Þingvellir National Park
Of all the Golden Circle stops we point guests to, this is the one we tell people to give the most time — a dramatic rift valley you can walk straight through, just 18 minutes up the road from the cabin.
Why we send guests to Þingvellir
Þingvellir is the closest of the big three Golden Circle sights to our cabin — barely 18 minutes away — and it's the one we'd steer you toward if you only have a few hours and want something that feels genuinely special. Most people come for the waterfalls and the geyser, but this is the stop our guests come back talking about: you actually walk down into the rift, with sheer rock walls rising on either side, and it's hard to describe how that feels until you're standing in it.
Our advice is to start at the upper visitor-centre car park (P1), walk down through the Almannagjá canyon, and follow the path along to Öxarárfoss. It's an easy, mostly downhill stroll and takes in the best of the park without any real effort. If you'd rather loop back a different way, the lakeside paths near Þingvallavatn are flat and quiet. Give yourself a good two to three hours — it's the one place here we think people regret rushing.
On timing: it gets busy with tour buses from late morning through early afternoon, so we tell guests to go first thing or in the evening, when the light is softer and the canyon is nearly empty. In winter the boardwalks can be icy underfoot, so wear proper shoes. If you've signed up for a Silfra snorkelling tour, that's booked separately and runs to its own schedule — leave extra time for it. It pairs naturally with Geysir and Gullfoss for a full Golden Circle day from the cabin.
Distance from Cabin
~18 km / 18 minutes by car from Northern Lights Cabin. Head northwest on Route 37 then Route 36.
Best Time to Visit
Go early morning or evening to beat the tour buses. The canyon is quietest and the light is best outside the late-morning to mid-afternoon rush.
Visit Duration
2–4 hours to explore the main sites. Add 2–3 hours if snorkeling/diving in Silfra. Open year-round, 24/7.
Admission
Free entry to the park. Parking fee applies (~750 ISK). Silfra snorkeling tours booked separately.
Þingvellir Gallery
Þingvellir is stunning in every season — from snow-covered winter landscapes to lush green summers.
Location & Directions
Þingvellir is an easy 18-minute drive from Northern Lights Cabin through beautiful Icelandic countryside.
From Northern Lights Cabin
- Distance: ~18 km (11 miles)
- Drive time: ~18 minutes
- Route: Head northwest on Route 37, then turn onto Route 36 towards Þingvellir. Well signposted throughout.
- Parking: Multiple parking areas (P1–P5). Parking fee ~750 ISK, payable at machines or online.
Highlights Not to Miss
- Almannagjá: Walk through the tectonic rift canyon — the boundary between continents.
- Lögberg (Law Rock): Where the world's oldest parliament convened for 868 years.
- Öxarárfoss: A beautiful waterfall cascading into the Almannagjá gorge.
- Silfra: Snorkel or dive between tectonic plates in water with 100m+ visibility. Book tours in advance.
- Þingvallavatn: Iceland's largest natural lake, bordering the park to the south.