ÞingvellirAbout Þingvellir
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is a protected rift valley and historic site in southwest Iceland where the Icelandic Althing parliament met from about 930 AD. It is notable for its visible tectonic plate boundaries and cultural importance in Icelandic history.
Geomorphological highlights include the Almannagjá gorge and other fissures formed by the divergence of the North American and Eurasian plates; many of these features are accessible via walking trails. The Silfra fissure is a world-class snorkeling and diving site with clear glacial water and exceptional underwater visibility.
Cultural highlights centre on the medieval parliament site, where the Lögberg or Law Rock served as the open-air platform for assemblies; interpretation panels and marked routes explain the site’s political and legal role in early Iceland. Trails circle the lake Þingvallavatn, the country’s largest natural lake, which lies within the park.
The site was established as the meeting place of the Icelandic Althing from about AD 930 and remained the national assembly location for centuries. Geological processes have continued to shape the landscape, producing the rifts and fissures visible today.
Þingvellir lies northeast of Reykjavík within the broader Golden Circle region, set in a rift valley around the shores of Þingvallavatn and surrounded by lava fields and low mountains. It is managed as a national park with marked trails and visitor facilities.
- Geology and history: The national park combines geological and cultural significance - it contains the Althing assembly site founded in 930 AD and visible tectonic rifts where visitors can walk between continental plates.
What to See#
- Silfra fissure: Silfra fissure, a crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, is a popular site for snorkeling and diving with exceptionally clear glacial water and visibility often exceeding 100 metres.
- Rift and assembly site: Almannagjá and other rift features form a visible gorge where the continental plates diverge; the historic assembly site Lögberg (Law Rock) is located nearby within the park.
Best Time to Visit Þingvellir
Visit in summer for accessibility and long daylight; winter offers stark landscapes and fewer crowds but requires caution on icy paths.
Weather & Climate near Þingvellir
Þingvellir's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 14°C. Abundant rainfall (1074 mm/year), wettest in February, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -4° - 1° | -8° | 99 mm | overcast | 94% | 6.9 m/s | 0.0 low | 5.0h |
| February | Poor | -4° - 1° | -7° | 106 mm | overcast | 94% | 6.9 m/s | 0.0 low | 8.2h |
| March | Poor | -3° - 2° | -7° | 106 mm | overcast | 92% | 6.8 m/s | 0.2 low | 11.5h |
| April | Poor | -1° - 5° | -3° | 69 mm | overcast | 89% | 6.2 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 14.9h |
| May | Acceptable | 3° - 9° | 2° | 67 mm | overcast | 82% | 5.6 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 18.2h |
| June | Acceptable | 6° - 12° | 6° | 67 mm | overcast | 79% | 5.2 m/s | 1.1 high | 20.4h |
| July | Acceptable | 8° - 14° | 11° | 72 mm | overcast | 79% | 4.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 19.3h |
| August | Acceptable | 7° - 13° | 10° | 95 mm | overcast | 83% | 4.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 16.1h |
| September | Acceptable | 4° - 10° | 4° | 88 mm | overcast | 88% | 5.6 m/s | 0.3 low | 12.8h |
| October | Poor | 1° - 6° | -1° | 103 mm | overcast | 92% | 5.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.5h |
| November | Poor | -2° - 3° | -5° | 97 mm | overcast | 94% | 6.0 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.0h |
| December | Poor | -4° - 1° | -7° | 105 mm | overcast | 95% | 6.5 m/s | 0.0 low | 3.6h |
How to Get to Þingvellir
About 45 minutes to 1 hour northeast of Reykjavík on Route 36. Þingvellir has a visitor centre with parking and signposted trails; many Golden Circle tours include a stop here.
Tips for Visiting Þingvellir
- Walk the rift trail to see continental plates pulling apart - the cliff-side paths offer the clearest geological readout.
- Visit early in the morning to avoid tour-bus traffic and to catch still waters in the Almannagjá gorge.
- If interested in history, locate the Law Rock (Lögberg) where the Icelandic Althing assembled in 930 AD.