Heading out of Reykjavik on Route 1, the Ring Road circumnavigates the entire island, but for this trip, the well-maintained highway serves as stage one. Twenty miles into the drive after leaving the capital, STEM enthusiasts delight in a stop at The Geothermal Exhibition to learn about Iceland’s natural power source. The exhibit at Hellisheiði Power Station puts geothermal power on display and provides insight into the future of global energy.

The quaint town of Hveragerði is an early stop to get your toes wet—literally—with Icelandic culture. Its Geothermal Park is a small hot spring area in the middle of town that allows visitors to relax in the warm water, boil an egg in hotter water or witness a small geyser erupting approximately every 20 minutes. The town’s proximity to geothermal heat sources makes it a haven of greenhouses and a delight for travelers with green thumbs.

Before getting back onto Route 1, travelers can stock up on supplies at Sunnumörk shopping mall with a grocery store, bakery and a small welcome center where visitors peer through a glass top floor to see Eurasian and North American tectonic plates divide.

Iceland’s fastest-growing and third-largest city outside of the capital region is a perfect layover for those who have plenty of time. A hub of Iceland’s dairy production, Selfoss maintains history at The Old Dairy Food Hall, home to Skyrland, an interactive museum dedicated to Iceland’s luxurious yogurt. New Old Town is part of the city’s long-range development plan for tourist-friendly shopping. The Fischersetur Selfossi museum is dedicated to the life of chess champion Bobby Fischer.

Departing Selfoss, a short drive on Route 35 leads to Ölfusá Overlook. Travelers will enjoy an expansive view of the Sog and Ölfusá river valley, and Icelandic horses graze near the stop. These purebreds date to the 10th century and are world renowned for their “flying pace,” a fifth gear allowing them to reach up to 30 m.p.h.

Kerið Crater

It is a short drive from Ölfusá Overlook to Kerið, a volcanic crater lake in Iceland’s Western Volcanic Zone. One of the youngest of the surrounding volcanic features at age 6,500 years, Kerið is 180 feet deep and 560 feet wide. Trails allow fee-paying visitors to walk the rim of the red volcanic rock and trek down to the aquamarine-colored water below.

Waterfalling

Chasing waterfalls is popular with visitors, and the Golden Circle is home to dozens of easily accessible water features. Continuing along Route 35 leads to the sometimes overlooked Faxafoss where the short and wide waterfall doubles as a popular spot among salmon fishers.

A quick detour south on Routes 358 and 30 leads to Brúarhlöð, a canyon of unique rock formations worth exploring for an hour or so. Farther up Hvítá River stands the mighty Gullfoss, a two-tiered waterfall that creates rainbows visible on sunny days. Multiple footpaths worn by visitors make this site easily accessible, and it is one of the best places to snap scenic photos with a background of thousands of purple- and pink-hued lupine blooms in June and July.

Where water meets heat

Gullfoss is the heart of the Golden Circle. North and east are glaciers and seasonally passable roads in the backcountry. South leads to the coast dotted with iconic basalt columns and black beaches. West is where water meets heat.

The Icelandic word geysir means “to gush or rage.” At Geysir and Strokkur, the raging water attracts millions of tourists each year. Geysir has has remained dormant since 2016, but Strokkur blasts a 50-foot column of steam and 200-degree water approximately every 10 minutes.

Geysir Centre serves as a stop for travelers and bus tours, offering on-site hotels, restrooms, a full-service restaurant and grab-and-go meals, plus ample parking for those who want to catch a glimpse of a water eruption.

Bathe at Laugarvatn Fontana

A tradition found at this geothermal bath located 18 miles west of the geysers involves earth-baked Icelandic rye bread. Watch workers bake the dough for 24 hours in steaming, black loam. Guests sample the finished product with a slice of smoked fish.

General admission to the warm bath and sauna rooms includes use of a changing area, shower and towels, and a locker. Adventurous souls plunge from the pier into a refreshing glacier-fed lake on the shores of Lake Laugarvatn.

Thingvellir National Park

After a 20-mile drive west from Laugarvatn Fontana, travelers find themselves at Thingvellir National Park, the cradle of parliamentary democracy. During the 10th-century settlement of Iceland, local leaders from around the island converged at Thingvellir annually to discuss laws, hold court and conduct themselves in what has become the oldest parliamentary government in the world. Today, the government operates and protects the national park.

There, massive cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and meandering streams mark the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates separate at a rate of one inch per year. Birch and willow shrubbery cover the valley floors while migratory North American birds, such as Barrow’s goldeneye and the harlequin duck, make temporary homes in Lake Thingvallavatn.

Well-maintained hiking and equestrian trails cross the park, and most historical sites are only a short walk from the visitor’s center.

More waterfalls

From Thingvellir, Route 36 leads back to Reykjavik, but there are a few good stops along the way. Thórufoss, a broad, 62-foot waterfall, is a five-minute drive from Route 36 and was reportedly used as a filming location in “Game of Thrones.”

Taking a quick detour onto an unpaved road guides travelers to the small parking area for Helgufoss. From there, a 20-minute, casual hike leads to a multitiered cascade of water in a serene setting, often devoid of other people—a rare hidden gem in Iceland. It’s a perfect spot to visit in spring and early summer when green vegetation surrounds the small falls protruding from the dark rocks.

Visitors driving Iceland’s Golden Circle are encouraged to slow down and take in the otherworldly landscape with its overlooks and scenic stops as an invitation to pause and enjoy the natural beauty found along the way.