Gullfoss Waterfall | Iceland Travel Guide
Gullfoss Waterfall is located in Southwest Iceland and is known as the Golden Falls (“Gull” means Golden, and “Foss” means “Falls / Waterfalls”). It was the first spectacular waterfall that I encountered when travelling along the Golden Circle!
If you’re narrowing down the number of attractions to visit, I would recommend prioritising Gullfoss Waterfall.
For detailed travel tips / inspiration when travelling along Golden Coast Iceland, check out my other Iceland posts:
- 120+ Travel Tips to Iceland
- Things to do in Reykjavik
- Glacier Hiking at the Sólheimajökull Glacier | Adventure Travel
- Iceland’s Diamond Beach (Breiðamerkursandur)
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Skógafoss Waterfall
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
- The Best 8 Black Sand Beaches in Iceland
- Top 13 Travel Apps You Need When Visiting Iceland
- 33 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Europe (& Travel Hacks)
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Facts about Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland
Gullfoss Iceland originates from the Hvítávatn glacier lake at Lángjökull glacier.
Turned into a national park in 1979, Gullfoss Iceland is a two “staircase” waterfall that consists of:
- 1st stage: 1 km worth of river water that ends in a 36 feet plunge;
- 2nd stage: followed by a grand 69 feet plunged which is absolutely stunning.
Origins of the name “Gullfoss”
I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that Icelanders love their legends. The Skógafoss Waterfall is rumoured to have hidden treasure, whereas the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks at the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach has three sea troll-related legends to its origins!
The origin of the Gullfoss name is no different & here are the top 3 legends!
The name “Gullfoss” originated from the golden evening hue that often colours its glacier water.
“Gullfoss” was inspired by the rainbow that often appears when the sunshine hits the intense water-spray thrown up by the Gullfoss Waterfall.
P/S: We didn’t get to see any rainbow (there wasn’t that much sun), but we definitely felt its power!
The third legend originated in Sveinn Palsson’s travel journal.
Once upon a time, a farmer named Gýgur lived at Gýgjarhóll. He had lots of gold couldn’t bear the thought of someone else possessing it after his lifetime so he placed his gold in a coffer and threw it into the waterfall!!
Which legend do you think is the likeliest truth? 😉
Gullfoss Iceland Location
Gullfoss Waterfall Iceland is a popular choice on any Golden Circle itinerary and really easy to find.
To get here, I would advise using both your GPS and Waze / Google Maps. It will appear as either “Golden Falls” or “Gullfoss” on your navigational devices/maps. And don’t forget to load your mobile phone with all these essential travel apps in case you need to, for instance, make an emergency call to the Icelandic authorities!
If you are travelling from Reykjavik, the journey will take you around 1.5 hours.
That isn’t too bad of a drive but I would recommend staying in the area so that you can see all the nearby attractions without having to drive all the way back to Reykjavik.
Gullfoss Car Park Spaces
Gullfoss has two car park spaces.
Main Car Park Area
One is located higher up on the hill where the Gullfoss Visitor Center, gift shop and restaurant is. This was the car park that Waze brought us to. You can see how empty it is! Plenty of spots for you to park your cars.
HOWEVER, I do regret parking at this spot.
We had to cross the car park and head to our left where this modern, black brick structure was located.
This path will soon open into a long wooden pathway.
The view was really pretty.
As we were visiting over the summer, it was just an endless carpet of green and purple and white flowers. I imagine the view would be very different in the winter!
This is a back view of the gift shop we left behind. I liked the modern structure! They were selling some warm clothes, although we didn’t actually visit it due to a lack of time.
The walk along the wooden path took around 5 minutes, but they do have some signs along the way to explain what Gullfoss is.
They also had small wooden benches in the green fields for people to sit!
At the end of the wooden path, you will see the path split, either heading to the left or further downwards. The path down the metal staircase leads to Gullfoss, whereas the trail to the left is a hiking trail that can be explored. It brings you closer to the top of Gullfoss.
Now, while I’m all for the view, I do wish we hadn’t parked here because there was another car park at the bottom of this wooden path/flight of metal staircase!
Second Gullfoss Car Park
Look out for this sign as you are nearing Gullfoss Waterfall. Just ignore the sign that says “top platform” and turn into the lane it is located at.
That is where you will find the second Gullfoss car park, which is right beside the waterfall!
Experiencing Gullfoss Waterfall
After experiencing the disappointment that was the Öxaráfoss Waterfall at Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall blew us away.
It was so huge, we could hear it from a distance. And its spray was visible from the top viewing platform. This is one of those amazing waterfalls where you can see it from on top, and walk right up to it.
This is the pathway that leads you straight to Gullfoss Waterfall.
The closer we got, the wetter we became.
As you can see from the very wet floor, Gullfoss has no mercy for its visitors! If we could see the spray from so far, you bet it will be quite a shower when you get up close and personal with it.
I would strongly advise coming here only after donning a raincoat with sturdy shoes.
Even so, the path towards the Gullfoss is gorgeous. Look at that green spread!
The highlight of Gullfoss Iceland has to be this sight, where the waterfall plunges into white oblivion.
My hair was set through and I could barely see while standing here! I don’t doubt that anything that ended up there would’ve long been pulverised.
The final part is the rocky ledge, where you can see the first tier of Gullfoss Waterfall.
This place may be closed during winter when it gets too dangerous to visit. The entire ledge was wet, so I can’t imagine walking around this place on ICE!
But oh the views.
P/S: If you want to know more about Gullfoss, you can visit its official website here, which will give you tips on the trips & activities to do.
What to wear when visiting Gullfoss Waterfall
If you intend to go right up to the ledge to see Gullfoss Waterfall in all its glory, make sure your clothes are waterproof and you wear shoes with a sturdy grip.
If you come during the winter, use your crampons if you have any. And be very careful about your safety. Some photos are just not worth the risk!
FAQs on Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland
Some additional answers that might not have been raised earlier.
If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below so that I can add them to this post!
If Gullfoss Iceland is so powerful, why hasn’t it been used for electricity generation yet?
There is a story behind the answer!
In 1907, an Englishman wanted to use Gullfoss for electricity generation (big surprise!) but encountered huge resistance in the form of a local farmer in Bratthold – Tómas Tómasson. Tómas famously declared, “I will not sell my friend”.
Unfortunately, Gullfoss still ended up being leased to foreign investors but the story doesn’t stop there! Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, struggled to keep Gullfoss free. She travelled along mountain roads, crossed great rivers and rode horseback for 120 km to meet with numerous government officials in Reykjavik (and we thought travelling was tough!).
Sigríður even went so far as to threaten to throw herself over the waterfalls if they were dammed.
The happy news is that the Gullfoss Waterfall was never exploited, and an Icelandic law was even passed to forbid foreigners from purchasing a state-owned waterfall.
Where is Gullfoss Iceland located in proximity to everything else?
If you are trying to determine where Gullfoss Waterfall is situated, here are some rough estimates:
- Selfoss: 71 km
- Reykjavík: 115 km
- Keflavik International Airport: 158.7 km
- Vík í Mýrdal: 176 km
- Stykkishólmur: 254 km
- Höfn í Hornafirði: 441 km
How can I get to Gullfoss Waterfall?
The easiest way is by car, which is what we did.
There are lots of Golden Circle tours that include Gullfoss in their itinerary, some originating from Reykjavik or nearby locations. This full-day Golden Circle tour covers everything from Gullfoss to Geysirs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is a popular route so your group tour options won’t be limited.
If you want a Reykjavik pickup:
- This 8-hour tour includes Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur geyser, Kerið crater & Þingvellir National Park; or
- This 9.5-hour tour includes Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur geyser, Þingvellir National Park and time spent in Iceland’s oldest lagoon!
P/S: The above are affiliate links, meaning that if you buy something using one of the links below, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you!
Bus
You can also take a bus, which will cost you around ISK 3,400 – 4,000 per person, one way.
The bus schedules are known to change so make sure you factor in more time if you are going by bus.
Bicycle
While I’m not sure I would personally recommend this, I definitely saw at least one cyclist who cycled all the way to Gullfoss.
You will want to consider this only during the summer. Winter is NOT the time to be cycling.
How long should I spend at Gullfoss Waterfall?
You can spend anywhere between 15 minutes to 2 hours here, depending on how many photos you want to take. Or whether you just want to enjoy the view.
Personally, I would budget around an hour so that it doesn’t feel too rushed and you can take your time to explore the area.
What can I see at Gullfoss Waterfall?
Depending on the season, apart from the Gullfoss Waterfall itself, you can explore its spectacular surroundings. The green carpet was surrounded by colourful, blooming flowers when we were there in the summer.
Don’t expect anything beyond that. You are here to see nature at its very best.
And of course, that means we have to act as responsible tourists and don’t go around littering! Take your rubbish with you or leave it at the appropriate spots.
Are there any toilets near Gullfoss Waterfall?
If you have read my 120+ travel tips to Iceland (which you can do so HERE), you will know that toilets are a VERY crucial concern for two reasons:
- You can’t find them when you most need them (and no, stopping by the roadside is NOT an option); or
- You will have to pay. It is highly likely you have to pay. And they even do you the favour of letting you pay by credit card!
When it comes to Gullfoss Iceland, yes you CAN visit the toilets but YOU HAVE TO PAY!
But here is a great travel hack.
If nature calls, visit the Gullfoss Visitor Center. Again if you have read my 120+ travel tips to Iceland, you will know that visitor centres are a great source of FREE toilets and Gullfoss’s Visitor Center is no different. The toilets are modern, clean and FREE, so make full use of it!
The visitor centre even has a shop and restaurant if you feel like extending your stay near Gullfoss Waterfall.
Can I visit the Gullfoss Waterfall in winter?
Sure thing!
Like many Golden Circle attractions, Gullfoss Waterfall is free to visit and there are no barriers preventing you from accessing the waterfall.
That said, another common feature/concern that Gullfoss shares with other Icelandic attractions are the issue of SAFETY. Out here in the wild, safety shouldn’t be taken lightly especially with a powerful beast-like Gulfoss.
The path towards the lower viewpoint is open but can get quite icy (it was already really slippery during the summer). If possible, wear crampons. Proceed with UTMOST caution. And go back if you ever feel unsafe at any point.
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10 Comments
Mona
Thank you for this detailed guide!
Iuliya
You’re welcome!
Nicole
Wow! It’s so beautiful there!
Iuliya
It’s a gorgeous waterfall!
Heidi
Beautiful photography! I had the opportunity to visit it a few years ago.
Iuliya
Thank you! Ooh which part of the year did you go? Did you like Gullfoss?
Kenya
Very detailed travel guide 🙂 love the photos!
Iuliya
Glad you like the photos, Kenya! Hope you found the travel guide useful 🙂
Kanika Bakshi
Thank you for providing us with som much content on Gullfoss waterfalls I was not aware of this place before, but now I am pretty much aware of it now, will share it with my husband as well so that we plan it very soon Cannot wait to explore this beautiful, place as the photos are so appealing.
Iuliya
Hope you get to visit Gullfoss soon!