Geysir Geothermal Area
The word 'geyser' comes from this valley. Geysir, the great spring that gave its name to every erupting hot spring on earth, now sleeps — it last erupted in 2003 and shows no sign of waking. But fifty metres to its south, Strokkur does the work. Every six to ten minutes, a dome of blue-green water swells at the surface, then punches skyward fifteen to twenty metres in a column of steam and boiling water that vanishes almost before you've registered it.
The Haukadalur valley holds around thirty geysers and hot pools in total, and thermal mapping has identified 364 distinct hot areas across the field. One of the largest springs, Konungshver — 'The King's Hot Spring' — takes its name from Danish King Christian IX, who visited in the late nineteenth century.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've been more than once tend to position themselves upwind of Strokkur before the crowd assembles — the steam blows back hard. They also linger past the main cluster toward Konungshver at the western edge, where the pools are quieter and the colours in the water run deeper. Early morning in summer, the light is low and the crowds aren't yet there.
The story behind Geysir Geothermal Area
Hot springs have been active in Haukadalur for around 10,000 years, but the first written record dates to 1294, when earthquakes reshaped the valley floor and opened new vents. The Great Geysir's formation is traced to around 1150 CE. It erupted reliably for centuries before falling silent in 1916. It stirred briefly in 1935, and again after the 2000 earthquakes — reaching a reported 122 metres for two days — before going dormant again in 2003.
Strokkur has a different story. First documented in 1789 after an earthquake unblocked its underground conduit, it eventually silted up again. In 1963, on the advice of the Geysir Committee, locals cleared the blockage manually, and Strokkur has been erupting on its own rhythm ever since.
Good to know
Drive Route 35 from Reykjavik — about 115 km, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Parking costs 1,000 ISK via the Parka app; entry to the geothermal area is free. Plan 45 minutes to an hour. Arrive before midday or after 4 pm to avoid the peak Golden Circle rush. Drones are prohibited.
Summer (June–August) brings long daylight hours and the largest crowds; the site is fully accessible and the surrounding valley is green. Winter visits are quieter and the steam from the pools is more dramatic against cold air, but road conditions on Route 35 can be unpredictable. The area sits at around 114 metres elevation and is exposed, so wind is a factor in any season.
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What travellers say about Geysir Geothermal Area
A must-visit destination in Iceland, located directly on the Golden Circle tour. It is wonderful to see what nature has to offer. Parking is available and sufficient, but it is subject to a fee. There is a souvenir shop, a restaurant, and public restrooms directly on site. However, it is heavily frequented, especially on weekends.
Definitely worth a stop. Great views. Paid parking.
Really cool stop on the Golden Circle! As expected it smells bad but it’s a part of the experience :) The first time you get to Geysir I’d recommend not filming and just watching to get surprised by it. It goes off every 6ish minutes so you can take a video the second time!
The hot springs are great but smaller in scale and Strokkur didn’t erupt while we waited for 30 mins. Of all the things in Iceland this was most disappointing, especially given I have experienced these in Yellowstone where it’s spectacular.
How amazing is our nature? This place is proof of our extraordinary planet which is unfortunately being ruined by humans.
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