How to see Bruarfoss waterfall in Iceland – No Hiking Required!

Located along the famous “Golden Circle” route in Iceland, Bruarfoss waterfall is an absolutely stunning waterfall with its icy blue colored water flowing down into a canyon made of black volcanic rock. Out of all the waterfalls I saw in Iceland, Bruarfoss ranked up at the top — and that’s saying a lot! Bruarfoss once required a hike, but as of 2023, there is a paid parking lot allowing easy access to see this stunning waterfall — no hike required! This travel guide will explain how to get to Bruarfoss waterfall, and include everything you need to know before you go!

About Bruarfoss waterfall

Bruarfoss means “Bridge Waterfall” as there once was a stone archway that crossed the river near the falls. The archway fell many years ago, but there is a new pedestrian bridge spanning the river, making it easy to get amazing photos. The river is fed by the Langjokull glacier — the silt in the glacier water gives Bruarfoss its stunning color.

How to get to Bruarfoss Waterfall

Bruarfoss is located along the Golden Circle route in Southwestern Iceland, so if you are doing the Golden Circle, this is an easy stop to make along the way. It is located along the road between Geysir and Thingvellir National Park, both popular stops along the route.

We visited Bruarfoss after we finished up at Geysir, as it’s only 18 minutes away.

As you drive along the main road of the Golden Circle, you will see a sign for Bruarfoss parking. One warning though, the road getting to Bruarfoss is a bit rough; you don’t need a 4×4 (you might in the winter though) but you will encounter loose rocks and some potholes for the 3km road to the parking lot.

There are other ways to get to Bruarfoss without paying at the lot, via hiking, but I did not do that on my trip so I won’t be covering that option here. Frankly, if I can drive up to a spot to see it, why spend the time hiking, ya know? My time in Iceland isn’t unlimited!

Parking at Bruarfoss Waterfall

Bruarfoss is located on private land, and the landowner charges a nominal parking fee (750 ISK). It is VITAL to have the Parka app installed on your phone so you can pay; the only way to pay for parking is through the Parka app. As with most Iceland pay lots, your car license plate is photographed as you enter the lot, so you will not get away with not paying — better to pay up now, rather than get an expensive ticket later!

Installing the Parka app is just one of several tasks you should do before you leave for your Iceland trip!

The parking lot had plenty of space – we visited mid-day during July and had no trouble getting a spot.

Visiting Bruarfoss Waterfall

From the parking lot, you’ll follow the signs along a short trail to the falls. It’s maybe about a 5 minute walk and it is flat. Any type of footwear is fine here (in summer, that is!), but if you plan on crawling around on the rocks near the water, you will want something sturdy on your feet.

You’ll come across a small bridge and from the bridge, you get a great view of the falls!

We spent about 30 minutes here, much longer than I thought. We really enjoyed the scenery here and we lucked out with the sunny weather too! You definitely don’t need that much time here though – 10 minutes is probably sufficient!

Lots of people were crawling around on the rocks so you’re here on a relatively busy day like we were, you might have to wait for people to move to get that people-free photograph.

That said, this isn’t as crowded as a place like the nearby Gullfoss is, but you won’t be alone, either.

Final Thoughts – Burarfoss Waterfall

Bruarfoss is absolutely worth a stop on your Golden Circle route! The baby blue color is just as stunning in person as it is in photos. The 750ISK (Roughly $5.50 USD) parking fee is definitely worth it, as it saves you about 2 hours of hiking time, leaving you to make time for other items in your Iceland itinerary.