Based on 8 Visits, These Are My 14 Favorite Waterfalls in Iceland

One of the main reasons I’ve been back to Iceland almost 10 times, and that I keep going back, is because I will never get bored of its nature. The country feels to me like being on a different planet sometimes, and its landscapes change all the time when you’re driving. Besides its stunning mountains, glaciers, and canyons, you’ll also find 10,000+ waterfalls. 

Of course, you won’t get around to all of them in even one trip (or probably 100 trips, to be honest). Still, I have been blessed enough to see many of the country’s best waterfalls. Some are better-known than others, but I wouldn’t necessarily skip the well-known ones just because others have been there. What I would recommend, however, is choosing the ones that interest you the most. 

Many waterfalls in Iceland are in the south of the country, but you’ll find them throughout. To help you narrow down your choices and ensure that you see at least some of the unmissable ones, I’ve put together this guide with my top recommendations. I’ll cover what each waterfall is like, along with how to get there and other tips that you’ll find useful.

1. Kvernufoss

I spent 10 days camping in Iceland on a previous summer trip, which was an adventure around the Ring Road and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. As part of our journey, we spent a few nights on the South Coast. Even though I had already been to this part of the country multiple times already, I had not yet been to Kvernufoss. 

We went to Kvernufoss in the evening before heading to our campsite, having spent part of the day at nearby Sejalandsfoss. Getting to the waterfall is super easy from the parking lot; it’s a 30-minute walk along a paved trail, which has very little elevation. I actually wrote about my experiences in a separate guide on hiking to Kvernufoss. 

The main reason to visit Kvernufoss is to walk behind the waterfall. If you’re into photography, this is the best angle for pictures. Unlike some more powerful waterfalls in Iceland, you won’t get so wet when you walk behind it. 

However, you can/should only go behind the waterfall during the summer. Outside of the warmer months, doing so is dangerous due to the risk of icicles forming and falling.

Getting to Kvernufoss

You’ll need a car to get to Kvernufoss easily. I recommend renting one at Keflavík Airport or in Reykjavík via DiscoverCars, where you can also compare prices. 

From Reykjavík, the drive to Kvernufoss is just over two hours. It’s around half an hour from Vík, and less than a 10-minute drive from Skógafoss. In your map, type “Kvernufoss Parking Lot” to get the correct directions. 

If you wanted to walk from Skógafoss, it would be 35 minutes to the parking lot and then another 30 minutes to the waterfall itself. Remember, though, that your parking at Skógafoss only covers five hours. So, you’ll need to factor all of this in if you want to leave your car at Skógafoss. Personally, I would just drive to Kvernufoss and pay for the extra parking fee there as well. 

The parking lot for Kvernufoss is close to the Skógar Museum and also a couple of hostels and guesthouses. So, if you’re staying overnight, going for a morning walk to and from Kvernufoss is a viable option; just note that the road has no sidewalk. 

We had to pay for parking when we arrived at the waterfall, which can be done via the Check-it app. At the time we visited, it cost 1,000 ISK (c. $8). Just as a side note, you’ll have to pay for parking at many of the waterfalls on this list. 😄

2. Gjárfoss

While Kvernufoss is pretty easy to reach, Gjárfoss requires some more effort. On that same camping trip to Iceland, we drove to the pretty Gjáin valley. This was the first time I had been somewhere in the country without having mobile signal, and the road there was… bumpy, let’s say. 

In Gjáin, we did a hike that went for a loop around the valley. Part of this involved going to Gjárfoss, which is a relatively small but pretty waterfall. It felt like I was in some movie about elves, and the rock formations here are really cool. To be honest, that’s the main reason I would recommend going. 

To get to Gjárfoss, we drove to the upper parking lot. If you want to do the same, you *must* have a 4WD. Otherwise, you can park your car in the lower parking lot and hike toward the waterfall. Although there were a few other people when we were there, the trail was not particularly busy. 

You can only get to the waterfall and into Gjáin during the summer, and we were there at the start of the season. If we had been there a few weeks before, we wouldn’t have had the chance to visit. During the winter, the road is inaccessible, and hiking becomes dangerous. So yes, only visit if you’re in Iceland during the summer. It’s a two-hour drive from Reyjkjavík. At the time of writing, the parking lot is free. 

3. Gufufoss

If I’m being honest, I had no idea that Gufufoss even existed before I saw it. The waterfall also wasn’t on my original itinerary when I went there. We spotted the waterfall as we were driving to Seyðisfjörður, which involved driving a paved (but winding) road down a mountainside into the town. 

Gufufoss is a small waterfall next to the roadside, and it’s a nice quick stop when you visit Seyðisfjörður. We spent around 10 minutes here, which was more than enough. It’s a short walk from where you can park your car. 

If you visit during the summer, you can walk behind the waterfall. However, if you’re here in July or August especially, you can expect to wait in a queue at the busiest times. It is worth the wait, though, as the view of the waterfall is pretty cool—albeit not as cool as Kvernufoss, in my opinion. 

Seljalandsfoss is one of the easiest waterfalls in Iceland to visit. Virtually every day trip from Reykjavík to the South Coast will stop here, and if you’re in the country without a car, this is a solid choice. You have several options to choose from; I personally have taken this day tour in the past, which I wrote a full review about. 

If you would rather visit Seljalandsfoss yourself and spend as much time as you want there, driving from Reykjavík is straightforward, too. The journey takes just over an hour and a half, so it’s easy to do in a day trip. Seljalandsfoss is right next to the Ring Road, too, so it’s pretty hard to miss. 

You can also visit Seljalandsfoss if you’re already exploring the South Coast. From Vík, it’s an hour’s drive. If you’re planning to visit the Westman Islands (which you should, IMO), Seljalandsfoss is a 15-minute drive from the Landeyjahöfn ferry terminal. 

When parking at Seljalandsfoss, you’ll need to pay a 900 ISK parking fee if your car holds up to five people. You can do so via the ticket machines there or through the Check-it app. 

5. Urriðafoss

During one of my previous trips to Iceland, my girlfriend and I spent nine days on the South Coast. On the way back to Reykjavík, we chose to make a quick stop at Urriðafoss. On that particular day, the weather was *not* on our side; it was rainy, windy, and bitterly cold, but the waterfall was a nice stop, nonetheless. 

Rather than being dramatic or tall like some of the other waterfalls on this list, I recommend visiting Urriðafoss for its sheer power. The waterfall’s average water volume per second is the most in Iceland, and it also happens to be on the country’s longest river. It’s cool to see from the walking path, and you can easily visit in no more than 30 minutes. 

While at Urriðafoss, we also ate lunch in our car. Our original plan was to use the picnic benches here, but the weather was very much like “lol, no”. Still, it was nice. You’ll need to pay a parking fee to visit, which you can do via the Parka app. 

If you choose to visit Urriðafoss, I recommend doing so as part of a bigger trip along the Ring Road or the South Coast. I wouldn’t take a dedicated day trip here. It’s just over an hour from Reykjavík, and roughly 20 minutes from Selfoss—the largest town on the South Coast. 

You can then drive onward to either Reykjavík or the likes of Seljalandsfoss. Oh, and if you happen to stop in Selfoss and need some food, Tommi’s Burger Joint is a nice place for lunch or dinner. Can confirm from personal experience. 😛

6. Gullfoss

Gullfoss was actually the first waterfall I visited in Iceland, and I originally went here on my second trip to the country in December 2018. I have since returned to it, and I still think it’s well worth your time. 

On my first trip to Gullfoss, it was part of a day tour around the Golden Circle. And I won’t lie… it was *cold*. Excluding wind chill, the temperature was -11ºC (12.2ºF). I didn’t have the right gloves or an appropriate number of layers, so you should definitely dress up warmly if you visit in the winter. Still, the waterfall was worth it. 

To be honest, Gullfoss is worth seeing regardless of when you’re in Iceland. It’s incredibly easy to reach from Reykjavík, and the Golden Circle in general is—while touristy—beautiful. 

You will encounter crowds at Gullfoss, but I’ve personally never found them unmanageable. In addition to seeing the waterfall, you can also visit the café if you’re feeling hungry. You will also find toilets and a souvenir shop there.

At the time of writing, you can park at Gullfoss for free. You’ll find two parking lots here. 

Getting to Gullfoss

7. Goðafoss

Whereas Gullfoss is the main waterfall on the Golden Circle, Goðafoss is one of the Diamond Circle’s highlights. The Diamond Circle is basically a similar route to the Golden Circle, but in the north of Iceland instead. I visited as part of a Ring Road trip, and it was a nice stop on the way to Akureyri. 

To be honest, we spent much longer here than we expected to. We were at Goðafoss for around two hours, and in that time, we walked around the trail that goes around the top of it. We also went to the viewpoint spot that requires climbing down, but I have to say that I’m not sure if I would do that part in the winter.  

Getting to Goðafoss

Goðafoss is a 30-minute drive from Akureyri. We were staying at a campsite in Húsavík the night before, and from here, the drive takes around 40 minutes. 

I think that every person should visit Þingvellir National Park, especially if they’re visiting Iceland for the first time. It’s one of my favorite places in the country, and I never get tired of visiting. If you’re visiting the national park via your own car, Öxarárfoss is worth hiking to. 

The waterfall is relatively easy to reach, and while small, it’s very pretty. The views of Þingvellir as you get there are beautiful, too. Regardless of whether you visit the national park for a day trip or overnight, you can easily get to Öxarárfoss. 

Rather than visiting Þingvellir specifically for Öxarárfoss, I recommend just making it part of a broader trip there. Unlike Gullfoss, many day tours don’t stop at this waterfall; you’ll need your own car to make the most of it. 

You can park your car at Þingvellir National Park when you arrive. Driving here takes around 45 minutes from Reykjavík. When you arrive, you can hike to the waterfall. Some of the path can be slippery in the winter, so be careful. You will need to pay for parking at Þingvellir, which you can do via the Check-it app.

9. Svartifoss

I had seen countless photos of Svartifoss before I finally got the chance to visit. In terms of rock formations, I think it’s one of the most interesting waterfalls in Iceland by a considerable distance. We went here as part of a bigger day trip to Skaftafell National Park, which we did on that nine-day South Coast trip I talked about earlier. 

You’ll need to hike to Svartifoss to get there, which I’ve written a full guide about. For most people, though, the hike isn’t overly difficult. It’ll take you between 45 minutes and an hour to hike one-way, and you can visit year-round. However, the path can be slippery in the winter, so you should be careful. For what it’s worth, we went in April. 

Depending on when you visit—both time of day and in the year—Svartifoss can be quiet or somewhat crowded. When we went in April, we only saw three other groups on the entire trail. As you approach, you can see the waterfall from afar. 

You can camp overnight at Skaftafell National Park, which I did on a future trip. Whether you do that or are just there for the day, you can easily hike to Svartifoss and do at least one of the other hikes in the area. When you park at Skaftafell National Park, you’ll need to pay a parking fee. You can do so via the Parka app. 

Getting to Skaftafell National Park So That You Can Hike to Svartifoss

You really will need to stay overnight on the South Coast to get here without burning out. The best option is to camp overnight at Skaftafell National Park, but of course, you’ll need your own camping equipment. Otherwise, you can stay in Vík and drive from there. 

10. Litlanesfoss

Litlanesfoss was originally an afterthought when we hiked to Hengifoss, but in my opinion, it’s a really nice waterfall that forms part of the trail. We also didn’t end up seeing Hengifoss because it was so foggy, so I guess it was good that we at least saw Litlanesfoss and therefore got to see one waterfall. 🤣

This waterfall is in Iceland’s Eastfjords, and we went here on a summer trip. The basalt columns close to it are very photogenic, and I thought it looked quite cool on a moody day. Even though we didn’t achieve our main mission, it was still a nice hike here. 

Litlanesfoss is around a half-an-hour drive from Egilsstaðir, which is the main town in the Eastfjords. You can type “Hengifoss Parking” into Google Maps; besides the trail, you’ll also find a café, toilets, and some picnic benches. 

The parking fee is 1,000 ISK. You can pay via the Check-it app. 

11. Dettifoss

We visited Dettifoss while we were in the North of Iceland, since we had enough time to both go there and later visit Húsavík for our whale-watching tour. Beforehand, I had Dettifoss down as a nice-to-see but not essential. So, I was happy when we had the opportunity to actually go and see it. 

Dettifoss is another incredibly powerful waterfall, and it looks pretty similar to Gullfoss. You can actually park here for free, which I have to say I found surprising given that it was quite busy when we went. The waterfalls on the South Coast generally had more people, but this was definitely one of the busier ones that we went to in the north of the country. 

To get to Dettifoss from the West Side car park, you’ll need to do a relatively easy hike. There were quite a few awkward rocks on the path when we were there, though, so I recommend bringing proper footwear and being careful in these spots. From the East Side, the drive will be more challenging; you should use a 4WD and can only do it in the summer.

Dettifoss is a very powerful waterfall, and I therefore recommend bringing a waterproof jacket with you. Even though we stood at the viewing deck, which was somewhat further away, we still got a bit wet. 

Getting to Dettifoss

You can reach Dettifoss via Route 862 or 864. The former is not accessible from January through early April. Even though we visited in June, we went via Route 864. We also went via the West Side car park, which is open year-round. The East Side is closed from October through May/June (depending on the weather). While you need a 4WD for the East Side, you do not for the other one.

Not to be confused with the town in the south of Iceland, Selfoss is a small waterfall in the north of the country. We visited right after going to Dettifoss; you just need to hike in the opposite direction along the trail. 

Compared to Dettifoss, the crowds were much smaller here. We could only see the waterfall from further away, but it was still nice and worth the extra time. I wouldn’t necessarily go exclusively to the Selfoss waterfall as a day trip on its own, but since you’re already in the area when you go to Dettifoss, it makes sense. 

The walk to Selfoss was pretty easy, and everything was well-signposted. You can keep your car in the West Side parking lot and visit straight after you’ve seen Dettifoss. The only annoyance when we went in the summer was that the bugs can be quite irritating. We also went at the start of June, and the trail was quite muddy then. 

13. Skógafoss

I have been to Skógafoss twice, and it’s one of my favorite waterfalls in all of Iceland. Even though it’s touristy, it’s well worth your time regardless of when you visit. Skógafoss is also quite close to Seljalandsfoss and many other attractions on the South Coast of Iceland, so it’s very easy to get to. 

Skógafoss is incredibly powerful, as my water-damaged camera from my 2024 trip can attest to 🥲. You *will* get wet if you go anywhere near the waterfall, especially if you want to get pictures of yourself there. While you cannot go behind the waterfall like at Seljalandsfoss or Kvernufoss, you can get quite close to it. 

I also recommend going up the stairs next to Skógafoss, which will take you to the top and along the trail behind it. If you follow the trail the whole way, you’ll do the Fimmvörðuháls hike, which takes between six and seven hours. It’ll take you to Þórsmörk, which is a national park I had the pleasure of staying in once for two nights. It’s really beautiful and worth considering if you’re visiting Iceland in the summer. 

You should not do the full trail outside of the warmer months as it’s not safe, but the stairs behind Skógafoss are worth at least going up for the initial part. When I went in April, at least, they were open. But this is Iceland, and the weather changes all the time. 🙂

While Skógafoss is crowded, I only found it too much when the tour buses were there. Otherwise, I felt like it was just the usual crowd of tourists. It’s quieter in the off-season compared to the summer, though. I actually wrote a full guide on visiting Skógafoss if you’re interested in doing some more research. 

From Vík, Skógafoss takes just over 30 minutes to drive to. When you arrive at the waterfall, you’ll need to pay for parking. You can use the Parka app to do this. 

14. Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell is the main reason that most people visit the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the mountain has a small waterfall close to it. The viewpoint here is one of the most popular photo spots in Iceland. I wouldn’t skip it if you’re in the country for the first time, but it is one of those places that I think you only need to see once. The exception would be if you have some season-specific photo ideas in mind. 

Kirkjufellsfoss is relatively small, and the main reason to see it is for the view of the mountain in the background. It’s quite easy to get here from Reykjavík, and you could do it in a day (but it would be a very long day). However, I absolutely love the Snæfellsnes Peninsula—as in, it’s my favorite part of Iceland. So, I would recommend staying for a day or two nearby. 

To get to Kirkjufellsfoss, you’ll need to use the parking lot at Kirkjufell. It can get very crowded here, so I would recommend visiting early in the morning. Also, if it’s foggy, you probably won’t see the mountain in the background. So, you can decide if that’s a deal-breaker for you; if it is, you don’t need to go here. 

You will need to pay a fee at the Kirkjufell parking lot. You can do so via the kiosk or in the EasyPark app. 

Even if you’re only in the country for a short time, some of the waterfalls on this list are easy to reach. You can do so via day tours or by driving yourself. While some will have more difficult routes and roads, others are relatively straightforward.