I love the mesmerizing feeling of sitting by waterfalls and have to tear myself away. I am in luck, as Iceland has so many beautiful waterfalls that I visit often.
One of my favourite trips in my country is visiting the waterfalls in the south; the best-known are Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.
In this travel blog, I want to show you my favourite waterfalls in South Iceland.
Top photo: Skógafoss waterfall and the troll
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss is one of the best-known waterfalls in Iceland. It is approx. Sixty meters tall, and it is breathtakingly beautiful.
It is a must to visit Seljalandsfoss when visiting the south coast, you will not regret it!
A path leads you behind the waterfall, but do bring a raincoat, as you will get soaked by the drizzle.
The view from behind Seljalandsfoss at sunset
It is fantastic walking behind Seljalandsfoss, especially on a sunny day when one can catch a rainbow.
You'll need flash for the photos behind the waterfall if you don't want to end up looking like a silhouette against it.
Soaked behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall
In the wintertime, the path is closed when it gets too slippery and dangerous to walk behind the waterfall.
In September 2017, it had rained so much that 100 kg heavy boulders fell from above onto the path!
This is nature, after all, so let's be careful here.
Seljalandsfoss in the wintertime - path closed
An icicle fell inches from a woman behind the waterfall when she disobeyed the guide and ventured down the slippery path.
I have included that story in my travel blog about my winter visit to the south coast:
A Winter Visit to the South Coast of Iceland- all the way to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is not far from Reykjavík, only some 120 kilometres, so you can take a day trip and check out Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, and a couple of other waterfalls on the way.
A new path has been opened at Seljalandsfoss, so it is much easier now to go behind the waterfall than it used to be, when we had to climb up a very rocky path.
The new path by the Seljalandsfoss waterfall
You can spot Seljalandsfoss from the ring road long before you reach it, and it is a beautiful sight as you get closer and closer. In the wintertime, it is lit up.
Now you have to pay for parking your car by the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. New toilets have been installed, and the path has been improved. Money is needed for that, and the landowners try to keep the surroundings clean.
Here is the location of Seljalandsfoss on the map.
Here is a selection of tours to join to visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Gljúfrabúi waterfall
Gljúfrabúi waterfall
You will find another waterfall called Gljúfrabúi, very close to Seljalandsfoss. The name means "Dweller in the Gorge". Gljúfrabúi is also called Gljúfrafoss, but I prefer the cute name of the dweller in the gorge :)
Gljúfrabúi is 40 meters high, and in front of it is a large rock that almost covers it, blocking the lower part of the waterfall. This rock is called Franskanef cliff or the French nose.
Not many visitors knew about this waterfall until a couple of years ago, as it is so hidden away, so we locals kept it to ourselves.
Gljúfrabúi waterfall
Visiting Gljúfrabúi is a different experience from visiting Seljalandsfoss: you walk behind Seljalandsfoss, but you walk right into Gljúfrabúi.
It is best to wear Wellington boots and, if there is a lot of drizzle, a raincoat.
You can either wade through the gorge, which is easy, or climb up the rock, which is in front of the waterfall. I have never climbed up the rock, but if you do so, you can look down at Gljúfrabúi.
The entrance to Gljúfrabúi waterfall
I once visited Glúfrabúi in November. At that time, there was not too much water in the river, so I jumped onto the rocks in the river and walked straight up to the waterfall.
The rocks were icy and slippery, so it was a little risky, though. But an excellent experience as it is very mystical being so close to the waterfall.
It isn't easy to take photos when inside, as the light shining from above is too bright and there is a lot of drizzle.
Inside the gorge by the waterfall
I always climb up on the small rock in front of Gljúfrabúi inside the gorge and have my photo taken there - either sitting in the lotus position or with my hands in the air ;)
These are the most popular photos, and of course, couples have theirs taken on this rock as well, but maybe not in the same positions I use when I am there alone.
Here is the location of Gljúfrabúi on the map.
Skógafoss waterfall
Skógafoss waterfall and a rainbow - I love this photo :)
The next waterfall is Skógafoss, which is 30 kilometres away from Seljalandsfoss, just off the Ring Road 1.
It is breathtakingly beautiful and has always been amongst my favourite waterfalls since I first visited it as a child with my parents.
When I was younger, I wanted to stay behind and live by this waterfall as I was so mesmerized by it :) And I still always look forward to visiting it.
Skógafoss is approx. 60 m high and 25 meters wide, and you can walk right up to it.
Standing so close to a powerful waterfall is overwhelming, and you will be drenched in the drizzle.
It is best to protect your camera and phone from the drizzle as they get wet very quickly.
Skógafoss waterfall
Often you will see the most beautiful rainbow by Skógafoss waterfall, and here is the only place where a rainbow has encircled me!
That cannot be caught on camera, but in my photos, you can see how beautiful the rainbow by Skógafoss can be.
I hope it's sunny during your visit to Skógafoss so you can see a rainbow.
Rainbow by Skógafoss
Stairs lead up to the top of the hill above Skógafoss, and from there you can see what Skógafoss looks like from above. It is much more impressive from below, though.
There are 527 steps all in all, if I am not mistaken. I counted the steps when I first climbed them, so please let me know if you come up with a different number.
The stairs leading to Skógafoss waterfall
I have climbed these steps several times, and am always out of breath when I reach the top. And so are most of my fellow step-climbers.
It is pretty tricky climbing the steps in one go, but you can stop and rest on the grass if needed.
Be careful, though, as there is a long way down, and visiting the troll is not for those who are afraid of heights.
The photos from this very spot are so beautiful. The track leading to the troll has now been closed off.
Skógafoss waterfall
From above, you can have a look at some other waterfalls in the river in the summertime. That path is closed in the wintertime.
There is a legend connected to Skógafoss waterfall dating back to around the year 900 - according to this old folklore, you can find a chest filled with gold and treasures behind Skógafoss waterfall
Skógafoss waterfall
You can read more about it in another travel blog. In that travel blog, you will also see more photos of Skógafoss, one of which is up close and personal.
See my other travel blogs:
Skógafoss and the Legend of the Treasure Chest
Skógar Museum - An Excellent Regional Museum & Turf House in South Iceland
The turf house at Skógasafn - Skógar Museum
The legend involves a beautiful chest ring that is now on display at Skógar Museum in Skógar, near Skógafoss waterfall.
You can read the folklore in my other travel blog and check out the ring at the museum!
You can see a photo of the chest ring in my travel blog above. At the regional museum, you will also see a traditional Icelandic turf house.
Skógafoss with a rainbow
Seeing that Skógafoss is my favourite waterfall in Iceland, I decided to stay at Hotel Skógar for my birthday on the 24th of March.
The hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Skógafoss, and during my stay, I visited Skógafoss 3 times :) You can also camp by Skógafoss or stay at Hotel Skógafoss or Guesthouse Skógafoss for the night.
In the summer of 2025, two rivers appeared by Skógafoss, instead of just one, as you can see in my video above.
Visiting these beautiful waterfalls is a delight, and I cannot wait to come for another visit when I leave for Reykjavík after a full day by the waterfalls.
Here is a selection of tours that will take you to the south coast and Skógafoss waterfall.
Kvernufoss waterfall
Kvernufoss waterfall
And you might want to visit the less-visited neighbour of Skógafoss, Kvernufoss, as well.
Or at least it used to be less visited until I wrote a travel blog about it many years ago, after which people started including it in their visits to Skógafoss.
Kvernufoss Waterfall - the less-visited Neighbour of Skógafoss in South Iceland
Kvernufoss waterfall
Kvernufoss is located in a small gorge behind the regional Skógar Museum. It is possible to walk behind it in the summertime.
Don't walk behind it in the wintertime, as there is a real danger of falling icicles.
Yet another beautiful waterfall is partly hidden away in another gorge on the south coast. It is on a farmer's land, so I was reluctant to write about it.
Írárfoss waterfall
Írárfoss waterfall
But now that I see that people have started including it in their South Coast visits, I will add it to my travel blog.
It is called Írárfoss waterfall, named after the river Írá, and can be seen from Ring Road 1. A short hike through a mystical gorge takes you close to the waterfall. It doesn't look like much from the highway, but once you reach it, you will see how distinctive it is.
When I first visited Írárfoss a couple of years ago, nobody but some locals stopped by. And I even found two dead sheep rotting away in the gorge, so I guess that the farmer hadn't visited it for some time either.
By Íráfoss waterfall
Then it got discovered, as it were, and now I always see people in the gorge when I drive by.
In this area, I have visited a couple of other beautiful waterfalls on which I have written travel blogs; the unique Gluggafoss - Window's Falls and Nauthúsagil, which is hidden away in a narrow gorge - you will have to hike along a creek to reach the waterfall.
As they are not located along Ring Road 1, I refer you to my travel blogs about these locations.
Gluggafoss Waterfall in South Iceland - have you ever seen a Waterfall with Windows?
The Mystical Nauthúsagil Ravine in South Iceland & its beautiful Waterfalls
Rauðárfoss waterfall
Rauðárfoss waterfall at Kirkjubæjarklaustur
I wrote this travel blog mainly to introduce you to the three beautiful waterfalls in South Iceland: Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Gljúfrabúi, but you can see several other beautiful waterfalls along the Ring Road in South Iceland.
If you drive much further, you will see Rauðárfoss from Ring Road 1.
Rauðárfoss waterfall is located by Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, some 250 km away from Reykjavík. It is so distinctive, set in russet columnar basalt. Isn't it just beautiful?
I love visiting it when the sun is shining, as the whole waterfall and the columnar basalt glisten and almost look like they are glowing. Rauðárfoss means Red River Falls, and the river is called Rauðá or Red River.
Rauðárfoss waterfall at Kirkjubæjarklaustur - such beautiful basalt columns
I haven't seen many people visiting this waterfall, only a handful of people who are on their way to Systrastapi.
As Rauðárfoss has a much better-known neighbour, Systrafoss waterfall.
Systrafoss waterfall
Systrafoss waterfall at Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Systrafoss waterfall at Kirkjubæjarklaustur is the main waterfall of this area, on the outskirts of the village.
Its name, Systrafoss, means the Waterfall of the Sisters or Nuns, as from 1186-1550 there was a convent at Kirkjubækjarklaustur, which is often shortened to Klaustur or the Convent.
My sister and I loved the name of the waterfall when we first visited it with our parents when we were little - the Waterfall of the Sisters :)
Systrafoss often only has one part of the waterfall in the drought
What makes Systrafoss so distinctive is that the river Fossá runs in 2 identical waterfalls, calmly side by side, down the rock into the Fossárgil rift from Lake Systravatn above.
In a drought, the waterfall dries up and sometimes disappears.
You can see photos from different seasons, with and without drought, in my travel blog:
Historical Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Systrafoss & Systrastapi
Stjórnarfoss waterfall
Just around the corner from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, another distinctive waterfall can be seen: the round waterfall Stjórnarfoss.
The river Stjórn runs through a pretty gorge and creates this little waterfall ball, which is quite cute :)
It is a good idea to overnight in this area, as I have done many times.
Here you can see hotels and accommodation in and around Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
I have stayed at Hotel Laki and written another travel blog about the many interesting sights in the area around the hotel: Hotel Laki at Efri-Vík and its Amazing Surroundings in South Iceland.
I have also stayed at Adventure Hotel Geirland and Hvoll Hostel and can recommend them both. You can also camp at a campsite next to Stjórnarfoss. You can rent a tent here: Four-Person XXL Tent Rental for Camping Tours.
Foss á Síðu
Foss á Síðu
The next waterfall by the Ring Road is Foss á Síðu or Foss at Síða, which is located some 10 km east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Foss á Síðu, which is not large in volume but very distinctive, cascades down from Lake Þórutjörn.
The rock formations are fairytale-like, and I always stop here to take a photo of this waterfall, which is only called Foss or waterfall, and then the name of its location.
Foss á Síðu
I have stayed for several nights opposite the waterfall at Guesthouse Hamrafoss and can recommend this area and the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur for an overnight stay, as I mentioned earlier.
You can read more about this area and see more photos of Foss á Síðu and Dverghamrar cliffs, and my stay at Guesthouse Hamrafoss:
Extraordinary Columnar Basalt and Waterfalls in South Iceland - Foss á Síðu & Dverghamrar
Svartifoss waterfall
Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell is set in beautiful black and brown basalt columns
Should I add one more waterfall, which is a bit further on and cannot be seen from the Ring Road? It is so beautiful that I count it among my 10 favourite waterfalls in Iceland; its name is Svartifoss.
You have to hike up to this waterfall, which is nestled away inside a big heart made of black and brown basalt columns.
It is a very elegant 20 metres tall waterfall in such lovely romantic settings - one of my best friends got engaged by Svartifoss :)
Svartifoss waterfall
Read more about Svartifoss, the hike, and other attractions in Skaftafell in my travel blog:
Svartifoss & Other Astonishing Attractions in Skaftafell in South Iceland.
To reach the waterfalls on the south coast, you can rent a car in Reykjavík and spend a lovely day or days visiting them.
Or even more days if you want to drive further on and see the other waterfalls and more attractions in the southern part of Iceland.
From my travel blog, The spectacular Katla Ice Cave in South Iceland is open all Year round
There are also many guided tours to the south coast of Iceland to choose from to make the most of your visit.
Here you can see the best tours: All the south coast tours on offer.
Also, check out the glacier hike on Sólheimajökull glacier - I have joined this tour and can recommend it. If you'd like to find out what that tour is like, then here is my travel blog with plenty of photos:
Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing on Sólheimajökull glacier in South Iceland.
Hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier
I have written another travel blog about a fun trip to the South Coast and Eyjafjallajökull in a luxurious super jeep.
There is just a myriad of things to do here on the south coast of Iceland. The latest activity is the zipline in Vík, which I must try out.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Have a lovely time visiting the beautiful waterfalls in South Iceland :)
