The most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland

Iceland is an epic road trip destination. There is stunning scenery at every turn. From volcanoes to iceberg lagoons, it truly earns its reputation as the land of ice and fire. Another thing it has in abundance is waterfalls (around 10,000 in total!). Some of the most unique and powerful falls in the world can be found here, and most are easily accessible. Below I’ve listed the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, so make sure to save this for your own trip and see how many you can tick off.

10 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland

Skogafoss

One of the most striking waterfalls in Iceland due to its sheer 60m drop from a rocky ledge. It’s easily accessible from a large car park, so it tends to get busy in the day time. My advice is to visit very early or late and you can almost guarantee to have it to yourself. There’s a short steep trail going to the top of the falls too, but I think the best viewpoint is directly from below. Just be prepared to get soaked!

Dettifoss

Famous for featuring in the opening sequence of the movie ‘Prometheus’. This is Europe’s most powerful waterfall, pouring huge amounts of glacial water into the canyon below. There are 2 access points – the East side of the falls is suitable for all vehicles and offers viewing platforms. The West side is suitable mostly just for 4×4 vehicles but offers a closer, and more rugged, perspective. We opted for the West side and despite it being one of the worst roads we’ve ever driven on in the campervan, we think it was worth it!

By the way, if you are looking to hire a 4X4 campervan, we cannot recommend Camp Easy enough. They were lovely to deal with from start to finish, and even gave us a free upgrade.

Seljalandsfoss

One of the most famous waterfalls in the country, as you can walk behind it. It offers up a unique perspective, especially as the size of the falls matches Skogafoss. When the sun shines it’s often framed by a rainbow, but when we visited it was raining. Wear waterproofs and sensible shoes and don’t be surprised if you get muddy navigating the cave behind Seljalandsfoss.

Godafoss

Known as ‘the waterfall of the Gods’ there is a story associated with this one. In the year 1000, lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði declared Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion, he threw his statues of the old Norse gods into the waterfall, hence the name. It’s a photogenic spot and easily accessible by road from Akureyri.

Svartifoss

Surrounded by basalt collumns in a natural amphitheatre, Svartifoss is quite a unique sight. It actually inspired the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavik. The falls are based in Vatnajökull National Park, and require a steady 45min walk to get there. The path is well maintained so should be doable for most visitors.

Gullfoss

Located on the Golden Circle means this waterfall is visited by a lot of people, but it’s by no means a tourist trap. The ‘Golden Falls’ as it is known plunge into a 40m deep crevice, at a 90 degree angle. Its power meant that at the start of the 20th century the waterfall was supposed to be used to generate electricity. However the daughter of one of the co-owners threatened to throw herself off the falls if they were to be exploited. She is credited with the area becoming a conservation site instead. We visited at around 4am (thank God for the midnight sun in June!) and had the place to ourselves. Despite it being summer time and in the Southern part of the country, it is the coldest I’ve ever been in my life.

Dynjandi

My favourite waterfall in Iceland and maybe in the world. But it does take some effort to get here, and therefore it’s often missed by casual visitors. Often referred to as ‘the Jewel of the Westfjords’, It is a 100-meter-tall, tiered waterfall shaped like a bridal veil. Local legend says it’s actually the bridal veil of a giantess! It takes around 3 hours to reach these falls from the ring road, but if you have time it really is worth it. The way the water moves over the rocks is truly mesmerising.

Brúarfoss

Although Brúarfoss is not as big or dramatic as the other waterfalls on this list, it is still worth checking out. Since 2023 there is a car park almost at the falls making it a really easy stop for those with little time or mobility issues. But when we visited we had to hike around 5 miles round trip to see them. To be honest, if you have time I would still recommend this option. The trail is flat the entire way, although often muddy underfoot, and follows the path of the river. Along the way you get to see a few ‘bonus’ waterfalls, before reaching Brúarfoss. It’s torquise waters and interesting shape make it a lovely photo spot.

Hengifoss

Hengifoss translates as ‘the hanging falls’ and when you see it you’ll understand why. The water seems to hang off the cliff rather than fall down it. It’s surrounded by basalt collumns (a bit like Svartifoss) but what makes these falls unique is the red strips in the surrounding cliffs. These beautiful fiery red layers were created during volcanic eruptions about 5-6 million years ago. There is a hike up to the top which takes around 2 hours, and is pretty steep the entire way. So be prepared to break a sweat!

Gluggafoss

I’m finishing with another one of my favourites, and this is one you might not think of otherwise. It’s not particularly big but is very pretty, however very few people stop here. My theory is people doing the ring road don’t want to take a detour, and instead head straight on to the more famous Seljalandsfoss. Gluggafoss is set in a gorgeous little valley. It’s somewhere you can imagine elves living in Icelandic folklore! The water here has carved ‘windows’ through the rocks, and the water cascades through these openings and caverns. It’s a great spot to fly the drone as well, as the higher you go the more of the falls reveals itself to you.

And if you are looking for a place to sit and have some lunch, just a minute’s drive up the road is Thorstein’s Grove, with picnic tables right in front of a idylic little waterfall. A proper hidden gem.

Those are just 10 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland but I’m sure you will come across many others on your trip (we definitely did!). I would love to hear which is your favourite and if I’ve missed any hidden gems. I’d be more than happy to go waterfall hunting again in Iceland! 😉

Haven’t had your waterfall fill? Check out this post on my favourite waterfalls in Norway. x