National park · Iceland
Þingvellir National ParkÞjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum
Enter free, park at Hakið (1,000 kr) or P1 by the church, walk the 2.5 km Almannagjá gorge to Öxarárfoss, and be at Hakið before 09:00 or after 17:00 in June–August to skip the coach crowds.Enter free, park at Hakið (1,000 kr) or P1 by the church, walk the 2.5 km Almannagjá gorge to Öxarárfoss, and be at Hakið before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM in June–August to skip the coach crowds.Enter free, park at Hakið (1,000 kr) or P1 by the church, walk the 1.6 mi Almannagjá gorge to Öxarárfoss, and be at Hakið before 09:00 or after 17:00 in June–August to skip the coach crowds.Enter free, park at Hakið (1,000 kr) or P1 by the church, walk the 1.6 mi Almannagjá gorge to Öxarárfoss, and be at Hakið before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM in June–August to skip the coach crowds.
Map to the park
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Area
237 km²92 sq mi
approximate
Established
1930
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
- Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.
At a glance
- Country
- Iceland
- Area
- 237 km²92 sq mi
- The protected area has been enlarged since 1930; current figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1930
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Reykjavík
Þingvellir sits in the rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart, and it is the site of the Alþing, the world's longest-running parliament, first convened around 930 and meeting here until 1798. The park was declared in 1930 and became Iceland's first World Heritage Site in 2004. Entry to the park is free; you pay for parking, camping and any diving or snorkelling tour. It is an hour's drive from Reykjavík on Route 36, which makes it the first stop of the Golden Circle and the reason it fills up between 10:00 and 16:00 in summer.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2004Inscribed as Þingvellir National Park, Iceland's first World Heritage Site.
Size and age
237 km²92 sq mi · national park since 1930
The protected area has been enlarged since 1930; current figures vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Reykjavík.
Why go
- Stand in the Almannagjá fault, the cliff that marks the edge of the North American plate, with the Eurasian plate across the plain.
- Walk the old parliament site: Lögberg law rock, the Law Council hollow and the church at Þingvellir.
- Öxarárfoss falls into the gorge a 2.5 km walk from the Hakið car park, on a boardwalk most people can manage.Öxarárfoss falls into the gorge a 1.6 mi walk from the Hakið car park, on a boardwalk most people can manage.
- Silfra and Davíðsgjá are two of the few places where you can snorkel or dive in a rift between tectonic plates.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanShort daylight; paths icy, gorge walk often slippery
- FebIce and snow; check road.is before driving Route 36
- MarLonger days; ice breaking up, still cold
- AprQuiet; mixed snow and mud on trails
- MayDry paths, long light, crowds still light
- JunNear-24-hour daylight; go early or late to dodge coaches
- JulWarmest and busiest; 10:00–16:00 is peakWarmest and busiest; 10:00 AM–4:00 PM is peak
- AugStill busy; first autumn colour late in the month
- SepBirch turns; fewer buses, good light
- OctQuiet; first snow possible, check conditions
- NovDark and icy; limited daylight for walking
- DecVery short days; ice on the gorge path
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great northern diver around ÞingvallavatnMay–Sep · Nests in a few spots; keep well back, it defends its territory. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Arctic charr and brown trout in the lakeAll year · The lake holds four separate charr species; large trout run up Öxará in autumn. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Autumn birch and willow colourSep–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Barrow's goldeneye and harlequin duckApr–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Reykjavík
Route 1 to Mosfellsbær, then Route 36 through the park; car or coach.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Reykjavík by bus
Summer buses from BSÍ terminal; check the current timetable and fare.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Golden Circle loop
Combine with Geysir and Gullfoss on the same day by car.
Full day
From Keflavík Airport
Rental car via Route 41 and Route 1, then Route 36.
1.5–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Hakið and the visitor centre | Viewing platform over the rift, exhibition, café and the main car park. | Open; parking fee applies. |
| Almannagjá gorge | The fault wall, boardwalk and path down to the plain and Öxarárfoss. | Open; icy in winter. |
| Þingvellir church and old parliament site | Church, Lögberg law rock and the Law Council hollow. | Open; church open daily in summer. |
| Þingvallavatn and Silfra | Iceland's largest natural lake and the rift used for diving and snorkelling. | Lake shore open; diving only with permit or operator. |
| Leirar and Vatnskot | The two camping areas, at Leirar near the information centre and Vatnskot by the lake. | Permit required. |
Sketch map
- 1Hakið visitor centre and car park · Headquarters≈64.256, -21.118Map ↗
- 2Þingvellir church · Village≈64.262, -21.130Map ↗
- 3Lögberg law rock · Viewpoint≈64.263, -21.129Map ↗
- 4Öxarárfoss · Viewpoint≈64.265, -21.119Map ↗
- 5Silfra · Dive site≈64.256, -21.118Map ↗
- 6Leirar camping · Sleep≈64.253, -21.105Map ↗
- 7Vatnskot camping · Sleep≈64.226, -21.105Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | The park itself is free to enter. |
| Parking, Hakið (P2) and P1 by the church | ISK 750–1,000 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; pay by card or app at the machine, camera enforcement (check current rate). |
| Camping at Leirar or Vatnskot | ISK 1,500–2,000 (≈ US$13–17) | person per night | 2026 estimate; buy the permit at the information centre on arrival (check). |
| Snorkelling or diving tour at Silfra | ISK 20,000–45,000 (≈ US$170–400) | person | 2026 estimate; operator price, includes gear and guide. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Diving or snorkelling in Silfra or Davíðsgjá permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
Fishing in Þingvallavatn permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay back from fissure edges
- Rock at the rim can be loose; keep children away from the edge.
- Diving limits
- No solo diving, no cave entry, no dives deeper than 18 m; minimum age 17 for scuba, younger for snorkelling tours.
- Camping
- Only at Leirar and Vatnskot, with a permit from the information centre.
- Parking
- Park only in marked car parks and pay the fee; do not stop on Route 36 or on the verges.
- Litter and drones
- Carry out all rubbish; drone use needs park permission (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Leirar camping
Four camping grounds a short walk from the information centre; toilets cleaned daily, quiet after midnight.
In the park
Vatnskot camping
Smaller site at an old farm by Þingvallavatn.
Near the park
Hótel Glymur and guesthouses near Route 36
Rooms within 20–30 minutes; the park itself has no lodging.
Near the park
Reykjavík
Widest choice of hotels and hostels, about an hour away.
Safety
Ice on the gorge path in winter medium
Weather changing fast medium
Cold water at Silfra high
Loose rock at fissure edges medium
Accessibility
- The Hakið visitor centre, exhibition and viewing platform are step-free and reachable by car.
- The boardwalk down into Almannagjá is wide but has slopes and steps; the full gorge walk is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- The church and old parliament site are reached by a paved path with a gentle gradient.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the parking fee; it funds paths, toilets and ranger patrols.
- Use the marked boardwalks instead of cutting across the moss, which recovers very slowly.
- Book diving and snorkelling with operators that limit group size and follow the park's rift rules.
- Take all rubbish back to Reykjavík; bins in the park are limited.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Þingvellir National Park?
Entry is free. You pay for parking at Hakið or P1 (about 750–1,000 kr per vehicle, 2026 estimate), for camping (about 1,500–2,000 kr per person per night) and for any diving or snorkelling tour. The visitor centre exhibition is free.
What are the best hikes in Þingvellir National Park?
The Almannagjá gorge walk from Hakið to Öxarárfoss, about 2.5 km each way on boardwalk and gravel, is the one most people do. The walk to the old parliament site and church is shorter and flatter. Longer, quieter routes run through the lava field to deserted farms.
When is the best time to visit Þingvellir National Park?
May, June and September give dry paths, long daylight and fewer coaches. July and August are warmest but busiest between 10:00 and 16:00. Winter is quiet but the gorge path ices over and daylight is short.
Can I visit Þingvellir without a car?
Yes, in summer there are buses from BSÍ terminal in Reykjavík, and most Golden Circle coach tours stop here. Check the current timetable and fare before you go.
Do I need a guide to dive at Silfra?
You need a licensed operator or a diving permit from the park. Solo diving, cave entry and dives below 18 m are banned, and scuba divers must be at least 17.
Is Þingvellir part of the Golden Circle?
Yes. It is the first stop, about an hour from Reykjavík on Route 36, followed by Geysir and Gullfoss on the same loop.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go