9 Waterfalls That’ll Make You Wonder If This Country Was Photoshopped

You’ve seen the pictures. Water falls in a perfect curtain. Glacial rivers glow an impossible shade of blue. The rainbows look like a filter. It’s so stunning, you have to ask: Is Iceland real, or is it just good photo editing? Spoiler: It is real.

This guide is your proof. We will show you the 9 most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland that look photoshopped.

Best of all, we will give you real, 2025-specific advice for your Iceland travel. Before you go, know that you will likely need an ETIAS travel waiver starting in mid-2025 (check the official EU site if visiting from the US, UK, or Canada).

Always check the official safetravel.is for travel alerts and vedur.is for weather. And always pack full waterproof gear (jacket, pants, and boots). Now, here are the 9 falls to see with your own eyes.

1. Seljalandsfoss: The One You Walk Behind

It is one of the most famous waterfalls on the South Coast, and for good reason. It drops 60 meters (197 feet) in a graceful stream, but its real magic is the large cave behind it. This unique feature allows you to follow a path and walk a full circle around the falls.

Standing behind the thundering water and looking out at the green landscape is an unreal experience. It’s located right off Route 1 (the Ring Road) and is impossible to miss. The photo from behind the curtain of water, especially at sunset, is a shot you must get.

• Location: South Coast, 1.5-2 hour drive from Reykjavik.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: Parking is not free. Expect a mandatory parking fee of around 1,000 ISK (about $7-8 USD). You pay at a kiosk, and this fee helps maintain the trails and bathrooms.
• Gear: You must wear full waterproofs (jacket and pants). The mist is intense and will soak you in seconds. Waterproof hiking boots are also needed as the path is wet and slippery.
• Best Time to Go: Visit at sunset to see the sun through the water, or go very early in the morning to beat the tour buses.

2. Skógafoss: The Classic Colossus

Skógafoss is a perfect, rectangular wall of water that looks like a classic painting. It is massive, standing 60 meters (197 feet) high and 25 meters (82 feet) wide. Because it produces so much mist, you can almost always see a bright single or double rainbow on sunny days.

You can walk right up to the base, but be prepared to get soaked by its power. This is the waterfall featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It is just 25 minutes east of Seljalandsfoss, making it an easy second stop.

• Location: South Coast, right on Route 1.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: As of early 2025, parking is still free. However, there are official plans to add a parking fee (like the one at Seljalandsfoss) in the fall of 2025. Be prepared and look for new payment kiosks upon arrival.
• Must-Do: Don’t just stay at the bottom. Take the 500+ stairs on the right side of the falls. The view from the top platform looking down is completely different and shows you the start of a famous hike.
• Photo Tip: The “rainbow” photo is the classic shot. For a unique angle, walk along the black sand riverbank to get the whole fall in your frame.

3. Gullfoss: The “Golden Falls”

Gullfoss is not a simple drop; it’s a two-tiered giant that shows off Iceland’s raw power. The water, from the Hvítá glacial river, first drops 11 meters and then turns 90 degrees before plunging another 21 meters into a deep canyon.

In the summer, the volume of water is immense (140 m³/s), and the ground trembles. It’s called “Golden Falls” because on a sunny day, the silty water can look golden brown. It is the star attraction of the famous Golden Circle route.

• Location: Golden Circle route, about 1.5 hours from Reykjavik.
• How to See It: There are two main viewing platforms. The upper platform gives a panoramic view of the “staircase” effect. The lower path brings you much closer to the edge and the mist.
• Cost: Parking and entry are both completely free.
• Safety: The lower path can be very slippery and is often closed in winter due to ice. Always obey the ropes and signs.

4. Brúarfoss: The “Bluest” Waterfall in Iceland

It is the waterfall that truly looks photoshopped. The water is a striking, almost unnatural, electric blue. It gets this color from the glacial river Brúará. It is not one big drop, but thousands of small, delicate streams flowing over dark volcanic rock and collecting in a deep blue-green pool.

For years, this was a hard-to-find “hidden gem,” but a new, official path has made it accessible to everyone. It is the most unique waterfall on the Golden Circle.

• Location: Golden Circle, near Laugarvatn.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: There is now an official Brúarfoss parking lot. Do not try to access it through the private holiday home area. You must take the new, clearly marked hiking path.
• The Hike: The walk to the waterfall is about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) one way. It takes about 45-60 minutes to walk and is mostly flat.
• Photography Tip: To get that “silky” water look that highlights the blue color, you will need a tripod and a long-exposure shot on your camera.

5. Svartifoss: The Basalt Column Wonder

Svartifoss looks like something from a fantasy novel. The water itself is a single, slim cascade, but the cliff behind it is what makes it famous. It is framed by perfectly formed, black hexagonal basalt columns that look like a giant church organ.

This rare geological formation was so inspiring that it influenced the design of Reykjavik’s famous Hallgrímskirkja church. It is located inside the beautiful Skaftafell Nature Reserve, which is now part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park.

• Location: Skaftafell Nature Reserve (South Coast, part of Vatnajökull National Park).
• The Hike: You cannot drive to this waterfall. It requires a moderate 1.5 km (1-mile) uphill hike from the Skaftafell visitor center. It takes about 30-45 minutes one way.
• Cost: While the hike is free, you must pay a parking fee at the Skaftafell visitor center.
• Pro-Tip: Don’t turn around right after seeing Svartifoss. The trail loop offers amazing views of the nearby glaciers and the vast black sand plains.

6. Kirkjufellsfoss: The Most Photographed Waterfall

You have definitely seen this waterfall on Instagram. The waterfall itself is actually quite small, but its location makes it one of the most photographed spots in Iceland. It sits directly across from Kirkjufell, or “Church Mountain,” which is famous for its unique shape.

This mountain was also a filming location in Game of Thrones (“Arrowhead Mountain”). The combination of the gentle, multi-tiered falls in the foreground and the dramatic mountain behind it creates a perfect, unreal composition.

• Location: Snæfellsnes Peninsula (West Iceland), about 2.5 hours from Reykjavik.
• Cost: There is a small, designated parking lot across the street that has a mandatory parking fee.
• Photography Tip: The classic photo is taken from the path on the hill, with the falls in the foreground and Kirkjufell centered in the background. It is stunning at sunset or under the Northern Lights.
• Safety: The parking lot is small and right next to the main road. Be extremely careful when walking and crossing the street, as cars come by quickly.

7. Gljúfrabúi: The “Secret” Cave Waterfall

It is the ultimate “hidden” gem, even though it is only a 5-minute walk from the famous Seljalandsfoss. Most tourists miss it completely. Gljúfrabúi is hidden inside a small canyon, tucked away behind a large cliff.

To see it, you must walk through a narrow crack in the rock, balancing on stones in a small stream. Once inside, you are in a moss-covered grotto with a beautiful waterfall tumbling down from above. It feels like discovering a secret world.

• Location: South Coast, a 5-minute walk to the left (north) of Seljalandsfoss.
• Gear: You must have waterproof boots. Your feet will get wet just trying to get inside. A waterproof jacket is also a good idea.
• Cost: You can use the same parking ticket you purchased for Seljalandsfoss.
• Pro-Tip: For the classic photo, carefully climb onto the large boulder inside the cave. This gives you a stable spot to shoot and shows the scale of the hidden falls.

8. Hengifoss: The “Mars” Waterfall

Hengifoss looks like a painting from another planet. At 128 meters (420 feet), it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland. What makes it look photoshopped are the striking horizontal layers of red clay that cut through the black basalt cliff face.

This red-on-black-rock contrast is unreal and visible from a great distance. This waterfall is a highlight of East Iceland and a must-do for anyone driving the full Ring Road. The hike to get there is part of the adventure.

• Location: East Iceland, near the town of Egilsstaðir.
• The Hike: This is a 2.5 km (1.5-mile) uphill hike that takes about 45-60 minutes one way. It can be steep in places but is very rewarding.
• Bonus Waterfall: On your way up to Hengifoss, you will pass another stunning waterfall called Litlanesfoss. It is surrounded by some of the tallest basalt columns in the country.
• Pro-Tip: The view gets better as you climb. You will have amazing views looking back over the valley and the large lake, Lagarfljót.

9. Dettifoss: The Most Powerful in Europe

This waterfall is not “pretty” in the traditional sense; it is terrifyingly powerful. Dettifoss is a “force of nature” waterfall. It is 100 meters (330 feet) wide, and a massive 193 cubic meters per second of gray, silty glacial water violently crashes into a deep canyon. The ground actually trembles from the force.

The sheer, raw power is what makes it look unreal. It is the star attraction of the “Diamond Circle” route in North Iceland.

• Location: North Iceland, part of Vatnajökull National Park.
• Two Sides (Read This): You can visit from the West side (Road 862), which is paved and has bathrooms. Or you can visit the East side (Road 864), which is a gravel road. The East side is often said to offer a more intense, closer view of the power.
• 2025 Actionable Tip: Always check the official road site Umferdin.is before you go. The gravel road (864) and even the paved road (862) can be closed outside of summer due to snow or mud.
• Must-Do: Walk the path from Dettifoss to the nearby Selfoss (a 10-15 minute walk upstream). It is a completely different, wider, and equally impressive waterfall.

You’ve Seen the Proof. Now Go See Them.

From the hidden cave of Gljúfrabúi to the raw power of Dettifoss, it’s clear: Iceland isn’t photoshopped. These 9 waterfalls are real. They are accessible. And they are even more amazing in person than on your phone.

You now have the 2025-specific tips to see them. The only question is: which one will you visit first?

Share this guide with your travel buddy and start packing your waterproofs.