Iceland's Best Waterfalls

Last updated: 2026-09-12 · TATS Man

Do not build a trip around a waterfall checklist

Iceland is generous with waterfalls and ruthless with itinerary time. If you try to collect every famous name, you can spend half the holiday getting in and out of car parks.

My rule is to choose waterfalls by route role:

• one or two iconic easy stops;
• one waterfall that rewards a proper walk; and
• one quieter regional stop that fits where you are already going.

That gives you variety without turning the trip into a windscreen tour.

Gullfoss: the Golden Circle essential

Gullfoss is the obvious Golden Circle choice because the scale is immediate and the logistics are easy. The river drops through a dramatic two-stage gorge and the main viewpoints are close to the parking area.

It deserves the fame, but it is not a reason to bolt six more waterfalls onto the same day. If you are already doing Þingvellir and Geysir, Gullfoss is the natural major waterfall for that route.

See my dedicated Gullfoss guide for the full stop. Conditions can limit path access in winter, so respect barriers and closures rather than assuming every lower viewpoint is always available.

Skógafoss: the best “walk straight up to the drama” stop

Skógafoss is one of the easiest waterfalls to understand the moment you arrive: a huge curtain of water, a broad foreground and a viewpoint almost at the base.

The South Iceland tourism authority lists it at roughly 60 metres high, and a steep staircase reaches the upper viewpoint. The spray can be intense, so this is where waterproof outerwear earns its space even on a day that began dry.

If your South Coast schedule is tight, I would choose Skógafoss over adding three minor stops just because they are nearby.

Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi: memorable, but weather changes the experience

Seljalandsfoss is famous for the path behind the falling water. That route is the whole reason the stop feels different from other big South Coast waterfalls.

But the walk-behind experience is not a year-round entitlement. Visit South Iceland warns that winter ice can make the path dangerous and that falling ice can be a serious hazard when conditions thaw. If the path is closed, respect it.

Nearby Gljúfrabúi is tucked into a narrow gorge and makes a good paired stop when conditions are suitable. Expect spray and wet footing rather than a clean, dry photo platform.

Kvernufoss: the quieter companion to Skógafoss

Kvernufoss sits in a canyon east of Skógafoss and is reached by a short walk from the Skógar area. It feels much more enclosed and intimate than its famous neighbour.

I like it as an “extra” when you already have time at Skógar — not as a reason to race through Skógafoss. The path and wet rock deserve normal Iceland caution, especially when temperatures are close to freezing.

Svartifoss: the waterfall for walkers

Svartifoss in Skaftafell is framed by dark basalt columns and is one of the country's most distinctive waterfall settings. Vatnajökull National Park describes short trails from Skaftafell to Svartifoss, but “short” does not mean roadside: you need to walk uphill and give the stop proper time.

As of September 2026, the park has a temporary closure affecting the Austurbrekkur trail from 1–30 September for maintenance. That is exactly why I check the national park's current trail notices rather than repeating a fixed walking time from an old guide.

If you want one waterfall stop that feels like an outing rather than a pull-off, Svartifoss is an excellent choice.

Dettifoss: the power stop of North Iceland

Dettifoss is a completely different experience: wide, violent and defined by the force of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river rather than a delicate curtain.

The access side matters. Visit North Iceland says the west-bank Road 862 is paved, while the east-bank Road 864 is gravel and can stay closed into early summer because of snow or wet conditions. Navigation apps can make the two approaches look interchangeable when they are not.

Dettifoss belongs naturally in a North Iceland / Diamond Circle itinerary. I would not make a huge detour from a South Coast-heavy first trip just to add another famous name.

Goðafoss: the easiest major North Iceland fit

Goðafoss is one of the cleanest route fits in Iceland because it sits between Akureyri and the Mývatn area. It is dramatic enough to be a major stop but easy enough to combine with a transfer day.

That makes it a better choice for many travellers than chasing a “hidden” waterfall an hour off route. Route efficiency is underrated.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss: best West Iceland pair

Hraunfossar is unusual because the water emerges in a long series of spring-fed cascades from beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field into the Hvítá river. The Environment Agency notes that the area has been protected since 1987 and has marked trails and defined viewpoints.

Barnafoss sits just above it, where the river forces through rock channels and arches. The two waterfalls share the same practical stop, so together they are one of the best-value diversions in West Iceland.

If your trip already includes Borgarnes, Reykholt or the Silver Circle, this pair makes much more sense than detouring south for a waterfall you saw two days earlier.

Brúarfoss: colour over scale

Brúarfoss is not about height. The appeal is the vivid blue water and tighter river setting.

It works best for travellers who have time for a smaller-scale stop and want contrast with Gullfoss. Access arrangements have changed over the years, which is another reason not to rely on an old “secret parking spot” blog. Follow current local signage and designated access.

Öxarárfoss: the waterfall you can add without creating another driving day

Inside Þingvellir National Park, Öxarárfoss is a useful example of smart itinerary stacking: if you are already exploring Þingvellir, you can add a waterfall on foot rather than driving elsewhere simply to tick another name.

Winter ice can make paths slippery. Þingvellir has previously recommended traction aids when conditions are icy, so treat the path as a real outdoor surface, not a city footpath.

What about Fjaðrárgljúfur?

Fjaðrárgljúfur is spectacular, but it is a canyon, not one of Iceland's “best waterfalls”. Older versions of this guide grouped it into the list because of its river and cascades. I would rather be precise: visit it for the canyon landscape and viewpoints, not because you are collecting waterfalls.

That distinction matters because route planning improves when each stop has a reason to exist.

My waterfall picks by itinerary

Golden Circle only: Gullfoss + Öxarárfoss if you want a second easy fit.

South Coast: Skógafoss + Seljalandsfoss/Gljúfrabúi; add Kvernufoss if you have time rather than adding another long drive.

Skaftafell / southeast: Svartifoss if you want a proper walking stop.

North Iceland: Goðafoss + Dettifoss for two completely different experiences.

West Iceland: Hraunfossar + Barnafoss as one efficient combined stop.

That is already more than enough waterfall variety for most first trips.

Safety: spray, ice and rivers change simple stops

Waterfall car parks can create a false sense that the attraction is controlled like a theme park. It is not. Spray freezes, paths close, river edges erode and barriers exist for a reason.

I keep three habits:

1. Respect every closure and barrier.
2. Wear footwear suited to wet or icy ground.
3. Check current conditions before committing to a winter path or remote access road.

No photograph improves when you have to ignore a closure to take it.

Pick fewer and stay longer

The best waterfall day is rarely the day with the highest count. It is the one where you can walk the path, watch the water, notice the landscape and still reach the next hotel without racing darkness.

Use my Iceland itinerary guide to fit these into a realistic route rather than treating this page as a checklist.

Cheers, Carpe Diem & choosing waterfalls by route instead of Pokémon rules! 🍻⏳💦
TATS Man
your waterfall-fatigue prevention officer