The 7 most impressive waterfalls in Iceland
Ultimate guide on the south of the island
Undoubtedly, Iceland is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. The nature is out of this world and every location you visit will leave you mindblown. Obviously, the waterfalls belong to those extraordinary locations. Every waterfall has its own unique features like their shape or size. No trip to Iceland is complete without visiting one of these waterfalls!
In this list, you will find 7 of the most beautiful waterfalls that you just can’t miss! As we only went for 7 days, we only focussed on the south of the island, so that’s why all the waterfalls listed here will be from there. Hopefully, one day, we can travel around the whole island and complete this list. Until then, enjoy!
For your information, all these pictures were taken in April 2022.
Table of Contents
1 | Skogafoss
Skogafoss, located near the village of Skogar, was one of the first sightseeings we saw while in Iceland and it was impressive, to say the least. This is what a waterfall looks like in my mind! Not only is the width of the waterfall 25 meters, but it’s also 60 meters tall! If you don’t find that impressive, I don’t know what else. It’s no wonder that this waterfall is one of the most famous ones in Iceland.
This is a waterfall that you will visit nonetheless, even if you’re trip to Iceland is very short. Skogafoss is located on the south coast of Iceland and it takes around 2h to reach from Reykjavik with a car. Perfect to visit in a day. There is a big and free car parking right next to the waterfall and it takes literally no hiking to reach the bottom of the waterfall. Just know, that if you get close to the waterfall, there might be a chance that you will get soaked.
Make sure to also walk up the 527 steps to see the top of the waterfall. It’s quite challenging, but the views make it worth it. If you’re totally up for a challenge, you can hike all the way from Skogafoss to Þórsmörk, which is a hike of 25 kilometers or takes 12 – 14 hours to complete. We didn’t do this as it takes a lot of time to complete.
2 | Kvernufoss
Kvernufoss, also located in the south of Iceland, is a waterfall that is 30 meters high. This waterfall is more hidden in a gorge, but that adds to the beauty of it. But what’s really special about this waterfall, is that you can walk behind it! It gives such a special view! Bring a raincoat if you’re planning to do this!
Even though this waterfall is even iconic as Skogafoss, this isn’t nearly as famous, even though it’s only a 5 minute drive apart. I really don’t understand why people don’t come here. Maybe it’s the short walk or that they don’t know this one exists. Hence, you will have this place all to yourself, which is a bonus!
You can park you car at the parking of the Skogar museum. The price is €5 and you can pay with an app. The hike isn’t clearly marked, but it is quite easy to find. You start with climbing over a fence and then walk to the canyon. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the waterfall.
3 | Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss, located on the south coast of Iceland, is also a very famous waterfall, next to Skogafoss. It’s around 60 meters high and you can walk all the way behind the waterfall (and get soaking wet in the process). Just know that the stairs can be very slippery and that it’s not really advised to walk behind when it’s winter.
The drive from Reykjavik to this waterfall is around 1h45, so there is literally no excuse to not visit this place! The parking is right next to the waterfall and costs 700 ISK (€4.6) to park all day. There is a public toilet, a shop to get some food and a souvenir shop located at the parking.
4 | Gljufurarfoss
Another hidden gem in Iceland, that is closely located next to a more famous waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, so make sure that you don’t skip this one! It’s only a 5 minute walk from Seljalandsfoss, so you can let your car behind at the parking.
Gljúfurárfoss (or also Gljúfrabúi) is derived from ‘waterfall in a gorge’. And that is exactly where this waterfall is located, in a gorge. To get close to the waterfall, you need to walk through the stream (or in our case, we were lucky and there were enough high stones to balance on). Either way, you will get wet to get to this waterfall, so be prepared and wear waterproof clothes.
5 | Svartifoss
Svartifoss is a 20 meters tall waterfall located in Southeast Iceland. The name of the waterfall stems from ‘Black falls‘, because of the dark basalt columns that surrounds the waterfall. Fun fact, the famous church in Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, is inspired by the columns of Svartifoss.
The waterfall can be reached by a small hike of 1.5 kilometers (or one mile) and it takes around 30 minutes. The path is clearly marked and is accessible all year round. But be aware that in the winter months, the path can be slippery. Apart from Svartifoss, you will see three smaller waterfalls along the way.
There is a big car parking at the start of the trail. It costs 750 ISK (€5) for a normal car and 1000 ISK (€6.5) for vehicules bigger than a car. This parking is also the start of the hike to Skaftafellsjökull, a glacier. Next to the car park is a camping, where you can stay overnight with your tent or campervan.
6 | Gullfoss
Undoubtedly, Gullfoss or Golden falls is the most famous of all the Icelandic waterfalls as it’s part of the Golden circle (a route that you can drive in one day from Reykjavik). What’s so special about this waterfall is the fact that it plunges in two different stages into the 32 meters deep canyon of the Hvítá river. This was one of the biggest waterfalls I’ve seen to this day!
There are two parkings, one a bit lower than the other. The higher one is the biggest with a shop and toilet. From there one, you can go to the lookout over the waterfall. You also can walk very close to the waterfall by a walking path, but when we were there in April, it was closed. Be aware that the closer you get, the more dangerous it can be. The mist and the splashes of the water can make it very slippery.
7 | Kirkjufellsfoss
Last one on the list is Kirkjufellsfoss. This waterfall is located on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, in the west of Iceland. Although the waterfall alone isn’t that spectacular, this still was one of my favorite places in Iceland. To clarify, the iconic mountain named Kirkjufell in combination with the waterfalls makes this place so special! Also, the fact that this place was featured in Game of Thrones made this place even more famous than it already was.
There are two options to park your car. The first one being the paid parking, which costs 700 ISK (€4.6). The second option is a free one and is located before the bridge. The parkings are very close to the waterfalls and it doesn’t require any hiking.
You might also like: Ultimate guide to the Snaefellsnes peninsula (coming soon)
Maps of waterfalls in Iceland
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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