Nearly any search online of the best waterfalls around the world, will result in at least one being from Iceland. And there is a really good reason for that. For being a relatively small country (roughly the size of the state of Texas in the US), unofficially there are roughly 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. While we love challenges, seeing 10,000 might be a bit steep. So we’re going to focus on showing you 8 waterfalls in Iceland you must see!
Disclaimer: Many of these waterfalls and locations rely on donation money to help keep them maintained. If you are visiting, PLEASE do your best to leave the area cleaner than it was when you arrived. And if you are able, please donate when possible.
GOÐAFOSS
Before we jump in to Goðafoss, we first must say that when we landed in Reykjavík, we planned our road-trip to begin by heading northwest and taking the ring road around the north and east before heading back on the southern side of the island. So our list will go in geographical order based on our 9 Day Iceland Trip Itinerary (coming soon!). That being said, most people start in the south and head east. If you plan to start in the south, you can simply reverse the order of these.
So, Goðafoss! Located in the north just east of Akureyri, Goðafoss, is not the first waterfall on this route, but it is one of the more spectacular waterfalls in Iceland to see. It is also one of the more easier waterfalls to see. Right off the main ring road, you’ll find a large parking lot and a short paved walk to the viewing platform and area to see this magnificent waterfall. You’ll also find a number of short walking trails on both sides of the river. Given its close proximity to the road, easy access and short trails, this is a relatively easy waterfall to see and will not require significant time or effort.
ALDEYJARFOSS
Next in line, is Aldeyjarfoss. This waterfall is off of the same turnoff that Goðafoss is on, which makes it a no-brainer to visit both back to back. However, unlike Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss is not quite as easy to get to. From Goðafoss, you’ll continue south on route 842 for about 25mi / 40km. There isn’t a formal parking lot like there is at Goðafoss, and the parking area is relatively small, so we’d recommend going early. From the parking area, there’s a short and hilly hike to the summit of the waterfall.
For those feeling a bit more adventurous, there is a steep climb down from the top that gives you a much more up close view. From here, you can really feel the power of this incredible waterfall. But exercise extreme caution if you attempt as there is nothing protecting you from falling in to the water.
GUFUFOSS
On the way to Seydisfjordur, which is where you’ll find the famous rainbow road, is a roadside waterfall called Gufufoss. We’ll be honest, we didn’t even know this waterfall existed until we drove past it on our way to Seydisfjordur. So after spending some time in the cute and quaint little town, we decided to head to the waterfall on our way back to our Airbnb. We are so thankful we did.
There is VERY little parking for this waterfall, just a small patch of dirt on the side of the road that maybe fit 5-7 vehicles. From there, it is a short hike (we’d recommend wearing hiking shoes or boots just to be safe), less than 5 minutes to get to. Being a lesser known waterfall, the likelihood of you having to deal with crowds, is slim, especially given its close proximity to Seydisfjordur which is where most people will be heading. One of the things we loved about this waterfall, was the fact that there were large rocks and stones scattered around the pond that allow you to get up close and personal with this beautiful waterfall. But plan to wear those hiking boots or waterproof shoes as you may need to wade in some of the water.
FOLALDAFOSS
As we continue to head south from East Iceland, there is an almost immediate transformation from the dryer and less green part of the country, to the more black and lush green landscapes that you typically see from Iceland. And like many of the other waterfalls on this list, Folaldafoss, is easily accessed from the ring road, right off of highway 939 just north of the ring road, and has a small parking lot giving you a perfect view. There is a small foot path that allows you to walk down to the waterfall. And while here, if you are feeling adventurous, a little further up the road from here is another waterfall which we did not visit, called Hænubrekkufoss.
MÖGÁFOSS (FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR CANYON)
Have you seen the music video “I’ll Show You” by Justin Bieber? If you answered no, do not feel alone, we hadn’t either. But after visiting Iceland, we became very aware of this music video as it was filmed in Iceland. And a big portion of it was filmed in the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, and has made this particular spot incredibly popular as a result. We will tell you, this canyon and this waterfall deserve all of its popularity even without the increased exposure from the music video.
The waterfall is located in south-eastern Iceland 130mi / 210km west of Hofn, which is about a 2.5 hour drive. There is a short turnoff from the ring road, but you’ll find ample parking with a short hike to a viewing platform that gives you an incredible view of the canyon facing towards the ocean. The trail that leads you to the viewing platform continues on a short ways giving you some additional views of the canyon. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, depending on the water levels in the canyon, you can actually hike in the canyon itself which is roughly 2mi / 3.2km out and back.
SKÓGAFOSS
While there are tons and tons of epic waterfalls in Iceland, in our minds, there is none more epic than Skógafoss. Being 66yd / 60m tall and 27yd / 25m wide, this waterfall has been featured in movies, tv shows, advertisements and so much more. And with good reason.
Getting to this waterfall couldn’t be easier, which also makes it one of the more popular Iceland waterfalls. The waterfall is located 97mi / 156km east of Reykjavík. To get there, head to the Skógar Campsite where you’ll find a campsite, bathrooms, a restaurant and a museum. Despite being so popular, when we went, we had no problem finding parking, both in the morning and evening. While there is no cost to visit, we do recommend donating funds to the campsite to help maintain and preserve this epic waterfall and it’s surrounding area.
KVERNUFOSS
Ok, so you’ve just visited Skógafoss and you’re feeling all pumped and excited and ready for the next waterfall. Well guess what, it’s only a 5 minute drive and a short hike! From the Skógar campsite, simply drive over to the Skógar Museum and you’ll find a public parking lot. You’ll find a trailhead which takes you through private property (don’t worry, the owners allow visitors to hike through their property to get to the waterfall).
Tucked away in a tiny canyon, is another incredible waterfall that you can literally walk behind: Kvernufoss. Many people end up visiting Skógafoss without even knowing that Kvernufoss exists. We hope to change that because, this waterfall is so picturesque. Inside the canyon you’ll find birds swooping back and forth from their nests on the canyon walls. It truly is incredible. So do not miss out on this one!
SELJALANDSFOSS
Last (or first depending on your route) but not least, is Seljalandsfoss. A short 25 minute drive west from Skógafoss, you’ll find a small turnoff to highway 249 which has a small parking lot leading to this waterfall. While the entrance is not gated or manned, they do ask that you pay a small amount (800ISK roughly $6USD) to the pay box at the entrance of the trail head.
From the trailhead, it is maybe a 5 minute walk to the waterfall, which you can also walk behind. Beware with this one, it can get REALLY windy and you can get really drenched when walking up to the fall. But it is entirely worth it!
Unvisited Waterfalls in Iceland
There are a number of waterfalls that we did not visit, that we’d be remised not to mention so that you don’t miss out of alternative options. So if you get a chance to fit these in to your itinerary, do it! Below is also a map with all of the locations of each of these waterfalls.
- Gullfoss
- Bruarfoss
- Haifoss (this is one we wish we’d been able to visit)
- Gljufrabui (this is very close to Seljalandsfoss)
- Nauthusagil
- Svartifoss
- Hangandifoss & Mulafoss (Múlagljúfur Canyon)
- Hengifoss & Litlanesfoss
- Dettifoss & Selfoss (if you’ve seen the movie Prometheus, Dettifoss is shown in the intro of the movie around minute 2:30)
- Kirkjufellsfoss (this is located near Kirkjufell which is known as Arrowhead Mountain in Game of Thrones)
As much as we would love to provide you with all of the content you need to plan an epic trip to Iceland, sadly we just simply haven’t spent enough time there to do so. So if you are looking for some inspiration beyond what we have here, we’d recommend checking out Iceland Trippers 60 Best Stops On Your Iceland Ring Road Itinerary. We used this almost exclusively for planning out trip and it was incredibly helpful!
8 WATERFALLS IN ICELAND YOU MUST SEE
Like we mentioned at the beginning, there are a TON of waterfalls in Iceland. But we hope that this at least gives you an idea of some of the ones to visit. Above is a map of all the waterfalls noted here in this article, so hopefully this will help you map out your journey as well!
If you have any questions at all about any of this, absolutely ask us below, and let us know what you think!
Thanks for reading!
