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With its enormous white and blue icebergs breaking off from Vatnajökull glacier, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a natural wonder of Iceland, a sight you absolutely cannot miss. This scenic day tour includes a thrilling boat ride on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the epic waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, the glittering Diamond Beach and charming Vík. Explore some of south Iceland’s most spectacular and iconic landscapes!
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Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon & Diamond Beach
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South Coast, Snowmobiling & Ice Cave from Reykjavík
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Highland Bus - Reykjavík to Skógar
In the summer, Skógar comes alive, turning into a lush green wonderland under the towering Eyjafjöll mountains. The area is home to one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, Skógafoss, a pearl of the south coast. The drive to Skógar is a scenic ride through the picturesque south of Iceland, passing by small farms and charming villages with astounding views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes on clear days. Whether you are planning a day trip to the region or a multi-day hike, leave the driving to us!
South Coast - Glacier Snowmobiling Adventure
Join this thrilling snowmobile experience on the mighty Mýrdalsjökull Glacier! Spend 1-hour riding across the ice field, with breathtaking scenery and an experienced guide. This day tour doesn’t require previous snowmobile riding experience, and anyone over the age of 17 with a valid driver’s licence can operate the snowmobile. But, if there are kids over 8 in the group or non-drivers, they can ride as a passenger. Get ready to glide on a glacier! The tour also includes sightseeing stops at the epic waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss!
South Coast & Glacier Hiking
Enjoy a guided glacier walk, exploring the beautiful, icy wonderland of Iceland's Sólheimajökull Glacier. Enjoy the fresh air, interesting shapes and hues of the ice and marvel at the vast and remote slice of south Iceland. Get up close and personal with one of the country's most famous glaciers! Expect a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík, a 1.5-hour glacier hike, and some sightseeing along the south coast and back to Reykjavík.
South Coast & Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck Black Beach ATV Adventure
Explore Iceland's legendary South Coast, where the thundering cascades of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss await. Amidst the shadow of the mighty Katla volcano, feel the thrill of an ATV ride across scenic valleys and black sand expanses, leading you to the iconic DC-3 plane wreck on Sólheimasandur beach. A harmonious blend of tranquil vistas and heart-pounding adventure!
Stop at a south shore wonder at Skógafoss
Skógafoss Waterfall facts
A beautiful plume of white water rushing over towering cliffs, Skógafoss attracts visitors from far and wide. You can spot this natural wonder from the Route One ring road as it runs along the south coast of Iceland. While the seashore is now around 4 kilometres from Skógafoss, this waterfall spills out over what was once Iceland’s coastline – the point where the plateau of the Eyjafjallajökull and Katla volcanoes ends.
Skógafoss is part of the Skógá river, which is born from a spring beneath Eyjafjöll mountains. Apart from the powerful cascade itself, what attracts visitors to this spot are the rainbows that form in the waterfall’s mist when the sun hits the droplets. Sometimes you can see a double rainbow in the spray.
The falls have a significant place in the history of the nearby Skógar settlement. Legend has it that one of the first Viking settlers of Skógar hid his chest of treasures behind Skógafoss. Hearing of the legend, three men tried to rescue the treasure but only managed to pull out one of the gold rings off the chest. The supposed legendary gold ring is on display in the little Skógar museum which you can visit yourself.
The name Skógafoss is a bit of a mystery. Skógar means forest and foss means falls, so the rough translation is “forest falls”, which is rather strange as Iceland’s tree population is sparse and it lacks any dense woodland.
Facilities at Skógafoss waterfall
Even though it is a natural sight and a public space, there are a few facilities around Skógafoss waterfall to make your visit as comfortable as possible. A large carpark big enough for tour buses and plenty of vehicles is free to use and there are heated toilets for a comfort break.
The nearby Skógar Hotel has a restaurant and café, and there’s a pop-up fish and chip van just down the road. Apart from the Skógar Hotel, you’ll find Skógafoss waterfall camping just beneath the falls at Skógar camping ground.
Sights around Skógafoss waterfall
Skógafoss waterfall marks the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail which meanders through the untamed, uninhabited Icelandic Highlands for 25 kilometres (15.5 miles). The Fimmvörðuháls trail connects Skógafoss with Þórsmörk where you can get a bus back to Reykjavík or spend the night at the campsite or in a mountain hut after your (roughly) eight-hour hike. The beginning of the trail passes by Waterfall Way – around 8 kilometres of path along the Skoga river that takes in 26 waterfalls on its way.
You can properly chase waterfalls around Skógafoss because, apart from Waterfall Way, there are a couple of Iceland’s prettiest and most powerful falls nearby.
Next door to Skógafoss (just a few hundred metres away), is Kvernufoss – a secret waterfall hidden in a rocky chasm.
Within a half-hour drive is the famous Seljalandsfoss where you can walk behind the waterfall itself.
The epic Reynisfjara black sand beach and the nearby Vík village are only 30-35 minutes drive away.
Only 10 minutes drive here is the parking lot where you can leave your car behind and walk to the famous DC3 plane wreck lying on a black sandy plain. If you’re not fancy walking in the desert for 1,5 hours (round trip), you can take a shuttle bus or join a thrilling ATV or Buggy tour.
Only 15 minutes from here is the Base Camp at Sóljheimajökull glacier, from where easy, family friendly guided glacier hike tours leave multiple times a day.
Skógafoss is included on the South Coast tours that leave Reykjavík throughout the year and take in the wonders of the south coast on the way.
Or perhaps you can opt for a south shore adventure all the way to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the diamond beach, stopping to admire Skógafoss around halfway.
Skógafoss waterfall sits along the south coast of Iceland, about 4 kilometres from the sea. In fact, the rocky cliffs from which the waterfall tumbles once marked the coastline of Iceland, before volcanic activity created new land between here and the sea. It is a 156-kilometre (around a 97-mile) drive from Reykjavík to Skógafoss and it takes about two hours and fifteen minutes to reach here from the capital. The closest village to Skógafoss is the pretty seaside village of Vik, which is a half-hour drive away (34 kilometres).
If you are hiring a car, it is relatively easy to drive yourself from Reykjavík to Skógafoss. The directions couldn’t be simpler; just follow the Route One ring road eastwards from Reykjavík and after two hours or so, you’ll actually be able to spot Skógafoss from the road. An island with a small population, driving in Iceland is easy as long as the weather holds out. You should always consult the SafeTravel app before embarking on a road trip in Iceland to check road closures and weather conditions.
In late autumn, winter and early spring, Iceland’s weather can be harsh and conditions can change in a heartbeat, so driving can be a challenge. Joining an organised day tour of the south coast from Reykjavík is a hassle-free way to visit Skógafoss. Led by an experienced local driver and guide, you can explore the sights of the south coast safely and have the bonus of commentary on local customs, history and culture along the way. There is also a public bus that runs twice daily in summer from Reykjavík to Skógafoss.
If you only want to visit the base of the waterfall to gaze up at the white cascade flowing from the towering rocks, it is just a five-minute walk along the narrow trail from the carkpark. However, most people want to enjoy the view from the top of the waterfall as well. You should allow between twenty minutes and half an hour to hike to the top of Skógafoss and back. Skógafoss also marks the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail. This 25-kilometre waymarked trail winds through the unspoiled Icelandic Highlands and takes around eight hours to complete, ending at Þórsmörk.
There are 527 steps up to the top of the waterfall. The fairly steep metal staircase of 4-500 steps leads to the top of the fall and can be slippery in winter.
Generally, visitors tend to spend between half an hour and forty-five minutes at Skógafoss, depending on whether or not they tackle the path to the top of the falls. Those that just walk to the base of the waterfall for a few photos can wrap up their visit in around half an hour, and those that hike to the top should allow an extra fifteen to twenty minutes for the journey.
As a public space, there is no entrance fee to visit Skógafoss and it is also free to walk to the top of the waterfall. Parking in the carpark is free and there are also well-maintained toilets on-site with no fee for use.
The closest place to the waterfall is the tiny settlement of Skógar which has a local museum within turf houses and a tiny church. Within a half-hour drive, you’ll find the pretty coastal village of Vik with a handful of museums, restaurants and accommodation. From Vik, the famous Reynisfjara black-sanded beach stretches for miles along the coastline and you’ll also find ziplining and ATV adventures in the area. Also within a half-hour drive is another of Iceland’s famous falls. Seljalandsfoss is unique in that you can actually walk behind the curtain of white water falling from the cliffs above.
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls and it tumbles from a height of 200 feet (around 60 metres). The sheer height of the waterfall means that there’s a constant mist at the base where rainbows shimmer when the sun hits the water particles.
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls and it tumbles from a height of 200 feet (around 60 metres). The sheer height of the waterfall means that there’s a constant mist at the base where rainbows shimmer when the sun hits the water particles.
Like nearly all outdoor sights in Iceland, you should prepare for cold weather at Skógafoss, no matter what time of year it is. In summer, wearing a t-shirt, warm jumper and waterproof coat can cover all eventualities, weather-wise. A waterproof jacket is essential as the powerful spray from the waterfall can soak through your clothes. Waterproof hiking boots are a good idea too, especially if you plan to hike to the top of the waterfall. In winter, you’ll want to bring a woolly hat, thermal gloves and a chunky scarf to keep warm.
Both Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss have their own charm. Skógafoss is known for the rainbows that appear in the mist around the falls, creating a fairytale image when the sun shines. Whereas, the attraction of Seljalandsfoss is that you can walk behind the cascade and gaze at the mossy landscape through the plume of white water. As both waterfalls are so close to each other, and are both found along Route One on the south coast, there’s no need to choose between the two. You can easily visit both on the same day trip from Reykjavík.