Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park is Iceland's first national park and its only UNESCO World Heritage Site, sitting 47 kilometres east of Reykjavik at the first stop on the Golden Circle. It is the site of the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament, which first convened here in 930 AD, making it the oldest continuously operating parliament in the world. The park also straddles the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, one of the few places on earth where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen and walked above sea level.
Where Iceland's Parliament Met for 868 Years, on the Boundary Between Two Continents
The Alþingi held its first session at Þingvellir in 930 AD, on a broad plain at the foot of the Almannagjá gorge, which marks the edge of the North American tectonic plate. From here, the Lawspeaker would recite the law from the Lögberg, or Law Rock, to the assembled chieftains. The parliament continued to meet at Þingvellir until 1798, when it was moved to Reykjavik. The site also holds two moments of particular national significance: Iceland declared independence here in 1944, and the country's first president, Sveinn Björnsson, was inaugurated at Þingvellir the same year. The UNESCO World Heritage designation, granted in 2004, recognised both the historical importance of the Alþingi and the outstanding geological value of the rift valley setting.
Geologically, Þingvellir sits in a rift valley that has formed as the North American and Eurasian plates have pulled apart at a rate of about 2 centimetres per year over millions of years. The process has created a landscape of dramatic fissures, gorges, and cliffs. Walking down into the Almannagjá gorge puts you physically inside the Mid-Atlantic Rift, with the North American plate rising as a cliff on one side. The most celebrated geological feature is the Silfra fissure, a water-filled crack between the plates fed by glacial water filtered through underground lava for up to 100 years before it reaches the surface. Visibility in Silfra can exceed 100 metres, and the water temperature holds at around 2 degrees Celsius year-round. Snorkelling and diving in Silfra between the two continental plates is one of the most distinctive experiences available anywhere in Iceland. Lake Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland, occupies the southern part of the park.
Entry to the park is free. Parking costs around 1,000 ISK per day, payable at the visitor centre or by app, and covers all car parks within the park. The main visitor centre at Hakið (P1) sits at the top of the Almannagjá gorge with a viewpoint, café, and exhibition. The walk down through the gorge to the historic assembly plain takes around 30 minutes each way on a well-maintained path. Free guided walks led by park rangers run daily from June to August, departing from the visitor centre. Þingvellir is 47 kilometres from Reykjavik via Route 36, about a 45-minute drive.
