Þingvellir
Ideal: Ideal for history, geology, nature walks, and Golden Circle routes.
Iceland's Alþingi assembly began meeting here in 930 in the open air before a rock outcrop and continued until 1798; it is counted among the world's oldest still-functioning parliaments. The valley also sits atop the rift where the North American and Eurasian plates drift apart by roughly two centimeters a year. Water in the Silfra fissure filters through lava layers for decades, giving visibility beyond 100 meters, and divers swim between two continents. Iceland declared independence here again in 1944.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1928
- Area
- 22,789 hectares
- Elevation
- 120 m
- Heritage status
- World Heritage Site
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Can you walk between two continents here?
Yes. The site sits on the rift where the North American and Eurasian plates separate, drifting about 2 cm apart each year. In the Almannagjá fissure the boundary is visible to the naked eye.
Was the world's oldest parliament held here?
The Alþingi was founded here in 930 and met in the open air until 1798. It is regarded as the oldest surviving parliamentary tradition.
Why does the Silfra fissure attract divers?
Glacial meltwater filters through lava for decades before arriving, giving visibility over 100 m — some of the clearest water in the world. The temperature stays at 2–4 °C all year.
Why go?
- To see Iceland's historic parliament site
- To experience the geology between tectonic plates
- To add both history and nature to the Golden Circle route
Travel tip
Do not rush the walking paths; this is not just scenery but one of the centers of Icelandic history.
