Grand Golden Circle Tour

by BusTravel Iceland · Sightseeing day tours · Golden Circle

  • Fine on your own

from €88.02 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

  • Duration

    8 hours and 30 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup available at extra cost, or meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Bus Stop # 12 (opposite Storm Hotel)

    Þórunnartún, Reykjavík

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 09:00 …

  • Minimum age

    2

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

Meeting point, in BusTravel Iceland's words: Please meet the tour at Bus Stop # 12 (opposite Storm Hotel). It may take us up to 30 minutes to arrive. You can find directions to this location at busstop.is

Our take on this one

This is the Golden Circle done the ordinary way, and ordinary is not an insult here. Eight and a half hours, a full-size coach, and the three sights everyone comes for: Þingvellir, the Geysir area with Strokkur, and Gullfoss. BusTravel adds Kerið crater, and the crater entry is in the price — but not on the 12:00 departure or later, so take a morning bus if you want it. There are eleven start times from 07:00, which is the real reason to book this one: you can fit it around a late flight or an early check-out. Lunch is your own, bought at Geysir, where the stop is long enough to eat properly. At €86 it is one of the cheaper ways to see all three.

Book it if
First-timers with one day near Reykjavík who want the three headline sights without hiring a car.
Skip it if
You will share the day with a coachload and every stop is on a schedule — if you want to linger at Gullfoss or photograph Strokkur for an hour, drive yourself.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

The Golden Circle is not only the most popular day tour we run here at BusTravel Iceland but perhaps also the most popular trip that leaves Reykjavik.

We will combine all of the famous sights with a few extra stops to make your day as special as we possibly can, this means you will get to see Þingvellir national park, the geothermal wonders of Geysir, and the golden waterfall Gullfoss. At BusTravel Iceland though our motto is “More nature, more fun” so we also make an additional stop at Kerið volcanic crater (please note we do not visit Kerið on the 12:00 departure). You should expect a packed day full of adventure.

Description from the operator, BusTravel Iceland. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

  • Professional guide
  • Entrance fees to Kerið Volcanic Crater (we do not visit Kerið on the 12:00 and later departures)
  • Free WiFi

Not included

  • Pickup and drop off
  • Food and drinks

Good to know

  • Warm, water- and windproof clothing are always useful in Iceland.
  • All tickets are e-tickets so there is no need to print them out.
  • Duration of tour is 8,5 hrs
  • The tour allows for lunch time at the Geysir area

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a forecast the operator judges unsafe. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1BusTravel Iceland decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Who this is not for

  • Children under 2 cannot join this one.
  • Not for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 07:00, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

BusTravel Iceland is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about BusTravel Iceland

Read all 3,015 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Frank Robards

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    We had a wonderful tour to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula today. It was amazing!! Our guide, Vjeran, was exceptional. His knowledge and experience made our tour even more memorable. He even worked in a couple of additional stops to our itinerary which further enhanced our experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in experiencing the majesty of nature in Iceland.

  • Topha

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    An amazing experience! It was our first time in Iceland, and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. For six unforgettable days, we travelled along the famous Ring Road with our guide, Vjeran, who was friendly, knowledgeable, and highly professional throughout the entire journey. He made every day enjoyable while showing us Iceland’s most spectacular attractions. The trip was truly unforgettable. Some of the accommodations were also lovely, with welcoming and helpful staff that made us feel at home. There is so much to see in Iceland, and six days go by very quickly, so the itinerary was quite busy. Even so, we had the opportunity to enjoy every activity and appreciate the incredible landscapes along the way. Overall, the experience exceeded all our expectations, helped even more by the fantastic weather we were lucky enough to enjoy throughout the trip. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland!

  • Andrea Di Nardo

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    During our Iceland vacation, we took two tours with Bus Travel Iceland: the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon; and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On the exceptional Golden Circle tour with a relaxing conclusion at the enchanting Blue Lagoon, we visited the iconic sites along the way, following a fairly packed itinerary but with adequate time for each stop. The guide was knowledgeable in driving the bus and engaging in providing information and telling stories about the places we visited. Higly recommended the fascinating tour to discover the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Departing from Reykjavik, we visited the main towns and iconic sites from the north to the south coast of the peninsula. The excellent Axel guided us, providing interesting details about the places to visit. His expert bus driving skills and precise planning allowed us to see everything in the allotted time, without excessive pressure or fatigue.

  • Kirsty Macdonald

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    6 Days Around Iceland Ring Road Small Group Tour This is one of those trips that delivers on every level — partly because of Iceland itself, and largely because of our guide Michael. Travelling in March — Iceland's stormiest month — meant our itinerary had to be adapted constantly. Every evening and morning Michael would brief us on the current plan and be upfront about where the weather would have the final say. Clear, honest communication and smart decisions that meant we still packed in as much as was viable each day. His commentary was full of stories, weaving folklore throughout — a great insight into Icelandic thinking. Fantastic guide. The accommodation was excellent throughout with great breakfasts each morning. One practical note for anyone weighing up the six, seven, or eight day options: Icelandic weather is changeable year-round, so build in flexibility. I chose not to do the eighth day in March given the weather risk, and booked the seventh day (Snaefellsnes Peninsula) as a separate tour with a buffer day in between. As a solo traveller, the fact that you can share a room rather than automatically cop the single supplement was a genuine bonus — not something every operator offers. I did a lot of research before settling on BusTravel Iceland, and prior to booking their communication was prompt and clear — every question answered without chasing. It was a good sign of things to come.

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Reykjavík →
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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €7 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

B2cute Transfer

Golden Circle

from €881 per vehicle5.0· 5 Google reviews of the operator

pickup included

7 h · from Reykjavík

  • Book same day
  • 2 more languages
Check dates

from

€88.02 per person

Book Thu 22 Oct · €88.02