The best waterfalls in Iceland

Skógafoss is definitely not just a “see it from the top platform and leave” kind of place—you’d be missing out if you stop there.

In Iceland, my two favorite waterfalls are Dettifoss and Skógafoss. For Skógafoss alone, you should ideally set aside at least 2.5 to 3 hours.

At first, we followed a typical guide and only went up to the top viewing platform to look at the waterfall. But then we realized there was an actual hiking trail continuing beyond it. After checking Google Maps, we discovered there were many more waterfalls further along the route, so we decided to keep walking.

This was a spontaneous stop we made while driving along Iceland’s Ring Road in the north. It’s very easy to find right by Route 1, and there are clear road signs. We noticed a lot of people stopping here, so we decided to check it out as well.

Godafoss (the “Waterfall of the Gods”) is about 12 meters high and 30 meters wide. It is formed by the Skjálfandafljót glacial river and is one of the most famous waterfalls in northern Iceland, and indeed one of the most iconic in the entire country.

According to history, the first settlers of Iceland were mostly Norwegians who believed in the ancient Norse gods. Around 930 AD, the Icelandic Commonwealth was established, and Christianity from mainland Europe began to exert pressure on Iceland.

I think Gullfoss (the “Golden Falls”) is the most beautiful stop on the Golden Circle. It’s incredibly spectacular—glacial meltwater creates a rainbow in the sunlight.

The waterfall drops in two tiers with a total height of about 32 meters. When the sunlight hits, it glows with a golden hue, and the mist feels almost magical.

Seljalandsfoss is known as one of Iceland’s most photogenic waterfalls. Its greatest highlight is that you can walk behind the waterfall and experience its grandeur from a completely unique perspective.

It is located on Iceland’s South Coast along Route 1, about 120 km southeast of Reykjavík.

The waterfall has a vertical drop of about 60 meters. Its water originates from meltwater of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier.

Dettifoss, the filming location of the movie *Prometheus*, feels like a truly desolate wilderness where there is almost no one around. Along the road, there are only occasional wooden poles with yellow-painted tops to guide the way.

Clambering over dark volcanic rocks, I felt like a small creature moving through an ancient, untamed landscape. I took many live photos, trying to preserve this moment—the sound of the wind, the roar of the water, my footsteps, even the friction of my clothes.

The slanted sunlight seemed to reveal the shape of the wind itself. In that moment, I was so overwhelmed by the experience that I almost teared up.

We want to share a lesser-known spot in Iceland with you—Svartifoss, the Black Waterfall! This place is absolutely breathtaking.

Location: Svartifoss is located in Vatnajökull National Park in southern Iceland. Although it’s not as famous as the Golden Circle attractions, its beauty is every bit as impressive.

What makes it special: The waterfall is famous for the striking basalt columns that surround it, which look like a masterpiece sculpted by nature. Water cascades down from the towering black basalt formations, creating a dramatic contrast between the white water and dark rocks. The view is simply stunning.

Black lava has been silent for a thousand years, yet water quietly awakens within its cracks.

At Hraunfossar, there is no roaring cascade—only countless delicate streams gently seeping out from the rock, like the Earth’s breath, soft yet unwavering. It does not compete or rush, yet it spreads across the landscape like a flowing sheet of light.

Standing close to it, you realize: the most breathtaking scenery is never the loudest. It is the kind that quietly turns time itself into poetry.

**Barnafoss Waterfall**

A milky-blue river suddenly rushes down through a narrow basalt canyon, crashing into striking white rapids. The water is so vividly blue it feels like Iceland’s sky has been crushed and dissolved into the river itself.

From the nearby twin waterfalls, following the river valley leads you to the village of Reykholt. This is the birthplace of the legendary Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson. Between the ancient stone buildings and the surrounding wilderness, it almost feels like you can still hear echoes of medieval skalds chanting their poetry.

Glymur Waterfall is Iceland’s tallest accessible waterfall at 198 metres, tucked deep inside a dramatic canyon. Reaching it requires a 6.6 km return hike with about 450 metres of elevation gain, taking roughly 4 hours. It’s widely considered one of the best day hikes along Iceland’s Ring Road—scenic, quiet, and rewarding.

Getting there: We left Reykjavík at 8 a.m. and arrived at the trailhead in about an hour. The parking lot had only three cars—completely peaceful. The first half hour of the trail is relatively easy and gentle, until the canyon suddenly opens up, the sound of rushing water grows louder, and the path becomes much steeper. Birds glide along the cliff edges in the wind, giving the whole atmosphere a strong Lord of the Rings feel.

Eventually, Glymur appears—especially spectacular after rain. Water plunges from the cliff edge straight into a dark gorge below, crashing down with incredible force and echoing through the canyon.

At the edge of Iceland’s southern highlands, about a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík.

Search in navigation: Háifoss Road conditions can be dangerous. Drive carefully

Háifoss is Iceland’s third-highest waterfall, located near the Hekla volcano. Together with the nearby Granni waterfall, it creates a rare double waterfall landscape. The best time to visit is during summer (mid-June to September). It is a hidden gem with incredible photography opportunities and far fewer crowds compared to the Golden Circle.

Iceland, from Goðafoss heading south, drive along Road 842, then turn onto F26 and continue for about 4 km to reach Aldeyjarfoss. We didn’t see a single person along the way. From the parking area, it’s about a 10-minute walk down to the viewpoint overlooking the waterfall—and the moment we saw it, we were completely stunned. This is near the Lake Mývatn area, and we visited during a week when Iceland had unusually perfect weather, with sunshine and over 20°C across the country.

We took advantage of the good conditions and drove to Aldeyjarfoss. This waterfall is located in North Iceland’s Skjálfandi region, dropping about 20 metres as powerful water surges through ancient basalt columns. The dark hexagonal rock formations contrast sharply with the white rushing water, creating a dramatic scene that looks like a bride’s veil cascading over volcanic stone.

The location is remote and quiet, requiring a drive deep into the highlands via F821 (4WD is essential). In winter, the road is often closed due to weather, so it’s mostly accessible in summer. For those wanting to escape crowds and experience something raw and untouched, Aldeyjarfoss is highly recommended—it feels like a cold, powerful poem waiting for the right traveller to stop and listen.

After a full day looping through the Golden Circle — the crowds at the geothermal area and the packed parking lots at the big waterfall — Hjálparfoss felt like a completely different Iceland. It's a short detour off the road toward the highlands, and if you have the time, it's absolutely worth pulling over for.

Two streams of the Fossá River tumble down side by side over dark, weathered basalt, landing softly together in a shared pool before the water continues on to meet the much larger, glacier-fed Þjórsá river nearby. The basalt walls curve around the falls almost like a natural amphitheater, and the surrounding lava field — part of one of the largest lava flows on Earth since the last Ice Age — is softened by patches of green highland vegetation.

There was almost no one else there when we visited. Just the sound of water, a bit of wind, and the kind of stillness that's hard to find at Iceland's more famous stops. The near-symmetrical shape of the twin falls makes it an easy, effortless photo spot — no crowds to dodge, no waiting for a gap in the tour buses.

I'd been looking forward to most: hiking to Hengifoss, then heading out at 9pm to see puffins at Borgarfjarðarhöfn. The weather cooperated — blue sky, scattered clouds.

Hengifoss doesn't have the name recognition of Iceland's headline waterfalls, but it was the one I wanted to see most, because of a single photo angle I'd stumbled across on Instagram — a shot looking down over the falls from above. I got obsessed with finding that exact rock. I went through every geotagged photo on Google Maps I could find, then cross-referenced them against satellite imagery to pin down the rock's coordinates. I searched hiking blogs and trip reports and found only two relevant posts, both on Reddit. Where does the route up start? Where does the path go? I studied aerial imagery for hours before picking an entry point — most of my "research" came from staring at satellite photos rather than reading anyone else's guide, because almost no one seems to have gone up that way.

I love hiking, even though I don't get to do it often. But my experience with wild, remote destinations is: if you don't hike, you miss the best views — and the best views are almost always from the top.

Day one of our self-drive trip started with the Golden Circle. From Reykjavík, it's about a 1.5-hour drive to reach this otherwise-ordinary-looking blue hideaway — Brúarfoss. Navigate to "Brúarfoss Waterfall Official Parking," where a parking fee of roughly 750 ISK applies (about 4 hours' worth), payable through the Parka app or on-site.

Heads-up: a lot of older travel guides still point to the old trailhead — that one's now closed, since it runs through private land. Make sure you're heading to the new official parking area instead.

From the new parking lot in Hlauptunga, it's only a short, flat walk to the falls — easy enough for most people, and the whole loop out and back is well under 2 km.

**“Hat Mountain” in the mist**

In Iceland, the so-called “Hat Mountain” usually refers to Kirkjufell, also known in Chinese as “Straw Hat Mountain.” It is one of the most iconic peaks on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland.

This mountain is a glacially carved volcanic formation, shaped over time from ancient lava flows and ice erosion. It is not an active volcano.

Was driving through the East Fjords one day with no plan, just zoomed in on the map and picked a waterfall that looked close to route 1. Had no idea what it actually was going in, just a name on a screen. Turned off the main road and it took a while to get there, kept thinking did I turn too early, but eventually it opened up.

Stood at the top of it for a bit. Fjords all around covered in tundra, nobody else there, just the water going straight down and that sound. Honestly it felt lonely in a way I liked, like the place wasn't performing for anyone, it just is what it is whether you show up or not.

Name is Folaldafoss, it's on Google Maps if you search it. To get there you drive part of an F road so go slow, it's not really built for a normal car pushing through it fast. There's a little pull off spot to park by a viewing platform. You can climb up the side of it if you want a closer angle but be careful, and whatever you do don't walk on the tundra, that stuff takes forever to grow back once you've stepped on it.