The Best Waterfalls Worth Chasing in South Iceland

There are thousands of waterfalls in Iceland. There’s really no firm number, but it could be up to 10,000.

There are so many that you don’t even need to get that far from Reykjavik to feel some of that exhilarating spray on your face.

I’m a sucker for a good water feature, so we packed in as many as we could on our road trip through Iceland. As we only had five full days to make that happen, we focused on waterfalls in South Iceland within a few hours of Reykjavik.

The options you’ll see here are the most impressive near the south coast for one reason or another, whether that’s judging by size or their connection to Justin Bieber.

You’ll see what I mean as we move things along here.

The Öxarárfoss waterfall in Thingvellir National Park is a worthwhile stop on any Iceland tour and one of the most powerful waterfalls in Iceland.

If you’re interested in snorkeling in the Silfra, by the way, this is where you’d do that. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, know that you’ll be swimming in between two continents.

READ MORE: Snorkeling in the Silfra is a bucket list experience. Check out my guide to more Iceland adventures, including trips to the Blue Lagoon.

Less than an hour from Reykjavik’s city center, the falls are impressive year-round. If you’re there in the winter for Northern Lights potential, expect the water flowing onto rocks covered in ice, which sounds quite photogenic of them.

We were lucky enough to enjoy mild weather and manageable crowds during our visit in late fall. Expect more tourists there in the peak summer months. (I’d come back for some of that midnight sun, though.)

Faxafoss, or Faxi, is an easy detour off the Golden Circle, and just south of the more popular Gullfoss waterfall. There are multiple viewpoints at this scenic spot, both right next to the falls and from above.

The drop isn’t particularly impressive, but the falls are 80 meters, or more than 260 feet, wide.

Note: You’ll may see another reference to a waterfall named Faxi in East Iceland. Yes, there are two waterfalls in Iceland that go by the same name. Don’t get it twisted.

Gullfoss, also known as the “Golden Falls,” is the most visited and arguably most famous waterfall in Iceland. A two-hour drive from Reykjavik, the falls are a perfect scenic stop if you’re doing any glacial exploration on Langjokull Glacier.

Fun fact: We went on a snowmobiling tour there, and it was as fun as it sounds. Book similar tours well in advance if you’re interested in the same.

There are two viewing areas of the imposing Gullfoss Iceland falls as they flow into the Hvítá river canyon. The upper tier will most likely get you better views of their scope.

No matter when you’re there, you’re likely to see rainbows forming in the mist. Yes, it’s pretty magical.

Seljalandsfoss is already a popular waterfall, as it’s an easy stop off of Iceland’s popular tourist route, the Ring Road.

Fun fact: It was made even more popular when Justin Bieber featured it in one of his music videos.

A highlight of this site is that you are able to walk behind the falls. That makes it one of the more unique among Iceland’s waterfalls.

This one will likely be busy no matter when you go, so if you’re making the trek behind the falls, expect some human traffic jams of people wearing inappropriate footwear without any traction.

It does get slippery back there, and you will get wet.

READ MORE: Iceland requires some pre-planning no matter when you visit. Use my packing guide to help you plan your trip.

A short walk from Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi is a little bonus for those who make the effort to find it. If you want to get up close, you will have to wade through some water to get to it.

You can take a peek at it from dry land, which is what I did, but my more aggressive pals did get in there and get wet for the views up close.

You likely won’t see many people there, as they’re probably still trying to navigate the wet rocks behind Seljalandsfoss in their Crocs.

Note: You can swim in Iceland’s waterfalls, but it’s not a safe activity. There a number of hot springs and open swimming spots throughout the country that are much safer and that still come with bragging rights.

Continuing east along Iceland’s Ring Road, you’ll come across Skógafoss, a beautiful waterfall and impressive site for even the most blasé among you.

It’s a short walk to the falls from the parking area to the base of the falls, where, obviously, the closer you get, the wetter you’ll get. There’s also a staircase you can climb to get a view of the falls below. I recommend both.

If you’re into random pop culture facts, this one’s also seen a lot of screen time.

In addition to being featured in the ubiquitous Justin Bieber video, it is also seen in the films Thor: The Dark World and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. That one is an underrated Ben Stiller gem.

I’m including Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon on this list not because of a featured waterfall there, but an opportunity to see multiple falls tumbling over the canyon’s steep walls into the glacial river below.

The canyon is a popular diversion off of Iceland’s Ring Road, but there are enough walking paths once you’re there that it shouldn’t feel crowded with tourists unless you’re there in the peak of summer.

That’s when all of the Bieber heads come out, I’m sure, as this was another shooting location for a Justin Bieber music video.

To lose those summer crowds, there are trails to get down into the canyon and wade into the river. I’m sure it’s quite refreshing!

Getting a look at the hexagonal basalt columns of the Svartifoss waterfall, or the appropriately named “Black Falls,” does involve a hike. You should definitely budget the time to make the trek, though, which is about a mile each way.

Despite it being somewhat of a challenge to get there, it’s still a popular spot for tourists. You’ll likely come across groups making the journey.

Svartifoss is in Skaftafell, within Vatnajökull National Park, which is also well worth your time to explore. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, this is also where you’d start to reach the Kristínartindar peaks, which offer viewpoints of Morsárfoss, the tallest waterfall in Iceland.

To get any closer than those viewpoints, you’d need to connect with a guided tour, as it would involve hiking over a glacier.

If you’re looking for some more help navigating the best waterfalls around Iceland, here are a few highly-rated tours for you to choose from:

Iceland is lousy with waterfalls.

Beautiful waterfalls won’t stop growing in number, either. Iceland’s ever-changing landscape and moving lava rock give way to ridges and cliffs that create perfect conditions for baby waterfalls to form.

That’s how I picture things at least.

We have so much left to see on return trips to Iceland, and the waterfalls in other parts of the country are at the top of the list.

They just hit differently out there. Justin Bieber would agree.

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