Godafoss
The Waterfall of the Gods - a graceful, horseshoe-shaped falls in north Iceland, tied to the country's conversion to Christianity.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, is one of the most beautiful in Iceland, a graceful horseshoe curve where the glacial Skjalfandafljot river drops over a curved lava ledge in the north. Legend says that when Iceland adopted Christianity around the year 1000, a chieftain threw his pagan idols into these falls, giving them their name.
What you actually see
- The horseshoe falls - the elegant curved cascade over the lava ledge.
- Both banks - the viewpoints on each side of the river.
- The legend - the story of the pagan idols cast into the water.
- Winter ice - the frozen formations around the falls in the cold season.
When to go
Year-round; the falls are graceful in any season, with winter ice adding drama. It is an easy stop on the ring road in the north.
Honest expectations
It is an easy roadside stop rather than a long visit, popular but less crowded than the south-coast falls. Paths can be icy in winter. It is in the north, on the ring road between Akureyri and Myvatn.
Nearby
Lake Myvatn and Akureyri are close; the ring road continues around the north.
What to pack for Godafoss
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
