The Best Waterfalls in Iceland
Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls, from roadside classics to hidden ones worth the detour, and how to see them.
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Few countries pack in as many dramatic waterfalls, this easily reached, as Iceland — here are the ones most worth planning your route around.
On the Golden Circle
Gullfoss, the "Golden Falls", drops in two tiers into a rugged canyon and is the natural finale of a Golden Circle day — framed in ice in winter, often with a rainbow in summer spray.
On the South Coast
- Seljalandsfoss — walk on a path behind the falling water.
- Skógafoss — broad and thunderous, with a staircase up to a viewing platform at the top.
- Svartifoss, in Skaftafell — framed by distinctive dark basalt columns, a short hike from the car park.
Off the beaten path
Goðafoss, near Akureyri in the north, is a wide, horseshoe-shaped falls with a striking legend attached. Dynjandi, in the remote Westfjords, cascades down a tiered, widening shape many regular visitors rate among the most beautiful in the country — and it’s far quieter than the South Coast classics.
The South Coast waterfalls are famous for a reason, but the ones that require a detour are often the ones people remember most.Ready to book?See South Coast waterfall tours
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