There are many car rental places in Iceland, my go to is Blue Car Rental. I know they have extensive coverage around Iceland and have a very good customer service. Most (If not all) of the cars come with unlimited mileage and zero hidden cost.

The unlimited mileage is a huge plus in Iceland as it can always be so tempting to drive down just one more road!

This is the site of the first Icelandic parliament. A place of geological importance and historical interest. Awesome!

There are several parking lots in the Park and once you pay at one, you may move to another parking lot at no additional cost for the next 24 hours.

Park at Þingvellir Parking P1 for the best access to the Visitor's Center. From the Visitor's Center you can walk between tectonic plates (Almannagjá) towards a waterfall (Öxarárfoss). You may also visit the Silfra Snorkeling Pond, and Þingvellir church (Þingvallakirkja).

To see all of these spots, you'll need approximately 1.5 hours at Þingvellir National Park.

This place is very beautiful. Made famous in Game of Thrones.

There are few geothermal pool options when traveling on the Golden Circle. Fontana spa is definetly recommended. This spa is one of the most family friendly spas you'll find apart from the local swimming pools.

Laugarvatn Fontana consists of two pools, a hot tub with a great view of the lake, steam room, sauna, and the lake! Jump into the lake in between dips in the hot tub for great lymphatic drainage.

Children 12 and under are free. Towels and swimsuits are available for rent.

Also consider doing the Icelandic rye bread tour which starts here. The short tour shows you how to bake bread in the ground using geothermal heat and you'll get a taste of the bread too!

Great stop for Ice cream or lunch. It's a farm, coffeehouse and guesthouse. All in one.

The restaurant is up a flight of stairs but there is an elevator for use. The ice cream shop is ground level. Both the restaurant and ice cream shop overlook the cows feed barn.

This waterfall is stunning. The FREE parking lot is east of the bridge and the path takes you north approx. 1 hour each way, but well worth it. You'll pass two other waterfalls on the way.

The trail can become quite icy and muddy in the winter and spring. If visiting during the winter or spring, skip the hike and park at the paid lot.

The PAID parking lot is at 64.262175, -20.521199 and a quick easy walk to Brúarfoss.

Friðheimar tomato farm is a beautiful restaurant placed amongst the tomato plants inside the greenhouse. Try their famous tomato soup!

Reservation HIGHLY recommended - this place becomes fully booked throughout the year. If you aren't able to make a reservation, you may still try to get a table at the bar or snag a table from someone who showed up late.

If you're unable to visit for lunch, try out Friðheimar's partner restaurant, Vínstofa Friðheima - Winebar & Bistro for happy hour/dinner.

Open from noon - 4 pm everyday.

Though Geysir itself is hardly active anymore it gives its name to hot springs all over the world. The area features spectacular hot springs such as the powerful Strokkur, which spouts a vast amount of water every 10 minutes, around 15-20 meters into the air.

This is a must-see stop for all Golden Circle tours, self-drive and guided, so definitely expect crowds. Parking is free across the street at Geysir Center. Walk along the flat paths for about 5 minutes from the parking lot to Strokkur. And, make sure you're upwind when waiting for Strokkur to erupt!

You may also walk around the area to see other boiling springs but none of them are actively erupting. Go up to the top of the hill for a great view of the surrounding area.

Gullfoss is called the "Golden Falls", since on a sunny day the water plunging down the three step staircase and then tumbling in two steps down into the 32 m deep crevice truly looks golden.

This waterfall is another highlight of Golden Circle tours and although it is always crowded, don't miss it.

There are two parking lots and two viewpoints... the lower parking lot is where the tour buses park and it is a short walk to the lower viewing area. The lower viewing area gets you closer to the falls and in the summer months you may even get so close that you'll feel the mist. The view from down here is really great.

The main car park is next to the visitor's center and a paved sidewalk leads you to the upper viewing platform where you can see a wonderful panoramic view of the waterfall.

The viewpoints are connected by a good number of stairs with railings and each viewpoint is about a 5 - 10 minute walk from their respective parking lots.

Best hotel when traveling on Golden Circle