Whoever said, “don’t go chasing waterfalls,” has clearly never been to Iceland. Life's too short to miss out on all the wonderful waterfalls in Iceland.
There are up to 10.000 waterfalls in Iceland. And out of all the amazing waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss Waterfall is definitely the one you cannot miss out on.
The Golden Waterfall
Life's too short to miss out on Iceland. There are just so many cool and interesting things to see here. With that being said, there are some “must see places” and Gullfoss waterfall most certainly belongs on that list.
Gullfoss literally means “Golden waterfall.” Despite no gold having been discovered there the name is highly appropriate as Gullfoss Waterfall is the crown jewel of waterfalls in Iceland.
Gullfoss Waterfall is one of Iceland's most powerful waterfalls. It belongs to the river “Hvítá'', one of Iceland's mightiest glacier rivers. As the water drops into a great canyon, a true display of the awesome power of nature reveals itself in the massive waterfall.
Waterfall in the Golden Circle
Gullfoss Waterfall is located in the Southwest region of Iceland and part of the famous Golden Circle in Iceland.
It is possible to see Gullfoss Waterfall all year round and for most of the year it is extremely easy to visit. It is only 115 km (71 mi) from Reykjavik and the route is all on paved roads. Making it the perfect day tour when visiting Iceland.
There are several routes drivers can choose from, when visiting Gullfoss Waterfall, but we of course recommend taking the Golden Circle and here's how:
From Reykjavik take road 36, towards Þingvellir National Park. Drive through the national park and on to road 365, towards the town of Laugarvatn. From there it is only a short drive on road 37 until you reach the incredible hot spring area called Geysir.
Once you have seen the awesome Geysers at Geysir, follow road 37 just a little bit further and there is Gullfoss Waterfall. Just drive until you see or hear it. You can't miss it.
SEE ALSO: SELF DRIVE WITH EXTRA STOPS ALONG THE GOLDEN CIRCLE ROUTE
Driving Through the Highland of Iceland
Gullfoss Waterfall also marks the beginning of Iceland's most popular highland route, Kjalvegur. A mountain road that goes through the center of Iceland, connecting the south to the north part of the island.
Note that Kjalvegur is an F-road and is only open during the summer and accessible for 4x4/AWD vehicles.
When Visiting Gullfoss Waterfall
Gullfoss Waterfall has a large visitor center with shops and restaurants. As well as a parking area where you can park your rental car.
Gullfoss visitor center stands on a cliff above the waterfall. From there are walking paths towards the waterfall. Along the way are observation decks where visitors can get an incredible view of the waterfall.
It is very important to always stay on the marked trail and never go beyond the safety lines and fences. That is extremely dangerous.
The Most Powerful Experience
The amazing view is not the only attraction at Gullfoss Waterfall. It is a perfect place to experience the raw power of nature first hand.
When approaching Gullfoss Waterfall the loud noise from the mighty waterfall becomes overwhelming. The closer you get, the louder it gets.
We also recommend having waterproof or water resistant outerwear when getting close to the waterfall as sprays of water fills the air in the canyon of the waterfall.
Make sure not to miss out on Gullfoss Waterfall when visiting Iceland.
Rent a Car to See Gullfoss Waterfall
Having a rental car in Iceland is having freedom to explore. That's why a rental car in Iceland is the best way to visit Gullfoss Waterfall.
All our rental cars are suitable for driving to Gullfoss Waterfall. Including EV rental cars such as Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.
For winter driving we recommend getting an SUV for your rental car in Iceland. So, when traveling in winter, or with a large group or luggage, a large rental car such as the Kia Sportage or bigger will be perfect for driving to Gullfoss waterfall and exploring the Golden Circle at any time of the year.
As always we recommend having a look at road conditions and checking out the weather forecast when driving in Iceland.
Life's too short to miss out on Iceland and life's too short to miss out on Gullfoss Waterfall!
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