{"id":4361,"date":"2026-10-03T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/?p=4361"},"modified":"2026-10-25T15:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T15:38:31","slug":"golden-circle-winter-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/destinations\/golden-circle-winter-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Golden Circle Worth Doing in Winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4361\" class=\"elementor elementor-4361 elementor-bc-flex-widget\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1b2c3d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1b2c3d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5f6g7h8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e5f6g7h8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p><style>\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Hide Astra default post title + meta for this post \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.single-post .entry-title,\n.single-post .entry-meta,\n.single-post .ast-post-format-meta,\n.single-post .post-meta { display:none !important; }\n.single-post .entry-content { padding-top:0 !important; margin-top:0 !important; }\n.single-post .ast-article-single { padding-top:0 !important; }\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-post,\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-single { padding:0 !important; box-shadow:none !important; border-radius:0 !important; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 Design tokens \u2500\u2500 *\/\n:root{\n  --htfg:#2D5A3D;--htfgl:#3A7250;--htfgd:#1a3d28;\n  --htfau:#C8A45A;--htfaul:#E8D5A0;--htfaup:#F6EED9;\n  --htfow:#F8F7F4;--htfg1:#F2F1EE;--htfg2:#E5E3DE;\n  --htfg4:#A8A49C;--htfg6:#6B6860;--htfg8:#2C2A26;--htfbk:#1A1917;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 HERO \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-hero{position:relative;background:linear-gradient(180deg,var(--htfow) 0%,#fff 100%);padding:72px 20px 56px;overflow:hidden;}\n.htf-hero::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;top:0;right:-120px;width:420px;height:420px;background:radial-gradient(circle at center,var(--htfaup) 0%,transparent 70%);z-index:0;}\n.htf-hero::after{content:\"\";position:absolute;bottom:-80px;left:-100px;width:380px;height:380px;background:radial-gradient(circle at center,rgba(45,90,61,.08) 0%,transparent 70%);z-index:0;}\n.htf-hero-inner{max-width:820px;margin:0 auto;position:relative;z-index:2;}\n.htf-breadcrumb{font-size:12px;color:var(--htfg4);letter-spacing:1.5px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-breadcrumb a{color:var(--htfg4);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-category{display:inline-block;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfau);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:20px;padding:6px 14px;border:1px solid var(--htfau);border-radius:2px;}\n.htf-hero h1{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:52px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.1;letter-spacing:-1px;color:var(--htfbk);margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-hero h1 em{color:var(--htfg);font-style:italic;}\n.htf-hero-deck{font-size:18px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;font-weight:300;max-width:680px;margin-bottom:36px;}\n.htf-hero-meta{display:flex;gap:32px;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;padding-top:28px;border-top:1px solid var(--htfg2);font-size:13px;color:var(--htfg6);}\n.htf-meta-author{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;}\n.htf-avatar{width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--htfg),var(--htfgd));display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;color:#fff;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:500;font-size:16px;}\n.htf-hero-meta strong{color:var(--htfbk);font-weight:600;display:block;font-size:14px;}\n.htf-dot{color:var(--htfg4);}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 HERO IMAGE \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-hero-img{max-width:1140px;margin:0 auto 72px;padding:0 20px;}\n.htf-hero-img-inner{aspect-ratio:21\/9;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(160deg,#0d2018 0%,#1a3d28 40%,#2D5A3D 100%);position:relative;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}\n.htf-hero-img-inner::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 30% 40%,rgba(200,164,90,.22) 0%,transparent 55%),radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 70%,rgba(200,164,90,.12) 0%,transparent 50%);}\n.htf-hero-img-inner span{position:relative;color:rgba(255,255,255,.55);font-size:13px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:500;}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 2-COL LAYOUT \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-wrap{max-width:1140px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px 80px;display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 320px;gap:72px;}\n.htf-body{max-width:720px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.8;color:var(--htfg8);}\n.htf-body p{margin-bottom:24px;}\n.htf-body p strong{color:var(--htfbk);font-weight:600;}\n.htf-body h2{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;color:var(--htfbk);margin:56px 0 20px;line-height:1.2;letter-spacing:-.3px;position:relative;padding-left:20px;}\n.htf-body h2::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:0;top:12px;bottom:12px;width:4px;background:var(--htfau);border-radius:2px;}\n.htf-body h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:22px;font-weight:500;color:var(--htfbk);margin:32px 0 12px;}\n.htf-body h4{font-size:15px;color:var(--htfg);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5px;font-weight:700;margin:24px 0 10px;}\n.htf-body ul,.htf-body ol{margin:0 0 24px 22px;font-size:17px;}\n.htf-body li{margin-bottom:10px;padding-left:6px;}\n.htf-body li::marker{color:var(--htfau);}\n.htf-body a{color:var(--htfg);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(--htfaul);text-underline-offset:4px;font-weight:500;}\n.htf-body a:hover{color:var(--htfgd);}\n\n\/* TL;DR *\/\n.htf-tldr{background:var(--htfow);border-left:4px solid var(--htfau);padding:28px 32px;margin:32px 0 40px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;}\n.htf-tldr-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfau);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:8px;}\n.htf-tldr p{margin:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;}\n\n\/* TOC inline *\/\n.htf-toc{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--htfg2);padding:28px 32px;margin:40px 0;border-radius:6px;}\n.htf-toc-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:14px;}\n.htf-toc ol{margin:0;list-style:none;padding:0;counter-reset:toc;}\n.htf-toc li{counter-increment:toc;padding:6px 0;border-bottom:1px dashed var(--htfg1);font-size:15px;}\n.htf-toc li:last-child{border-bottom:none;}\n.htf-toc li::before{content:counter(toc,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--htfau);font-weight:700;margin-right:14px;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;}\n.htf-toc a{color:var(--htfg8);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-toc a:hover{color:var(--htfg);}\n\n\/* Prompt card *\/\n.htf-prompt{background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--htfow) 0%,#fff 100%);border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:6px;padding:24px 28px;margin:16px 0 28px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}\n.htf-prompt::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:4px;height:100%;background:linear-gradient(180deg,var(--htfg),var(--htfau));border-radius:6px 0 0 6px;}\n.htf-prompt-title{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:1.5px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:10px;}\n.htf-prompt blockquote{font-size:15px;color:var(--htfg8);line-height:1.7;font-style:italic;margin:0;padding:0;border:none;}\n\n\/* Pull quote *\/\n.htf-pull{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-style:italic;font-size:26px;color:var(--htfg);line-height:1.4;text-align:center;padding:40px 20px;margin:40px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-bottom:1px solid var(--htfg2);font-weight:400;}\n.htf-pull::before{content:\"\\201C\";color:var(--htfau);font-size:48px;line-height:0;position:relative;top:12px;}\n.htf-pull::after{content:\"\\201D\";color:var(--htfau);font-size:48px;line-height:0;position:relative;top:12px;}\n\n\/* Mid newsletter *\/\n.htf-nl{background:var(--htfg);color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:44px 36px;margin:56px 0;text-align:center;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}\n.htf-nl::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;top:-60px;right:-60px;width:200px;height:200px;background:radial-gradient(circle,rgba(200,164,90,.22) 0%,transparent 70%);}\n.htf-nl-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfaul);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:14px;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl h3{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:28px;font-weight:400;margin-bottom:12px;color:#fff;line-height:1.2;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl p{font-size:15px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.8);max-width:420px;margin:0 auto 24px;font-weight:300;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl form{display:flex;gap:10px;max-width:420px;margin:0 auto;position:relative;}\n.htf-nl input{flex:1;padding:14px 18px;border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.25);border-radius:4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.1);color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-family:inherit;outline:none;}\n.htf-nl input::placeholder{color:rgba(255,255,255,.55);}\n.htf-nl button{padding:14px 24px;border-radius:4px;background:var(--htfau);color:var(--htfbk);font-size:14px;font-weight:600;border:none;cursor:pointer;font-family:inherit;white-space:nowrap;}\n\n\/* FAQ *\/\n.htf-faq{margin-top:48px;}\n.htf-faq details{border-bottom:1px solid var(--htfg2);padding:18px 0;}\n.htf-faq summary{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:18px;color:var(--htfbk);cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;font-weight:500;}\n.htf-faq summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none;}\n.htf-faq summary::after{content:\"+\";color:var(--htfau);font-size:22px;font-weight:300;transition:transform .2s;}\n.htf-faq details[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(45deg);}\n.htf-faq p{margin-top:14px;font-size:15.5px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;}\n\n\/* Author bio *\/\n.htf-bio{background:var(--htfow);border-radius:8px;padding:36px;margin:64px 0 0;display:grid;grid-template-columns:120px 1fr;gap:28px;align-items:center;}\n.htf-bio-avatar{width:120px;height:120px;border-radius:50%;background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--htfg),var(--htfgd));display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;color:#fff;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:36px;font-weight:500;}\n.htf-bio h4{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:22px;color:var(--htfbk);font-weight:500;margin-bottom:6px;}\n.htf-bio-tag{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfau);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:10px;}\n.htf-bio p{font-size:15px;color:var(--htfg6);line-height:1.7;font-weight:300;margin-bottom:12px;}\n.htf-bio a{color:var(--htfg);font-size:14px;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500 SIDEBAR \u2500\u2500 *\/\n.htf-sidebar{position:relative;}\n.htf-sidebar-sticky{position:sticky;top:110px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;}\n.htf-sb{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:6px;padding:18px;}\n.htf-sb-label{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;color:var(--htfg);letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:10px;padding-bottom:10px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--htfg1);}\n.htf-sb-toc ol{list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0;counter-reset:sb;}\n.htf-sb-toc li{counter-increment:sb;font-size:13px;padding:3px 0;line-height:1.35;}\n.htf-sb-toc li::before{content:counter(sb,decimal-leading-zero);color:var(--htfau);font-weight:700;margin-right:12px;font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:13px;}\n.htf-sb-toc a{color:var(--htfg6);text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-sb-toc a:hover{color:var(--htfg);}\n.htf-sb-share{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;}\n.htf-sb-share a{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:38px;height:38px;border:1px solid var(--htfg2);border-radius:50%;color:var(--htfg6);text-decoration:none;font-size:13px;transition:all .2s;}\n.htf-sb-share a svg{width:16px;height:16px;display:block;}\n.htf-sb-share a:hover{border-color:var(--htfg);color:var(--htfg);}\n.htf-sb-svc{background:var(--htfow);border:none;}\n.htf-sb-svc h4{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:18px;color:var(--htfbk);font-weight:500;margin-bottom:8px;line-height:1.3;text-transform:none;letter-spacing:normal;}\n.htf-sb-svc p{font-size:13.5px;color:var(--htfg6);font-weight:300;line-height:1.6;margin-bottom:16px;}\n.htf-sb-svc a.htf-btn{display:inline-block;background:var(--htfg);color:#fff;padding:10px 20px;border-radius:4px;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-sb-svc a.htf-btn:hover{background:var(--htfgl);}\n\n\/* Responsive *\/\n@media(max-width:960px){\n  .htf-wrap{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:40px;}\n  .htf-sidebar{order:2;}\n  .htf-sidebar-sticky{position:static;}\n  .htf-hero h1{font-size:38px;}\n  .htf-bio{grid-template-columns:1fr;text-align:center;}\n  .htf-bio-avatar{margin:0 auto;}\n}\n@media(max-width:600px){\n  .htf-nl form{flex-direction:column;}\n  .htf-pull{font-size:20px;padding:30px 10px;}\n}\n<\/style><\/p>\n<!-- HERO --><header class=\"htf-hero\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-inner\">\n<div class=\"htf-breadcrumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/\">Home<\/a>  \/  <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/category\/destinations\/\">Destinations<\/a><\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-category\">Destinations \u00b7 Iceland<\/span>\n<h1>Is the Golden Circle Worth Doing in <em>Winter<\/em>?<\/h1>\n<p class=\"htf-hero-deck\">We drove Iceland&#8217;s most popular route in February \u2014 on icy roads, in four hours of daylight, with wind that knocked the car door back. Here&#8217;s whether it was actually worth it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-hero-meta\">\n<div class=\"htf-meta-author\">\n<div class=\"htf-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div><strong>Joona &amp; Alla<\/strong>Rovaniemi, Finland<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span> October 3, 2026 <span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span> 9 min read <span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span>Updated for winter 2026\u201327<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header><!-- HERO IMAGE -->\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img-inner\">\n\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img\" style=\"margin:24px 0;text-align:center;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3708\" src=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Iceland golden ring winter geyser Hungrytravelfamily\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:6px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-1320x1760.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_2753-1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- ARTICLE + SIDEBAR -->\n<div class=\"htf-wrap\"><!-- BODY -->\n<article class=\"htf-body\">\n<p>The Golden Circle is Iceland&#8217;s most popular day trip \u2014 \u00deingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, and back to Reykjavik in about 300 km. In summer, coaches run bumper-to-bumper. In winter, most travel blogs either ignore it entirely or add a vague &#8220;it&#8217;s doable.&#8221; We drove it in February, as a couple used to Arctic conditions from our home in Rovaniemi, and we want to give you the honest version.<\/p>\n<p>Short answer: yes, the Golden Circle is worth doing in winter. But not for the same reasons as summer, and not without knowing what you&#8217;re actually signing up for.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"htf-tldr\">\n<div class=\"htf-tldr-label\">Short answer<\/div>\n<p>The Golden Circle in winter is <strong>absolutely worth it<\/strong> \u2014 fewer crowds, snow-draped landscapes, and a chance to combine the drive with a northern lights hunt the same evening. Budget <strong>6\u20138 hours<\/strong> instead of the summer&#8217;s 5, expect <strong>icy roads on Route 36 and 35<\/strong>, and start by <strong>9:30 am<\/strong> to catch all three stops in daylight. A rental car with studded tires is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"htf-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-toc-label\">In this guide<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">What makes the Golden Circle different in winter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">How to drive it in 6\u20138 hours (winter schedule)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">What to bring and wear<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Practical warnings and road safety<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Self-drive vs guided tour in winter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">What we got wrong (and what we&#8217;d repeat)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">A final word from Rovaniemi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s1\">What makes the Golden Circle different in winter<\/h2>\n\n<h3>The light \u2014 and the lack of it<\/h3>\n<p>In December and January, Reykjavik gets roughly 4\u20135 hours of usable daylight. By February you&#8217;re up to about 7\u20138 hours, and by March you&#8217;re pushing 10+. That daylight window dictates everything: when you leave, which stop you do first, and whether you&#8217;re photographing Gullfoss under sunlight or in blue twilight.<\/p>\n<p>The flip side is that the low winter sun creates light that summer visitors never see. The golden hour effectively lasts all day. Gullfoss at midday in January looks like a movie set \u2014 amber light hitting the frozen spray, steam rising into cold air. We&#8217;ve been to a lot of waterfalls across Scandinavia, and Gullfoss in winter light was in a different category.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Crowds \u2014 or the absence of them<\/h3>\n<p>Summer Golden Circle can feel like a theme park queue. In February, we parked at \u00deingvellir with two other cars. The viewing platform at Gullfoss had maybe twelve people on it. Strokkur erupted for an audience of about twenty. It felt like we were seeing these places the way they&#8217;re supposed to be seen.<\/p>\n\n<h4>What changes at each stop<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\u00deingvellir:<\/strong> the Almannagj\u00e1 gorge gets iced-over walkways. The tectonic plates look more dramatic with snow filling the rift. Silfra snorkeling still runs year-round (drysuits), and the water is actually clearer in winter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geysir\/Strokkur:<\/strong> Strokkur erupts every 5\u201310 minutes regardless of season. The surrounding hot spring area steams more dramatically in cold air \u2014 it looks otherworldly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gullfoss:<\/strong> partially frozen. The lower tier often freezes into ice sculptures while the upper cascade still thunders. The spray freezes on the railings, the path, and your face. It&#8217;s more impressive than summer, in our opinion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s2\">How to drive the Golden Circle in winter (the 6\u20138 hour plan)<\/h2>\n\n<p>In summer, this loop takes about 5 hours with stops. In winter, add time for slower driving, shorter daylight, and the fact that you will stand at Gullfoss longer than you planned because it&#8217;s mesmerizing.<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 1 \u2014 Leave Reykjavik by 9:00\u20139:30 am<\/h4>\n<p>Sunrise in January is around 11:15 am; in February, around 9:45 am; in March, around 8:15 am. You want to be on Route 36 heading to \u00deingvellir as light arrives. Don&#8217;t wait for &#8220;full daylight&#8221; \u2014 the blue pre-dawn hour is part of the experience.<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 2 \u2014 \u00deingvellir first (1\u20131.5 hours)<\/h4>\n<p>Park at the P1 lot near the visitor center. Walk the Almannagj\u00e1 gorge path down to \u00d6xar\u00e1rfoss. In winter, the path can be icy but it&#8217;s usually maintained. Budget about an hour. If you&#8217;ve booked a Silfra snorkel, that adds 2\u20133 hours and you should start even earlier.<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 3 \u2014 Geysir area (45 min\u20131 hour)<\/h4>\n<p>Drive Route 36 east to Route 365 and then onto Route 37. About 50 minutes from \u00deingvellir. Watch Strokkur erupt two or three times, walk the geothermal area. The caf\u00e9 here is a solid lunch stop \u2014 warm soup and coffee before heading to Gullfoss.<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 4 \u2014 Gullfoss (1\u20131.5 hours)<\/h4>\n<p>Ten minutes from Geysir. The upper viewpoint is usually accessible in winter; the lower path is sometimes closed due to ice. Take your time. This is the highlight and the part we remember most vividly.<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 5 \u2014 Return via Route 35 to Reykjavik (1.5\u20132 hours)<\/h4>\n<p>Head back on Route 35 south to Route 1. This section can have the worst wind and ice. Drive slowly, keep headlights on, and check road.is before you set out. If conditions are bad, you can always reverse the loop and come back through \u00deingvellir instead.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s3\">What to bring and wear on the Golden Circle in winter<\/h2>\n\n<p>We live in Rovaniemi \u2014 we deal with \u221230 \u00b0C regularly. Iceland is rarely that cold, but the wind makes it feel worse than Lapland. Here&#8217;s the quick-reference list we&#8217;d hand a friend before they left Reykjavik.<\/p>\n\n<h4>The non-negotiable items<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Windproof outer layer:<\/strong> a hardshell jacket and pants. Iceland&#8217;s wind goes through fleece like it&#8217;s not there.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wool base layer:<\/strong> merino wool top and bottom. Not cotton. Ever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Insulated waterproof boots:<\/strong> with proper tread. Gullfoss viewing platforms get spray-iced.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wool hat, neck gaiter, and windproof gloves:<\/strong> double-layered gloves if you want to use a camera.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hand warmers:<\/strong> the disposable kind. Stuff two in your gloves at Gullfoss.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microspikes\/crampons:<\/strong> the strap-on kind. Ice is everywhere \u2014 paths, parking lots, boardwalks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunglasses:<\/strong> snow glare is real, and the low sun angle hits you right in the eyes when driving.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thermos with hot drink:<\/strong> fill it at your hotel before you leave. You&#8217;ll thank yourself at \u00deingvellir.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<!-- Newsletter -->\n<div class=\"htf-nl\">\n<div class=\"htf-nl-label\">Letters from Rovaniemi<\/div>\n<h3>Honest Nordic travel, once a month<\/h3>\n<p>We share what we&#8217;ve learned living in the Arctic and traveling across 25 countries \u2014 no spam, no fluff, just the real stuff.<\/p>\n<form action=\"#\" method=\"post\"><input type=\"email\" placeholder=\"Your email address\" \/> <button type=\"submit\">Subscribe<\/button><\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s4\">Practical warnings and road safety<\/h2>\n\n<p>This is the part most Golden Circle guides gloss over. Winter driving in Iceland is not the same as driving in winter elsewhere. We&#8217;re experienced winter drivers \u2014 Lapland roads are no joke \u2014 and Iceland still made us pay attention.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Check road.is before you leave:<\/strong> this is Iceland&#8217;s official road condition site. Green means passable, yellow means difficult, red means closed. Route 36 and 35 occasionally go yellow in storms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rent a car with studded tires:<\/strong> not all-seasons, not just winter tires \u2014 studs. Every major rental agency offers them November\u2013April. This is not optional.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Watch for single-lane bridges:<\/strong> there are a few on the route. In winter, with ice, they&#8217;re the trickiest moments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black ice on Route 35:<\/strong> the stretch between Gullfoss and the Route 1 junction is exposed highland. Wind-polished ice is common. Drop your speed to 50\u201360 km\/h even if the limit says 90.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fuel up in Selfoss or Reykjavik:<\/strong> there&#8217;s a gas station near Geysir, but don&#8217;t count on it in bad weather. Leave with a full tank.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t stop on the road for photos:<\/strong> pull fully off onto gravel. Drivers behind you can&#8217;t brake on ice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s5\">Self-drive vs guided tour in winter<\/h2>\n\n<p>Both are valid. Here&#8217;s how we&#8217;d break it down based on what actually matters in winter conditions.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Self-drive is better if:<\/strong> you&#8217;re comfortable on ice, you want your own schedule, you&#8217;re combining the Golden Circle with a northern lights drive that same evening (we did this \u2014 left Reykjavik at 9 am, returned at 4 pm, went back out at 9 pm for aurora hunting near \u00deingvellir).<\/li>\n<li><strong>A guided tour is better if:<\/strong> you&#8217;ve never driven on ice, you&#8217;re visiting for under 3 days, or you want someone else to deal with the wind and road conditions. Most tours run around \u20ac80\u2013100 per person and include hotel pickup.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The hidden advantage of self-drive:<\/strong> you can reverse the route or skip a stop if weather hits one area harder than another. Tour buses stick to the schedule regardless.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The hidden advantage of a tour:<\/strong> guides know the forecast and sometimes reroute to catch better light. Some also stop at Keri\u00f0 crater or Fri\u00f0heimar tomato farm, which adds variety.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"htf-pull\">The Golden Circle in winter isn&#8217;t harder than summer \u2014 it&#8217;s just a different kind of trip. Less &#8220;scenic drive,&#8221; more &#8220;Arctic adventure you earn.&#8221;<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s6\">What we got wrong \u2014 and what we&#8217;d repeat<\/h2>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>We started too late.<\/strong> Left Reykjavik at 10:30 am in February and hit Gullfoss in fading blue light. Should have been on the road by 9:00. Lesson learned.<\/li>\n<li><strong>We underestimated Gullfoss wind.<\/strong> We live in Lapland. We thought we knew cold. Gullfoss spray + Icelandic wind is a different beast. Our camera lens fogged within seconds. Bring lens wipes and a ziplock bag for your phone.<\/li>\n<li><strong>We didn&#8217;t bring microspikes.<\/strong> The \u00deingvellir boardwalk was a skating rink. We shuffled like penguins. Microspikes would have taken thirty seconds to put on and saved a lot of dignity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>We skipped Keri\u00f0 crater.<\/strong> It&#8217;s a small detour on the way back, and in winter the frozen turquoise lake inside the crater is apparently stunning. Next time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What we&#8217;d absolutely repeat:<\/strong> driving the Golden Circle first, then going out for northern lights that same night. The combination of daytime sightseeing and nighttime aurora made it one of the best single days of our Iceland trip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What we&#8217;d repeat:<\/strong> bringing a thermos. Hot coffee at the \u00deingvellir viewpoint while watching the sunrise creep over the tectonic plates \u2014 that&#8217;s a core memory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"s7\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"htf-faq\"><details>\n<summary>Is the Golden Circle open in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes. Routes 36, 35, and 37 are maintained year-round and rarely fully closed. Check road.is on the morning of your trip. Individual viewing platforms may close temporarily due to ice, but the drive itself stays open.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Do I need a 4&#215;4 for the Golden Circle in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>Not strictly \u2014 the roads are paved and maintained. But a 4WD with studded tires gives you a significant safety margin, especially on Route 35 between Gullfoss and Route 1. We&#8217;d choose 4WD every time in winter.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>How long does the Golden Circle take in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>Plan 6\u20138 hours total: about 3 hours of driving and 3\u20134 hours at the three stops. In summer it&#8217;s more like 5 hours. The extra time accounts for slower road speeds and the fact that you&#8217;ll want to linger at Gullfoss.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Can I see the northern lights on the Golden Circle?<\/summary>\n<p>Absolutely. \u00deingvellir is one of the best aurora spots near Reykjavik \u2014 dark skies, open horizon, and only 45 minutes from the city. We drove back out after dinner and saw a strong display. Combine the day trip with an evening aurora hunt.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>What&#8217;s the best month for the Golden Circle in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>February or early March. You get 7\u201310 hours of daylight, roads are usually in good condition, and you still have long enough nights for northern lights. December and January work too but daylight is very limited.<\/p>\n<\/details><details>\n<summary>Is Gullfoss frozen in winter?<\/summary>\n<p>Partially. The lower tier often freezes into ice formations while the upper cascade keeps flowing. It depends on the winter \u2014 some years more ice, some years less. Either way, winter Gullfoss is dramatic and arguably more photogenic than summer.<\/p>\n<\/details><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"s8\">A final word from Rovaniemi<\/h2>\n\n<p>We get asked this question a lot \u2014 usually by people who are already planning an Iceland trip and wondering if winter is a mistake. It&#8217;s not. The Golden Circle in winter is quieter, more dramatic, and honestly more memorable than the summer version we&#8217;ve seen in every Instagram reel.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the roads demand attention. Yes, you&#8217;ll be cold at Gullfoss. Yes, you need to plan around daylight. But we live in Finnish Lapland \u2014 we&#8217;ve built our entire life around the idea that winter isn&#8217;t something to avoid. It&#8217;s something to lean into. Iceland&#8217;s Golden Circle is one of those places that rewards that mindset.<\/p>\n<p>And if you time it right, you&#8217;ll end the day watching the northern lights dance over the same tectonic rift you walked that morning. That&#8217;s not a bad day by any measure.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"htf-bio\">\n<div class=\"htf-bio-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"htf-bio-tag\">Written by<\/div>\n<h4>Joona &amp; Alla<\/h4>\n<p>A Finnish-Ukrainian couple living in Rovaniemi, Finland. Joona is a marketing professional in Lapland tourism; Alla is an AI Engineer. Together we&#8217;ve visited 25 countries and share honest, locally-grounded travel writing from our home in the Arctic.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/our-story\/\">Read our full story \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<!-- SIDEBAR -->\n<aside class=\"htf-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"htf-sidebar-sticky\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb htf-sb-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb-label\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Winter vs summer differences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">6\u20138 hour driving plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">What to bring and wear<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Road safety warnings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Self-drive vs guided tour<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Our mistakes and wins<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">Final word<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sb\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb-label\">Share this story<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sb-share\"><a title=\"Pinterest\" href=\"#\">Pin<\/a> <a title=\"Facebook\" href=\"#\">f<\/a> <a title=\"X \/ Twitter\" href=\"#\">X<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-sb htf-sb-svc\">\n<div class=\"htf-sb-label\">Work with us<\/div>\n<h4>AI-assisted content for travel brands<\/h4>\n<p>Joona &amp; Alla help travel brands write destination content that both humans and AI love.<\/p>\n<a class=\"htf-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/work-with-us\/\">See our services<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- HTF-RELATED-POSTS-V1 -->\n\n<style>\n.htf-related-wrap{max-width:1100px;margin:-20px auto 30px;padding:0 20px;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-eyebrow{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:3px;font-size:12px;color:#C8A45A;font-weight:600;text-align:center;margin:0 0 10px;}\n.htf-related-wrap h2.htf-related-title{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:600;font-size:32px;color:#2D5A3D;text-align:center;margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.2;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-sub{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;font-size:15px;color:#5b6b62;text-align:center;margin:0 0 32px;font-style:italic;}\n.htf-related-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:24px;}\n.htf-related-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid #eee6d8;border-radius:6px;overflow:hidden;transition:transform .25s ease,box-shadow .25s ease;display:flex;flex-direction:column;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;}\n.htf-related-card:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 12px 28px rgba(45,90,61,.12);border-color:#C8A45A;}\n.htf-related-thumb{aspect-ratio:16\/10;background:#f3efe4 center\/cover no-repeat;display:block;}\n.htf-related-body{padding:18px 20px 22px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1;}\n.htf-related-cat{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:10px;color:#C8A45A;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:8px;}\n.htf-related-h{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:600;font-size:18px;line-height:1.35;color:#2D5A3D;margin:0 0 12px;}\n.htf-related-card:hover .htf-related-h{color:#1c3d28;}\n.htf-related-read{margin-top:auto;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;color:#2D5A3D;letter-spacing:.5px;}\n.htf-related-read::after{content:\" \u2192\";color:#C8A45A;transition:transform .2s ease;display:inline-block;}\n.htf-related-card:hover .htf-related-read::after{transform:translateX(4px);}\n.htf-related-skeleton{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#f3efe4 25%,#ede5d2 50%,#f3efe4 75%);background-size:200% 100%;animation:htfshim 1.4s infinite;}\n@keyframes htfshim{0%{background-position:200% 0;}100%{background-position:-200% 0;}}\n@media(max-width:860px){.htf-related-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:18px;}.htf-related-wrap h2.htf-related-title{font-size:26px;}}\n<\/style>\n<section class=\"htf-related-wrap\" id=\"htf-related-posts\" data-htf-current-id=\"4361\">\n  <p class=\"htf-related-eyebrow\">More stories from the Hungrytravelfamily<\/p>\n  <h2 class=\"htf-related-title\">Keep reading<\/h2>\n  <p class=\"htf-related-sub\">You may also like to read these.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"htf-related-grid\" id=\"htf-related-grid\">\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n    <a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"htf-related-thumb htf-related-skeleton\"><\/span><div class=\"htf-related-body\"><span class=\"htf-related-cat\">&nbsp;<\/span><h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">Loading\u2026<\/h3><span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read<\/span><\/div><\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<script>\n(function(){\n  var root=document.getElementById('htf-related-posts');\n  if(!root) return;\n  var grid=document.getElementById('htf-related-grid');\n  var currentId=parseInt(root.getAttribute('data-htf-current-id'),10)||0;\n  var api='\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?_embed=wp:featuredmedia,wp:term&per_page=100&_fields=id,link,title,featured_media,_links,_embedded';\n  fetch(api).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(function(posts){\n    if(!Array.isArray(posts)||!posts.length){root.style.display='none';return;}\n    posts=posts.filter(function(p){return p.id!==currentId && (p._embedded && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'] && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0] && p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0].source_url);});\n    if(posts.length<3){root.style.display='none';return;}\n    \/\/ Shuffle (Fisher-Yates) and take 3\n    for(var i=posts.length-1;i>0;i--){var j=Math.floor(Math.random()*(i+1));var t=posts[i];posts[i]=posts[j];posts[j]=t;}\n    var pick=posts.slice(0,3);\n    grid.innerHTML=pick.map(function(p){\n      var media=p._embedded['wp:featuredmedia'][0];\n      var img=(media.media_details&&media.media_details.sizes&&(media.media_details.sizes.medium_large||media.media_details.sizes.large||media.media_details.sizes.medium))||{source_url:media.source_url};\n      var cat='';\n      try{ var terms=p._embedded['wp:term']; if(terms&&terms[0]&&terms[0][0]) cat=terms[0][0].name||''; }catch(e){}\n      var title=(p.title&&p.title.rendered)||'';\n      return '<a class=\"htf-related-card\" href=\"'+p.link+'\">'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-thumb\" style=\"background-image:url(\\''+img.source_url+'\\')\"><\/span>'+\n             '<div class=\"htf-related-body\">'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-cat\">'+(cat||'Travel')+'<\/span>'+\n             '<h3 class=\"htf-related-h\">'+title+'<\/h3>'+\n             '<span class=\"htf-related-read\">Read the story<\/span>'+\n             '<\/div><\/a>';\n    }).join('');\n  }).catch(function(){root.style.display='none';});\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n<!-- \/HTF-RELATED-POSTS-V1 -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \/ Destinations Destinations \u00b7 Iceland Is the Golden Circle Worth Doing in Winter? We drove Iceland&#8217;s most popular route [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4713,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[1274,1275,61,740,877],"class_list":["post-4361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","tag-golden-circle","tag-gullfoss","tag-iceland","tag-road-trip","tag-winter-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4361"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9558,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361\/revisions\/9558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}