GEYSIR

Geysir is a protected area of geothermal activity in Iceland where boiling-hot pools bubble and steam and lively geysers erupt like clockwork. Geysir can also refer to a specific geyser in the area – the Great Geysir – which is now dormant. It is where the English word “geyser” comes from.

Geysir is in the Haukadalur Valley, on Route 35 or Route 37 from Þingvellir national park. It’s within southwest Iceland, along the famous Golden Circle route from Reykjavík.

Most people reach Geysir by following the route of the Golden Circle from Reykjavík, taking in the sights of Þingvellir national park where the continental plates meet, and the thundering wonder of Gullfoss waterfall along the way.

Geysir is around 100 kilometres from the capital city and the entire route of the Golden Circle is 230 kilometres (around 140 miles) long. A well-trodden route, the Golden Circle is easy to do as a self-drive adventure if you are hiring a car.

The roads are cleared of snow year-round, but it is always best to check the SafeTravel app before driving anywhere in Iceland. The Golden Circle and Geysir is a popular day trip from Reykjavík and there are lots of different itineraries available on guided tours

You should plan to spend around an hour at Geysir to give you enough time to walk the trail through the geothermal area of bubbling activity and see the old site of the Great Geysir eruption.

You’ll also want to wait for Strokkur to erupt – it goes off like clockwork every ten minutes or so. Across the road from the geothermal park, there’s a café and gift shop so this is the perfect opportunity to refuel and stop for a comfort break.

The Great Geysir is no longer active (at least it hasn't erupted since 2016), so it does not erupt any more. However, within the Geysir area of geothermal activity, you can see Strokkur erupt on schedule.

A jet of boiling-hot water bursts forth from the landscape every six to ten minutes, giving you enough time to set up a tripod and camera to capture the moment.

Entry to the area of geothermal activity and witnessing Strokkur erupt is free of charge. There is also no fee to use the car park. However, you might want to bring some money to buy refreshments from the café or something to commemorate your visit from the gift shop.

The Geysir area of geothermal activity is just across the road from the car park and café. Walking to the Strokkur geyser takes around five minutes and following the paths around the entire park takes between half an hour and forty-five minutes. It is all flat.

It is an easy, flat walk from the car park to Geysir’s pools, rivers and rumbling geothermal activity. While there is a path that runs through the parkland, it would be considered a leisurely stroll to reach the Strokkur geyser, rather than a hike.

Strokkur geyser sits within the Geysir area of geothermal activity. It’s a short walk from the main car park, past the hot springs and streams that simmer with activity. You’ll find it beside the Hvítá River, in the southwest of Iceland.

Iceland’s most active geyser is Strokkur. It is the only geyser you can watch erupt with predictable regularity. It erupts every six to ten minutes. For this reason, Strokkur is considered the best geyser to see in Iceland. If it was as regular as Strokkur, the Great Geysir would, without doubt, take the top spot of geysers in Iceland as it boasts a much bigger plume of water when it does go off. However, the Great Geysir has been dormant for the past couple of decades – the last time it erupted was in 2000, after an earthquake in the area. There was also a small activity in 2016, but it wasn’t a huge eruption.

Geysir is one of three main natural attractions that make up the basic itinerary of the Golden Circle route. It is close to Gullfoss – the tumbling waterfall that gives the Golden Circle its name.

The third natural wonder of the Golden Circle is Þingvellir national park where you can see the chasm between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.

Of course, there are additional sights that can be added to a Golden Circle itinerary, like secret geothermal lagoons, glacier hikes, lava tunnels and the caldera of an ancient volcano.

You don’t have to wear anything special to visit Geysir in Iceland but, like all outdoor sites on the island, it is a good idea to bring a waterproof jacket in case it rains (and for potential spray from Strokkur geyser), sturdy walking boots and layers.

In summer, a breathable tee-shirt, long-sleeve jumper and waterproof jacket should suffice. In winter, you’ll want to have a thicker layer like a fleece or woolly jumper to keep the chill at bay, plus a hat, scarf and gloves.

There are no opening hours at Geysir – it is open 24 hours a day. You can even come here to spot the northern lights after dark if you want. The best time of day to visit Geysir is in the early morning or later on in the evening when there are fewer crowds.

The best time of year to visit Geysir depends whether you want to enjoy the balmier weather and long hours of daylight in summer, or if you want to witness the drama of the Haukadalur Valley covered in snow during winter. Geysir is a year-round destination, and the cold weather doesn’t affect the clockwork timing of the Strokkur geyser.