The best waterfalls in Southern Region

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.