Parking fees at the Geysir

I always enjoy being in the high-temperature area of ​​Haukadalur and at Strokkur and Geysir, even after a good 20 years...

New paths opened

Due to the massive increase in the number of tourists over the years, work began on creating new paths in this area in spring 2024. This is intended to better protect nature from interference and disruption and to better distribute the flow of visitors.

The main entrance has now been moved to the lower end of the area...

... and you now walk on a really beautifully designed footpath from behind to the Strokkurs expression point. By the way, a beautiful rainbow greeted us on the way, to the delight of the other visitors.

I don't think we've had any pictures of the Strokkur with the rainbow yet!

The rainbow then disappeared, the clouds parted and here the Strokkur appeared directly in front of a blue sky.

Construction work from spring 2024

When we were here in the summer of 2024, construction work on the first construction phase was currently underway; some of the newly paved paths, like here, had already been completed and new seating had been set up, which, in my opinion, fit in very nicely with the landscape.

I really like these “basalt columns” as benches!

The first construction phase is now completed

Now at the beginning of October 2024, the first construction phase was completed and the first stage of the new circular route was opened to visitors.

According to publications by the environmental authority, the construction work should be completed and a completely new circular route should be completed by the end of 2025 .

New: The collection of parking fees

Construction work is currently underway in the parking lot around the hotel and the geyser shop in order to collect parking fees here in the future.

The surveillance cameras were set up...

...or were just installed when we were there for a few days now.

The signs for the parking fees, which will in future have to be paid via the Parka app or website, were still wrapped up.

And the machine at the restaurant exit wasn't yet in use, there was still a big note stuck on it: "Parking is free". Still...

Honestly - we're a little underwhelmed about the parking fees at Geysir.

Yes, the new path is very nicely done, the other places are also beautiful, a lot of things have definitely gained a lot and I like it a lot. But these are probably construction projects by the UST, the Icelandic environmental agency, that are not financed by the landowners.

Why do you have to also charge parking fees in a place like this, with such a large shop with a restaurant and all the trimmings, where such masses of visitors pass through every day and spend their money?

In any case, I would be more happy to spend my money on a good kjötsúpa or maybe a cute hat than on parking fees...

[Translated from here.]