If you’re planning a trip to Iceland in 2027, you may have seen headlines claiming that tourists will soon have to pay to visit some of Iceland’s most famous attractions.

The Icelandic government has published draft legislation proposing a new nature and infrastructure fee covering three of the country’s most visited locations: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.

The headline figure is 4,500 ISK — but there’s a little more to the story than that.

Most importantly, the fee has not been introduced yet. The legislation is currently a proposal submitted for public consultation, so details could change before the scheme comes into force.

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Quick answer: what is Iceland’s proposed 4,500 ISK fee?

Under the current proposal:

• The standard pass would cost 4,500 ISK
• It would cover Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
• You would not pay 4,500 ISK at each attraction
• The pass would remain valid for one year
• A reduced 3,000 ISK winter rate is proposed
• The winter rate would apply from 1 November to 31 May
• The charge would apply to visitors aged 18 and over who aren’t tax residents of Iceland
• The proposed scheme is expected to begin on 1 May 2027
• Existing parking charges at the affected state-owned sites would be abolished under the proposal.

Which Iceland attractions would charge the new fee?

Initially, the proposed pass would cover three attractions — and if you’ve ever travelled Iceland’s Golden Circle, you’ll know them very well.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is one of Iceland’s most historically and geologically important locations and one of the classic three Golden Circle stops.

Visitors currently don’t pay an entrance fee to explore the national park, although parking charges apply at its main serviced car parks. A standard passenger car currently costs 1,000 ISK per day, with that payment covering the designated P1, P2 and P5 car parks.

Geysir

The Geysir geothermal area is home to Strokkur, the active geyser that regularly erupts and is one of the most recognisable sights on the Golden Circle.

It would also be covered by the proposed pass.

Gullfoss

The enormous Gullfoss waterfall completes the traditional Golden Circle trio.

Like Geysir and Þingvellir, Gullfoss would be included in the same annual pass — meaning you wouldn’t need to buy three separate 4,500 ISK tickets.

Is it 4,500 ISK per attraction?

No.

This is probably the biggest point worth clearing up.

Under the proposal, you would pay 4,500 ISK for one pass covering all three attractions.

That pass would then remain valid for one year, allowing you to visit the three sites without paying the nature and infrastructure fee again during that period.

So this isn’t:

Þingvellir — 4,500 ISK
Geysir — 4,500 ISK
Gullfoss — 4,500 ISK

It’s 4,500 ISK total for the proposed annual pass.

Will there be a cheaper winter pass?

Yes, under the current proposal.

The price would fall to 3,000 ISK between 1 November and 31 May.

That could be particularly relevant if you’re planning a winter trip to Iceland and visiting the Golden Circle during the quieter months.

Who would have to pay?

The proposal applies to people aged 18 and over who do not have tax residence in Iceland.

That’s an important distinction because the proposal is based on tax residency rather than nationality.

People who are tax residents of Iceland would therefore be exempt from paying the fee regardless of citizenship.

What happens to the existing parking fees?

This is another important part of the announcement that could easily get lost behind the 4,500 ISK headline.

Under the government’s proposal, existing parking charges would be abolished when the new infrastructure fee is introduced.

Þingvellir alone currently generates around 350 million ISK per year from parking fees, according to RÚV.

So although the new pass would create a new per-person cost for many international visitors, it shouldn’t simply be treated as 4,500 ISK being added on top of every existing charge.

Exactly how the final system operates will become clearer if and when the legislation is approved.

Why is Iceland proposing the fee?

The proposed charge is described as a nature and infrastructure fee.

Iceland receives huge numbers of visitors at its most famous natural attractions, creating a need for paths, parking facilities, toilets, viewing areas, safety infrastructure and ongoing maintenance while also protecting vulnerable natural environments.

The Icelandic government estimates that the new scheme could generate around 5 billion ISK during its first year, rising to approximately 6–7 billion ISK annually once operating for a full year.

Is the 4,500 ISK fee definitely happening?

Not yet.

And this is the bit we’d really emphasise if you’re currently planning an Iceland trip.

As of 24 September 2026, the legislation has been submitted for public consultation.

The current proposal is for the scheme to take effect from 1 May 2027, but because the legislation has not yet completed the process, the details could change.

If you’re travelling before then, nothing has suddenly changed as a result of today’s announcement.

We’ll update this article as the proposal develops.

Does this make the Golden Circle too expensive?

That’s ultimately going to depend on your own Iceland budget.

For a couple, the proposed standard fee would mean 9,000 ISK between you. A family or larger group containing several adults would obviously pay more.

At the same time, the proposed fee would cover all three headline attractions for a year, while existing parking charges at the affected state-owned sites are intended to be removed.

For us, the Golden Circle would still be somewhere we’d recommend — particularly for someone visiting Iceland for the first time.

Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss are enormously popular, but they’re popular for good reason.

We’d just recommend factoring the potential new charge into your 2027 Iceland budget while remembering that the proposal could still change.

Watch: Iceland’s proposed tourist fee explained

We’ve also put together a full video explaining the proposed 4,500 ISK pass, who would pay it and what it could mean for your Iceland trip.

Planning a trip to Iceland?

If you’re heading to Iceland, you can also download My Iceland, our free Iceland travel app for iPhone and Android.

Use it to discover attractions around Iceland, save places you’d like to visit and plan your adventure.

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And we’ll continue following the proposed Golden Circle fee as it progresses. If the legislation changes or is approved, we’ll update this guide with the latest information.