Gullfoss

The Golden Falls

Gullfoss needs no introduction for most visitors to Iceland — it is the country's most famous waterfall and the centrepiece of the Golden Circle route. But familiarity does nothing to diminish the experience of standing beside it. The Hvítá river, thick with glacial sediment from Langjokull ice cap, tumbles over a broad ledge and then plunges into a 2.5-kilometre-long canyon with a force that you feel in your chest before you see it.

The waterfall drops in two stages. The upper cascade falls 11 metres over a wide, staircase-like rock ledge. The water then turns 90 degrees and drops another 21 metres into the narrow canyon below. From certain angles, the lower cascade appears to vanish into the earth — the canyon is so narrow and deep that the bottom is hidden from view.

The Upper Viewpoint

The most dramatic first impression comes from the upper viewing area, reached directly from the main car park. From here, you look down into the canyon and see both cascades and the enormous volume of water surging through the gap. The scale is difficult to grasp until you spot the tiny figures of visitors on the lower path, dwarfed by the falls.

On sunny days, rainbows arc through the spray, giving the waterfall its name — Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. The mist soaks everything and everyone within range, so a waterproof jacket is advisable even on a clear day.

The Lower Path

A path descends from the upper area to a viewpoint much closer to the edge of the upper cascade. From here, the noise is immense, the spray is constant, and the sheer volume of water passing before you is mesmerising. You are standing at the edge of raw geological power — the force that has carved this canyon over thousands of years is happening right in front of you.

In winter, this lower path is sometimes closed when ice makes it dangerous. The upper viewpoint remains accessible year-round.

The Woman Who Saved Gullfoss

In the early 20th century, foreign investors planned to harness Gullfoss for hydroelectric power. Sigridur Tomasdottir, the daughter of the farmer who owned the land, fought the plan for years, reportedly threatening to throw herself into the falls if the project went ahead. Her campaign, assisted by a young lawyer named Sveinn Bjornsson (who later became Iceland's first president), eventually succeeded. The waterfall remained untouched.

A memorial to Sigridur stands near the upper car park — a reminder that Iceland's natural landmarks have not always been guaranteed protection.

Getting There

Gullfoss is 118 kilometres from Reykjavik, approximately 1.5 hours by car via Route 35 through the Biskupstungur area. It is the final stop on the classic Golden Circle route, typically visited after Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir geothermal area. The visitor centre has a café serving soup, sandwiches, and coffee. There are toilets and a gift shop. The car park is large but can fill up during peak summer hours.