If you’ve ever wondered “how many waterfalls are in Iceland?” the answer might astound you. The island boasts 10 000 waterfalls, one more impressive than the next. Iceland waterfalls also have pretty impressive official titles such as “the most powerful waterfall in Europe”.
If you’re thinking of exploring the waterfalls in Iceland, stick around. In this article, we’ll be sharing which of these magnificent water displays are must-visit spots when traveling through the country.
The Best Icelandic Waterfalls to Visit
The following are what we consider to be some of the best and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. They may not be close to the total number of waterfalls in Iceland, but for that kind of exploration, you’ll need a lifetime. So, without further ado, let’s dive in (pun intended):
Dettifoss Waterfall
We start this list off with a bang and hit the ground running with the winner of the title “most powerful waterfall in Europe”. The waterfall is 300 meters wide and sends a staggering 200 cubic meters per second tumbling over the cliff. Interestingly, the water of the falls is a grey-white color.
This is not due to any pollution, but because it’s rich in sediment runoffs. Standing at Dettifoss and listening to the roar of the water as it rushes down the gorge is something that you won’t forget any time soon.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss or better known as “the Iceland waterfall you can walk behind” amongst visitors to the island, is definitely one of the most impressive Iceland falls. The waterfall is narrow, but clocks in at an amazing 60 meters in length.
The falls has a space behind it where visitors can walk and take pretty epic photos from behind the veil of water. The waterfall is only 128 kilometers from the capital city of Reykjavik. So it’s easy to do as a day outing if you’re not planning on road-tripping around the island.
Godafoss Waterfall
This is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland due to its origin story. As with most legends on the island, it’s hard to separate the myth from the truth, but this is the official story according to the Sagas.
When the country started to embrace Christianity, the chieftain, Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi, threw all of his Norse god idols into the waterfall as a symbol of the nation’s conversion. It is he who then gave the waterfall the name of Godafoss which translates to “waterfall of the Gods”. Godafoss is 12 meters high and 30 meters wide and is one of the only waterfalls on the Diamond Circle route.
Svartivoss Waterfall
This is, in our opinion, one of the best waterfalls in Iceland to visit due to its uniqueness. The name Svartifoss means “black waterfall” in Icelandic and the name couldn’t be more fitting. This waterfall drops down 20 meters against a dramatic backdrop of black hexagonal basalt columns.
The waterfall which is situated in Skaftafell Nature Reserve (now part of the Vatnajokull National Park) has served as an inspiration to many. When visiting Reykjavik, visit the Hallgrimskirkja Church to see if the architecture rings any bells.
You can also scope out the art piece “Milestones” on Videy Island to see if you can spot any similarities. Both the architect of Hallgrimskirkja and the sculptor of Milestones have credited Svartifoss as their muse.
Glymur Waterfall
If you’ve ever wanted bragging rights regarding seeing the second tallest waterfall in Iceland, then Glymur waterfall needs to be on your trip to-do list. The falls clock in at a staggering 198 meters and is one of the waterfalls near Reykjavik in Iceland.
But Glymur waterfall also serves as a reward for those willing to work for the privilege of seeing her. The waterfall can only be reached via a 2-hour hike.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The waterfall in Icelandic is already a clue as to why this waterfall is so popular amongst visitors to the island. Gulfoss waterfall translates to “the golden waterfall” and it’s very aptly named since it’s easily accessible via one of the main road trip routes across the island; the Golden Circle. This is one of the southern Iceland waterfalls, or southwest to be precise, and is fed by the Hvita glacial river.
The waterfall consists of two tiers that drop down into a narrow river gorge 32 meters below. This is also one of the Iceland waterfalls that you can get pretty close to. Just don’t push your luck and jump the safety fence.
Visitors visiting the waterfall also tend to visit a few other popular tourist attractions in the area such as Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir Geothermal Area.
Skogafoss Waterfall
If the island had a celebrity waterfall map, Skogafoss should be one of the waterfalls on that Iceland map. It’s certainly got a dramatic look as the powerful water plunges from a height of 60 meters below where black and grey rocks make it seem otherworldly. The moss-covered cliffs just make the scene look even more surreal.
That’s probably why this waterfall has literally been the star of quite a few Hollywood movies such as Eurovision, Thor, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Except for being a favorite amongst Hollywood directors, Skogafoss is also popular among photographers. This is because the water in which the water tumbles over the cliff and the way it interacts with the sunlight on sunny days can often cause one or even a double rainbow phenomenon in the waterfall’s spray.
Aldeyjarfoss Waterfall
Aldeyjarfoss is one of the North Iceland waterfalls and is the perfect combination of absolute chaos and beauty. The waterfall drops 20 meters from the ancient Badardalshraun lava field into what looks like the most turbulent splash pool you’ve ever seen.
But it is due to the eruption of Badardalshraun almost 9000 years ago that the waterfall is also surrounded by basal columns that make it look like someone with craftsmen’s precision carved vertical lines into the cliff face. It truly is an amazing sight to see.
Hraunfossar Waterfall
Hraunfossar is more of a network of small waterfalls rather than just one big one. These Iceland waterfalls are formed by water from the glacier river, Hvita, running over the edge of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. As side note, this is not the same river that feeds the Gullfoss waterfall although it has the same name.
Because of their close proximity to one another, many visitors pop around to Hraunfossar when they go to see Barnafoss Waterfall.
Barnafoss Waterfall
Barnafoss is a pretty waterfall that is also probably the most tragic waterfall due to the folklore surrounding it. Legend has it that there once was a family with two boys who lived near the falls on a farm. The parents left for church one morning telling the boys to stay at home.
But they soon found themselves bored and left to find their parents. The boys knew a shortcut to the church; a stone bridge that arched over the rapidly falling falls. But when they started to cross, the height as well as the angry water below made them falter in fear. It is not known exactly what happened, but both boys fell to their death.
As one can imagine, the parents were incredibly distraught and at this point, the legend splinters off into 3 different endings.
One says that the mother of the boys went insane. Another tells of her obsession with trying to get the bridge torn down. And the last version (and probably the most popular) says that her intense grief finally led her to witchcraft. She then placed a rune on the bridge and cursed it so that whoever else crosses the bridge will plummet to their deaths below just like her boys did.
Whichever version you choose to believe or retell, no one will be in danger of the witch’s curse when visiting the falls anymore since the stone bridge was shattered during an earthquake. But this tragic event was also what gave the waterfall its name: Barnafoss Waterfall directly translates to “the children’s falls”.
Hengifoss Waterfall
Hengifoss is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. It is famous for its 128-meter height that gives a spectacular view of the falling water.
In addition, it is worth a visit because it is located near other waterfalls that you should not miss.
Visiting the Iceland Waterfall is an Absolute Must
The mere fact that the island boasts 10 000 waterfalls is absolutely mind-blowing if you take the size of the country into account. So, when you travel to Iceland, it’s an absolute must, and almost a right of passage, to go waterfall hunting.
Some of the ones mentioned in this article can be reached as a day outing from the cities, but we highly recommend that you go the road trip route (It´s the best way to explore the island).
Rent a vehicle or campervan, take along your waterfalls in Iceland map and start ticking them off one by one as you cruise along the magnificent Icelandic scenery.
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