Looking to explore some of the most popular waterfalls in south Iceland? I’ve traveled all around the country, but nowhere else has quite the abundance of jaw-dropping waterfalls as the south coast.
Tall, thundering, lacy, picturesque, remote, easily accessible…Iceland has it all! You’ll be spoiled for choice as you drive from one spectacular waterfall to the next.
12 Beautiful Waterfalls In South Iceland (+Map)
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most heavily trafficked waterfalls in south Iceland thanks to the unique opportunity to walk a footpath around and then behind the falls.
Melted glacier water from the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier flows into the Seljalands River ultimately flowing off the cliff to create this impressive waterfall.
Come prepared with waterproof gear to enjoy this 60m beauty, and brace yourself against the waterfall spray. The footpath is relatively easy to navigate in summer but may be closed in winter if the path becomes too icy.
Seljalandsfoss is located right along the Ring Road making it easily accessible. Take note that while the waterfall itself is free, you’ll be required to pay a parking lot fee.
Gljufrabui
Plan to pair a trip to Gljufrabui with Seljalandsfoss as these two south Iceland waterfalls are within walking distance.
To reach Gljufrabui (if facing Seljalandsfoss) you’ll head left for a few minutes before stone hopping or wading through a shallow river as you enter a gorge. Bring waterproof shoes with good grip.
Tucked away behind a cliff is the 40m cascading waterfall.
The waterfall is best viewed from its base where you’ll see it streaming through a natural skylight surrounded by mossy walls. A short hike up the side of the hill however will allow you to view the waterfall from above.
Skogafoss
Just 30km down the road from Seljalandfoss and Gljufrabui is one of the biggest and best Iceland waterfalls on the south coast. Skogafoss flows from the river Skoga and drops an impressive 60m across a 25m width of cliff.
I enjoy taking in the view from the waterfall’s base where you can appreciate its power as it drenches you with its spray.
For a drier viewpoint and a real quad burner, you can climb roughly 500 steps to the top and see Skogafoss from above. A look in the other direction and you’ll get a sprawling view of the vast south coast landscape.
Kvernufoss
Despite being right next door to Skogafoss, the 40m tall Kvernufoss is the far less trafficked of the two south Iceland waterfalls. This picturesque waterfall closely resembles Seljalandsfoss on a smaller scale.
The path to the waterfall begins near the Skogar Museum. You’ll climb a small ladder over a fence onto private property. A short 15-minute walk on relatively flat ground will take you towards the river into the gorge to the waterfall.
Similar to Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind Kvernufoss, though when conditions are icy or muddy (particularly in the winter) you’ll want to skip that part of the path and take in the waterfall’s beauty from the front.
Nauthusagil
Searching for a waterfall cave in Iceland? Standing at the base of the hidden Nauthusagil waterfall in the depths of a ravine is about as close as you can get.
Wearing proper footwear is a must. A waterproof boot with good traction is encouraged.
To reach the waterfall, you’ll follow the river back into the ravine, wading through the river or hopping from stone to stone.
The hike gets particularly adventurous when you have to use chains to make your way along the ravine wall and up and over a couple-meter tall waterfall.
I found the beautiful, cascading waterfall at the end of the ravine to be well worth the hiking effort however. The waterfall itself has similarities to Glufrabui surrounded by mossy walls with light streaming through from above.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) is one of the most famous Iceland waterfalls. Located about an hour and a half from Reykjavik along the iconic Golden Circle Route, it’s easily accessible for tourists looking to get a taste of Iceland’s impressive natural landscape.
A visit to the falls gives you the opportunity to view water from the Hvítá River plunging into a canyon in two tiers, one 11m and one 22m tall.
One walking path takes you close to the top of the first cascade where you’ll likely get wet from the waterfall’s spray. Another option is to climb the staircase to view the falls from higher up.
Hungry? Stop into the cafe on the upper level before heading out.
Haifoss
Located in the Þjórsárdalur Valley, Haifoss and its neighbor Granni (literally translates to neighbor) are two waterfalls in southern Iceland that lie close enough to the Golden Circle to be a convenient detour and remote enough to be free of crowds.
After a drive down a gravel road in your 4WD vehicle and a short walk from the parking lot, both waterfalls can be viewed from the top of the canyon.
Granni is the smaller and closer of the two while Haifoss is the star of the show at 128m tall, making it one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls.
I find the view from the top to be the most striking as you can see the whole landscape laid out before you, however if you’re up for a 4km hike into the canyon, you can view Haifoss up close from its base.
Bruarfoss
Bruarfoss isn’t one of the grandest waterfalls in south Iceland in terms of height. Instead, its beauty lies in its striking blue color.
When visiting, you have two options. The first is to pay a small parking fee for the convenience of walking only a handful of minutes from the parking lot to the falls.
The second option is to park in a smaller, free lot and hike just under 4.5 miles round trip passing the waterfalls Hlauptungufoss and Midfoss along the way.
Bruarfoss is a beautiful series of lacy, cascading falls dropping a few meters into a Gatorade-esque blue pool before continuing to flow downstream as part of the Brúará River surrounded by dark lava rock.
Svartifoss
If you’re looking for waterfalls near Vik, a visit to Svartifoss is an excellent option. By making Vik your home base, you’ll drive 1 hour 45 minutes (instead of the 4 hours from Reykjavik) to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve within the Vatnajökull National Park.
A moderate 60-minute round-trip hike takes you past a few other falls to the main attraction.
At just 20m, Svartifoss is lacking in height, but its unique basalt column backdrop makes it a true treasure. Look familiar? If you’ve been to Reykjavik, you might have noticed that the architecture of the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church bears a striking resemblance to Svartifoss.
Sigöldugljúfur Canyon Waterfalls
If you’re looking for lesser-known south coast Iceland waterfalls, a trip down the gravely F roads will take you to the remote oasis of Sigöldugljúfur Canyon (Valley of Tears) and its abundance of waterfalls.
Due to its remote highland location and the F roads required to reach it, the canyon is best visited in the summer in a 4WD vehicle.
A quick 15-20 minute walk from the parking lot takes you to the edge of the canyon where on the right side of the canyon you’ll see cascading waterfalls into a river of vibrant blue and a wall of lush, green vegetation.
With no crowds, you can take your time, wander the rim in peace, and soak up the scenery.
Faxafoss
Despite being located on the Golden Circle, Faxafoss doesn’t enjoy the same levels of popularity as the nearby Gullfoss. It’s much smaller in size, but is roughly 80m wide and holds a charm of its own.
Its proximity to the road/parking lot makes it easy to visit and the lack of crowds means you’re in for a peaceful experience. If you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of salmon jumping up the salmon ladder on the left side of the waterfall.
After a full day of visiting the best waterfalls on the south coast of Iceland, you might consider venturing just 8 minutes down the road from Faxafoss to Friðheimar, a restaurant in a greenhouse with all-you-can-eat tomato soup and delicious homemade bread.
Hjalparfoss
Hjalparfoss is one of the more unusual south coast Iceland waterfalls due to the merging of two rivers to create the falls. The Fossá and Þjórsá rivers flow over a jagged lava rock wall, joining as one before dropping into a plunge pool.
Literally translating to “Help Waterfall,” Hjalparfoss was a much-needed rest/fuel stop at one time for horses carrying passengers on a challenging journey into and through the highlands.
The waterfall can usually be accessed all year round thanks to its proximity to the road and the highly trafficked Golden Circle Route, though a visit in summer brings the bonus of lush vegetation including the beautiful purple lupines.
Map Of Best South Coast Waterfalls
Whether you’re looking for waterfalls near Reykjavik or are traveling to more remote locations, I’ve mapped out the best waterfalls in south Iceland so you have a better sense of where they’re all located.
As you can see, many are located within close driving distance of each other making it easy to spend a day trip visiting a whole collection of waterfalls.
Click Here For Map of Waterfalls In South Iceland
You’re in for the road trip of a lifetime as you visit some of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland. They’re idyllic and wildly unique and there seems to be a new waterfall at every turn.
If you have questions as you begin to plan your itinerary let me know in the comments section below.
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