Skógafoss

the curtain one

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There is no doubt Skógafoss has become one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland - a title it probably shares with Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss. And for good reason, as it certainly is one of the most beautiful.

Skógafoss is located in the small village of Skógar, on the south coast of Iceland, and you can catch a glimpse of it from the ring road. The waterfall is visually striking and very photogenic, because of its curtain-like appearance. It is also quite large and powerful - the same height as Seljalandsfoss (60m), but wider (25m).

A long time ago, the cliffside that Skógafoss drops from used to be Iceland’s southern coastline. Over time, water has receded, and the waterfall now lies 5km away from the ocean.

The land at the base of the waterfall is really flat, so you could get quite close to it, but not too close - depending on the flow, the waterfall can release a lot of steam, so be prepared to get wet. After you admire the waterfall from its base, make sure to climb up the stairs to a platform for a fresh perspective.

Skógafoss is extremely popular and can get very crowded, which is not surprising given that it is so easily accessible. If you want to have it all for yourself and avoid overlapping with the tour buses, you really need to be there first thing in the morning or around sunset time.

Unlike Seljalandsfoss, parking at Skógafoss is free of charge, but toilets are paid - that said, they were free when we were there.