Seljalandsfoss

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Seljalandsfoss is a fully walkable waterfall with a 60 meter drop on the south coast of Iceland and is one of the most visited attractions in the country. Due to its easy accessibility, many day tourists from Reykjavik travel to the waterfall on a bus tour.

The Seljalandsfoss is the culmination of the Seljalandsá river before it flows into the sea and, like the river that feeds the nearby Skógafoss, rises below the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano beneath this ice cap was the one that erupted in 2010, wreaking havoc in airports across Europe.

The trail of history

The most striking feature of Seljalandsfoss is the fact that you can see „behind the scenes“ at this waterfall. A path leads behind the veil of water where there is a large cave in the cliffs which allows a complete circumnavigation in the warm months.
However, due to the constant water mist, visitors should be prepared for the path to be wet and for them to get wet themselves. For this reason, we recommend wearing good shoes so as not to lose your grip on the slippery rocks.

The waterfall has also been illuminated at night since 2001 due to its growing popularity as a tourist destination, giving visitors the opportunity to see the waterfall in its impressive entirety during the darker seasons.

After visiting Seljalandsfoss, visitors can continue to the nearby waterfall Gljúfrabúi, which is partially hidden behind a rock face. Due to its location a little out of the way, it is not that well known and is all too often overlooked.

Seljalandsfoss is often visited together with the nearby Skógafoss as part of a Golden Circle tour. The waterfall falls from the same height, and although it cannot be circled, the higher water masses make it much more powerful and, according to an old Icelandic legend, there is a large treasure of gold hidden behind it. An old ring, which is said to have been the handle of the treasure chest, is said to provide proof of the existence of this gold treasure. This and many other interesting items can be viewed at the Byggðasafnið að Skógum – Skogar Museum, just a few hundred meters from Skógafoss.

Useful information

Directly at the waterfall there is a paid parking lot, a toilet facility, a souvenir shop and a snack stand.

Due to the water mist, we recommend not only wearing good shoes, but also waterproof clothing when visiting the waterfall.
To capture the true beauty of the waterfall, you should come in the evening. On the one hand, the large number of tourists from the capital has subsided somewhat and, on the other hand, you can see the sunset in front of the waterfall.

How to get there?

Seljalandsfoss is located about 130 kilometers outside the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, right next to the ring road.
Many companies also start day tours to the south coast of Iceland from there.

Conclusion:

We think that Seljalandsfoss is an impressive natural spectacle, especially in the evening hours. This impression is only marred by the many people who flock to the waterfall because of its easy accessibility.
At certain hours, several buses pour out their load at the same time and this then attacks the tour at the same time.
If you want to get to know the real beauty of the waterfall, you should only arrive with your photo equipment in the evening.