Iceland’s Best Waterfalls
What are the best waterfalls in Iceland?
There is no doubt that Iceland has plenty of beautiful waterfalls. Every time we would drive a little further around the Ring Road, we would stumble upon one.
After completing our Iceland road trip, we can share our experiences at Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Gullfoss, and Goðafoss. In our opinion, these are the top waterfalls in Iceland.
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are two of the most visited waterfalls in Iceland, but we recommend visiting Gullfoss and Goðafoss as well.
If you are planning a trip to Iceland and can't decide which waterfalls to check out, continue reading because we give you our top picks for must-see waterfalls in Iceland.
In addition to the best waterfalls, we share what gear we used to capture our Iceland photos and videos, what it’s like to rent a camper van in Iceland, and our Top 5 Iceland Activities.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something using the links, we will receive a commission. Using the link is at NO extra cost to you. We appreciate it when you buy through one of our affiliate links. It is a great way to show your support for us. It will allow us to continue to bring you valuable, free content.
Iceland’s Best Waterfalls
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Seljalandsfoss
Located in southern Iceland is our first recommended waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. It is an extraordinary waterfall because you can walk directly behind it.
There is a cave behind the waterfall that you can stand in and admire Seljalandsfoss from a different perspective. It is rare to be able to go behind a waterfall, so this one is worth a visit.
We walked around the waterfall up steep and slippery terrain. It was sunny when we visited, so we got to see a rainbow as well.
The night before visiting Seljalandsfoss, we camped in our van at the campsite right next to the waterfall. It was a pretty cool experience to wake up and see the waterfalls.
Where is Seljalandsfoss located?
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is one of Iceland's biggest waterfalls. It has a drop of 60m and a width of 25m.
It is also located close to Seljalandsfoss in southern Iceland. Visiting both waterfalls can be done in one day.
We were so lucky when we arrived at Skógafoss because the sun was out and we could see a rainbow. We were both staring in awe with the biggest smiles on our faces.
We got up close to the waterfall to take pictures and got very wet from the spray.
We also climbed up the many stairs to get views of Skógafoss from above.
I'd have to say that Skógafoss gets my vote as Iceland's best waterfall. There is something extra magical seeing it on a sunny day with a beautiful rainbow.
Where is Skógafoss located?
Gullfoss
If you visit the famous Golden Circle in Iceland, Gulfoss Falls will be one of your stops. Our third and final stop at the Golden Circle was visiting Gullfoss.
Gullfoss means golden falls, and it gets the name because of the golden color that often appears in the glacial water.
Be sure to see Gullfoss from the different viewing platforms.
Gullfoss waterfall is one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls. I think it looks like a giant slice of pie.
Where is Gullfoss located?
Goðafoss
Goðafoss is in Northern Iceland. We visited Goðafoss after a day of whale watching in Húsavík.
The origin of its name is not completely clear. The legend says that it gets the name Goðafoss Waterfall because Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoð threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. He did this because Christianity became the religion in Iceland.
Where is Goðafoss located?
If you only have time to visit one waterfall, we recommend Skógafoss.
We hope our guide to Iceland’s Best Waterfalls was helpful. If you have any questions, write in the comments, and we will do our best to help.
Want to know how we captured our Iceland photos and videos?
Check out our Vlogging Gear Blog or Vlog to find out what cameras and equipment we use.
*The links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something using the links, we will receive a commission. Using the link is at NO extra cost to you. We appreciate it when you buy through one of our affiliate links. It is a great way to show your support for us. It will allow us to continue to bring you valuable, free content.
Curious About What It’s Like to Rent a Camper Van in Iceland?
We rented an Iceland Camper Van for our journey around the Ring Road in Iceland. We rented a Dacia Dokker campervan.
It is a two-seater that sleeps two people comfortably. We opted for the manual transmission with a heater.
The van included the following: extra driver, gas burner, cooking and eating tools, cleaning tools and soap, a mattress, unlimited mileage, CDW Insurance, and an overnight heater. We opted for the following extras: inverter, sleeping bags, gas canister, Wifi 4G router, and an airport shuttle.
We loved having the freedom to travel around Iceland in our van. We could cook a meal wherever we were, and we could drive into a campsite after a day of exploring. We did not have to make prior reservations with the campsites, so we had the flexibility to be on the road as much or as little as we wanted each day.
It was also cost-effective because we combined the price of a hotel with a rental car. We also saved on food because we could prepare our own in the van. Iceland is very expensive, so renting the van allowed us to explore Iceland in a budget-friendly way.
If you are interested in what renting a camper van in Iceland is like and its prices, check out our Iceland Camper Van Blog or our Iceland Camper Van Vlog.
What are our Top 5 Iceland Iceland Activities?
These are our Top 5 Iceland Activities: Silfra Snorkel, Blue Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Zodiac Tour, Beer Spa, and Whale Watching. Even though these are paid activities, there are free things to do also (Volcano Hike, Waterfalls, Black Sand Beaches).
#1 Silfra Snorkel 🐠
Silfra is in Thingvellir National Park. We did a fantastic snorkeling tour at Silfra.
Silfra is the crack in the Earth created by two tectonic plates.
Silfra is the crack in the Earth created by two tectonic plates.
We used the company, Dive.is. They provided us with a guide, equipment and suits, and the entrance fee for Thingvellir National Park.
#2 Blue Lagoon ♨️
Soaking in the magical waters of the Blue Lagoon is a must do activity while in Iceland.
The entrance to the Blue Lagoon included a silica mud mask, towel, and a drink.
#3 Jokulsarlon Glacier Tour 🚤
Jokulsarlon is a glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland.
The lagoon has icebergs from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull. We took a zodiac boat tour around Jokulsarlon to get up close to the giant glacier and icebergs.
The company we used for the tour was Arctic Adventures. They provided the wetsuits for our trip and the bus ride to the lagoon.
#4 Beer Spa 🍻
The Beer Spa or Bjórböðin is a unique experience that is so relaxing.
Our beer spa experience started with relaxing in their outdoor hot tubs. After the hot tub, it was our turn for the beer spa.
The tub had water, beer, hops, and yeast. There is a beer tap so you can drink a cold beer while bathing in hot beer.
The bath lasted for 25 minutes, and then we headed to the relaxation room for another 25 minutes.
#5 Whale Watching 🐋
Whale watching in Iceland is very popular in the cute village of Húsavík.
We went whale watching with North Sailing. We did not see whales in Húsavík, so we tried the next day while in Hjalteyri, and we were successful!
We saw a family of pilot whales and a humpback whale.
Looking for more Iceland inspiration? Check out our Ultimate Iceland 8 Day Road Trip!
Who is One Way Ticket?
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