13-09-2019
Iceland is a place renowned for its natural beauty. Steamy hot springs, icy glaciers, and fiery volcanoes all dot the landscape. And of course, there are the countries over 10,000 magnificent waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss waterfall has the distinction of being named Iceland's most beautiful. With so many gorgeous cascades to choose from, this is a very high honor indeed.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall’s nickname is The Beauty, as opposed to its counterpart, Dettifoss waterfall, which is affectionately known as the Beast. As Iceland's most beautiful waterfall, this highlight warrants a spot on your road trip itinerary. It's easy to include because it's so close to Iceland's principal Highway, Route 1.
This beautiful cascade along the country's South Coast has several particularly striking features. It's located just off the main highway when driving between the seaside fishing village of Vik and the capital of Reykjavik. This makes Seljalandsfoss waterfall Iceland the perfect place to stop or to take a detour from the Ring Road.
The impressive Iceland waterfall has a drop of 200 feet (60 meters) and can be visited at any time of year. Seljalandsfoss waterfall in winter is especially stunning, with white snow blanketing the surrounding ground. As Iceland's most beautiful waterfall, it's not only one of the countries most visited, but also the most photographed as well. The steep cliff from which this cascade falls used to be part of the Icelandic coastline.
There's a footpath that goes all the way around the Seljalandsfoss waterfall itself. This leads to the cave at the back just behind the falling water. It's this unique angle that allows many to photograph the iconic shot at Seljalandsfoss’ rocky arch. This instantly recognizable photo has become a symbol of Iceland and its abundance of natural wonders.
Because Seljalandsfoss produces quite a bit of spray and you'll be getting up close and personal, be wary of slipping on the walking path. Make sure you bring waterproof hiking boots with good traction. Otherwise, you might end up either with damp feet or falling on your behind. You should also take a rain poncho or high-quality rain jacket to stay dry as well as plastic to protect your camera. You wouldn't want all of your all of the pictures from your trip of a lifetime getting destroyed because some of the mist seeped in.
There are a few different options when traveling to see this majestic wonder. Many visitors come directly from Reykjavik to Seljalandsfoss. The drive is less than two hours, so it makes for a perfect day trip if you're staying in the country's capital. It's also the closest major South Iceland waterfall while traveling on the Ring Road towards Vik.
The Seljalandsfoss GPS coordinates are 63.6156° N, 19.9886° W, which places it just north of the Ring Road. So if you're heading from Reykjavik to Seljalandsfoss, you're going to make a left onto Road 249. Shortly afterwards (about 750 meters or half a mile), on the right-hand side you'll see the turn off for the parking lot.
Traveling from Gullfoss to Seljalandsfoss is quite similar. It takes an hour and a half, and you'll head west on Route 35 and then south on Route 30. Keep going until you hit the Ring Road and then hang a left. From there you'll follow the instructions for arriving from the Ring Road as written above. It's pretty easy and straightforward, so you shouldn't get lost in your Iceland car rental.
Once you arrive, the parking lot pretty close walk to your destination, so the Seljalandsfoss hike won't take you very long. You have to pay for Seljalandsfoss waterfall parking and then display your ticket in the window of your vehicle. Cars, campers, and motorhomes have to pay around 700 ISK ($6 or 5€) as a daily rate to park at Seljalandsfoss. Tour buses have to pay more; 3000 ISK ($59 or 53€) to park at the waterfall.
There is no Seljalandsfoss entrance fee, so the only thing you'll need to pay for is the parking. Many of Iceland's natural monuments work this way. A lot of times they don't charge you to get in to visit the actual destination or national park. But there are often bathrooms or other facilities that require maintenance and upkeep, so you do have to chip in and pay a small fee.
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are the two must-see waterfalls along Iceland's South Coast as you head towards Vik. There are others along the way, but these two are particularly breathtaking. And if you get the chance to travel to North Iceland, see how it stacks up against The Beast, Dettifoss waterfall. This picturesque locale is sure to be one of your favorites during your visit. Enjoy your trip and let us know what you think about Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland.