Seljalandsfoss

South Coast

Seljalandsfoss drops 60 meters from a former sea cliff — the old Icelandic coastline, now several kilometers inland. What makes it unusual is the cave carved behind the curtain of water by centuries of erosion; a narrow path circles around and behind the falls, putting you inside the bowl looking out through the cascade. The loop takes about ten to fifteen minutes and will soak anyone without good waterproofs. The rock path is often slippery, especially near the wetter sections. The path behind the falls closes in winter when ice builds up on the cliff face; the front viewing area stays accessible year-round. Flow is highest in summer, drawing more visitors — come before mid-morning or in the evening to avoid tour-bus traffic. There is a paid car park directly at the base (around 1,000 ISK); the waterfall itself has no entrance fee. A few hundred meters north, Gljúfrabúi hides inside a narrow gorge — you step through a shallow stream to enter. It adds about fifteen minutes and is easy to miss. Both falls sit just off Route 1, roughly two hours east of Reykjavík.

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