The Kerið crater is not a popular stop in the Golden Circle.  Although after watching some photos of the place, we knew that we wanted to visit it. The place is located next to the highway, and you can’t miss it because you will see the big Icelandic flag right away. The lake is in the Grimsnes area of South Iceland and you can visit it while taking the Golden Circle sightseeing route.

What is Kerið crater?

The crater is 170 meters wide, 270 meters in circumference and 55 meters deep. The volcanic crater was formed a out 6500 years ago. The volcanologists believe that Kerið was a volcano which subsequently erupted and exhausted its magma reserve. The structure of the crater collapsed, the foundation fall in on itself, and then it filled up with water. The crater lake is formed by groundwater. Now this is a crater lake, which is between 7 and 14 metres, depending on the rainfall.  

You can hike around the rim of the crater, so you can get an amazing view of the surrounding landscape and the lake as well. The landscape is breathtaking. There is also a ladder down to the lake itself. As the result of the minerals from the surrounding soil, the water is an unique and strikingly vivid aquamarine shade of blue.

The crater is also a perfect location for watching the Northern Lights.

How do you get to the crater?

The Kerið crater is right on the Golden Circle. It’s 1 hour from Reykjavik by car, and 40 minutes from Thingvellir National Park. If you’re driving the Golden Circle, it’s definitely worth a visit.

The entrance fee is 400 ISK (about 2 euros / 3 US dollars ), and the parking is right next to the entrance of the crater, free of charge. One of the sad things that we saw here was that visitors leave tons of trash in the area: we found a lot of plastic, papers and cigarettes.  

What season is the best to visit the crater?

The crater is still beautiful in winter, but it’s definitely more captivating in the spring, summer or autumn, because of the colours of the fauna, flora and the water of the lake. Also, the hiking can be dangerous in the winter.

How to behave when visiting the crater?

When you visit this place, remember not to throw away your trash just like that! It’s important not to leave trace when we travel, especially in the nature. Everyone is responsible for the future, let’s keep this place clean so that the next generations can visit it as well.

If you want to read more about how to travel more sustainable, read our article 12 (+1) tips for sustainable travelling. 

What else can you visit in the area?

You can easily reach Reykjavik, which takes just 1 hour by car. If you want to know what to visit in the Icelandic capital, read our guide Reykjavik - Top Things To See in One Day. 

You can easily reach other natural wonders of the Golden Circle from the Kerið crater like: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Strokkur, Secret Lagoon, Gullfoss waterfall.

If you’re visiting the attractions of the Golden Circle, check out our guide to How to drive the Golden Circle in One Day. 

After exploring the Golden Circle make sure to continue through the Ring Road to Vík.  Read our guide to the South coast of Iceland! 

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