Þingvellir Travel Guide

  Öxarárfoss waterfall as seen from above.
by Regina1965
 
  • Öxarárfoss waterfall as seen from above.
      Öxarárfoss waterfall as seen from above.
    by Regina1965
  • Flosagjá next to Peningagjá don't throw coins in!
      Flosagjá next to Peningagjá don't throw...
    by Regina1965
  • The graveyeard.
      The graveyeard.
    by Regina1965
  • The lichgate of Þingvallakirkjugarður graveyard.
      The lichgate of Þingvallakirkjugarður...
    by Regina1965
  • Inside the Interpretive center.
      Inside the Interpretive center.
    by Regina1965
 

Explore Þingvellir

Things to Do  

Lake Þingvallavatn.

Lake Þingvallavatn., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Lake Þingvallavatn in the National park is the largest lake in Iceland 83,7 km2 large. There are 3 islands in the lake and the normal depth is 34 m with the deepest part being 114 m. Þingvellir is located on the mid-Atlantic ridge and there are a lot of rifts in the lake.... 

A view-platform overlooking Þingvellir - Hakið.

A view-platform overlooking Þingvellir - Hakið., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Before entering the National park of Þingvellir, depending on which route you take, we took the route from Mosfellsdalur (north-east of Reykjavík), there is a scenic platform, view-spot, with breathtaking view of Þingvellir and the lake.You can walk from there down the trail... 

The national graveyard behind Þingvallakirkja.

The national graveyard behind Þingvallakirkja., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  There is a national graveyard behind Þingvallakirkja church since 1939 and the great Icelandic poets Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807-1845) and Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940) are buried there.South-east of the church is Þingvallakirkjugarður graveyard with a lovely lichgate, which... 

Almannagjá rift.

Almannagjá rift., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Now it is not every day that one can walk in the Mid-Atlantic ridge. But in Þingvellir the tectonic plates are actually visible, in earlier days the rift where the plates meet used to be a lot more shallow, but has sunk more and more over the years and it is said that the... 

Þingvellir Information center.

Þingvellir Information center., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  The Information center at Þingvellir is at Leirar, close to the camping grounds, which are very popular, as just exploring Þingvellir and its surrounding areas, angling in lake Þingvallavatn etc. can keep you busy for a whole day and then some. The Information center is open... 

Vinaskógur - Friend Forest

Vinaskógur - Friend Forest, Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Close to Þingvellir National park is a lovely little forest called Vinaskógur or Friends forest. It was opened in 1990 when Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was president here in Iceland. The forest is a symbol of friendship and peace amongst men. The idea is that when the President of... 

Þingvallakirkja church.

Þingvallakirkja church., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  There has been a church at Þingvellir since the conversion in Iceland to Christianity in 1000 but this church at Þingvallir was raised in 1859. You can see the year 1907 on its tower and that year the Danish king came to visit Þingvellir and the tower was rebuilt. The bells... 

Lögberg - Law Rock.

Lögberg - Law Rock., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Lögberg or Law Rock is the place where Alþingi was first held in 930AD. It is debatable where Lögberg was exactly located, but it is believed to have been on a rock pedestal where the flag pole is now located. The other theory is that Lögberg was located inside Almannagjá... 

Mt. Botnsúlur.

Mt. Botnsúlur., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  When at Þingvellir you will notice a beautiful mountain to the north, in winter time it looks like a glacier, but is actually an extinct central volcano. It is called Botnsúlur and is 1.075 m.One can hike to the mountain and the hike up the mountain takes ca 3 hours, I... 

Transportation  

Bus

Bus, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  I saw Þingvellir and the surrounding areas as part of a tour with Iceland Excursions. The day trip, known as the Golden Circle, is offered by other tour groups as well, and is really a must if you're in Iceland. The bus provided by Iceland Excursions was clean and... 

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle, Þingvellir

 thelittlevoice Says:  There is no public bus to Þingvellir. The two best options are to hire a car or take a tour. Going there alone, I decided not to hire a car because it wouldn't be worth it. Special thanks to Bragi for giving me 15% discount on the tours! The tour included a visit to Geysir,... 

Local Customs  

Tips accepted

Tips accepted, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  If you follow the path from the lookout over the lake down toward the AlÞing, keep walking toward the parking lot across the valley a bit and you'll cross over the Peningagjá (The Money Chasm). Here in this deep fissure you'll see thousands of glistening coins in the crystal... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

A new fissure opened up in Almannagjá.

A new fissure opened up in Almannagjá., Þingvellir

 Regina1965 Says:  Almannagjá Gorge is now closed to public, i.e. the southern most part of it - due to the ground caving in and a big hole/fissure appearing on the path. First a small hole appeared on the 31st of March 2011 and then underneath it a fissure, 10-14 meters deep and in parts 4... 

Deep, deep

Deep, deep, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  When you're standing above the lake and overlooking the fissures in the valley, it looks like a really peaceful place, but when you think that this is land that is literally being pulled apart by the forces of nature, you realize there's more to it than meets the eye. Those... 

What to Pack  

Weather/photo/clothing

Weather/photo/clothing, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:   I was in Iceland in April and I can assure you that you want to come prepared for the weather. It was quite cold for much of my time here and the day that I did the Golden Circle tour was also a wet and slightly windy one, so I was really glad that I had a wind and... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Hverageroi

Hverageroi, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  Hverageroi was perhaps the least interesting part of the Golden Circle tour for me, although it was a nice place to stop and grab an ice cream. It is a small town about 45 km east of Reykjavik and was our last stop in the afternoon before heading back to our hotels. The town... 

Skálholt

Skálholt, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  Around the church at Skálholt, you'll see some archeological digs as well as a monument on the spot where the last catholic bishop of Iceland, Jón Arason and his two sons were beheaded for their opposition to the Reformation. Below the church, in the crypt, there is a free... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Hiking in Þingvellir

Hiking in Þingvellir, Þingvellir

 seamandrew Says:  Certainly one of the best ways to see this amazing National Park is to hike it. There are many things to see like the lake, waterfalls, fissurs of the land, historical buildings, wild flowers, rivers and streams, interprative centers etc. A trip to this park should include... 

Favorites  

Landscapes

Landscapes, Þingvellir

 acemj Says:  Þingvellir National Park is a wild and unique landscape that is really worth the trip. Where else on earth can you say that you were able to drive or walk from North America to Europe? The geological impacts of glacial and volcanic activity are truly remarkable worth some... 

Iceland's First National Park

Iceland's First National Park, Þingvellir

 yooperprof Says:  This region is Iceland's oldest National Park, and there are many places of great natural beauty. I'm sure that in the summer months you could spend days just investigating this area. In the winter it's a little more difficult - unless you are big into winter camping! 

The Place

Plan a Þingvellir vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Þingvellir locals

Experience Þingvellir
  •   108 Tips and Reviews
  •  308 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Þingvellir
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

  One of my most memorable memories of Iceland took place right at the base of the Öxaráfoss. In the picture you'll see a small patch of green turn on the... 

 

Question about Þingvellir?

Our members can help!

postQuestion_button

Top Þingvellir Writers

1

Þingvellir National Park.

Regina1965 profile photo

 On the 10th of July 2009 our beloved hotel at Thingvellir burnt to the ground :( Þingvellir, our National Park, is situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the American...... 

2

Þingvellir National Park

acemj profile photo

 Any trip to Iceland should include a stop at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an amazing geological landscape. To me, the most impressive part of the park, is being able to... 

3

Seamandrew's Þingvellir Page

seamandrew profile photo

  Þingvellir (pronounced Thingvetlir) is one of Iceland's most improtant historical sites. On this site, the first democracy was created back in the 10th century. Even after Iceland lost it's... 

4

The Thing at the Big Water

yooperprof profile photo

 I'm sure it wasn't the best idea I've ever had - trying to drive to the rift valley where Iceland's largest lake is located in my small rental Toyota. Especially on a back road. Especially on a day...... 

5

Þingvellir National Park

Redang profile photo

 At Þingvellir (literally "Parliament Plains"), the general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1.798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at...... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Þingvellir page