Gullfoss
Stand at the lower viewpoint and the spray hits your face before you fully register what you're looking at. Gullfoss drops in two stages into a canyon that seems to swallow the river whole — the Hvítá disappearing into a roaring chasm roughly 32 metres below. The name means 'golden falls', and on a bright day you'll understand why: mist catches the light and a rainbow hangs in the gorge like something permanent.
Geologists trace the falls to the end of the last ice age, around 5,000 years ago. It sits about 115 kilometres east of Reykjavik, and the drive via Route 35 is part of the classic Golden Circle route that also passes Geysir Geothermal Area.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to park in the lower lot rather than the upper — it puts you closest to the canyon edge and the spray. The walk between the two viewpoints takes 15 to 30 minutes and the difference in perspective is worth doing both ways. Winter visitors note that the upper platform stays open even when the lower path ices over.
The story behind Gullfoss
In 1907 an English businessman attempted to acquire Gullfoss for hydroelectric development. The landowner, farmer Tómas Tómasson, refused to sell but eventually agreed to a lease. His daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, spent her own savings hiring a Reykjavik lawyer to void the contract and made the journey to the capital on foot — across difficult terrain — multiple times to pursue the case. The legal fight dragged on for years without success.
The contract ultimately collapsed not through the courts but because the leaseholders defaulted on rent payments. In 1940 Sigríður's brother Einar Guðmundsson bought the falls from their father and later sold them to the Icelandic government. Gullfoss was designated a nature reserve in 1979. A stone memorial above the falls carries Sigríður's profile; she is now widely regarded as Iceland's first environmentalist.
Good to know
No tickets, no time slots, no entrance fee — just park and walk. The upper lot has the visitor centre, café and restrooms (roughly 9:30am–6pm in summer, shorter in winter). No reliable public bus runs here; if you're not driving, a guided tour is the practical option. Allow 45 to 90 minutes.
Summer (June–August) brings the highest water volume — glacier melt pushes roughly 140 cubic metres per second over the rocks, and July temperatures reach around 14°C. Winter transforms the canyon walls into ice formations, though the lower viewpoint path often closes due to ice; the upper platform stays accessible year-round. Rain is possible in any season, with January the wettest month by some margin.
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What travellers say about Gullfoss
Absolutely one of our favorite waterfalls! So powerful! Walking path is easy, parking is easy, even in June! So unique!
One of the most majestic waterfalls in Iceland. Breathtaking two tiered waterfall with a higher and lower viewpoint. The walkways on the higher viewpoint are wide and easily accessible for everyone (and with free parking). Definitely a do not miss in the Golden Circle.
Simply stunning! A very good tourist attraction with great facilities. There are two main viewing platforms. One is higher up than the other. The lower viewing area is closer to the waterfall but the path is quite undulating and the platform can be slippery. The higher platform is much less undulating, smooth concrete and is away from much of the waterfall spray. Both platforms are linked by a long set of stairs. Both platforms have a car park The upper platform area is where you will find the restaurant, shop and toilets. The day we visited was not a busy day but the shop/restaurant was very crowded. Toilets were very clean and the staff were lovely. 10/10 😍
It's amazing! I can't describe how stunning this waterfall is. I saw many waterfalls in Iceland, but this one made an enormous impression on me. Don't hesitate to visit this place!
Visited Gullfoss last summer and it was absolutely a sight to behold. A magnificent two tier waterfall which is simply mesmerising to watch. One of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland and the world. There’s various viewing platforms which offer several fantastic view points. The most upper view point has a few stairs. It’s a short easy walk from the carpark.
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