Waterfalls in Iceland: which ones come with a tour and which you visit alone
90 waterfall tours from under 120 to more than 1,000 EUR, typically 120 to 250 EUR, in two regions on opposite sides of the island: the South Coast and the north.
Most waterfalls in Iceland have no tour attached. The ones that do are sold in two places: 70 tours on the South Coast, with a typical price of 250 to 500 EUR, and 20 tours in the north, typically 120 to 250 EUR. Together that is 90 tours from 53 operators, rated 4.78 on 24,419 reviews, with a median length of ten hours, and one listing alone, from Your Day Tours, holds 27% of all the reviews. The gap between the two typical prices has little to do with the falls. It comes from what each region sells: a long day out of Reykjavík in one case, a cruise-port half day in the other. This page compares the falls themselves, including the ones we do not sell, and says which region suits which trip. The two destination pages read the tours one by one.
The two regions sit on opposite sides of the island, and the map further down shows how far apart. The South Coast is the day out of Reykjavík that reaches Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. North Iceland is Goðafoss and Dettifoss, mostly from Akureyri and often from a cruise ship. Gullfoss, the fall most visitors name first, belongs to the Golden Circle, which has no page on this site. Heights, access, prices and seasons for all of them follow, with a short reason for each fall that has no tour here. Hengifoss and Kirkjufellsfoss are on the map too.
Choose a destination in Iceland
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South Coast
The South Coast as a system: how Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss got there, what Reynisfjara asks of you, and four kinds of day from the 120 to 250 EUR band to…
70 experiences in 4 destinations -
North Iceland Waterfall Tours (Goðafoss & Dettifoss)
Goðafoss tours from Akureyri start under 120 EUR, and a day that includes Dettifoss typically costs 120 to 250 EUR.
20 experiences
Waterfalls Travel Experiences in Iceland
10-Hour Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss and Black Beach Small-Group Day Tour
Minibus day tour with a driver-guide for up to 15 travelers: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Solheimajokull and Reynisfjara, with an optional glacier hike.
10-Hour Small Group Tour from Akureyri: Godafoss, Dettifoss, Selfoss and Nature Baths
Ten hours and three waterfalls, with hotel or airport pickup in Akureyri. Groups of up to 14, guided in English; Nature Baths entry is paid separately.
12-Hour Solheimajokull Glacier Hike and South Coast Tour, Gear Included
Crampons, ice axe, helmet and harness come with this 12-hour minibus tour, which pairs a guided Solheimajokull hike with Seljalandsfoss and Reynisfjara beach.
13.5-Hour South Coast Tour with 1.5-Hour Beginner Glacier Hike, Small Group
Beginner glacier hike on Solheimajokull with a certified guide and gear, plus Skogafoss, Reynisfjara and a winter-lit Seljalandsfoss finish, from Reykjavik.
13.5-Hour South Coast Tour with DC-3 Plane Wreck Shuttle and Dyrholaey Views
Small-group minibus day with a shuttle to the DC-3 plane wreck, Dyrholaey arch and lighthouse, Vik church and a lunch stop at Reynisfjara, from Reykjavik.
2-Day Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon and South Coast Tour with Overnight Stay
Two days by minibus with a night's accommodation and breakfast included, a superjeep ride to a blue ice cave, and Diamond Beach, for groups of up to 14.
2-Day Crystal Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach Tour with Aurora Watch
Two-day small-group trip with the Crystal Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon lagoon and Diamond Beach, with breakfast and a chance of Northern Lights if conditions allow.
2-Day South Coast Tour from Reykjavik with Glacier Hike and Jokulsarlon Lagoon
Overnight trip with breakfast, hotel or bus stop pickup, a Sólheimajökull glacier hike with gear and a Jökulsárlón boat ride. Up to 15 travelers per booking.
2-Day South Coast Tour: Solheimajokull Glacier Hike, Jokulsarlon, Fjadrargljufur
Two-day tour with a blue-ice hike, an optional amphibious boat ride at Jokulsarlon, a night's stay and breakfast included, and stops at Fjadrargljufur.
2-Day South Coast Tour with Katla or Crystal Ice Cave, Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon
Two days of waterfalls, glaciers and an ice cave: Katla in summer, the Crystal Ice Cave in winter, plus a night far from the city for the northern lights.
2-Day South Coast Tour with Skaftafell Glacier Hike, Blue Ice Cave and Jokulsarlon
Two days from Reykjavik with a Skaftafell glacier hike, a blue ice cave from October to March, a countryside hotel night and a stop at Jökulsárlón lagoon.
2-Day Summer South Coast Tour with Solheimajokull Glacier Hike and Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Summer tour with a Sólheimajökull glacier hike, an amphibian boat at Jökulsárlón, Eldhraun lava field and a hotel between Vík and Höfn. Minimum age is eight.
2-Day Vatnajokull Crystal Ice Cave Tour with South Coast Stops and Overnight Stay
Ice cave tour under Vatnajökull with breakfast, a private hotel room near Höfn or Jökulsárlón and an air-conditioned minivan. Availability is limited.
2-Day Winter South Coast Tour with Blue Ice Cave, DC-3 Plane Wreck and Diamond Beach
Winter trip with a crystal-blue ice cave, a shuttle to the DC-3 wreck, and a hotel night between Vík and Höfn with the guide's northern lights forecast.
30-Minute Icelandic Horse Ride to Reykjafoss Waterfall from Hestasport in Varmahlid
Photos beside Reykjafoss on a 30-minute ride, with helmet, thermal overalls or rain gear and coffee or tea included. Starts at the Hestasport reception.
3-Day Private Iceland Tour: Reykjanes, Golden Circle and South Coast
Three days with a dedicated guide and a route that bends to weather and light, from Reykjanes and the Golden Circle to the waterfalls of the south coast.
6-Hour Shore Excursion from Akureyri: Ljosvatn, Godafoss, Myvatn Craters and Lava Fields
A Ljosvatn lake stop, Godafoss and the Dark Castles lava field of Dimmuborgir, finishing at Hverir, with a guaranteed return to port before the ship sails.
7-Hour Small Group from Akureyri Port: Godafoss, Hverfjall Crater Hike and Dettifoss
Hike the Hverfjall rim, see Godafoss and Dettifoss and stop for lunch in Reykjahlid, in a small group from the Saga Travel hut at the main port in Akureyri.
9-Hour South Coast Fire, Water and Ice Minibus Tour, No Bus Terminal Change
Air-conditioned minibus with WiFi and USB, pickup from hotels and bus stops, timed to avoid the heaviest crowds at five south coast sights over nine hours.
Chinese-Guided South Coast Day Tour with Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck and Waterfalls
The shuttle to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck is covered, the guide speaks Chinese, and the group of up to 15 travelers also stops for a lunch break in Vík.
Cruise Small Group from Akureyri: Godafoss, Myvatn Craters, Hverir and Dettifoss Hike
Dettifoss on a short hike, Dimmuborgir's old lake bed and the Hverir mud pots, in a small group that starts from the cruise terminal car park in Akureyri.
Customizable Private South Coast Tour with Six Stops, Pick-up and Drop-off
Pick-up and drop-off, a friendly English-speaking guide and extra stops on request, on a private south coast route from Seljalandsfoss to Dyrhólaey via Vík.
Dettifoss, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss Super Jeep Tour from Myvatn, 4 Hours, Hotel Pickup
Super Jeep tour with hotel pickup that walks to Dettifoss and Selfoss and drives down to Hafragilsfoss when conditions allow. Up to 10 travelers per booking.
Diamond Circle from Akureyri: Godafoss, Dettifoss, Asbyrgi and Husavik with Lunch Pack
A lunch pack comes with this one-day loop past five North Iceland natural sights and a Husavik harbor stop, with drop-off back at the Akureyri cruise port.
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Why there are so many waterfalls in Iceland
The water comes off ice. Seljalandsá, the river that drops over Seljalandsfoss, starts at the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The glacial rivers that feed Goðafoss and Dettifoss start at Vatnajökull. Flow follows the melt: Gullfoss averages 141 m³/s in summer and 80 in winter, according to Wikipedia.
The ground does the rest. The southern falls drop off cliffs that were once a sea coast, and the South Coast page explains how. In the north the rock is lava, and Dettifoss falls into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, cutting back toward the south by about half a meter a year, according to the national park.
The southern falls come off an old shoreline. The northern ones come off lava.
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the pair most people mean
Both are about 60 m high and about 30 km apart along the Ring Road, and the classic South Coast day stops at both. Seljalandsfoss has a path behind the fall. Skógafoss has a staircase to a platform above it and the start of a trail toward the Fimmvörðuháls pass. The South Coast page has the detail.
Nine waterfalls side by side
Height is a poor way to choose. The two falls most day tours stop at, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, are 60 m each, well short of Háifoss at 122 m or Morsárfoss at 227.3 m, and Goðafoss is only 12 m high. What they share is a place on a road that a tour can reach in a day. The last column shows which of the nine we sell tours to.
| Waterfall | Height | Where | Tours on this site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seljalandsfoss | 60 m, one drop, with a path behind it | South Coast | Yes, on the South Coast page |
| Skógafoss | 60 m high, 25 m wide | South Coast | Yes, on the South Coast page |
| Gullfoss | 32 m in two drops, 11 m and 21 m | Golden Circle | No page here |
| Goðafoss | 12 m high, 30 m wide | North Iceland, on the Ring Road | Yes, on the North Iceland page |
| Dettifoss | 44 to 45 m high, about 100 m wide | Northeast, in Vatnajökull National Park | Yes, on the North Iceland page |
| Dynjandi | 100 m, six falls in a group | Westfjords, Arnarfjörður | No page here |
| Háifoss | 122 m | Highlands | No page here |
| Morsárfoss | 227.3 m, the tallest according to Wikipedia | Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park | No page here |
| Svartifoss | 20 m, one drop | Skaftafell | No page here |
Heights come from the park or tourist board where one publishes a figure, and from Wikipedia for the rest, Svartifoss's 20 m included. They disagree by a few meters: south.is gives Seljalandsfoss as 60 m while Wikipedia's list says 65, and the same list gives Skógafoss as 62. One name trap: Wikipedia lists a second Háifoss among the six falls of Dynjandi, so check which one a photo caption means.
Where the tours start, and how far apart everything is
Reykjavík and Akureyri are the two bases, and each has its own falls within a day. Distances are driving figures from the park, the regional tourist boards and Guide to Iceland.
From Reykjavík it is about 150 km to Skógafoss, two to two and a half hours by road, and Seljalandsfoss is roughly 30 km west of Skógar. From Akureyri, Goðafoss is 35 km and 30 to 45 minutes away, and Dettifoss is 135 km. The loop that adds Mývatn, Ásbyrgi and Húsavík is 310 km and takes more than four hours of driving. Only five of the 20 tours on the North Iceland page include Dettifoss.
What the price chart says
The South Coast dot sits in the 250 to 500 EUR band and its bar, the middle half of the listings, runs from roughly 120 to 1,000 EUR. The North Iceland dot sits in the 120 to 250 EUR band and its bar is only roughly 60 to 250 EUR wide.
The wide South Coast bar is a mix of formats, not a spread of quality. Inside it, the 47 shared tours typically cost 120 to 250 EUR, the 20 on the private page typically more than 1,000 EUR, and the 17 glacier and waterfall tours, 35% of them multi-day, sit at 500 to 1,000 EUR. The north is narrow because its tours are short: five of the 20 are Goðafoss-only trips of 2 to 3 hours in the 60 to 120 EUR band. The South Coast page breaks its bar into the four formats behind it.
The waterfalls we do not sell
Most falls on the map have no tour on this site. Dynjandi is in the Westfjords, a long way from either base, and tours to it leave from Ísafjörður. Háifoss and the other highland falls sit behind interior roads that are closed for much of the year; we found only three tours that go there. Svartifoss in Skaftafell, 20 m in front of a wall of basalt columns, has no day tour in our catalog. Gullfoss, 32 m, is one of three stops on the Golden Circle with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, and in the Golden Circle listings we surveyed, 168 of 178 do not name it in the title.
Dates behind the waterfalls you can visit
Dates from Wikipedia and the national park pages.
Today
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1979
Gullfoss becomes a conservation site
After decades of talk about using the falls for electricity, they were sold to the Icelandic government and made a permanent conservation site.
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1981
Dynjandi is protected
The falls were protected as natural monuments.
The growth
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2010
Eyjafjallajökull erupts
A fissure opened on 20 March, and the summit crater erupted from 14 April until the eruption was declared over on 23 May. Air travel over northwest Europe was disrupted from 15 to 21 April.
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2011
A tarmac road to Dettifoss
Wikipedia dates the paved west road, route 862, to 2011. The older gravel road on the east side, route 864, is usually passable in summer only.
Which region for which trip
Choose by the day you want, not by the fall. From Reykjavík with one day, the shared South Coast tour in the 120 to 250 EUR band is the sensible answer. From a cruise ship or Akureyri, the north is the only place a day tour reaches: a Goðafoss-only trip in the 60 to 120 EUR band is honest value, and a day that includes Dettifoss typically costs 120 to 250 EUR.
Two regions, two pages
Each page reads its tours one by one and has its own price chart.
When to go
The South Coast runs all year. The north does too, but Dettifoss does not. The gravel road on the east side, route 864, closes when snow arrives in autumn, and Visit North Iceland puts its reopening around the end of May. The paved west road, 862, has limited winter service, and two regional tourist boards give different dates for it, so check the road administration before booking a winter Dettifoss day. On the South Coast, Reynisfjara deserves respect in any month.
Months are our reading of tourist-board and road-administration notes, not weather-service data.
| Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Coast Tours run all year. The path behind Seljalandsfoss closes when icy, and Reynisfjara has dangerous waves in any month. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| North Iceland Goðafoss, on the Ring Road, runs all year. The east gravel road to Dettifoss closes with the first snow and reopens around the end of May. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Gullfoss Average flow is 141 m³/s in summer and 80 in winter. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Months are editorial judgment from tourist-board and road notes, not weather data. Check road.is and safetravel.is before driving.
Questions about waterfalls in Iceland
Which waterfalls in Iceland can you visit in winter?
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Gullfoss are open all year, and South Coast tours run through the winter. Goðafoss is on the Ring Road, and a winter combo tour goes there. The path behind Seljalandsfoss is closed when ice makes it dangerous, and the east road to Dettifoss closes with the first snow. Check safetravel.is and the road administration the day before you go.
Skógafoss or Seljalandsfoss?
Both are about 60 m high and about 30 km apart, so a day tour does both. Skógafoss is the wider one, 25 m, and has a staircase to a platform on top. Seljalandsfoss is the one you can walk behind in the warm months. If you can only do one, pick on the activity: the climb is Skógafoss, the path behind the water is Seljalandsfoss.
Do you pay to see Icelandic waterfalls?
We found no entrance fee at the falls our tours visit. Some car parks charge, and the amounts change. We could not confirm a current figure with an operator, so we do not quote one. Read the sign at the car park.
Is the Golden Circle worth it for waterfalls?
It gives you one, Gullfoss, in two drops. The other stops are Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur. It is a good day, but it is a geology and history day with a waterfall in it. If waterfalls are the point, the South Coast has two on one road and the north has Goðafoss and Dettifoss.
How far is Skógafoss from Reykjavík?
About 150 km by road, two to two and a half hours each way. A full South Coast day with the other stops takes about 10 hours. Seljalandsfoss is roughly 30 km west of Skógar, on the way.
Can I combine the South Coast and the north?
Not in a day. They sit on opposite sides of the island on the map, and most tours here start from Reykjavík or Akureyri.
Ready to compare the tours?
The South Coast page puts four kinds of day side by side, from the 120 to 250 EUR band to more than 1,000 EUR.
Data verified on . Prices, ratings and counts from the 90 tours read on 22 Oct 2026. Heights and rules from park and tourist-board pages, Wikipedia where named.