Waterfalls of Iceland
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Iceland is a land of water and fire: it has more than ten thousand waterfalls, from giants on glacial rivers to quiet trickles seeping straight from a lava field. We have gathered the most famous - from Dettifoss, the most powerful in Europe, to the fairy-tale Seljalandsfoss you can walk behind. Below are a map, a table of heights, rivers and features, and answers to frequent questions: when to go, how to stay dry, where the crowds are thinnest.
The most famous waterfalls of Iceland
| Waterfall | Height, m | River | Region | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynjandi | 100 | Dynjandisá | Westfjords | tiered, veil-like |
| Seljalandsfoss | 60 | Seljalandsá | South | walk behind the falls |
| Skógafoss | 60 | Skógá | South | 25 m wide, frequent rainbows |
| Dettifoss | 44 | Jökulsá á Fjöllum | North | most powerful in Europe, ~193 m³/s |
| Gullfoss | 32 | Hvítá | Southwest | two-tier, up to ~140 m³/s in summer |
| Svartifoss | 20 | — | South | basalt columns |
| Goðafoss | 12 | Skjálfandafljót | North | "waterfall of the gods", ~1000 |
| Hraunfossar | — | Hvítá | West | seeps from lava, ~900 m wide |
The full list is in the Wikipedia article "List of waterfalls of Iceland".
Places8
FAQ5
Which is the highest waterfall in Iceland?
The highest is not the most famous. The record holder Morsárfoss (~228 m) only appeared around 2011 as a glacier retreated, and it is hard to reach. Glymur (198 m) near Reykjavík was long considered the highest, while Háifoss (122 m) stands out among the dramatic and accessible ones. Of the famous falls in our selection the highest is Dynjandi (100 m). So "highest" and "most famous" are quite different lists in Iceland.
When is the best time to visit the waterfalls?
In summer (June-August) they are at their fullest, and the polar day gives light almost around the clock - handy for dodging crowds early or late. In spring meltwater brings the most water. In winter some paths and stairs ice up (the Skógafoss steps, the climb to Svartifoss), but ice-bound falls and the northern lights above them are a spectacle of their own for the careful.
Will I get wet, and what should I wear?
Yes - near the big ones (Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Dettifoss) the spray cloud carries tens of metres, so a waterproof jacket is essential and keep your camera protected. The path BEHIND Seljalandsfoss is slippery and soaked through - hold the railings and wear non-slip shoes. In wind the spray blows "the wrong way", so an umbrella is useless here.
How much do entry and parking cost?
The waterfalls themselves are free - they sit on protected land. But a few of the busiest (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss) charge for parking - a few hundred krónur (ISK), usually via an app or machine. At Gullfoss and the other Golden Circle sites parking is free. You need not carry cash: cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Which waterfall is the most powerful?
By water volume it is Dettifoss on the glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum: about 193 m³/s on average, the second most powerful waterfall in Europe. Gullfoss is impressive too in summer (up to ~140 m³/s, and up to 2000 m³/s in a historic flood). Most other Icelandic waterfalls have no official discharge figure: fed now by glaciers, now by rain, their flow varies greatly by season.