Waterfalls in Iceland are a huge draw and a reason many people go to visit. My wife and I have always been captivated by waterfalls so when we went to Iceland there was no question that we would be seeing several. If you are a tourist it is actually hard not to see waterfalls in Iceland.  Just going out for a drive you will see them on the side of the road! Iceland’s volcanic history and massive glaciers are the primary reason there are so many waterfalls in Iceland.  

There are so many top 10 lists of the best waterfalls in Iceland that it is hard to compete from a blog perspective. So I blended our experience from a recent visit and also dug deep in the Google search to share a bit more perspective and bring you more details then you probably care for regarding Waterfalls in Iceland.  However, if you love waterfalls as much as I do then you may want to favorite this page for future reference

Come prepared to get wet

If you want to get reasonably close to a waterfall in Iceland then you should bring WATERPROOF outerwear. And no I am not referring to GorTex.  I am referring to a shell that is impermeable to water (think plastic sheet). The reason for this is your typical breathable shells will get soaked and so will you.  Remember, you will be getting in and out of a vehicle so it is better to have something that will shed water and not hold it. Also make sure you get both a jacket and pants.  I used Columbia’s Men’s OutDry™ Ex Eco Jacket and Men’s OutDry™ Ex Stretch Pant.

In a pinch you could probably get by with just a poncho but don’t get too close or stay too long or you will regret it.  Also make sure you bring good waterproof boots and wear synthetic clothes that will stay warm when wet and will dry out easily. Finally, bring a change of clothes.  You will thank me on the ride back to your hotel!

How many waterfalls are there?

Some sources estimate there are as many as 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland! I found a great resource at www.europeanwaterfalls.com that has almost 200 waterfalls in Iceland cataloged along with rankings, accessibility and other information. Here is a map of what they have logged.

Here are a few of the ones that we visited.

Waterfalls of Iceland – Gullfoss

One of the most interesting waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss is actually two waterfalls that are opposing each other at a 90 degree angle.  The second plunge falls into a canyon that makes it look like it is disappearing into the earth at certain angles. There is an overlook and a path that takes you down to a rock outcropping so you can get up close and personal to the falls.  This is a great place to feel the power of the water around you and to get family photos or a selfie or two.

A word of warning – Respect the signs and handrails and don’t get too close to the water.  This article tells you that tourists put their lives at risk for that perfect photo all the time.  If you are traveling with children make sure you keep them at your side. This area is crowded and there are too many opportunities to slip into harm’s way.

Location of Gullfoss on Google Maps

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, primarily because of its beauty and because you can walk behind it.  The falls drops 60 meters (197 feet). We spent about 45 minutes here as there are lots of cool photo ops on the way to the falls and back.  When you are under the falls you can even walk down close to where the plunge hits the water below but be aware this is yet another place where you will get soaked if you stay long.  You can park in view of the waterfall and then a short hike gets you to the falls itself. There is another path that goes to the top of the waterfall that we did not take.

Location of Seljalandsfoss on Google Maps

Skógafoss

Skógafoss is another well known waterfall in Iceland.  It is very neat because you can walk right up to it but make sure you have your rain gear on!  Since the waterfall is nestled back in the rock all the spray is held in tight proximity to the base.  Even with good rain gear on you will get wet if you spend much time there. Still it is a fun experience!

Location of Skógafoss on Google Maps

Öxarárfoss

While not the biggest or most spectacular, Öxarárfoss is a cool waterfall because of its location.  Located in Þingvellir National Park, a location that is of major historic significance to Icelanders because it is where their parliament met every year for over 700 years (Iceland has the oldest parliament in the world). It is also at the intersection of the Eurasian tectonic plate and the North American tectonic plate.  Also FYI – Iceland is the only place in the world where you can see the intersection of two tectonic plates. How cool is that!

Location of Öxarárfoss on Google Maps

Faxafoss

Faxafoss was a quick stop along the road that we found via a point of interest sign (a square with a loop on each corner like the Command symbol on a Mac PC).  It is not very high but it is over 80 meters (262 feet) wide. We only stopped to take a picture and move on.  This was from the parking lot. Notice the fish ladder on the left.

Location of Faxafoss on Google Maps

Ægissíðufoss

This is another waterfall we happened to come across without taking a detour due to a point of interest sign.  We had to drive down a dirt road a bit but there was a parking lot and a path to the waterfall. There were fishermen there as well as it is on Ytri-Rangá, one of Iceland’s great Salmon rivers.  It took us about 20 minutes total off the road and back.

Location of Ægissíðufoss on Google Maps

Summary

Waterfalls are major attractions in Iceland and are a must see on your visit. Come prepared with full rainproof outerwear for the best experience. Also look along your route for point of interest signs or even the waterfalls themselves. Finally, use the map provided in this article to help you plan your stops. You won’t be dissapointed! If you like this article you may like a few of our others on Iceland like Whales of Iceland and our Visit to Costco in Iceland.

References

www.europeanwaterfalls.com – I fantastic website and database that contains over 2,000 waterfalls across Europe.

https://www.palljokull.net/blog/2017/2/10-unknown-waterfalls-in-iceland – A short blog post that covers some of the lesser known waterfalls and some that we visited.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Eingvellir – Þingvellir (pronounced Thingviller) Wiki