Planning a trip to Iceland and looking to explore the most beautiful waterfalls? You’re in the right place!
In this article, you’ll discover ten of Iceland’s most breathtaking waterfalls – from hidden little falls to thundering cascades, each waterfall in Iceland offers its own unique experience. Whether you’re looking to hike in secluded canyons, marvel at powerful falls or simply soak in these natural wonders, there’s a waterfall here for everyone!
Let’s dive in and find your perfect Icelandic waterfall!
Gullfoss is a dramatic and powerful waterfall, among the most famous in Iceland, definitely worth seeing. It is the largest volume waterfall in Europe, with the average flow being 130 m³/s in the summertime and 80 m³/s in the wintertime. The scenery is pretty breathtaking as well with those impressive volumes of water pluniging into a beautiful canyon.
Walk : The main path from the parking takes around 5-10 minutes. There are different viewing platforms, so walking on those trails can take a bit more time, pictures and breaks, I’d count at least 30-45 minutes.
Parking Fee : 1000 ISK (7€).
Gjain waterfall is more like a secret oasis hidden away in the Þjórsárdalur valley. You can expect multiple small waterfalls in a stunning decor, especially during fall. It truly looks like it’s coming out of a fairy tale or if you’d just stepped into a hidden world.
Walk : From the Google Maps location where you can park your car, it is a 30 minutes walk to the last waterfall, the first one being 5 minutes away. Note that the dirt road needs a 4WD vehicle.
Parking Fee : Free.
Háifoss is another secluded waterfall, despite the fact that it is among Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, at about 122–128 meters high! The waterfall is dropping into a breathtaking canyon, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a beautiful rainbow.
Walk : From the Google Maps location, you can park and walk 5-10 minutes to the viewpoint, but note that the dirt road needs a 4WD vehicle.
Parking Fee : Free.
I did list Seljalandsfoss in this article even though it was a bit too touristy for us – being one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland – only for one reason. It offers the unique experience of walking behind the cascade (see picture 2 below). Note that YOU WILL GET WET, so you might want to wear rainproof coat and pants.
If you continue the trail on the left after Seljalandsfoss, you will reach Gljúfrabúi (meaning “canyon dweller”). This waterfall is more intimate and is hidden in the cliff. So you really have no idea what you are going to see until the very last minute, which makes it both exciting and rewarding once you discover it (see picture 4).
Walk : The trail taking you both to Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi is a 20-30-minute loop, a bit more if people are queuing to walk behind the waterfall. If you plan to see only Seljalandsfoss, then it’s only 10 minutes. For Gljúfrabúi, be mindful of the water level as sometimes it is tricky to get to the waterfall without stepping foot in the water.
Parking Fee : 1000 ISK (7€).
Also called “The Valley of Tears”, Sigöldugljúfur is an ethereal hidden gem in Iceland. This remote deep canyon with green moss everywhere, countless little falls flowing into turquoise glacial water and basalt columns all around really is otherworldly.
Walk : The viewpoint is about 5 minutes from the Google Maps location, but note that the dirt road needs a 4WD vehicle.
Parking Fee : Free.
Sigöldufoss is a waterfall in the Icelandic Highlands, also called “Blue Falls of Iceland” because of its vivid blue glacial water contrasting with the black lava cliffs.
Walk : From the Google Maps location, it’s a 5-minute walk (and only a 10-minute drive from the previous waterfall).
Parking Fee : Free.
Skógafoss is a tall, wide, and powerful waterfall (picture 4 below). It is impressive but the other waterfalls (Hestavaðsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss and countless more) on the trail after using the staircase beside Skógafoss are just as nice and less crowded. Honestly, the hike itself and the views all along were better than the first waterfall (you can see the pictures 5-6 below if you need convincing!). If you don’t feel like doing this trail, I’d still recommend taking the staircase to see the waterfall from above and a pretty panoramic point (see picture 1 and 2 below).
Walk : Seeing the waterfall takes 5 minutes, seeing it from above takes 10 minutes, but if you’re in the mood for hiking, the Skógá Trail is round 16km round-trip. Personally, we did walk for an hour round trip because we started having rain, on a sunny day the full hike is very much worth it.
Parking Fee : 1000 ISK (7€).
Just 3 minutes from Skógafoss, Kvernufoss is a smaller and more secluded waterfall tucked into a gorge. You will have way less tourists than at Skógafoss and it is even more enchanting. Once you arrive at the waterfall, there is a path to walk behind the fall, but it is a more tranquil experience than Seljalandsfoss (no crow, no queuing, no being wet by the strong fall! ).
Walk: The hike from the Skógar Museum parking takes around 30 minutes round-trip and is really easy.Quiet and enchanting.
Parking Fee : Parking at the Skógar Museum is free.
Located in East Iceland, Hengifoss is 128-meter high, making it the third-tallest waterfall in Iceland. But what’s more impressive about this waterfall are those striking red strata you can see on the 2nd picture below.
Half-way to Hengifoss, you will reach Litlanesfoss, a waterfall framed by towering hexagonal basalt columns, giving it a dramatic and sculptural vibe (see picture 4).
Both are absolutely unique and definitely worth the effort, and because it is quite a hike, you’ll likely be almost alone at the waterfalls! Plus, the whole hike is surrounded by amazing landscapes so you don’t see the time flying by.
Walk: The trail from the parking to the waterfall is about 45 minutes, so round-trip takes about 1 hour and a half to 2 hours if you take a break at the waterfall. It is a bit steep a the beginning for around 15 minutes.
The red clay and basalt layers flank the waterfall, making for striking visual contrasts. It’s a favorite among nature photographers.
Parking Fee : 1000 ISK (7€).
Goðafoss, or the “Waterfall of the Gods,” is a powerful yet beautiful fall in northern Iceland, especially during sunset.
Walk : There is a paved walking path immediately accessible from the parking on both sides of the river, but if you’re feeling like walking, there is a 3km loop around the falls.
Parking Fee : Free.
And that concludes our 10 best waterfalls in Iceland! We coud have added a couple more to the list but we wanted to list only our favorites here.
Make sure to visit some of these waterfalls (if not all!) as it is an unforgettable experience and remarkable landscape.
If you plan on visiting Iceland any time soon, check out my article about the top places to see in Iceland (other than waterfalls!) and this one to know everything you need about Iceland before visiting.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
