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Skogafoss

A perfect sixty-metre curtain of water on Iceland's south coast - broad, powerful and wrapped in rainbows, with a stairway to the top.

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Skogafoss

Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.

WhereSouthern Region
Nearest cityVik
Best seasonYear-round
Time to allowOne hour
Getting thereOn the south coast ring road; about two hours from Reykjavik
EntryFree

Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, a broad sixty-metre curtain of water plunging off a former sea cliff on the south coast, throwing up so much spray that double rainbows often hang before it. A steep stairway climbs beside it to a viewpoint at the top and the start of a famous highland trail.

What you actually see

  • The waterfall curtain - the broad, powerful sixty-metre fall.
  • The rainbows - the double rainbows in the spray on bright days.
  • The clifftop stairs - the climb to the viewpoint above the falls.
  • The Fimmvorduhals trail - the celebrated hiking route starting above the falls.

When to go

Year-round; bright days bring the rainbows, and the falls run powerfully in any season. Early or late avoids the busiest hours on this popular route.

Honest expectations

It is a very popular south-coast stop, so it is busy in season. Standing close means getting soaked by the spray. The clifftop stairs are steep but rewarding.

Nearby

Seljalandsfoss is nearby, and Reynisfjara black beach and Vik lie further along the coast.

What to pack for Skogafoss

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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