The Ultimate Guide to South Iceland’s Waterfalls

Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes are what drive many visitors to come to the country, not least for its striking waterfalls, glaciers and beaches. Icelandia’s South Coast tours showcase the best of this magnificent scenery. If you’re keen to get acquainted with some of the country’s 10,000 or so waterfalls, this region is a stellar place to begin, as it has some of the largest and most photogenic in Iceland.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and a jewel of the south coast. It’s one of the most popular stops on our South Coast Wonders tour. The water cascades over a rocky ledge 60 metres up but this long drop isn’t its signature feature. What is? A path that leads up and behind the curtain of water. Peer out from behind the waterfall for a view of the countryside beyond, which is remarkable at any time of day but especially gorgeous at sunset.

Gljúfrabúi

Seljalandsfoss isn’t the only waterfall that descends from the cliff here. Just a few hundred metres away you can seek out another waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, which is a little shorter. It’s tucked out of sight behind a cleft in the rock. You can get a glimpse of it from the opening, but to fully appreciate this waterfall, pull on waterproof boots and wade into the nook. Looking up towards the light, you’ll get the full effect of this impactful waterfall.

Skógafoss

Twenty minutes further on as you travel east from Seljalandsfoss, another waterfall comes into view. Skógafoss – a favourite on our South Coast Wonders tour – is also 60 metres tall, but it’s also much wider than its neighbour, which arguably makes it more impressive. To the right hand side as you look at the waterfall you’ll see a flight of steps. It’s worth climbing these not only to get a bird’s eye view of Skógafoss but also to appreciate its coastal setting.

Svartifoss

Svartifoss – considered by many to be one of the best waterfalls in Iceland – is located further east in Skaftafell, which forms part of Vatnajökull National Park. Its name translates as Black Falls – it’s flanked by basalt columns, darker when wet. To reach it, you’ll need to hike uphill from the car park; this can be slippery in winter, so check with the visitor centre about current conditions. You pass a few smaller falls and eventually come to Svartifoss itself, which can be viewed from a platform set back from the water itself.

Urriðafoss

The waterfall with the biggest flow in Iceland isn’t Gullfoss on the Golden Circle or Dettifoss in the north of the country. It’s actually Urriðafoss, an often overlooked waterfall in the south. It’s found on the Þjórsá, the longest river in Iceland. Here, an average flow of 360 m3 per second makes this a worthy attention grabber despite not having the height of other waterfalls in the area.

Gluggafoss

Over time, water sculpts the rock with which it comes into contact and that’s very evident at Gluggafoss. This interesting waterfall gets its name from the window-like holes that the flow has carved out of the palagonite bedrock. Water from the River Merkjá passes through a rock arch and plummets down a deep chasm. When it reaches the basalt below, it becomes bottom heavy, splitting into multiple streams.

Kvernufoss

While you’re visiting Skógafoss, you might also like to acquaint yourself with its neighbour, Kvernufoss – another that you can walk behind though this isn’t recommended if it’s snowy or icy. From the car park at the Skogar Museum, follow a trail for 20 minutes which leads to this relatively secluded spot. At one point you’ll need to climb over a stile to traverse a fence, but it’s not really a difficult hike. The gorge cut by the river is splendid and the 30 metre high waterfall more than worth the effort it takes to reach it.

Ægissíðufoss

Multi-tiered Ægissíðufoss gently drops over several steps in the bedrock, making this a pretty sight. You’ll find it on the Ytri-Ranga River close to Hella, an easy detour for anyone travelling along the southern stretch of Iceland’s famous ring road. You might catch sight of fish here as there’s a salmon ladder in place; you’ll need an official permit if you wish to do a bit of angling while you’re here.

Rauðárfoss

With so much black and grey rock around, it’s uncommon to see red tones in comparison, but that’s exactly what you’ll encounter here thanks to the presence of iron within the basalt. The bridal veil shape of this waterfall is not dissimilar to the more famous Dynjandi falls up in the Westfjords, but this one’s more convenient for anyone travelling in the south of the country, located less than an hour’s drive east of Vik close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Írárfoss

This cute little waterfall is situated midway between Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss but receives a fraction of the visitors as it’s accessed by a short detour off the ring road along the 246. Írárfoss (the name translates as Irish River Falls) is about 40 metres high with plenty of spray to make an impression. The verdant setting contributes to its appeal, especially with photographers.

Háifoss

Háifoss is one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, measuring about 122 metres from top to bottom. If you’re keen to do some serious hiking, you can reach the waterfall along a 6km trail that hugs the River Fossá, a tributary of the Þjórsá. To reach it takes around two and a half hours from Reykjavik by car and it’s wise to opt for an all-wheel drive vehicle because of the condition of the road.

In addition to those we’ve already covered, there are other waterfalls found in the Southern Highland region including the two-stepped Hjálparfoss, Gjáin in Þjórsárdalur, Fossabrekkur and Þjófafoss. These tend to be trickier to visit or require more of an effort as the area’s F-roads are only suitable for high clearance 4x4s during the summer season – outside that, you’ll need to book a super jeep tour. Many of the cascades that we’d refer to as the hidden waterfalls in South Iceland fall into this category.

How safe is it to visit South Iceland’s waterfalls?

You shouldn’t have a problem visiting a waterfall in South Iceland so long as you use a modicum of common sense. For instance, in winter, the spray from waterfalls can freeze, leaving paths slippery with black ice. Wearing crampons can give you additional grip; these pull over your hiking boots and are easy to slip on and off as needed.

In addition, sometimes areas close to waterfalls are roped off. This may be to allow vegetation to recover or to prevent visitors straying too close to sheer drops or unsafe paths. It’s essential that you heed any warning signs; waterfalls are dynamic environments that are managed for a reason and you will be safer if you follow such advice, even if others choose not to.

When’s the best time of year to visit South Iceland’s waterfalls?

For many of South Iceland’s waterfalls, visiting year-round is a possibility. Some of the most famous, such as Skógafoss, are located very close to the ring road. Access is therefore very straightforward, even in low season. However, you may find that parts of the site are restricted in winter – for example, it’s not usually possible to walk behind the waterfall at Seljalandsfoss because the ground would be treacherously slippery.

South Iceland is firmly on the tourist trail and so major sights can be crowded during summer’s peak season. Though that shouldn’t present a problem, some travellers prefer to time their visit for the shoulder season or in winter when visitor numbers are at their lowest. Winter’s soft light, coupled with snowy landscapes, can be especially appealing. South Iceland waterfalls feature in tours that depart year-round so it really comes down to personal preference.

Can you detour easily from South Iceland to see the waterfalls of the Golden Circle?

It’s easy to detour inland from Selfoss and loop through the Golden Circle as you make your way back to Reykjavik. However, to do so you’ll need to allow more than a day as there’s so much to see and do in both areas. Alternatively, you can choose to separate them into two tours, returning to Reykjavik for the evening each time.

How do you take a great photo of a South Iceland waterfall?

While the photogenic nature of South Iceland’s waterfalls means that it’s hard to take a bad shot, there are a few things you can do to produce a more striking image. Composition is crucial and for this, patience is important. This is especially the case in summer when you may need to wait a while for people to move away to get the picture you want.

Consider symmetry, particularly at waterfalls such as Svartifoss where the basalt columns flanking the cascade create a natural amphitheatre. Play around with different angles: position yourself above Skógafoss, or behind the curtain of water at Seljalandsfoss, or inside the cleft in the rock at Gljúfrabúi for iconic images.

Think about light, too, which is often most conducive to great photography early or late in the day. If the sky is partially cloudy, timing your shot for when the sun breaks through will flood the waterfall with light and bring the detail out in the surrounding rock. If you’re lucky, this might produce a rainbow – or even a double – as is often the case at Skógafoss.

To come to Iceland without seeing its waterfalls would be a pity and those who venture through the scenic south region won’t be disappointed. You might choose to put together a self-drive waterfall circuit using a map of Iceland’s waterfalls, but it’s often much easier to take a guided tour, particularly to see the South Coast of Iceland waterfalls. Such landforms are the highlight of our South Coast tours, for instance, with plenty of time to admire the waterfalls, as well as appreciate their scale and beauty.