Westman Islands Iceland - All tips, highlights & costs

Our tour through Iceland took us to the north, east, and southeast of the island. However, we started the trip in the southwest of Iceland, more precisely at Keflavik Airport. Here we picked up our rental car and set off the next morning. We actually wanted to drive straight west, but the storm thwarted our plans. So we first explored the Reykjanes Peninsula and Iceland’s Golden Circle. You can find out what we experienced and saw in today’s guide with lots of tips and information. Enjoy browsing!

, east, and southeast. We started the trip in the southwest of the island, more precisely at Keflavik Airport. Here we picked up our rental car and set off the next morning. We actually wanted to drive straight west, but the storm thwarted our plans. So, we first explored the Reykjanes Peninsula and Iceland’s Golden Circle. You can find out what we experienced and saw in today’s guide, which includes lots of tips and information. Enjoy browsing!

The Reykjanes Peninsula

Since we didn’t land until 11:30 p.m., we booked a room in Keflavik. This meant we only had to drive about 2 kilometers at night and could sleep in. It wasn’t until the next day that we started our tour through Iceland in Iceland. The weather was very poor for the first two days; it basically just rained. But we were well prepared and equipped. The rain couldn’t dampen our excitement for the trip. And so we began our tour on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The small peninsula has a lot to offer and is often unfairly overlooked.

Island-Rundreise-Golden-Circle-Tipps-Krusavik-Seltun

Here you’ll find not only the famous Blue Lagoon (we didn’t go there ourselves), but also natural hot springs, purple lupine fields (at the right time of year), cliffs, and turquoise crater lakes. Our first stop was the Krýsuvík thermal spring area. It hisses and bubbles, but really.

A walkway leads directly past the parking lot through the thermal area. On the other side of the road, we discovered a green crater lake, Graenavatn. There’s also a bridge on the peninsula that lets you hop from one continent to the other. This is where the Eurasian continental plate meets the American one. It’s amazing what Iceland has to offer.

Icelandic sweaters in Stokkseyri

We continued on the 427 towards Þorlákshöfn. Here, the road turns into the 34. We made a short stop in Stokkseyri. We’re not entirely sure why. Something drew us there. Once there, we parked our car and strolled through the small town for a few minutes. We discovered a small shop selling Icelandic sweaters and other woolen goods.

The shop is truly beautiful. You can also find gloves, bags, hoodies, jackets, caps, and woolen hats there (Google: Gallerý GIMLI Icelandic Handkraft). Next door is an art hostel, a seafood restaurant, the Ghost Center, a wildlife museum, the organ builder Orgelsmidjan, and The House at Eyrarbakki. Book your Golden Circle tour here and discover geysers, waterfalls, and much more.*

Hot springs in Hveragerði

We continued towards Selfoss and then Hveragerði. There’s a very special highlight here, as the town is known for its use of geothermal energy. Here you’ll also find supermarkets, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, cafés, bakeries, a swimming pool, and much more. Many people come to this area to take the hike to the hot springs.

The hike takes you through the lush green hills of Reykjadalur, past bubbling holes in the ground and babbling streams. You should allow about 45 minutes to an hour (each way) for the 3-kilometer hike. Once you reach the river, it’s time to jump in. In some places, the water collects in natural pools with a temperature of 38°C.

Pingvellir National Park

The weather slowly improved, and the sun even came out now and then. We drove through beautiful countryside toward Pingvellir National Park in our rental car. The park is located on Lake Pingvallavatn and is about 40 kilometers from the capital, Reykjavik. The region is very special because it lies in a rift valley at the boundary between two tectonic plates. So, you can practically stand on either the Eurasian plate or the American plate.

There are a few sights in the region. For example, there is the aforementioned Lake Pingvallavatn, the viewpoint at the visitor center with a view of the large continental rift “Almannagjá,” and the small, beautiful Pingvallar Church. Also near the parking lot are the Öxararfoss waterfall and the Silfra fissure, where brave visitors can try diving and snorkeling. This fissure is located between the drifting plates of the Earth’s crust at the lake. The experience is truly unique and a true highlight.

The Great Geysir & Strokkur

The road trip continued through beautiful, green, and rocky landscapes. On the way to the Great Geysir, we drove past the Laugarvatn Fontana Wellness Center. Here, you’ll find natural steam baths, warm pools, and mineral baths. After another 30 kilometers, we reached the Great Geysir. The parking lot was crowded, but that didn’t bother us, because in Iceland, things usually just get lost.

We reached the entrance to the Geysir area and were greeted by mud holes and steaming earth. Reddish or gray mud simmered everywhere. Although it was raining heavily, the mood was still good. By the way, you should bring protection for your camera in weather like this (garbage bag or professional housing). We had quite a job keeping the cameras dry. In the end, we ripped up garbage bags and wrapped them around the cameras.

The mighty Gullfoss

Not far from the geysers is the mighty Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall). It is one of the largest waterfalls in all of Europe. The water cascades over the steep cliff into a 70-meter-deep gorge. Simply breathtaking. This waterfall is one of the highlights of the Golden Circle. Several paths lead along the waterfall. You can even climb up to the rocky plateau and take cool photos from there.

It’s interesting to note that in the 1920s, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, a farmer’s daughter, saved the waterfall from an English company that wanted to build a hydroelectric power plant at Gullfoss. For years, Sigríður Tómasdóttir fought a legal battle against the construction of this power plant. In the end, she even threatened to throw herself into the water. And it was a success, because we can still visit the waterfall today.

The Secret Lagoon near Flúðir

It’s just under 30 kilometers from Gullfoss to Flúðir. The Secret Lagoon is located in this town, although it’s not exactly an insider tip these days. The lagoon is located in a natural area with hot springs and a small geyser. In this geothermal area, you can bathe in the 38 to 40°C water year-round. Icelanders call the swimming pool “Gamla Laugin,” which means “the old swimming pool.” It’s the oldest swimming pool in the country. There are changing rooms, a bar, showers, and restrooms.

Our best Golden Circle tips:

Many day tours depart from Reykjavik, covering the highlights in one day. It’s likely to take up to 10 hours. So, if you don’t have a vehicle, you could check out the highlights of the Golden Circle this way. If you have a car, you can allow yourself a little more time. We spent two days in the region. You can certainly experience the highlights in one day, but then you should set off early in the morning. A normal car is sufficient for the route; all highlights are accessible via paved roads.

Depending on the weather, you should bring rain pants and a rain jacket. We wouldn’t have been able to do the tour without these items. The heavy rain would have quickly soaked us through. Thanks to the rain pants, our legs were also somewhat more protected from the wind. Highly recommended! There are actually a lot of visitors at all the stops. Don’t let that discourage you. The mostly large regions mean everything flows very smoothly. Many buses leave faster than you can blink. Gas stations and smaller shops can usually be found in the larger towns. Gas stations and pumps are also available at regular intervals.

Iceland’s Golden Circle – Facts:

Route easily navigable, around 250 km
Time: Plan at least a full day
Camping: Camping Geysir, Fludir, Reykholt, Uthlid, Faxi, Alfaskeid
Camping Card: Skjol, Alfaskeid, Stokkseyri, Porlakshöfn, T-Baer
Gas stations: N1 gas stations and Orkan
Highlights: Geysir, Gullfoss, hot springs
Tours: Large selection here at Guide to Iceland* or here:

The Westman Islands in Iceland – All Tips & Highlights

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