The best extra stops on the Golden Circle are Kerið crater, the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse, the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir, Laugarvatn Fontana, Faxi waterfall and Brúarfoss. All sit within a short detour of the classic loop of Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Pick two or three, depending on whether you want to eat, soak or walk. Here is what each is like, what it costs and how long it takes, checked in October 2026.
Which extra Golden Circle stops are worth it?
Kerið and Faxi are the quickest and cheapest extras. Friðheimar is the best lunch stop, and the Secret Lagoon or Fontana is the best way to end the day. This table sums them up:
| Stop | What it is | Time | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerið | Volcanic crater with a lake | 30–45 min | About ISK 700 per person |
| Friðheimar | Greenhouse restaurant | 1–1.5 h | Price of lunch; book ahead |
| Secret Lagoon | Historic natural hot pool | 1.5–2 h | About ISK 4,200 per adult (2025) |
| Laugarvatn Fontana | Lakeside baths and steam rooms | 1.5–2 h | ISK 7,490 per adult |
| Faxi | Wide waterfall with salmon ladder | 20–30 min | Parking about ISK 700–900 |
| Brúarfoss | Bright blue waterfall | 30 min to 2 h | ISK 750 parking at the near lot |
| Skálholt | Historic church and bishop's seat | 30 min | Free to visit the church |
What is Kerið crater like?
Kerið is a volcanic crater about 55 metres deep and 170 metres wide, with steep red and black walls and a green-blue lake at the bottom. It sits on Route 35 in the Grímsnes area, north of Selfoss, and is one of the most photographed stops on the loop.
A path runs around the rim, and wooden stairs lead down to the water. The rim loop takes about 20 minutes and the whole visit 30 to 45 minutes. Entry costs about ISK 700 per person, paid at the kiosk, and parking is free. Kerið has been privately owned since 2023, when Arctic Adventures bought the site. The lake is usually 7 to 14 metres deep, depending on the groundwater. In winter the path can be icy, and the site is best visited in daylight.
Is Friðheimar worth a stop?
Yes, especially for lunch. Friðheimar is a family farm at Reykholt that grows tomatoes all year in geothermally heated greenhouses, and you eat among the plants. The signature meal is tomato soup with fresh bread, served help-yourself. There are also dishes like tomato ravioli and green tomato and apple pie.
The greenhouse restaurant serves from about 11.30 to 16.00 daily, and the small shop and bar open longer. Book a table online; it is small and tour groups take many of the midday slots, especially from June to August. The farm also breeds Icelandic horses and runs horse shows on a schedule, sold separately. Friðheimar is on Route 35, about 20 minutes from Geysir.
What is the Secret Lagoon?
The Secret Lagoon, or Gamla laugin ("the old pool"), is a natural hot pool at the edge of Flúðir, built in 1891. Locals call it Iceland's oldest swimming pool, and it hosted the country's first swimming lessons from 1909 to 1947. It was restored and reopened in 2014.
The water stays at 38–40°C, fed by hot springs around the pool, including a small geyser, Litli Geysir, which bubbles up every few minutes. It is simpler and much cheaper than the big lagoons near Reykjavík. The latest price we could confirm was about ISK 4,200 for adults (2025), with children 14 and under paying a token fee. It is open from 10.00 to 20.00 in summer and 10.00 to 19.00 from October to May. It is about 25 km south of Geysir.
What is Laugarvatn Fontana?
Laugarvatn Fontana is a modern spa on the shore of Laugarvatn lake, with warm pools, natural steam rooms built over hot springs, and the lake itself for a cold dip. In the steam rooms, the temperature usually ranges from 40°C to 50°C. It is on the way between Þingvellir and Geysir.
Adult entry costs ISK 7,490 on Fontana's price list, with lower prices for seniors and ages 6–15, and free entry for under-6s. The baths are open daily from 10.00 to 21.00 in summer and 11.00 to 21.00 from October to May. The geothermal bakery tour shows rye bread being dug out of the hot ground, and costs ISK 3,350 for adults. Tours run at set times and often sell out, so book first and plan the baths around it.
Where are Faxi and Brúarfoss?
Faxi (Faxafoss) is a low, wide waterfall on the Tungufljót river, about 11 km south of Geysir and signposted off Route 35. It is only about 7 metres high but around 80 metres across, with a salmon ladder on one side. It is rarely crowded. Parking costs about ISK 700–900, and a seasonal restaurant, Við Faxa, overlooks the falls.
Brúarfoss is a small waterfall famous for its bright blue water, between Laugarvatn and Geysir. A car park opened in 2023 lets you reach it in about five minutes on foot, for ISK 750, via a rough access road. The alternative is a 3.5 km trail each way from a free lay-by on Route 37, which takes about an hour each way.
Which stops are on the way back to Reykjavík?
On the southern half of the loop you pass Skálholt, Kerið, Selfoss and Hveragerði, so these fit naturally at the end of the day.
- Skálholt: a historic bishop's seat with a cathedral, open daily from 9.00 to 18.00, with archaeological finds in the cellar.
- Selfoss: the largest town in South Iceland, with supermarkets, fuel and places to eat.
- Hveragerði and Reykjadalur: a greenhouse town about 45 km from Reykjavík on Route 1, and the start of the hike to Reykjadalur, a warm river you can bathe in. Read our Reykjadalur hot river guide.
How should you fit the extra stops into one day?
Choose by your priorities. For a classic sightseeing day, add Faxi and Kerið, which take under an hour together. For food, add Friðheimar between Geysir and Gullfoss. For a relaxed end, finish at the Secret Lagoon or Fontana. Trying to add more than three extras to a single day usually means rushing Þingvellir and Gullfoss.
A good two-day plan: day one covers Þingvellir, Fontana and a night at Laugarvatn; day two covers Geysir, Gullfoss, Faxi, Friðheimar and Kerið. See our Golden Circle self-drive guide for the main route and timings, and our guide to Iceland's hot springs for more places to swim.
Book Friðheimar, the Fontana bread tour and any pool in advance in summer. They are small, and the tour groups book early.
Facts checked October 2026. Prices and opening hours for Kerið, Friðheimar, the Secret Lagoon, Laugarvatn Fontana and the parking at Faxi and Brúarfoss change often; the Secret Lagoon price is the latest published figure we found (2025). Check each operator's own website before you go.
