5 waterfalls not to be missed in Iceland

Seljalandsfoss is a breathtaking waterfall in Iceland, located on the southern coast of the island. It is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls in Iceland.

What makes Seljalandsfoss special is the fact that visitors can walk behind the cascading water curtain, which is a truly incredible experience. The waterfall falls about 60 metres from the cliff.

Thanks to the path leading behind the waterfall, you can admire the waterfall from a different perspective and as you start to approach the waterfall, you will feel the ever-present dew.

Access to Seljalandsfoss is easy, with parking and well-maintained trails. Visitors can explore the waterfall at their own pace and admire the views. There are several spots near the waterfall from which you will get great photos.

Seljalandsfoss is located near the famous Ring Road, which is why it is a popular tourist destination. It is therefore recommended to plan your visit to the waterfall for the morning, before the parking lot starts to fill up with buses of tourists. It’s a must-see for hikers and photographers, and a stop at it won’t take much time. But we definitely recommend combining your visit with the next waterfall, Gljúfrabúi.

Gljúfrabúi is hidden in a narrow gorge near Seljalandsfoss and offers a unique and enchanting experience. Be sure to combine your visit to these two waterfalls into one, park your car at Seljalandsfoss and walk all the way to Gljúfrabúi, it’s a short walk, no more than 3 kilometres in total.

What makes it special is its secluded location and especially the fact that it is hidden and you can’t actually see it from the outside. To get to the waterfall, you’ll have to walk through a narrow space in the rock and wade through the flowing water – if there’s more water, it’s more for boots or high boots, if there’s not much water, you can walk over the rocks with dry feet. However, there may be so much water that you can’t even get in, then the problem is not the water flowing on the ground, but rather the water directly from the waterfall. Once inside, you will be rewarded with a view of the waterfall flowing down from the ceiling of the gorge. Be warned though, the wet rocks can be quite slippery, so be really careful where you go. There’s also a large rock to climb if there’s not much water.

Gljúfrabúi is definitely worth it, and not every tourist from Seljalandsfoss will make it there, so you may be lucky enough to be there all alone.

Skógafoss is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls on the island. With a height of over 60 metres and a wide waterfall, Skógafoss is truly a natural wonder of Iceland. Its mighty flow of water creates clouds of dew and offers a breathtaking view.

This waterfall is located in a picturesque landscape near the village of Skógar. The surrounding mountain peaks and green valleys create a beautiful backdrop for Skógafoss and add to its charm.

Skógafoss is also known for its characteristic width of less than 25 metres. You can walk directly to the waterfall. Along the waterfall, a path leads up steps to a viewpoint where you can look down on the waterfall from above, or you can continue along the path to other waterfalls: Hestavaðsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss, Fremri-Fellsfoss, Innri-Fellsfoss, Kæfufoss and Skalabrekkufoss.

Skógafoss is easily accessible and there is a car park right next to it. It is a popular stop for tourists on the southern part of the island. Because of its accessibility, it tends to get a lot of tourists, so the walk up the stairs can be long, but the views are definitely worth it.

Detifoss Waterfall in Iceland is one of the most impressive natural phenomena in the country. It is the largest waterfall by water volume in Europe, making it a breathtaking place for travellers. It is located in Vatnajökull National Park, and is accessible by road 862, which leads to both its banks. The path to the waterfall is not difficult, but be prepared for a short walk, which can be slightly slippery, especially near the waterfall itself.

The Detifoss is a waterfall of superlatives – it has power, roar and tremendous effect. The wetter seasons, especially in spring after the snow melts, offer an impressive spectacle of water. Then in summer, the surroundings of the waterfall transform into a green oasis with a colourful floral carpet. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the power of nature and feel the incredible energy that nature can conjure up.

Near Dettifoss you can find other, a bit smaller, waterfalls, such as Selfoss or Hafragilsfoss.

Gullfoss is one of the largest and most famous waterfalls in Iceland, the water in the Hvítá River flows from the Langjökull glacier and then cascades 32 metres down the two cascades of Gullfoss waterfall. A path leads directly from the car park to it. We recommend taking a raincoat with you as the water splashes from all sides. In summer, approximately 140 cubic meters of water rush over the falls every second, while in winter this number drops to approximately 109 cubic meters.

Together with the Strokkur geyser and Thingvellir National Park, it is one of the stops on the Golden Circle, which contains the most important tourist sites in Iceland. There is a visitor centre near the waterfall.