Iceland · Northern Iceland
Goðafoss
Goðafoss
Known as the 'waterfall of the gods,' legend holds that Iceland's lawspeaker threw statues of Norse gods into the falls here in the year 1000 after the country formally adopted Christianity. The horseshoe-shaped curtain sits an easy stop directly beside the Ring Road.
Known as the 'waterfall of the gods,' legend holds that Iceland's lawspeaker threw statues of Norse gods into the falls here in the year 1000 after the country formally adopted Christianity. The horseshoe-shaped curtain sits an easy stop directly beside the Ring Road.
Goðafoss drops 12 metres (39 ft) across a face roughly 30 metres wide on the Skjálfandafljót. It is a block-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Akureyri, with AEY the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Flows year-round; summer gives easiest footing on both riverbank paths.
What you can do here
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
When to go
Flows year-round; summer gives easiest footing on both riverbank paths.
Entry: Free
Getting there
- Base townAkureyri
- AirportAEY
- CountryIceland
- RegionNorthern Iceland, Europe
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
65.6828, -17.5514
Quick answers
How tall is Goðafoss?
Goðafoss drops 12 metres (39 feet), across a face about 30 metres wide. It is a block-type waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót.
When is the best time to visit Goðafoss?
Peak flow is May to September. Flows year-round; summer gives easiest footing on both riverbank paths.
What can you do at Goðafoss?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Goðafoss?
The usual base is Akureyri, and the closest airport is AEY. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Free.
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