My Favorite Waterfalls In Iceland
Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world can be found in Iceland. They say there are more than 10,000 in the whole country. Yes. Jaw-dropping right? I don’t know if it’s even possible to see all of them but in 9 days that we had, we were lucky enough to see at least a dozen.
Here are some of our favorites. Some of these waterfalls are easy to get to while some are kind of off the beaten path. Some of them can be seen from the main road while others require a bit of a hike. The ones that are challenging to get to can only be accessed in the summer or during warmer days because a lot of the roads in Iceland are closed during winter.
GULFOSS
This pie shaped waterfall is massive and very much a photographer’s dream. It’s one of the most popular attraction in Iceland and was named one of the top ten waterfalls in the world. It really is breathtaking and the lush green vegetation that surrounds it makes it even more beautiful. It’s easy to get to and there’s a path that takes you down to get a close view of the waterfall. The shape is so unique I’ve never seen anything like it.
SKOGAFOSS
This is my personal favorite and no doubt one of the most beautiful of all waterfalls in Iceland. If I have to describe it in one word, it’s stunning! I love that you can just walk to it and get as close as you can to the waterfall. The power of the water as it cascades down to a tiny river below can be intimidating but enchanting as well. This is also very popular so it can get very crowded. We went there late afternoon and it wasn’t so bad.
SELJALANDSFOSS
This is also a popular one and one of the most photographed. You’ve probably seen it featured in travel magazines or travel blogs everywhere. It’s only about 10 mins away from Skogafoss and also right off the Ring Road. There’s a path that takes you behind the waterfall which is really cool but they close it when the weather is cold as the path gets slippery.
GODAFOSS
This one is really stunning! It reminds me of Niagara falls although not as wide. This horseshoe shaped waterfall can be viewed from both east and west side of the river. If you want to get close to the falls, view it from the west side. There’s a path that takes you to the bottom and get really close to the river.
ALDEYJARFOSS
We attempted to find this waterfall twice. It’s off the beaten path but definitely worth our struggle to find it. We were not successful on our first attempt because googlemaps sent us to the wrong place but we tried again the next day and strangely enough we found it easily without any issues. You have to do some off roading to get to this one so make sure to have the right vehicle. You also have to hike up to the waterfalls so wear the right shoes.
HRAFNABJARGAFOSS
Another waterfall that’s kind of off the beaten path which may only be accessible during summer or on warmer days. To get to this waterfall, you need to go through the F-roads which require a 4 wheel drive. In the winter these roads are completely closed due to heavy snowfall in the area so if you want to see it, come in the summer months. We flew our drone here and no one was around so it was really nice to kind of have the place to ourselves.
SVARTIFOSS
This is located in Skaftafell National Park and it’s about a 45 minute hike uphill to the falls. It’s quite a hike but it’s worth it. The waterfall cascades over basalt columns which is so unbelievable to me. I am in awe at how they are formed. I have never seen anything like it. It’s so beautiful in its most unique and unusual way. We also had the falls to ourselves so it was nice.
HRAUNFOSSAR
This waterfall reminds me of Plitvitce in Croatia. Not as big but just as photogenic. The water looks like its coming out of the ground and flowing through the shrubs then down to the river below. It’s so pretty.
DETTIFOSS
The power of this waterfall is so strong you can hear it from a mile away. It’s the most powerful waterfall in Europe. You have to hike through lava boulders for like half a mile to get to the falls so again make sure you wear the right shoes. You can view this waterfall from the east and west sides and I think you get a better view from the east side.
SELFOSS
Another stunning waterfall and it’s only a 20 minute hike from Dettifoss. It’s a wide horseshoe shaped waterfall that flows into a canyon. Some people skip Selfoss because of the hike but don’t get intimidated by it. It’s worth the trek. We took our time here because the whole area is so beautiful.
