Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss, the “Golden Falls”, is the highlight of the Golden Circle. The glacial river Hvítá drops over two tiers set at an angle to each other and disappears into a narrow canyon, throwing up spray that often catches a rainbow on sunny days.

Paths lead to an upper viewpoint looking along the canyon and down to a lower path that brings you close to the edge of the falls. In winter, parts of the falls freeze into great curtains of ice.

Expect to get damp near the lower path, so bring a waterproof jacket. Gullfoss is about ten minutes’ drive from the Geysir area, and the two are always visited together. The visitor centre at the top of the falls has a café, welcome for a hot drink on a cold day.