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Þingvellir suits a visit that combines Icelandic history with the landscape of a tectonic rift. Its World Heritage status dates from 2004, and the park is protected as a national shrine.
A visit centred on Almannagjá, the river and Law Rock brings the landscape and the assembly site together. Almannagjá has the shape of a canyon, within a rift valley along the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The rift separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Öxará river crosses the park, forming Öxarárfoss as it drops into the rift.
Law Rock, or Lögberg, gives the history a focus: it was the centre of the Alþingi assembly. The Althing began here in 930 as an annual outdoor gathering of Iceland's leaders. Meetings devoted to laws and politics lasted two weeks each year, continuing until 1798. The visitor centre explains both the history and the natural setting, making it a useful introduction before exploring them.
Silfra offers a different activity: diving and snorkelling in a fissure on the northern shore of Þingvallavatn. Its water comes from groundwater originating in Langjökull meltwater, and stays between 2 and 4 °C. For a visit focused on land, the lake adds another landscape to the rift and river: Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural lake, stretches south from the assembly site.
One day is a reasonable plan for a visit focused on the park: spend it on the visitor centre, Almannagjá, Öxarárfoss and Law Rock. That gives the day a clear thread, from understanding the setting to seeing the rift, river and assembly site. A broader Golden Circle day also makes sense if you want Þingvellir and Gullfoss waterfall in the same outing, since both are stops on that route.
The small group Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour from Reykjavík lasts 11 hours and includes a guided Golden Circle tour, visits to Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerid Crater, and a lunch stop in the Geysir area. The full-day Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights tour lasts 15 hours and includes minibus transport, a Golden Circle driver guide, a Northern Lights guide, Blue Lagoon admission and visits to Þingvellir, the Geysir area, Strokkur, Gullfoss and Kerid crater lake.
July is a reasonable choice for a walking-focused visit, based on the southern Iceland average of 10 to 13 °C for that month. That is a regional average, so it gives a broad guide rather than a temperature specific to the park. For snorkelling or diving, the water temperature deserves separate attention: Silfra remains between 2 and 4 °C.
A Golden Circle trip from Reykjavík is an option for reaching Þingvellir, which lies about 40 km northeast of the city. The full circuit runs roughly 230 to 300 km from Reykjavík, depending on the route, looping through south Iceland and back, so a Golden Circle outing covers more ground than a park-focused visit. Within the park, a visit can revolve around the visitor centre, Almannagjá and Law Rock, with the river connecting the landscape to the waterfall.
One day is a reasonable plan for the visitor centre, Almannagjá, Öxarárfoss and Law Rock.
July is a reasonable choice, using southern Iceland's average of 10 to 13 °C as a regional guide.
A Golden Circle trip is an option; Þingvellir lies about 40 km northeast of Reykjavík.
Yes, a Golden Circle day can include both, as Þingvellir and Gullfoss are stops on the route.
Yes, Silfra is a snorkelling and diving location, with water between 2 and 4 °C.
