Seljalandsfoss Waterfall | Iceland Travel Guide
The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is one Icelandic attraction that features in most Iceland road trip itinerary, and for good reason. Not just because this waterfall is magnificent and set aside a stunning backdrop, but also because visitors can hike around Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
And who doesn’t want to be able to walk behind a 60m waterfall?
Seljalandsfoss Iceland is a must-see if you’re heading to the South Coast of Iceland. I have written this guide based on my personal experience so that you can also visit Seljalandsfoss and know everything you need to know! If you’ve seen my other guides, you will know how I love going into great detail. This guide is no different. 😉
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Table of Contents
Facts About Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss is one of the major waterfalls in the South Coast of Iceland. If you ever go on an Iceland road trip, chances are high that this Icelandic Waterfall will top your list of must-sees.
Here are some quick, fun facts about Seljalandsfoss Iceland:
- Seljalandsfoss has a height of 60m (approximately 200 feet), making it higher than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
- Its water flows over the edge of an ancient sea cliff into a large pool beneath it;
- Seljalandsfoss is easily accessible from the Ring Road along the Golden Circle
- It is the only waterfall that you can walk behind (i.e. 360 degrees around);
- It has a lesser-known, neighbouring waterfall called Gljúfrafoss (or Gljúfrabúi), which has a small canyon and is several minutes’ walk away;
- Gets around 500,000 visitors every year; and
- Is a must-see attraction when you’re travelling in Southern Iceland.
How was Seljalandsfoss Waterfall formed?
Seljalandsfoss originates from the melting ice of the glacier-covered Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, located north of Skógar and west of Mýrdalsjökull. Springing up from Seljalandsheiði and Hamragilsheiði heath, the Seljalandsá River passes through the Troll Woman’s gorge (or Tröllkonugil).
The glacier water then flows over the edge of the ancient sea cliff to form the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall before it ends up in the Atlantic Ocean.
As a result of global warming that occurred at the end of the Ice Age, the sea level rose dramatically and completely submerging the Landeyjar area south of Seljalandsfoss.
Eyjafjallajökull might be a familiar name to you because it erupted back in 2010 and caused a massive six-day disruption to all air travel. What really makes it memorable is how its name tripped up the many newscasters attempting to report about it. So much so that Huffpost posted a hilarious compilation of the many attempts made by everyone including the BBC.
And in case you didn’t know, there is plenty of ice in Iceland even in summer. We went at the height of summer in June/July and still managed to go glacier hiking at Sólheimajökull
Did you know…
The Mýrdalsjökull glacier harbours the Katla volcano beneath its ice. Katla is an active volcano and is years overdue for an explosion!! It’s just a waiting game now…
What to Wear
If you are visiting Seljalandsfoss, make sure you bring your rain gear. It doesn’t matter what part of the year you go.
At the very least, make sure you have a raincoat. The spray is unavoidable and you will be drenched if you want to get even remotely close. All the iconic Seljalandsfoss photos really a close-up. Alternatively, you can stay far away from the waterfall, but where is the fun in that?
Because it’s so wet, you might want to rethink bringing any expensive photography equipment or electronics to the waterfall. Or make sure it’s well protected.
Visiting Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is free to visit but if you are driving, you will need to pay for the car park fees. In that sense, this Iceland waterfall is not free to visit.
It is easy enough to find Iceland waterfall along the Ring Road. You can input “Seljalandsfoss Iceland” into Google Maps or Waze. You will several Seljalandsfoss results pop up but they all eventually lead to the same area.
Parking Space at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
There is a fairly large parking area for Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi but given how popular Seljalandsfoss is, you might find it a little hard to get a spot.
Once you do, make sure you line up to pay for your parking. The Seljalandsfoss parking fee was introduced in 2017:
- For passenger vehicles: ISK 800 (USD 6.50 / EUR 5.83 / RM 26.90)
- For tour buses: ISK 3,000 (USD 24.31 / EUR 22 / MYR 101)
If you don’t pay the parking fee, be prepared to get a yellow slip attached to your windscreen! On the plus side, the parking ticket is valid for the whole day.
In the summer, Seljalandsfoss is surrounded by wide open fields of green dotted with bright yellow flowers. We could see both Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi from a distance. There is a clear wide path leading towards the waterfall.
Before you reach Seljalandsfoss, you will bypass the Seljalandsfoss Shop & toilet! It is definitely a good idea to stop by this place before you head towards your next destination. Not every Iceland attraction has toilet facilities.
You can make many stops along the way to take photos with Seljalandsfoss. Just make sure you wear your raincoat.
This picture for instance is still some distance from Seljalandsfoss but I could already feel the spray!
To hike around Seljalandsfoss, you first have to get over a series of very wet rocks. There are no handles or bars so make sure you go slowly.
The muddy floor is also a good indication of just how much spray we were feeling as we walked to the back of Seljalandsfoss!
Here is a side profile of Seljalandsfoss. A classic angle. There is a small rock that juts out around here, where you can stand to pose against the waterfall.
As you can see, the glacier water falls freely into the pool beneath. Somehow that makes the waterfall look far more majestic.
Here I am, standing in the wide cavern behind Seljalandsfoss. Hello!
This photo is in black and white because for some reason, my dad accidentally changed the phone camera settings and I realised too late. Classic dad move? Haha. I think it’s pretty nice, nonetheless. Thanks dad!
This photo was taken directly behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. It’s quite hard to get a good photo since the light shines straight at you.
Isn’t this photo gorgeous? I think it captures the perpetual mist that surrounds this place. There is something truly magical about waterfalls.
If you come to Iceland, you will probably end up seeing more waterfalls than any other place. I certainly did!
What it looks like when the water cascades and thunders into the dark pool beneath.
Definitely do not recommend a swim or shower here.
Once you are done, you can walk up the other side. You will have to go up another series of very, very wet rocks. I found these set of rocks to be muddier and harder to traverse than the earlier one.
My recommendation is to store all your equipment away before walking up. You might end up using your hands for balance! I know I did.
This is the view of Seljalandsfoss from the other side once you reach the top of the rocks.
Once you are done with the view from the top, you can go down the flight of steps. At the bottom, there is a fork in the road. If you have time to spare, take the right and visit the 40-metre Gljúfrabúi Waterfall!
If you, take a left to return to the Seljalandsfoss carpark. You will go across a quaint bridge.
And that’s it! The entire trip to Seljalandsfoss is really to go 360 degrees around the waterfall and back. Then again, this is what most of Iceland’s attractions are all about. Definitely a photographer’s paradise.
It is also not uncommon for people to have their wedding in front of Seljalandsfoss! Imagine that. Although I imagine it would be quite awkward since you can’t exactly condon off the waterfall to uninvited wedding guests!
Photography Tips for Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
I’m definitely no expert when it comes to photography, but you may find some of these simple tips helpful:
- The spray from the waterfall is inevitable, so make sure all of your expensive equipment is well-protected
- Use wide-angle lens for that iconic behind-the-waterfall shot
- Check your exposure settings in particular when taking photographs behind Seljalandsfoss as the backlight can make it hard to capture a good shot
- You can see rainbows filtering through the waterfall! Keep an eye out for it.
- Come during the golden hour of sunset: it’s one of the best times to photograph Seljalandsfoss as the golden light filters through. If you’re in Iceland over the summer, that golden light comes closer to midnight!
- Even if you come at night outside of summer, there are floodlights set up on both sides of Seljalandsfoss so that you can still see the waterfall. Just make sure you’re careful!
- Phone photography is possible. All of the photos on my blog were taken with my phone!
Visiting Gljúfrabúi Waterfall
Gljúfrabúi Waterfall, otherwise known as Gljúfrabúifoss, is an easy find and a great place to visit if you have extra time.
When you emerge from behind Seljalandsfoss and walk down the wooden stairs, you should take a right along the path that would otherwise lead you across the stream back to the carpark. Follow that path and you will hit Gljúfrabúi Waterfall in the north. There are clear signs available.
Gljufrabui is located several minutes’ walk away (a distance of 200m) from Seljalandsfoss. You can see it on the left side of Seljalandsfoss as you are walking from the carpark. Gljufrabui looks incredibly small in comparison but is definitely a place to pop by if you have the time.
To get to Gljúfrabúifoss, you have to gingerly step into the narrow crack of its tiny canyon. It is a delicate balance of walking over the stones and falling into the freezing stream while other people are trying to get out in the same way. Chances are high that you will slip and get wet if you aren’t already from Seljalandsfoss, so I would just embrace it!
(Gosh, I hope I get to do this one day.)
FAQs
Let me know in the comments below if you have any queries about Seljalandsfoss Iceland that weren’t answered. I’ll be happy to address them!
What does Seljalandsfoss mean?
“Seljalandsfoss”, also known as “Seljalands Waterfall”, and means “selling the lands of waterfalls” in English.
How do you pronounce Seljalandsfoss?
The pronunciation for “Seljalandsfoss”, like most Icelandic words, is tricky and a bit of a tongue-twister. It sounds like Sa-lia-lands-foss. To hear it being pronounced, click here.
“Foss” means waterfall in the Icelandic language. Look out for any words with “foss” at the end and you can guarantee that the landmark will be a waterfall. Handy, when you’re plotting out your Iceland road trip and get tripped up (like my pun? haha) by all the complicated terms and names.
Other popular waterfalls in Iceland include:
- Skógafoss Waterfall – a massive waterfall you can walk right up to! Until a certain point where common sense tells you to stop. It’s so massive and powerful, you can’t even see where it ends because it’s nothing but mist and spray. But the closer you get to Skógafoss, the wetter you’ll get. It’s inevitable.
- Gullfoss Waterfall – absolutely massive two-tiered waterfall. You can hear its roar and the spray from a far distance
Both Icelandic waterfalls definitely require the use of a raincoat if you want to get up close and personal. There is no way to avoid the spray.
For more travel tips on visiting Iceland, you can check this post out.
What is the best time to visit Seljalandsfoss Iceland?
Summer is the most popular time to visit Iceland, especially the waterfalls, and this was also the time that I went. But I imagine that every season gives you a different experience and I would love to visit Seljalandsfoss one day during the winter!
However, there is a possibility that Seljalandsfoss is closed during winter. This is due to the huge icicles that grow out of the rock face and across the rocky grounds, making the path completely inaccessible. Even so, pictures from a distance could still work!
There will also be two giant light beams set up beside Seljalandsfoss to give it a mystical glow. Just make sure you come with sturdy shoes; preferably ones with spikes on them.
Is there an entrance fee for Seljalandsfoss Iceland?
You don’t need to pay an entrance fee to access the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall itself, but you do need to pay for the parking space. Tour buses pay a different price.
Can you see the Northern Lights at Seljalandsfoss Iceland?
Yes, you can, but the chances of you seeing the Northern Lights at Seljalandsfoss is allegedly pretty slim. Far better to hunt for the elusive aurora elsewhere. There are many places to do so!
How long is the hike to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall?
It is around 5- 10 minutes to get from the carpark to the back of the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
That said, the time can be a lot shorter if you walk fast and don’t stop to take a gazillion pictures.
How much time do I need at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall?
Personally, I would budget around 1 – 1.5 hours to see Seljalandsfoss, Iceland. Perhaps a little more time if you want to pop over to the nearby canyon to see the Gljúfrafoss Waterfall.
Walking to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall from the car park space should not take more than 5-10 minutes, depending on how often and how long you stop for photographs.
1 hour felt rushed to me because I stopped quite a bit. There was also a bit of a wait for photos given the crowd. The grounds are also very slippery, especially when we started climbing back up the rocks.
If you have the time, 2 hours should be a very comfortable time to allocate to Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrafoss.
Can you walk behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall?
In case this post wasn’t clear enough, yes. You absolutely can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. A full 360 degrees. Just watch your step and make sure you wear a raincoat!
Where is Seljalandsfoss Waterfall located?
GPS: 3°36′57″N 19°59′34″W
Address: Seljalandsfoss, Hvolsvollur 861, Iceland
If you’ve read my travel tips, you will know that GPS is used extensively when travelling to Iceland & the majority of locations provide their GPS locations instead of an address! When there is an address given, it is normally something unhelpful like “Seljalandsfoss”. Which is exactly what you need to input into Google Maps or Waze to get here.
I suppose there isn’t anywhere else to go out here so there is no need for more specific directions!
What are the best ways to get to Seljalandsfoss Iceland?
The most common and best ways for you to reach Seljalandsfoss is either via car or bus.
By Car
I’m a personal advocate of renting a car as it gives you the flexibility to plan your journey. We drove over the summer where there was 24/7 sunlight.
That said, I won’t advocate driving over winter where there is a maximum of 4 hours of sunlight and difficult road conditions.
Furthermore, Seljalandsfoss might be closed due to unsafe conditions so this won’t be a great place to stop by during winter.
By Bus
There are plenty of tour buses that will bring you to Seljalandsfoss since it’s one of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls. Plenty of them originate from Reykjavik too and include other major attractions in the same route.
See below for recommendations on other attractions to see along the South Coast of Iceland.
By Bicycle
I include this option in because I saw a small handful of cyclists cycling along the Ring Road to hit the same Icelandic attractions we were heading towards. Whether it’s recommended… I’ll leave that to you to decide!
What is the Seljalandsfoss Visitor Centre controversy?
In 2017, an announcement was issued stating that a Seljalandsfoss Visitor Centre would be constructed near the waterfalls. The building would be 7 m (23 feet) high, 2,000 square meters (or 21,500 square feet) in size.
However, the visitor centre never materialised due to great resistance from the landowners, who felt that the construction would have a grave impact on the natural surroundings of Seljalandsfoss.
Where has Seljalandsfoss Iceland been featured in popular culture?
- In Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You music video; and
- The first part of the 6th season of The Amazing Race in 2004.
How far is Seljalandsfoss from Reykjavik?
Seljalandsfoss is around 128km from Reykjavik. The drive will take around 1 hour 47 minute, where you will be going along Ring Road 1. The journey will take you through the little Icelandic towns of Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvöllur.
When you go past Hvolsvöllur, you will be driving for an additional 20 minutes before turning onto Road 249. Road 249 will take you to Seljalandsfoss.
What are the best places to stay in South Coast Iceland?
We stayed for 2 days at the Magma Hotel, which is by far the best accommodation we had. If we could, we would have stayed longer. I mean just look at this gorgeous hut! It was the perfect base for our Southern Iceland adventure.
Alternatively, search for your ideal accommodation here:
Campsite near Seljalandsfoss
Hamragarðar is the nearest campground to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. It is a 2 minutes’ walking distance from Seljalandsfoss and situated in front of the Gljúfrabúi waterfall.
Hamragarðar offers showers, toilets, cooking facilities, FREE wifi, washing machine & a small store to purchase some necessities. Dogs are also allowed, provided they are put on a leash.
GPS: N 63°37’15.9″ W 19°59’22.7″
Address: Hamragarðar Campground, Road 249 (Next to Seljalandsfoss)
For more details of the Hamragarðar Campground, click here.
Note: Wild camping is forbidden along the entire South Coast of Iceland. If you are camping, make sure you do so only at designated campgrounds.
What kind of food is located near Seljalandsfoss?
If you are looking for food near Seljalandsfoss, check out the following:
- Seljalandsfoss Shop: a food trailer located in the parking lot of Seljalandsfoss. Come here for cake, hot chocolate and sandwiches!
- Gamla Fjósið, Hvassafell, Eyjafjöllum, 861, Iceland: A rustic family restaurant located at the foot of Steinafjall Mountain & Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. Come here for some delicious, authentic Icelandic farm food. The menu can be found here.
What other places can I visit in the South Coast of Iceland & how far are they from Seljalandsfoss?
The following places were attractions I personally visited in my 2 days in the area:
| Areas of Interest | Distance from Seljalandsfoss | Description |
| Skógafoss Waterfall | 29.2km (18 minutes) | A mammoth waterfall you can walk right up to, with rumours of treasure hidden behind the powerful curtain of water! |
| Sólheimajökull Glacier | 38.3km (33 minutes) | Come here for the ultimate glacier hiking experience. One of my two great highlights and an activity I would strongly recommend. And do all over again if I’m ever back in Iceland! |
Southernmost Village of Vik | 60.2km (49 minutes) | When Iceland says village, it really is a village. A very tiny one at that. We didn’t have much time & it was pouring as we were passing through BUT I did manage to get a snap of the famous white cottage on the hill! It’s said to be the highest point of Vik. If a volcano erupts, this is where the villagers will go to keep safe. |
| Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach | 61.2km (51 minutes) | Have you ever seen a black sand beach? Or hexagonal sea columns and sea stacks made of frozen volcanic rock? If not, this is the place to go. Oh, and if you’re lucky, you might spot some puffins too! Black sand beaches are an essential bucket list for any Iceland road trip & Reynisfjara consistently ranks at the top of the list of black sand beaches. If you want a complete list of other gorgeous black sand beaches to see in Iceland, check this post out. |
| Breiðamerkursandur (Diamond Beach of Iceland) | 252km (3 hours 14 minutes)
| Located across from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, there is no point in skipping a quick visit to the Diamond Beach if you are already visiting Jökulsárlón. It’s so close, you can even walk from one place to the other! Oh, and it’s great for Instagram photos too. |
| Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | 253km (3 hours 18 minutes)
| You can go on a zodiac boat ride during the summer and get up close to the real life Ice Wall (as seen in the Game of Thrones)! Read on to learn about the experience here. |
For other nearby places you can consider visiting (if only I had more than 24 hours in a day!):
- Eyjafjallajökull glacier
- Fimmvörðuháls pass
- Gluggafoss
- Hestafoss
- Hekla Volcano
- Holtsárfoss
- Íráfoss
- Kverkarhellir Cave (man-made 20m cave used by ancient Icelandic parliamentarians for meetings)
- Kvernufoss
- Landeyjarhöfn the harbor of the ferry to Westman islands
- Myrkárfoss
- Nauthúsagil waterfall
- Þakgil canyon
- Paradísarfoss
- Þórsmörk
- Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool: Abandoned swimming pool that is popular for photography enthusiasts.
- Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
- Stóri-Dímon
P/S: Beyond venturing to any of the attractions above, don’t forget to drop by the little canyon near Seljalandsfoss to find the Gljúfrabúi waterfall!
What Iceland tours include the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in its itinerary?
To help you along the way, here is a list of tours that include Seljalandsfoss in its travel agenda.
This 12-hour tour includes a roundtrip from your Reykjavik hotel and hits all the major hotspots in South Coast Iceland, starting with Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skogafoss, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
A 10-hour tour departing from Reykjavik during wintertime. Attractions include Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Vik, Dyrholaey Arch and the Sólheimajökull Glacier.
TL;DR
Why you should visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland
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10 Comments
Michelle
This looks so gorgeous. I have seen so many beautiful landscapes in Iceland that it makes me want to go! Thanks for all of the detailed information. This is a great post.
Iuliya
You’re welcome! 🙂
Mayi
The natural beauty of Iceland is amazing. I would love to visit Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. I don’t think I have ever seen once this high you can actually see from the inside. That viewpoint only should be the main reason to visit right? It must have been really wet and slippery!
Iuliya
There were other Iceland waterfalls that were higher like Skogafoss!! But this is definitely one of the big highlights in Southern Iceland. And being wet is inevitable for sure! 🙂
Jenn | By Land and Sea
What a beautiful spot – I would love to go hiking here! Thanks for all the info you provided in this post too!
Iuliya
You’re welcome!
Kavita Favelle
So impressed you got a photo of Seljalandsfoss without lots of fellow visitors in it! It was busy when we went. Good advice to bring rain gear, I’d also recommend sensible shoes as it can get a little slippery on the wet rocks! P.S. Love the tidbit of info that the waterfall was in a Bieber video!
Iuliya
Haha there were a number of people around but everyone was really good and patiently waited for our turn! I think the fact that it was so wet hurried everyone along!
Kelly
Thanks so much for reminding me why Iceland is at the top of my bucket list. It’s just so beautiful! Sigh. So many waterfalls and so little time!
Iuliya
You’re welcome! And I agree; Iceland has so many waterfalls and they’re all so unique!