Seljalandsfoss

About Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is a 60-meter waterfall on the South Coast of Iceland, where the river Seljalandsá, fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull, drops off an old sea cliff about 130 kilometers east of Reykjavík. A footpath loops through the hollow behind the water, and standing back there looking out through the falling curtain is why it sits on almost every South Coast itinerary.

Plan on getting wet. The loop behind the falls is short but muddy and slippery, with spray blowing across it in almost any wind, so a rain jacket and shoes with real grip matter more than a camera. In winter, when ice builds up on the steps and rocks, the rear section may be closed for safety and you view the falls from the front.

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall sits on Route 249, a minute off the Ring Road and roughly an hour and 45 minutes by car from Reykjavík. That makes it the first big stop on the south coast for most drivers and day tours. Walk about 600 meters north along the base of the cliff and you reach Gljúfrabúi, a second waterfall tucked inside a narrow gorge that you enter by wading a shallow stream.

Viewing the falls is free, but parking is paid by number-plate recognition: 900 ISK per car for the day, with visits under 10 minutes free. You can pay on site or online through Checkit, and the fee covers the toilets. There's also a small café on site. For camping near Seljalandsfoss, the Hamragarðar campsite is a short walk north, beside Gljúfrabúi.

Timing makes a big difference here. The falls face west, so on summer evenings the low sun shines straight through the water, and in June and July you can come late, long after the tour buses have left. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to walk behind Seljalandsfoss and see Gljúfrabúi, then continue east to Skógafoss, about 30 minutes down Route 1.