The Golden Circle (Þingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss → back to Reykjavík) is about 250 km round trip from the capital. Any EV with 250+ km of real-world range can do the loop without charging. You'll probably stop anyway, for lunch or photos or because you'd rather not drive on 4%. This is where to plug in when you do.
Þingvellir National Park
There's no charger at Þingvellir itself. The closest is back in Mosfellsbær (15 km southwest of the park entrance), where ON Power has a 50 kW DC at the N1 station. The Þingvellir visitor centre does have a 22 kW AC, but it's often out of action and not worth waiting for.
Plan: if you're starting low, top up before you leave Reykjavík. Þingvellir is the first stop, so a full battery covers the whole loop easily.
Geysir & Strokkur
The Geysir Hotel and visitor centre has two Type 2 AC chargers (11–22 kW) run by ON Power, right in the car park. That fits the 30–45 minutes most people spend watching Strokkur go off, and you'll add 8–15 kWh.
For DC, the closest fast chargers are back towards Reykjavík at Mosfellsbær (Háholt, N1) or on towards Selfoss. Useful if you've come from somewhere else and arrive low.
Gullfoss
The Gullfoss Café and visitor centre upgraded its AC chargers in 2024 and now has four Type 2 stalls (22 kW) on the Ísorka network. A kjötsúpa stop at the café usually runs 45–60 minutes, enough to add 15–20 kWh.
There's no DC fast charger at Gullfoss. The nearest is back at Reykholt (35 km away) or on towards Selfoss.
Faxi waterfall
Faxi is a short detour between Geysir and Gullfoss. No chargers. It's a quick photo stop.
Kerið crater
On the way back to Reykjavík. No chargers at the crater, and the visit only takes 20–30 minutes, so it wouldn't matter much if there were.
Selfoss, if you're heading south
If you're combining the Golden Circle with the South Coast, Selfoss is where you charge. There are several options within walking distance of each other:
- Orkan Selfoss: a Kempower flagship site at Eyravegi 42, up to 600 kW total across several stalls. Often the cheapest of the bunch.
- ON Power Selfoss: DC fast charging plus AC.
- Ísorka at Olís Selfoss: DC fast charger on Suðurlandsvegur.
From Selfoss, a 20-minute fast charge gives you another 200+ km. That's enough for Vík, Skógafoss, or back to Reykjavík with room to spare.
How I'd charge on the day
For a clockwise Golden Circle day trip in any modern EV:
- Leave Reykjavík at 80–100%.
- Top up on AC at Geysir while you watch Strokkur (free or cheap, adds 10 kWh).
- Top up on AC at Gullfoss during the café stop (another 15–20 kWh).
- Skip Selfoss unless you're carrying on south.
- Get home with 30–50%.
In a smaller EV (under 50 kWh battery), or if you're starting low, go through Selfoss on the way out and fast-charge to 80%. It adds 20 minutes to the day and you stop worrying about range. The south region charging map has everything in the area.
A few more tips
- The Gullfoss café AC chargers can fill up on busy summer Saturdays. If they're all taken when you arrive, the car park is big enough that you can usually grab a stall within 20 minutes.
- Mobile coverage at Þingvellir is patchy. Load any charger maps before you drive into the national park.
- Winter: the Gullfoss road can close briefly in storms. Check road.is the morning of your trip. If Route 35 is closed, you're not doing the Golden Circle that day, whatever your range.