Photo by Ingibjörg Friðriksdóttir
Drive from hotel
1.5 hrs
Accessability
Easy
Season
All
Þingvellir National Park is only about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Hotel Rangá. This beautiful park is filled with intriguing Icelandic history. In fact, one of the oldest parliaments in the world first met here in AD930. This parliament – known as the Alþingi – was formed to enact laws, settle disputes and serve as a gathering place for Icelanders from far and wide.
Þingvellir National Park is also a fascinating geological site. The Mid-Atlantic Rift runs through Iceland and Þingvellir is located inside a rift valley. Visitors can get a clear sense of this division between the two tectonic plates which continue to separate about 2.5 cm per year. Due to this geological activity, the area is filled with interesting lava fields and ravines.
Visitors to Þingvellir are able to take hikes and walks around the park’s grounds. There are regular guided walking tours, angling and even snorkeling tours. Be sure to stop at the Þingvellir National Park Visitor Center to see various exhibitions about the area’s past and present.
After visiting Þingvellir, you can continue to Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir. These three landmarks make up Iceland’s well-known Golden Circle. But there are many more things to see on your drive around the Golden Circle. Check out this blog post to see our top 10 stops on the route.
FAQ about Þingvellir National Park
On our social media channels we frequently post tips, tricks & fun facts about Iceland with the hashtag #knowIceland.
Þingvellir National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. In fact, Þingvellir is the site of one of the world’s oldest existing parliaments. This beautiful area is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart. You can walk between the two continents as you walk through the park.
The entire Þingvellir region is located on the rift valley created by the Eurasian and North American plates drifting apart. You will get a clear sense of this slow drift in Almannagjá.
Yes, Þingvellir is part of the famous Golden Circle in the South of Iceland. The Golden Circle also includes Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir.
Distances from Þingvellir National Park
It takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive from Hotel Rangá to Þingvellir National Park.
It takes approximately 45 minutes to drive from Reykjavík to Þingvellir National Park.
It takes approximately 1 hour to drive from Gullfoss waterfall to Þingvellir National Park. Gullfoss is a stunning cascade of immense power and beauty.
It takes approximately 50 minutes to drive from Geysir to Þingvellir National Park.
