If hot springs are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Iceland, it is very likely that they are waterfalls. The country has more than 10,000 waterfalls and you would have to work very hard to avoid them no matter where you are traveling.
There are so many different types of waterfalls. Dive, multi-step, punchbowl, frozen, ramp, waterfall, fan, waterfall, block; Iceland has them all. You can see four of the waterfalls on this list in one day, if you think about it: start at Thingvellir National Park with Gullfoss and Oxararfoss and embark on the four-hour drive to Vík with stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss along the way. The other waterfalls on this list range from Vatnajökull National Park to the northernmost parts of the country.
While a good majority of them just require a quick start off the trail, some require a bit more effort. To help you determine which ones to prioritize, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 waterfalls around Iceland.
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Gullfoss
Direction
IcelandGet directions
You’ll constantly find a crowd around this waterfall’s lookout, and for good reason. Surprisingly, it doesn’t detract from the majesty of the view either. This panoramic waterfall is located within the Golden Circle on the Hvítá River, quite close to the popular attractions Geysir and Silfra Fissure.
Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjökull, feeds the water at these falls. There are two stages to this waterfall, which rises to 32 meters in total, sending the water deep into the canyon. Try visiting on a sunny day – it’s not uncommon to see bright rainbows bouncing off the falls when the clouds part.
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Seljalandsfoss
Direction
Þórsmerkurvegur, IcelandGet directions
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At a height of 65 meters, you can see Seljalandsfoss from the road. You can hike to the falls, which touch the ground and form a calm, shallow pool (well, as calm as any waterfall could be). Follow a path that will take you behind the waterfall, but bring a raincoat. You’re certainly going to get a little wet.
The trail can be slippery, so strap on your hiking boots. If you are in front of the waterfall and follow the gravel path to the left away from Seljalandsfoss, you will also find a number of smaller waterfalls.
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Dettifoss
Direction
Dettifoss, IcelandGet directions
Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe and it is worth a trip north to see it. Located near Akureyi, also known as the capital of North Iceland, you won’t be able to see this waterfall from the road. It’s located inside a canyon makes it a bit more elusive than Seljalandsfoss or Gullfoss. If you are in the area, don’t miss the neighboring falls, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss.
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Glymur
Direction
IcelandGet directions
Glymur is perfect for waterfall enthusiasts who are also looking for a little hike. You will want to reserve half a day to enjoy all that this area has to offer. Located just a 40-minute drive from Reykjavik, you’ll see caves, rivers, canyons, mountains, and valleys on your hike to the waterfall. Pack a lunch and find a secluded spot with a good view for a quick rest.
The 198 meter drop makes it the second highest waterfall in Iceland, below Morsárfoss, which has a drop of 228 meters. You can hike the north or south side of the waterfall, and many hikers have shared that the south approach has better views of the falls.
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Svartifoss
Direction
8, IcelandGet directions
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Just off Route 1 at the southern end of Vatnajökull National Park you will find Svartifoss, which means ‘Black Falls’. The waterfall gets its name from the black basalt columns that line the walls of the waterfall. To get there, start at the Skaftafell Visitor Center, where the trail begins. From there it’s a 45 minute hike (be warned: it’s a bit uphill all the way to the waterfall). On your hike, you will see three waterfalls along the way: Þjofafoss, Hundafoss, and Magnusarfoss.
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Oxararfoss
Direction
Aðalstræti 10, 101 Reykjavík, IcelandGet directions
You will find this waterfall just inside Thingvellir National Park, but you won’t see it on the way, despite being only a few meters from the road. To get there, you’ll quickly hike up a cliff-lined ravine and along the cliffs (it’s less than ten minutes from the parking lot). This is the perfect place not only to view an impressive waterfall, but also to get a close look at the huge rocks that jut out from the tension between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. This waterfall was also man-made, in a way, considering that the Oxarar River was physically moved in the 9th century to provide better water for members of parliament.
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Skogafoss
Direction
Skógafoss, IcelandGet directions
Conveniently located on the road to Vík, Skogafoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. Local folklore shares that a treasure chest of gold is located behind the falls. You can walk on the right side of the falls to get a breathtaking view of the river before it hits the ground. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is shallow and you can walk quite close, but be prepared to be covered in mist.
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Barnafoss
Direction
Möðruvellir 5, Möðruvallavegur, IcelandGet directions
Barnafoss, or Children’s Falls, has a morbid history. According to Icelandic sagas, the two Hraunsás children were left home alone while their parents visited the church for Christmas mass. They returned home and the children left. They followed in his footsteps to the nearby waterfall, where the footsteps stopped. Fearing they would drown, the mother demolished the arch leading to the waterfall and cursed the falls so that no one else could survive crossing the waterfall.
This waterfall is more like rapids than a direct shot to the ground. You will also find a series of falls called Hraunfossar nearby, originating from a lava field.
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Kirkjufellsfoss
Direction
IcelandGet directions
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is home to one of the most photographed mountains and waterfalls in the country: Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss. Three separate falls, all of the same name, make up Kirkjufellsfoss and you can even walk between them (the falls are really short and peaceful).
Bring your camera – if you put it at a right angle, you can get the falls and the mountain in one frame.
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Godafoss
Direction
Goðafoss waterfall, IcelandGet directions
Godafoss, or “Waterfall of the Gods,” got its name after Christianity was named the official language of Iceland in AD 1,000. Upon learning of this, the Lawpeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, the person in charge of choosing the official religion, threw all his statues of Norse God into the waterfall after making his decision. Located on the ring road, Godafoss is a 45-minute drive from Akureyi. Like Gullfoss, this waterfall offers a panoramic view of the surroundings.