Gullfoss Falls

About Gullfoss Falls

Gullfoss is a two-step waterfall on the Hvítá river in South Iceland, about 10 kilometers past the Geysir geothermal area and roughly two hours' drive from Reykjavík. The Golden Falls drop about 11 meters and then 21 meters into a narrow crevice, so from the upper viewpoint you watch a whole glacial river go over the edge without seeing where it lands.

It's the last of the three classic Golden Circle stops, and most visitors pair it with Geysir and Þingvellir in one long day. If you're driving yourself, Gullfoss also makes a natural turnaround point before heading back west or on to the south coast. On sunny days, the spray often throws a rainbow across the gorge.

Two levels of paths look at the Gullfoss waterfall from different angles. The upper lot sits beside the visitor center and café with a broad view down the gorge, and a stairway leads to a lower path that runs out along the rock beside the falls. Expect spray down there, so bring a waterproof jacket.

That lower path is named after Sigríður Tómasdóttir, a farmer's daughter from nearby Brattholt. In the early 1900s she fought plans to dam the river for hydropower, and a memorial to her stands near the falls.

There's no entrance ticket, and the site is open all year. In winter the lower path is usually gated off because of ice and the risk of falling rock, though the upper viewpoints stay open and the half-frozen falls are worth the trip. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, and in summer come early or after about 5 p.m. to miss the midday tour buses.