Thingvellir National Park

Iceland’s First National Park

Þingvellir National Park, one of three national parks in Iceland, was established in 1930, which makes it the oldest, by far. The other two national parks, Vatnajokull and Snaefellsjokull, were both founded in the 21st century. Thingvellir is one of the most popular attractions in Iceland, as it’s one of three main stops on the very famous Golden Circle route (along with Gullfoss and Geysir).

The national park is also Iceland’s first and one of only three UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country. It may seem surprising that it was included not for natural considerations, but cultural ones. The other two sites are Vatnajokull National Park and the newly formed island of Surtsey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago (which you can’t actually visit). While Thingvellir is definitely remarkable from a geological point of view, it is, more importantly, the single most significant location in Iceland from a historical and cultural sense.

Between Tectonic Plates

Iceland sits at the confluence of two major tectonic plates (North-American and Eurasian) - which explains why there is so much volcanic and geothermal activity on the island. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge that separates the two plates runs straight through Iceland and passes through Thingvellir among other places. Thingvellir is basically a rift valley, with many fissures. Some (like Almannagja) you can walk along, while others (like Silfra) are underwater.

The largest fissure (Almannagja) opened around 3,000 years ago and the last volcanic activity at Thingvellir happened 2,000 years ago when the volcanic crater of Sandey emerged in the middle of the Thingvallavatn lake. The area has been dormant ever since.

Thingvallavatn

Thingvellir is located on the northern shores of the Thingvallavatn lake. This is the second largest lake in Iceland (after Thorisvatn in the Highlands), but it is the largest natural one, as the other is a man-made hydroelectric reservoir.

The lake is fed by the Oxara river, but also through natural underwater springs, with pure glacial water. As this water undergoes a very lengthy natural filtration process through porous lava rock, it is extremely clean with good visibility. The lake is known for its large and varied fish population, including brown trout and several species of Arctic char, which makes it one of the most popular fishing spots in the country.

Getting there

The Thingvellir National Park is easy to reach from Reykjavik (50km, 45 min drive).

Whether you self-drive or join an organised tour, this is one of the most accessible attractions in Iceland, outside of Reykjavik.

Parking

Many parking options are available. Parking areas P1, P2, and P5 are closest to the main attractions of Thingvellir National Park. Note that a daily charge of 750 ISK per vehicle applies at those particular parking spots - the ticket is valid across all, for the day. The way this works is there are cameras that record your vehicle plate number, so there is no escaping it. You can pay this fee at the machines available at the location or if you prefer online.

Here’s a little tip. There is also free parking available at parking area P3 (the clue is in the name!). This one is a little farther away, but actually not too far and still walking distance.

I’ve marked everything on my map of Iceland.

When to visit

Thingvellir is a great destination to visit all year around. The scenery will look quite different during summer and winter, but should be just as spectacular. Activities such as snorkeling at the Silfra fissure are perhaps surprisingly not limited to summer only - this is because the water temperature remains constant throughout the year. The main road from Reykjavik to Thingvellir is fairly flat and well maintained during the winter season, and therefore less likely to be affected by unsafe driving conditions or road closures.

Of course, more crowds will gather at Thingvellir on a summer day. That said, it is possible to have the place all to yourself, if you visit in the early morning, or late evening. We were there in early September 2019, so pre-pandemic, and went on the last afternoon snorkeling tour at Silfra. We used the rest of the evening to explore the surrounding area and it was magical - at that time, the lighting was at its best and there was barely anyone around. Since this is one of the main attractions on the most popular day tour in Iceland (Golden Circle), the place can become packed with tour buses during the day.

Althing

The Althing is the national parliament of Iceland, and the first democratic parliament in the world, founded in the year 930. Today, it is located in the capital, Reykjavik. But for most of its existence, it had been based at the meeting of tectonic plates, within the stunning natural setting of Thingvellir.

The name Þingvellir comes from the Old Norse language and translates into assembly fields. This location was chosen due to its reasonable accessibility to the west, north and south, which were the most populous regions back in the day (and still are).

The first settlers arrived on Icelandic ground in 874. At the time the parliament was founded, the Icelandic nation existed as an independent country, the Icelandic Commonwealth. Chiefs from the various settlements would gather at Thingvellir every year and set up temporary dwellings for the duration of the assembly, which was around two weeks. During this time, Thingvellir was a place for everyone, from leading national figures to merchants, entertainers, and common folk. One of the first major decisions taken at Althing was adopting Christianity as an official religion, and abandoning the old pagan beliefs in Norse Gods, in the year 1000.

In later centuries, Iceland came under the Norwegian and Danish crowns. Nevertheless, the parliament at Thingvellir remained in operation throughout this time, with the exception of a relatively short period (between 1799-1844), after which it was relocated to Reykjavik, where it can be found today. Even so, it still is the world’s longest running and still ongoing parliament. Iceland finally declared its independence (from Denmark) in 1944 and this formally took place at Thingvellir of all places, even though the parliament had already been moved to the capital at that point.

And so, the Althing at Thingvellir has been a witness to the formation of Iceland for almost a millenium, which covers pretty much its entire history. Thingvellir has always been at the heart of Icelandic culture, and helped shape its language and national identity.

The Thingvellir National Park was founded in the year 1930 for a reason - this marks the 1,000 year anniversary of Althing.

Today’s Lögberg (Law Rock) is a fairly unimpressive sight that one might not even notice as they walk along the rift valley, but this natural platform for holding speeches was the focal point at Althing back in the day, where decisions were made that would shape the course of the country’s history.

Þings to do

Naturally, there are many things to do at Thingvellir…

Hakid Visitor Center

The national park has a nice, modern visitor centre, with ample parking, free toilets, cafe and souvenir shop. There is also an interactive exhibition there on the area’s nature and history (paid entry).

Just outside the visitor centre, the panoramic terrace offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding area.

Closest parking: P1

Almannagja Fault

While the Mid-Atlantic Range runs diagonally across the whole of Iceland, it is most evident at Thingvellir, and especially here, at Almannagja, which is the largest fissure in the area. As you walk through the rift, it really feels like you are walking between tectonic plates, as you can clearly see the steep walls either side.

Back in the old days, this rift, which includes the Law Rock, was at the heart of the Althing activities happening during the annual assembly.

Thingvellir Church

Aside from the visitor centre, you will surely notice two more structures in this vast open space - a small church, and a row of five picturesque houses (the Summer Residence of the Icelandic Prime Minister, according to Google). As modest as they are in size, they still dominate the landscape.

Nothing to see here, but they do look nice from the outside and in photos.

Closest parking: P5.

Oxararfoss Waterfall

There aren’t many places in Iceland that don’t have a waterfall nearby, so it should be no surprise that you can find one within the grounds of Thingvellir National Park too. Oxararfoss is a nice waterfall, of moderate size, which has become quite popular over time due to its privileged location at Thingvellir and easy accessibility. But it doesn’t really compare to Iceland’s best.

Oxararfoss is fed by the Oxara river, which flows into the Thingvallavatn lake, its only source that isn’t a natural spring.

Closest parking - P2 (paid), but also P3 (P free!).

Silfra

Saved the best for last.

Silfra is a fissure located at the northern tip of the Thingvallavatn lake, filled with pure, crystal-clear glacial meltwater. The visibility is exceptional and what you see below the surface is out of this world. You can dive and snorkel here, and that is hands down one of the best experiences you can have in Iceland.

Silfra deserves a post of its own, so find out more about it here.