Golden Circle · Iceland
Gullfoss
Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, sits on the Hvítá river and drops 32 metres in two steps into a canyon that turns sharply away from you, so the water appears to vanish into the ground. It is also a conservation story: in the early twentieth century the falls were nearly leased to a hydroelectric scheme, and the campaign against that is part of why they are still here.
This is the one that held up. The force of it is the first thing, and then the rainbows — they sit in the spray and move as you move along the path, and I did not expect that to be the part I remembered. Parking is free at both the upper and lower car parks, which is unusual for a stop this well known.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Five out of five — my highest score in Iceland. Two things earn it: the sheer volume of water going over the edge, and the rainbows that stand in the spray for most of the day when the sun is out.
Gullfoss is easy to reach by car with a large parking lot right by the entrance, and well-maintained hiking trails and viewing platforms allow visitors to experience the power and beauty up close.
Unlike many other attractions in Iceland, there is no parking fee at Gullfoss, making it completely free to visit.
Gullfoss draws a large number of visitors because it sits on the Golden Circle, and it is busiest from late morning to mid afternoon. The viewing areas are wide enough that it rarely feels tight.
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
Iceland Ring Road Campervan Guide
My full 14-day route — roughly 2,500 km, every campsite I used, what I actually spent, and the stops worth the detour. The plan I drove, in one PDF.
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How I booked my campervan
I compared three rentals before I chose mine. These are the ones worth checking — Lava gives 5% off with code CREATOR.