Geysir and Strokkur

Geysir is a large geyser in Iceland – in fact, it’s where we get the name ‘geyser’ from! As a result of this, Geysir is very famous in Iceland and around the world.

Strokkur is Iceland’s most visited geyser. Strokkur is very active, regularly shooting water and steam into the air every 6 to 10 minutes. The display averages 20 m (66 ft) in height, but can get as high as 40 m (130 ft).

You’ll find Strokkur in the Geysir geothermal area. This is part of the Haukadalur valley which is well known for its geothermal and volcanic activity. The valley is located in the southwest of Iceland.

If you’re planning a visit to the Strokkur geyser and Geysir area, but you’re staying in the capital, you’re in luck! The area is only around 1½ hours from Reykjavík, so it’s convenient to reach.

You can easily tie Strokkur and Geysir into a wider Golden Circle tour. Explore the area as part of an Iceland multi-day package, basing yourself in the capital and going for day trips. Or rent a car and enjoy a self-drive tour.

Geysir is currently inactive. However, you can still see the pool where Geysir is, and its smaller cousin, Litli Geysir, is often seen bubbling away nearby.

Strokkur is currently the most active geyser at the site, where it can be seen regularly erupting every 6 to 10 minutes.

Geysir last erupted in 2003, so it has been dormant for almost 20 years. It tends to wake up when there is seismic activity (earthquakes or volcanic eruptions) in the area which affects the ground beneath it.

The Great Geysir’s activity has changed greatly over the years, so it may well become a regularly active geyser once again in future.

When it did last erupt, water and steam was reported to shoot up to 70 m (230 ft) in the air!

Although the Strokkur eruptions are by far the most impressive thing to see, there’s plenty more to explore at the Geysir geothermal area.

To make the most of your visit, we recommend allowing around 1 hour. This gives you plenty of chances to see Strokkur erupting into the sky. You can see the range of smaller geysers, geothermal pools and steam columns of the ‘fumaroles’ at the site too.

Walk to the top of the hill and look down over the pools and geysers for an excellent view. You’ll have the opportunity to clearly see the volcanic minerals in the water too. You can notice rich blues, coppers, and yellows visible in the water from the geothermal activity.

If you’re visiting in the winter months, you may be able to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights dancing over the water and steam of the geothermal field.

Aside from exploring the other geysers and geothermal pools, there is a visitor center in the area. The Geysir Center offers information and history about the site, including more about the geysers and the geothermal field activity.

Consider exploring more attractions on the Golden Circle. Tie in a visit to Gullfoss waterfall, which is just 10 minutes away from Geysir. Or hop back on the road and travel to Þingvellir National Park, a 50-minute drive away.

Here you can see the Mid Atlantic Rift, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart. You can also take in the site of Iceland’s original (and the world’s oldest) parliament, the Alþingi (Althing).

If you’re traveling from Reykjavík, drive out of the city and towards Route 36. This will take you out to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park and Þingvallavatn (Thingvallavatn) Lake. Cruise around the edge of the lake and pick up Route 365, then 37.

A quick turn off onto Route 35 will bring you straight to the Geysir geothermal area. The whole journey should take you around 1½ hours.

You can also travel via Route 1, then pick up Route 35 at Selfoss. This will then take you the rest of the way right up to Geysir. Going via Selfoss, this route takes around 1 hour 45 minutes.

Alternatively, many of our Golden Circle tours include a trip to see Geysir and Strokkur. You can choose from a range of private and guided group tours if you don’t fancy driving yourself.