Iceland is absolutely stunning and a big part of that beauty is due to the abundance of waterfalls. They are everywhere and the majority aren’t considered tourist attractions despite being better than some countries’ best.
This list covers 10 of the best waterfalls I saw on my trip to Iceland. They are spread all over the country and are all accessible without a 4×4 so no excuses!
1) Seljalandsfoss
This waterfall is probably one of the first you’ll come across travelling the South coast. It’s not as tall as some of the others on the list but you’re able to walk behind the cascade, giving you a true 360 degree view of it.
It’s free to see but their is a charge for parking (some people were parking near the road a little bit further up so this might be a loophole).
If you want to get your money’s worth for the parking fee then check out the hidden waterfall nearby, Gljufrabui. I really liked the mini canyon leading to this waterfall, it feels like you’re in the middle of a rainforest.
2)Skogafoss
It’s likely that you’re going to see Skogafoss on the same day as Seljalandsfoss and it’s definitely worth it. It seems like a much more powerful waterfall and the spray meant there were rainbows all over the place.
Once you’ve checked it out from the ground you can take some stairs up the side to get an aerial view and then follow the course of the river to see some smaller falls (don’t walk indefinitely, it’s 10+ km one way).
3) Svartifoss
Svartifoss is awesome and easily accessible from Skaftafell campsite in Southeast Iceland. The hike is 2km and isn’t too challenging despite the initial ascent. The cool thing about this waterfall is the rock formation surrounding it; it’s a great example of basalt column formation.
If you want to extend the hike then you can continue to Sjonarnipa which then loops back to the visitor centre and gives a great view of a nearby glacier.
4) Hengifoss
Hengifoss is the 3rd tallest waterfall in Iceland and is less visited than the first three on our list due to its location in the east of Iceland. It’s quite a lengthy uphill walk compared to the a lot of the other waterfalls but you the route is scenic and there’s a cool view of the lake on the way down.
When you get to the top look out for the plastic post (this has a guestbook to write a message and your nationality). When we did the walk up it was uncharacteristically hot but there’s an ice cream truck at the bottom that does great mango sorbet.
5) Guffufoss (and Seydisfjordur)
This isn’t a well known waterfall but I stumbled across it accidentally on the way to Seydisfjordur. The whole area is stunning and filled with waterfalls that you can hike between.
Guffufoss was a hidden gem that would definitely be a highlight in any other country and staying here is a must for the walks and views.
6) Dettifoss
Dettifoss isn’t really a pretty waterfall but it’s absolutely monstrous. It’s one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe and that’s immediately apparent when you get here.
You can check it out from the top of the canyon and can walk a few kilometres to some of the other waterfalls but Dettifoss is the key attraction. There are two routes to take, they lead to opposite sides of the waterfall.
If you are travelling anti-clockwise then the first sign to Dettifoss is a long dusty road. One of the few cars we saw was a campervan with two shredded tyres (apparently the other route is better paved).
7) Godafoss
There’s a myth that when Iceland switched from a Nordic to Christian religion, the local leader threw a religious statue into the waterfall, thus giving Godafoss its name. Regardless of the origin, Godafoss waterfall is really cool; it’s basically made up of 5 smaller waterfalls that look like a huge panoramic waterfall from a distance.
It’s on the way out of Myvatn and is fairly isolated in terms of things to do nearby, but the nearest big city to stay in is Akuyeri which is worth checking out.
8) Glymur
The hike to Glymur waterfall was my favourite of the trip. It goes through a cave and across a river and gets quite tricky part way through; there are ropes to get up some steep parts. The waterfall itself is cool (and either the tallest or second tallest in Iceland depending on sources) but the surrounding scenery and canyon adds to the effect.
It’s 3.5km each way but make sure to wear good hiking boots and be aware that to complete the hike you need to cross the fjord at the very top (it goes up to your knees and can be slippy in spots).
9) Hraunfossar
Hraunfossar is unique from the other waterfalls on the list because its formed from lava flows. The waterfall isn’t tall but it is really wide and on a clear day the water runs a bright blue. Unfortunately, the day we went was pretty rainy and the water was a murky brown.
It’s in the west of Iceland and can be quite a detour from the ring road for a 10 minute view of the waterfall. Consider combining it with a hike in the nearby scenic Husafell.
10) Gullfoss
Gullfoss is part of the golden circle in southeast Iceland and could possibly be one of the first waterfalls you see, if you start in Reykjavik. It’s pretty busy here because it’s really touristy but the waterfall is very cool; its sort of split into a shallow part followed by a steep cascade into a canyon.
Other nearby spots of interest include the geyser centre which has a geyser that erupts ~ every 20 mins.
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That’s it for this post, hopefully this inspires you to go waterfall hunting around Iceland. Let me know what your favourite waterfalls are in Iceland in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for updates!
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