Top 10 Waterfalls In Iceland + Map!

Iceland isn’t called the “Land of Fire and Ice” for nothing, and when it comes to waterfalls, Iceland really overdelivers. With its never-ending supply of glaciers, rivers, and dramatic cliffs, Iceland is packed with some of the most powerful, picturesque, and amazing waterfalls on the planet.

However, because there are waterfalls literally everywhere, it helps to know which ones are worth your time. This list cuts through the noise and gives you the top 10 waterfalls in Iceland that you’ll want to put in your bucket list.

Some of these waterfalls require hiking, some of them are quick stops off the side of the road. However, I did leave off any waterfalls that require traveling on Iceland’s F-Roads. These roads are only accessible in the summer and require 4WD, and sometimes involve a difficult river crossing. So to keep it simple, all of these waterfalls mentioned in this post can be accessed with any type of vehicle. So let’s go chasin’ waterfalls, shall we?!

The list below is in no particular order!

Map of the Top 10 Waterfalls in Iceland

The map above has all the waterfalls listed in this post. Want to save it? Hit the “View Larger Map” icon and it will open in your Google account—as long as you’re signed in. From there, you can reference it anytime or make a copy to tweak it as you like for your trip.

1. Bruarfoss

Bruarfoss was one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland. This waterfall used to requite a 3-4 mile hike, however in recent years, there was a parking lot created right next to the waterfall. This waterfall is known for it’s bright teal water and doesn’t disappoint!

This waterfall is located along Iceland’s famous “Golden Circle” route, making it easy to see if you’re

Time Needed: 20 minutes. You’ll need to pay a nominal fee for parking.

For more information, I wrote about Bruarfoss in detail here — check it out!

2. Gullfoss

Also on the Golden Circle, Gullfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland — probably due to its sheer size and its easy-to-access location. This is a key stop along the Golden Circle, so you won’t be alone; you’ll likely be fighting crowds from the dozens of tour buses that filter in and out of here throughout the day. But don’t skip it; it’s pretty spectacular and the waterfall area is quite large so you can find spots to sneak away from the hoards of people.

Since this is a popular tourist attraction, you’ll find wide, paved trails, a visitor center, restaurant, gift shop and clean bathrooms.

Time needed: 20-30 minutes

3. Seljalandsfoss

Out of all the waterfalls in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss was my favorite. Seljalandsfoss is another show-stopping waterfall in Iceland that I’m sure you’ve seen photos of — and it might’ve been what inspired you to come to Iceland in the first place. This is the waterfall where you can walk behind it and take spectacular photos — while getting soaked! You’ll want to put on some hiking boots for traction (it’s slippery behind the falls) as well as rain gear so you’re not walking around soaking wet the rest of the day. I wore a rain jacket and rainpants, plus I used a rain cover for my camera. I didn’t get as wet as I thought I would, but had I not had the gear, I would’ve been cranky the rest of the day!

Time needed: About 30 minutes. There are other waterfalls you can explore in this area too, if you have time. You’ll need to pay a small fee for parking.

I wrote more about visiting Seljalandsfoss here if you’re interested in more details.

4. Skogafoss

Another must-see waterfall in Iceland that you’ve surely seen photos of before. You can walk right up to the waterfall as close as you’d like to (but you’ll get wet!). This is a large, powerful waterfall, and if you’re up to it, you can take the stairs along the side of the waterfall to view it from above. Once you climb the stairs, you can continue on and do some hiking to more waterfalls. We didn’t have enough time (or inclination!) that day to do this, but if you’re up for a challenge, I’ve heard that the “Waterfall Way” is a great hike.

Time Needed: 20-30 minutes. Several hours if doing the Waterfall Way hike. There is no charge for parking here.

5. Svartifoss

Svartifoss is located in Vatnajökull National Park and requires a somewhat steep hike of about 2 hours round trip. I mentioned earlier — ‘why hike to a waterfall when you can see thousands of them from the road?” and I still stand by that statement except when the waterfall is unique in some way — which Svartifoss is! This waterfall is surrounded by those interesting columnar basalt formations, which I’m obsessed with.

Time Needed: About 2 hours. You’ll pay a nominal fee for parking.

I wrote about hiking to Svartifoss in more detail if you’re interested.

6. Dynjandi

Dynjandi is a bit more off-the-beaten path than the rest of the waterfalls on this list, as it is located in the Westfjords region, where many tourists don’t visit. Not because it sucks, but because it’s very remote and located way, way off the main Ring Road. But if you do make it out to the Westfjords, you should see its most famous waterfall – Dynjandi. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to visit this on my trip, even though we did make it out to the Westfjords (I got sick, that’s why!).

7. Godafoss

Located right off the Ring Road in Northern Iceland near Myvatn, this is one of the most popular attractions in the Northern section of the country. It’s a big hit with the tour buses; you’ll find them all over the parking lot.

But even this waterfall is crowded, it’s pretty impressive and worth the short stop. There’s also a visitor center, small cafe and gift shop.

Time Needed: 20-30 minutes, no fee for parking.

I wrote about Godafoss in more detail if you’re interested.

8. Dettifoss

Dettifoss is known as Europe’s most powerful waterfall and is located in Northern Iceland. I didn’t make it out Dettifoss on my Iceland trip – when we were in Northern Iceland, we had poor weather conditions (pouring rain that eventually turned to snow). To me, Dettifoss didn’t look that impressive to me in photos and going off reviews of what other travelers have said, some say this waterfall just isn’t worth the trek out here. So, due to the crummy weather and time commitment involved with driving out here, we skipped it. But maybe next time! While you’re out here, you can also visit Selfoss, another waterfall.

Time Needed: About 2 hours.

9. Kirkjufellfoss

So, in my opinion, the actual waterfall here (Kirkjufellsfoss) isn’t all that impressive on its own. But what is impressive is its backdrop! With the iconic, cone-shaped Kirkjufell mountain in the background, this simple waterfall suddenly becomes a must-see spot for photographers. Just don’t expect solitude – everyone comes here to get “the” shot, so be patient.

Time Needed: 30 minutes due to the crowds. Small parking fee.

Kirkjufellsfoss is located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula – I wrote a one day itinerary for this area if you’re interested in other places to see near this waterfall.

10. Glymur

Why spend hours hiking to a waterfall when there are so many right off the side of the road in Iceland? Well, because Glymur is LIT, okay? Glymur was once the ‘highest waterfall in Iceland’ but it no longer holds that title due to a new waterfall forming from glacial runoff. So it’s the second highest waterfall in Iceland (but like you or I would even know the difference, right?). This hike isn’t all that difficult or long; but it involves two river crossings that can be challenging. That said, it’s a lot of fun and pictures just don’t do Glymur justice – you’ll see some spectacular scenery.

Time Needed: 3-5 hours, depending on how long you stop for photos. No charge for parking.

I wrote about my hike to Glymur in more detail if you’re interested in reading more.

Final Thoughts – Top 10 Best Waterfalls in Iceland

So there you have it – my list of top 10 waterfalls in Iceland to visit, based on my experience. Which one was my favorite? I’d have to say Seljalandsfoss with Bruarfoss coming in at a close second. If I had to skip any of these, I’d skip Dettifoss (which I did, with no regrets!).

Have you visited any of these waterfalls in Iceland? Which was your favorite?