Iceland has waterfalls with drama and scale; others are elegant and picturesque. Some are on the tourist trail; others are more challenging to reach. Here’s how to see the best waterfalls in Iceland.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Jump to Comments
Iceland’s waterfalls are as varied as its landscapes — some thunder with raw power, others slip gracefully over mossy cliffs.
Iceland’s volcanic heart and glacial rivers have carved a landscape that fuses drama and beauty. Towering cliffs, basalt canyons, and luminous moss frame waterfalls that roar, swirl, or whisper their way into deep valleys.
From dramatic cascades beside the Ring Road to hidden gems deep in the highlands, the country is overflowing with falls worth chasing.
There are literally hundreds of waterfalls scattered across Iceland. After four trips, we’ve chosen the ones we think are most worth seeing.
We’ve also included practical information on how to reach each of them.
MAP: WATERFALLS IN ICELAND
Our favourite waterfalls in Iceland are spread around the country, but most can be seen on a road trip around the Ring Road.
If you would like more information about how to go about seeing these amazing sights, please have a look through our Iceland itineraries.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
WATERFALLS IN SOUTH ICELAND
1. SKÓGAFOSS
Skógafoss is one of the most recognisable waterfalls in Iceland.
A wide torrential cascade falls neatly into a pool surrounded by rocky moss-covered edges.
The walls surrounding the waterfall were once the coastline before it receded to its present location. Today, the former sea cliffs create a physical distinction between the low coastal areas and the Icelandic highlands.
With a width of 25 metres and a drop of over 60 metres, on those rare sunny days, the spray from Skógafoss often produces a single or double rainbow.
It’s the classic single-drop waterfall that has appeared on everything from Marvel to Walter Mitty movies.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Skógafoss is around a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík. Parking has recently been upgraded and now costs 1,000 ISK ($7 USD). There’s a small fee for the toilets.
The base is easy to reach on foot via the flat trail from the parking lot, but the viewing platform at the top involves about 475 steps.
This well-rated tour from Reykjavík includes Skogafoss and many other stops.
2. SELJALANDSFOSS
Like Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss was once the sea cliff and from behind the car park it’s easy to make out the coastal formation.
It’s less forceful than Skógafoss, but this 60-metre waterfall is distinctive in that you can walk behind it.
A thin, rocky trail heads behind the falls, where you are guaranteed to get wet while enjoying this unique perspective.
After doing the trail behind the falls, continue the short distance to Gljúfrabúi, another waterfall flickering behind a narrow canyon cavity.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Seljalandsfoss is a scenic stop on our 5-day Iceland itinerary, and it is around a 1-hour and 45-minute drive from Reykjavík.
The car park costs 1,000 ISK (~$7-8 USD) for 24 hours and regularly gets full. There’s a small fee for the toilets, and a seasonal food truck is there to sell hot drinks and snacks.
There is also free parking about a 15-minute walk off Route 1.
The falls are lit at night, which is often a good time to come to avoid the tour buses.
THÓRSMÖRK // Seljalandsfoss is at the beginning of the F249, the road to Thórsmörk, one of the best places to visit in the Highlands. We highly recommend it, and you can read more in our guide to visiting Thórsmörk.
3. SVARTIFOSS
Svartifoss is “Black Waterfall” in Icelandic. It’s named after the distinctive rows of black basalt columns which frame a lean, single 20-metre drop.
The grassy banks surrounding basalt columns and a lovely rocky pool, into which the cascade drops, make Svartifoss one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.
The falls are in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve in southern Iceland which we include on our 7-day itinerary.
PRACTICAL TIPS
From the car park at the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, it’s a 45-minute walk to the base of the falls on a gradually climbing path.
There are no facilities at the falls, but the visitor centre has plenty of parking, a café, a camping ground and toilets.
Parking costs 1.040 ISK (~$7.50USD) per vehicle.
Svatifoss is a long drive from Reykjavik, so we’d suggest staying in Vik. You can read more about where to stay in Iceland here.
WATERFALLS ON THE GOLDEN CIRCLE & WEST ICELAND
4. GULLFOSS
As a popular activity on a Reykjavík & Golden Circle itinerary, Gullfoss is probably the most visited waterfall in Iceland.
Wedged into a crevice of the Hvítá canyon, Gullfoss makes an abrupt turn after falling down a curved staircase that plunges in two stages, 11 metres initially, then 21 metres a little further on.
The result is dramatic; a massive waterfall disappears into a void, leaving behind a magnificent plume of spray.
You won’t have Gullfoss to yourself, but it’s an unmissable thing to do in Iceland.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Gullfoss is in the southeast of Iceland, a 1-hour and 45-minute drive from Reykjavík. There are 2 car parks (both free), plus a café, souvenir shop, and toilets.
This well-rated tour from Reykjavík stops at all the Golden Circle attractions, including Gullfoss.
KERLINGARFJÕLL // If you have a 4×4, you can continue for a further 1 hour and 30 minutes from Gullfoss to reach the geothermal wonderland of Kerlingarfjöll.
5. HRAUNFOSSAR
Hraunfossar means lava falls, and it’s fascinating to see how the elements have combined to create this gentle but interesting waterfall.
Formed by a series of rivulets streaming over 900 metres, the waters of Hraunfossar plunge over the Hallmundarhraun lava field before continuing along the Hvítá River.
The effect is a long scenic waterfall stretching along the banks of the river, backed by views of Langjökull glacier.
Just a few minutes’ walk away, another waterfall, Barnafoss, surges down a narrow rocky valley. There’s a short walkway connecting the two, very different waterfalls.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Hraunfossar is in western Iceland, on the edge of the remote highlands. If you come via the 550 Kaldidalur Road, you’ll need a 4×4 to get here. But you can also go via Reykholt in a 2WD.
Parking is free near the waterfalls, and toilets are available.
If you prefer organised tours, you can see Hraunfossar on the Silver Circle Tour from Reykjavík.
WATERFALLS IN THE HIGHLANDS
6. ALDEYJARFOSS
Aldeyjarfoss is a dramatic waterfall fed by the Skjálfandafljót River, which drops 20 metres as a powerful cascade to an icy-coloured pool at the base of the falls.
Aldeyjarfoss is a beautiful waterfall because of the basalt columns that surround it. Some are straight and symmetric, while others are curved and twisted, bent out of shape by the force of the water.
Aldeyjarfoss is slightly off the beaten track, so it feels like a bit of a hidden gem. There were only 2 other people there on our last visit.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Aldeyjarfoss is around 40 minutes from Iceland’s Ring Road, heading south on route 844.
About 5 kilometres before the falls, the road turns into the F26 and from here you need a 4×4 to continue. Read our guide about driving the F-Roads in Iceland for more information.
It’s free to park at the falls, but there are no facilities.
7. HAIFOSS
In our opinion, Haifoss is the best waterfall in Iceland.
The River Fossá drops 12 metres as a slender cascade down a sheer rockface, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the country.
A second waterfall, Granni, drops just beside it, creating a magnificent dual waterfall in a massive, deep canyon. W
ith green fields on the top and several tributaries of the river charging towards the falls, it’s a spectacular sight.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Haifoss is not far from the Golden Circle, but it requires a 4×4 vehicle to get there. It’s only 20 minutes along Route 332 (off Route 32), but it’s a bumpy 20 minutes. Parking is free, but there are no facilities on site.
LANDMANNALAUGAR // Haifoss is an excellent stop on a day trip to Landmannalaugar.
8. HRAFNABJARGAFOSS
This tongue-twister of a waterfall was a pleasant surprise for us.
Just 5 minutes further south on the F26 from Aldeyjarfoss, Hrafnabjargafoss is an amphitheatre of powerful water curving around a central rock.
Although only about 5 metres high, the unique horseshoe shape provides a unique vantage point that makes you feel surrounded by water.
With large flat boulders, moss-covered sides, and great highland views, it’s a beautiful and wild-looking location.
The river that feeds Hrafnabjargafoss – the Skjálfandafljót River – also supplies Goðafoss and Aldeyjarfoss.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Follow the location from Aldeyjarfoss to Hrafnabjargafoss using our map above. There is free parking close to the falls, but no other facilities.
9. AXLAFOSS
By Icelandic standards, Axlafoss is the baby of the family with a drop of a mere 8 metres.
But it’s a beautifully set waterfall in an under-visited part of Iceland. Fed by the Hólmsá River, it’s an elegant curve around a wide, jagged section of the canyon.
Axlafoss is located under the gaze of the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier in a remote area of Iceland’s central highlands. The best way to see it is on a day trip to Maelifell, a green cone-shaped volcano surrounded by black sands, which was one of our favourite locations in Iceland.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Axlafoss is around about 30 kilometres northwest of the Ring Road (Route 1) near Kirkjubæjarklaustur. You need a 4×4, a sense of adventure; it takes around 4 to 5 hours of your time. All the details are in our guide to visiting Maelifell.
Parking is free right by the falls, but there are no facilities.
10. ÞJÓFAFOSS
On the east side of the Merkurhraun Lava Fields, Þjófafoss is a short but powerful waterfall that forms part of the country’s largest hydroelectricity supplier, Landsvirkjun.
þjófafoss is one of 3 major waterfalls on the Þjórsá River, the longest in Iceland at 230 kilometres.
The wide falls pour into a scenic lake with Mount Burfell in the background. It’s not the largest or most spectacular waterfall in Iceland, but the setting, on the edge of the lava field in this remote corner of the country, makes it well worth visiting.
PRACTICAL TIPS
þjófafoss is 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) down a dirt track from Route 26, which can easily be driven in a 2WD. The total trip is around 45 kilometres off the Ring Road.
There is free parking but no other facilities.
WATER VOLUME // The electricity company controls the water, and the flow of the falls has been significantly reduced from its natural levels. During summer, there is ample glacial melt to feed the falls; however, over the drier winter period, there may be little to no water.
WATERFALLS IN NORTH ICELAND
11. DETTIFOSS
Dettifoss is an elusive beast. Dropping 44 metres into a narrow canyon, the roar of the mighty falls is often more potent than the sight of the falls themselves.
As the largest waterfall by volume in Iceland and one of the most powerful in Europe, it’s a magnificent sight.
The falls are fed from the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River, which flows from Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe.
PRACTICAL TIPS
The west side of Dettifoss is the easiest access point with a paved road from the Ring Road and a large, free car park. There’s an upper and lower viewpoint, and you can expect to get wet at both of them.
Visit Dettifoss on our 10-day Ring Road itinerary.
CHASING WATERFALLS // The Jökulsá á Fjöllum River, has 3 waterfalls: Dettifoss, Selfoss (a few hundred metres upstream); and Hafragilsfoss (a short drive downstream). All can easily be seen in one trip.
12. GOÐAFOSS
Goðafoss is one of the easier waterfalls to get to, which also makes it one of the most popular. If Dettifoss is the beast of Iceland’s waterfalls, then Goðafoss is the beauty.
Cascading over a wide horseshoe shape with a separating rock in the centre, the falls are between 9 metres and 17 metres high.
Surrounded by low-lying lava fields that give the water a blue-green pattern, Goðafoss is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.
PRACTICAL TIPS
There are viewing platforms on both the west and east sides of the falls. You can easily walk between them in about 20 to 30 minutes.
Goðafoss is right on the Ring Road in the north of Iceland. It’s a 30-minute drive from Akureyri and a 40-minute drive from Myvatn.
There are parking lots on both sides of the falls. Toilets and a cafe are on the east side.
WATERFALLS IN EAST ICELAND
13. HENGIFOSS
Hengifoss is the 3rd highest waterfall in Iceland, but in many ways the most striking.
A combination of red clay and black basalt has formed layers, creating a beautiful backdrop to the slender 128-metre falls.
It’s a stunning waterfall in a remarkable gorge in a slightly remote part of East Iceland.
Just downstream from Hengifoss, a smaller waterfall, Litlanesfoss, is framed by some incredible basalt columns.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Hengifoss car park is a 30-minute drive from Egilsstaðir in the east fjords. The access road is paved year-round, but winter conditions might make the journey slower.
From the car park (1,000 ISK ), it’s a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile) walk up to the falls, which should take around 1 hour each way.
There’s a cool little food truck near the car park, serving soups, waffles and ice cream.
STUÐLAGIL // If you’re in this part of Iceland, we highly recommend going to Stuðlagil Canyon, which is around a 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive away from Hengifoss.
WATERFALLS IN WESTFJORDS & THE WEST
14. KIRKJUFELLSFOSS
Kirkjufellsfoss has become the poster child for Icelandic waterfalls. It sits at the base of Kirkjufell Mountain with three cascades in the foreground.
It’s not huge (only 16 metres tall), but with the lovely symmetrical shape of Kirkjufell in the background, it has become one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland.
Sunrise or sunset is a great time to see it, when the light is good and the crowds are fewer.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Kirkjufellsfoss is 183 kilometres (113 miles) from Reykjavík (about a 2.5‑hour drive) via Route 1 (Ring Road).
There is a small, free car park just off the main road (Route 54). There are no toilets or facilities on site.
The trail to the falls is short, but it can get muddy in wet weather.
WESTFJORDS // Kirkjufellsfoss is just off the main road that loops around the Snaefellsnes, which we do after returning from the Westfjords.
15. DYNJANDI
Known as the Jewel of the Westfjords, Dynjandi is a majestic waterfall with a 100-metre cascade that fans out down a rocky cliff face.
There are 6 smaller waterfalls under Dynjandi, and you can visit them all on the 15-minute walk up to the base of the main waterfall.
By the time you get to the foot of Dynjandi, you’ll understand why the name means “resounding” in Icelandic. Be prepared to get wet as you admire the power of this unique waterfall.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Dynjandi is in the Westfjords, between Dynjandisvogur Bay and Arnarfjörðurfjord, around 80–85 kilometres south via Route 60 from Ísafjörður.
Most of the route is paved; however, the last 1.5 kilometres is via a gravel road that is only accessible in the summer if you have a 2WD car.
Parking near the base of the falls costs 750 ISK. There are toilets, but no other facilities.
MORE ICELAND PLANNING GUIDES
- Working out what to see? Here are our top places to visit in Iceland.
- All you need to know to plan your next Iceland trip.
- We have 6 epic Iceland itineraries to help you plan your trip.
- Looking for accommodation? Here’s where to stay in Iceland.
- All you need to know about driving in Iceland.
- Explore the stunning Iceland highlands and get off the tourist trail.
- Want to increase your excitement? Consider driving the F-roads.
- If you only visit the highlands once, use this guide to Landmannalaugar.
- Or follow this guide to Thórsmörk and hike the Valley of the Gods.
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