Are you looking for the best and most beautiful waterfalls to visit in Iceland during Winter season? No need to worry cause I got you covered!
Iceland is one of my favourite countries in the entire world and every single time that I visit I am more and more amazed by its beauty. One of the main sights in Iceland are the hundreds of waterfalls spread out over the entire island.
And while this guide can’t contain all of the waterfalls in Iceland, I did list my personal favourites.
The Best Waterfalls To Visit in Iceland During Winter
After travelling Iceland for 2 weeks I collected all of my data and made a list of the best waterfalls to visit in Iceland during Winter season. This means the waterfalls that you can actually reach, cause not all roads are accessible in the winter.
Most F-roads will be closed off due to bad weather and don’t even think about it if you’re not driving a 4×4. These waterfalls are pretty much all located around the main Ring Road of Iceland.
The Ring Road, also known as Road 1, goes around the entire island and will take you along the main sights of Iceland. This of course, includes a ton of beautiful waterfalls!
Öxarárfoss
Öxarárfoss is located within Thingvellir park, which is part of the Golden Circle route and just a short ride away from Reykjavik.
Accessibility – Park your car at the Öxarárfoss parking lot, from here it’s a 15 minute walk to the waterfall.
Impressiveness – The walk to the waterfall alone is one of the most impressive sites Iceland has to offer. You walk through the tectonic plates and end up at the waterfall. During winter it is completely covered in snow which adds an extra magical touch. Oh, and did you know that Thingvellir park was used as a filming location in Game of Thrones? They used the canyon for scenes around the Vale.
Other tourists – Even that it’s located on the Golden Circle route this waterfall wasn’t that crowded and there were plenty of options to enjoy the scene and take photos.
Seljalandsfoss
I am not the biggest fan of Seljalandsfoss to be completely honest. The thing is during winter time there are so little daylight hours that no matter when you visit this place it’s incredibly so crowded. It’s a very touristic place which takes away the feeling of adventure in my personal opinion. It felt more like arriving to a theme park attraction to me. I do think that during the Summer months it’s way better cause you can actually go at the break of dawn and no one else will be there!
Accessibility – It’s right of the ring road and the parking lot is in front of it.
Impressiveness – With it’s 65 meter drop it sure is stunning. Another cool fact is that you can walk behind it. Then again the experience of that kinda gets ruined if you have to do that in rows and rows of people. If you get the chance visit this place as early or as late as possible.
Other tourists – One of the busiest waterfalls in Iceland!
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is also located on the South of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline and is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland. On a sunny day you can almost always see a single or double rainbow (unfortunately the two times we visited it was very cloudy).
Accessibility – Skógafoss is right of the ring road next to the camp site. Parking is available immediately in front of the waterfall.
Impressiveness – With it’s 60 meters drop it’s one of the coolest waterfalls in entire Iceland! Next to it is a trail upwards so you can also enjoy the view from above.
Other tourists – Most tourist groups first visit Seljalandsfoss, so if you arrive early you still have it almost all to yourself!
Kvernufoss
Way less known than it’s neighbour Skogafoss but Kvernufoss certainly is impressive on it’s own! There is a beautiful canyon leading up to the waterfall and while hiking towards it you actually feel like you’re on an adventure in Iceland, away from the tourist masses. Oh and fun fact, you can also walk behind this waterfall!
Accessibility – Park at the Skogar Museum and from there it’s a 15 minute walk to the right. You’ll come across a fence but the owners put a ladder there so it’s easy for you to visit the waterfall.
Impressiveness – It looks a little like Seljalandsfoss little sister with it’s 40 meters drop but to me is just way cooler cause it is hidden from the main road.
Other tourists – There was just one other couple there but it’s getting slowly more popular with small tour companies!
Dettifoss
Dettifoss certainly is impressive with it’s 100 meters width and it has the greatest volume of any waterfall in Europe (500 cubic meters of water pour down every second). It’s located about half an hour driving from the ring road and a little before lake Myvatn.
Accessibility – The parking lot is very spacious but there is a 20 minute hike involved that goes through ice and snow. So make sure to wear proper cramp-ons!
Impressiveness – The waterfall itself is very impressive but definitely not my favourite cause a lot of the pathways to get closer were closed of.
Other tourists – Make sure to go early cause a lot of tourist busses stop here early in the morning.
Godafoss
Up in the north of Iceland, near lake Myvatn, you’ll find Godafoss, also called the waterfall of the gods. With it’s 12 meters drop and 30 meters width it certainly is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland.
Accessibility – There is a public parking lot only 10 minutes walking from Godafoss and it’s right of the ring road. During the winter the pathway can be slippery so be safe and put cramp-ons on.
Impressiveness – Godafoss is more known for it’s beauty than for it’s power. The waterfall can be visited from all angles and is one of the most picturesque ones in Iceland.
Other tourists – It can get pretty crowded but since the entire area around Godafoss is large it’s still ok.
Kolugljúfur Canyon
One of my absolute favourite places and hidden gems in Iceland! This gorgeous canyon is hidden away from the ring road and doesn’t require a 4×4 to get to. On the other side you’ll see a 2 drop waterfall that especially during sunrise creates the most magical view.
Accessibility – Easy access from the ring road (around 30 minutes driving on gravel road) and there is a parking lot across the bridge. From there you just walk down a couple of meters and you’re there.
Impressivenes – The reason why it’s so impressive is because you can get right next to it. It actually feels like you are on an adventure!
Other tourists – We had this place to ourselves for almost 2 hours and had the most fun exploring!
Kirkjufellsfoss
The Snaefellsnes peninsula holds Iceland’s most photographic spot: Kirkjufellsfoss with in the background the piramid shaped mountain Kirkjufell. It’s a stunning and almost fairytale – like landscape that asks to be taken photographs of.
Accessibility – There is a small parking lot in front of Kirkjufellsfoss. Do watch out when you go up cause the plastic that ehy put on the ground can be very slippery (yes, both of us fell on our buts).
Impressiveness – To me this waterfall wins hands down because of the mountain in the background. There’s just nothing like it.
Other tourists – The only negative side, it can get really busy! In the early morning it’s a little better but of course everyone longs for that perfect sunset shot so expect a lot of tripods already standing there when you arrive.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland in the Winter season but also one of the most touristic ones. It’s the main stop on the Golden Circle and over the years it’s only grown in popularity.
Accessibility – There’s a huge parking lot but watch out in the Winter season cause it can be really slippery! You can’t really get close anymore to this waterfall. This used to be possible but people were pulling some dangerous stunts so now it is completely fenced off.
Impressiveness – The waterfall itself is very impressive, you just can’t get that close to it.
Other tourists – Let’s just say that this is one of those waterfalls in Iceland where you’ll never be alone. Like I said it’s a very popular tourist attraction and a main stop on the Golden Circle tour!
Selfoss
The Selfoss waterfall is located in the North of Iceland and is actually within walking distance from Dettifoss.
Accessibility – The parking lot is very spacious but there is a 20 minute hike involved that goes through ice and snow. So make sure to wear proper cramp-ons!
Impressiveness – Selfoss is a very impressive waterfall but you can’t get as close as with Dettifoss.
Other tourists – Most people come here to visit Dettifoss and compared to other places in Iceland the Northern part is a lot less crowded.
Hraunfossar
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 metres out of a lava field which flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjökull.
Accessibility – Hraunfossar is frequently visited by tourists and has a pretty big parking lot at the start of the walk. It’s a scenic walk alongside and above the river and even includes some cool bridges!
Impressiveness – You can’t compare Hraunfossar to the bigger waterfalls in Iceland but the place in it’s whole is beautiful to visit.
Other tourists – This is a walk that is also really popular with kids so you’ll definitely encounter a couple of families along the way. But all in all there weren’t too many other people around.
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