Golden Circle · Iceland
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls, dropping 60 meters with immense power. Legend has it that a Viking settler hid a chest of gold behind the falls—and while the gold remains lost, the views are a treasure of their own. You can walk right up to the thundering base or climb the staircase to the platform at the top, which looks out along the coast. On sunny days, the heavy mist almost guarantees a vivid double rainbow. It’s also the gateway to the famous Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, making it a must for adventurers.
Two things pulled the score down for me. It is busy — you stand in a crowd at the base and wait for a gap for your photo. And by the time I got here I had already seen Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss, so it landed as one more big waterfall rather than as its own thing. Go early if you can, or accept that the picture will have people in it. I did walk up to the top platform, and that is the quieter half of the visit — most people stay at the base, so the staircase thins out fast.
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.
Three out of five. It is 60 metres of water straight down and there is nothing wrong with it — but after Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss it is another big waterfall, and the coach park sits close enough that you are rarely looking at it alone.
The waterfall is located just off Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1), about 150 kilometers from Reykjavík, with an easy walk from the parking lot to both the base and the top via a well-maintained staircase.
Parking is 1,000 ISK, paid through the Parka app (location 8205), and the ticket runs for eight hours. The waterfall itself is free. Checked August 2026.
As one of Iceland’s most visited natural landmarks, Skógafoss attracts many tourists year-round, but its spacious surroundings and multiple viewpoints help manage crowds effectively.
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.