Gullfoss
About
What It Is
Gullfoss, meaning "Golden Falls," is a large waterfall on the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland, situated in a canyon between the municipalities of Bláskógabyggð and Hrunamannahreppur [2]. The river descends a wide, curved three-step formation before dropping in two distinct stages — 11 metres and then 21 metres — into a crevice 32 metres deep, roughly 20 metres wide and 2.5 kilometres long [2]. The site became a permanent conservation area in 1979 after being sold to the Icelandic government, ending earlier attempts by foreign investors to harness it for electricity generation [2].
Activities & Experiences
Visitors can observe the waterfall from the canyon rim, where a stone memorial depicting Sigríður Tómasdóttir — the woman popularly credited with protecting the falls from commercial exploitation — stands above the falls [2]. The sightseeing area is accessible at any hour of the day or night, allowing visits across different light conditions including Iceland's summer midnight sun and winter darkness [1]. A café, restaurant, and shop are also on site, though these operate on separate hours from the viewing area [1].
Practical Access
The sightseeing area at Gullfoss is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week [1]. The on-site store and café and restaurant maintain their own distinct opening hours, available separately [1]. Gullfoss is a standard stop on the Golden Circle, a popular day-trip route from Reykjavík that also includes Þingvellir and the Geysir geothermal area [2]. No entry fee, visit duration, or specific parking details are stated in the sources.
Restrictions
No specific restrictions noted in the sources.
What Makes It Distinctive
Gullfoss is among Iceland's most visited natural attractions and forms one of the three anchor points of the Golden Circle touring route [2]. Its two-stage drop into a deep perpendicular crevice produces a visual effect unlike a single-plunge waterfall, and average summer flow reaches 141 cubic metres per second, rising to a recorded flood peak of 2,000 cubic metres per second [2]. The site also carries historical weight as a conservation landmark, with the story of Sigríður Tómasdóttir's advocacy against foreign industrial development embedded in its identity through the on-site memorial [2].
Sources
- Best months: May–September
- Typical duration: 1h
Access & fees
- no entry fee stated
Things to do
- dining and shopping on site
- waterfall viewing
Amenities
- café and restaurant
- on-site store
Features
- canyon crevice
- conservation site since 1979
- hvítá river canyon
- sigríður memorial stone
- summer average flow
- two-stage waterfall
- winter average flow
Nearby
- golden circle route
Good to know
- sightseeing open 24/7
Photos
