermal Area These names give the route its lasting outline, even when seen as a drive rather than a sequence of stops.
Þingvellir carries the weight of Icelandic history, while Geysir and Strokkur present a field of steam and sudden water, and Gullfoss provides the fall of the Hvítá river into a narrow gorge.Hvítá riverGullfoss waterfall The contrast is part of the appeal: one route, three very different kinds of place.
Selfoss and the road patterns of the Golden Circle
Selfoss sits in Suðurland and acts as a practical base town for the broader circuit.base town for the broader circuit Road 1 and the connecting routes through the south tie the loop to the town and to Reykjavík.
The roads are part of the identity of Gullni hringurinn, because the route is experienced as a circuit through open country rather than a line between landmarks.Road 1 and F35 That road pattern is one reason the Icelandic name has travelled well beyond Iceland.
Landscape, names and the Icelandic setting
The route belongs to the volcanic and geothermal landscape of southwest Iceland, where basalt, lava fields and river valleys frame the experience.volcanic and geothermal landscape The places on the circuit are distinct, but they share a common Icelandic setting of open horizons and exposed ground.
The Icelandic form, Gullni hringurinn, is the native name used alongside the English Golden Circle.native name used For English-language readers, that pairing gives the route a clear identity without losing its local language.
Visiting Gullni hringurinn: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Selfoss is the most useful town name to anchor the route in the south. Roads from Reykjavík connect the town to the wider circuit.
- The route is spread across open roads and natural sites. At the waterfalls and geothermal areas, paths, gravel and uneven ground are part of the terrain.
- Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss are the key names to recognise before setting out. They mark the route’s main sequence and appear on most maps of the loop.
- The official language is Icelandic and the currency is the Icelandic króna.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Gullni hringurinn
Where is Gullni hringurinn?
It is a sightseeing route in southwest Iceland that passes near Selfoss and links Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
What should a visit include?
The route combines road travel with stops at a rift valley, geothermal ground and a major waterfall. The terrain changes from paved approach roads to exposed natural sites.
What makes it distinctive?
Its character comes from the sequence of places rather than from a single object. The Icelandic name and the English Golden Circle point to the same loop.
