Skogafoss Waterfall (also spelled Skógafoss) is one of Iceland's top attractions and photo locations. Read our travel guide, including information on how to visit Skogafoss, where to stay, where to find Skogafoss, and tips on how to plan a Waterfall Way hike.

Iceland has so many amazing waterfalls that it is pretty hard to make it on the list of the country's best and most visited waterfalls. Yet, Skogafoss Waterfall made it to the very top.

This 25 meters wide waterfall drops from 60 meters and shows visitors the power of nature in the most majestic way possible.

And we beleive it's one of the best waterfalls in Iceland.

If you travel the Ring Road or only its southern stretch, it is impossible to miss the Skogafoss Waterfall as it is visible from the main road, and it is yet another fine example of how some of the best natural attractions in Iceland are easily accessible.

But visiting Skogafoss itself is not the only highlight here.

Skógá River makes its way through the valley and creates several cascades along the way.

So one of the best things we can recommend you is to climb the stairs on the right side of the waterfall, have a look at the waterfall from above, and then continue along the path known as Waterfall Way hike or also Skógá Trail.

What is one of the best things about Skogafoss Waterfall?

You can get very close to it but prepared to get drenched, same as at Dettifoss or Gulfoss.

Also, when the sun shines, you can see the rainbow that appears when sun rays touch the mist - in short, it is a photographer's dream.

Meanwhile, fans of Game of Thrones can wonder in which episode was Skogafoss featured.

This travel guide is here to plan your visit to Skogafoss Waterfall.

We share with you how to get to Skogafoss, how much things cost, where to stay, and what to expect from the Waterfall Way hike, which is a nice addition, especially if you want to stretch your legs.

Where Is Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss is located just off the Ring Road on the South Coast of Iceland, approximately two hours drive from Reykjavik.

We traveled the Ring Road counterclockwise, and because we explored the Golden Circle the day before and spent a night in Selfoss, we would have arrived at Skogafoss in a bit more than an hour in an ideal world.

But as there were many more waterfalls along the way, such as probably even more famous Seljalandsfoss, the journey from Selfoss took us approximately three hours.

This is quite important when you plan your Iceland itinerary - always add a reasonable amount of time for unexpected photo stops.

How to Get There

If you travel in the opposite direction, Skogafoss is less than thirty minutes drive from Vik, a traditional place to stay on the Ring Road.

So what is the best way to get to Skogafoss Waterfall?

You have three options as it is possible to get there by car, public transport, or as a part of an organized tour.

Car

Renting a car or campervan is the best way to explore Iceland and sample its top natural attractions.

Of course, every traveler can have a different approach, but we were more than happy with what we saw in two weeks, and it would not be possible without a car.

To get to Skogafoss, follow road number 1 alias Ring Road, and then turn left to Skogar road (in case you travel from Reykjavik), and then left again on Skogafoss Road, which will take you to a pretty large parking lot.

Parking lot at Skogafoss is free.

There are public toilets that usually require payment, but at the time of our visit, they were free of charge as well.

Tour

Taking a South of Iceland Tour that includes Skogafoss is one of the best options for travelers who decided not to rent a car and allows to see the best this part of the country has to offer.

Public Transport

Even though we think that getting around Iceland by public transport is not convenient, it is good to know this option.

We recommend it to either backpackers without a car or travelers who have plenty of time.

From Reykjavik's Mjodd bus station (you can get there from BSI by bus number 3), take a bus number 51 to Selfoss, and here apparently you need to change to bus 51 (we know the number is the same), which continues to Vik.

Your stop is Skogar, and the bus stops at the campsite. Then it is important to know your next stop and whether it is again accessible by public transport.

Visiting Skogafoss

Once we parked our campervan in the parking lot, we could not wait to get closer to the waterfall. The reason was simple.

The views of Skogafoss were awesome even from the main road, and we knew the closer we got, the better the experience would be.

Even though the walk from the parking lot to the base of Skogafoss is super-short, you should not forget to dress appropriately.

Wear hiking boots, especially in the winter as the rocks are slippery, or when you plan on hiking the Waterfall Way.

You should also wear rain pants, and a waterproof jacket because of the spray.

We also packed a tripod in our waterproof dry bag.

Here you will find more tips on what to pack for Iceland, which is known for the harsh and often changeable weather.

First, we walked to the base of the waterfall. When we were getting nearer, we could feel the spray on our faces.

It is great to take pictures of the waterfall and people standing in front of it as it shows the perspective of how high and powerful the waterfall is.

Once we had enough of the views, we decided to walk up the stairs to get the views of Skogafoss from above.

The place is often crowded thanks to its popularity and easy access, but only a fraction of visitors decide to climb more than 500 steps to the viewing platform.

We visited Skogafoss in the summer, so it was cool to see how the moss growing around the waterfall is insanely green thanks to the constant supply of water.

If you thought you would escape the spray on the upper platform, it would have been a wrong presumption, but the view is definitely worth it.

This upper viewing platform is also the place where the Waterfall Way hike starts, so it is only up to you whether you decide to return to the parking lot and finish your visit to Skogafoss or if you will carry on.

Entrance Fee

There is no entrance fee to Skogafoss.

Keeping your Iceland travel budget at bay can be difficult, but the good news is that most of the natural attractions are free.

For more tips, check out our post Iceland on a budget.

How Much Time Do I Need

How much time you need to visit Skogafoss is highly individual. If your itinerary is packed to the brim, and you are fine just with taking a quick photo from the waterfall's base, you'll need, let's say, fifteen minutes.

Most tours have only time for a quick photo stop at Skogafoss anyway.

We think it is worth it at least to climb the steps to get a view from a different perspective, and from our own experience, it is worth it to do the Waterfall Way hike for at least an hour or an hour and a half.

We spent at Skogafoss approximately two and a half hours and did not regret it.

Days in June were long, so we could afford to spend time by one of Iceland's top attractions without being pressed by approaching dark.

If you are looking for other things to do in the area, only a few hundred meters away is another beautiful waterfall that, in our opinion, does not get that much attention, Kvernufoss Waterfall, and also Skogar Museum.

Waterfall Way Hike

We'll give you small advice. When planning your Iceland itinerary, make sure you have enough time for the Waterfall Way hike.

When creating our schedule, I just made a short note that the hike exists, and we can do it when time allows, but now we are both glad we did it, as it was one of the highlights of the South Coast trip.

Once you get to the upper viewing platform, you will see a gate with a note saying you should close the gate behind you.

Walk through the gate, and you'll appear in one of the most photogenic places in Iceland.

It is good to know that the Waterfall Way hike is part of the day-long trail from Skogafoss to Thórsmörk, called the Fimmvörduháls trail.

This trail is 25 kilometers-long one way, and then you have to either walk the same way or arrange transport.

This is what we liked the most about the Waterfall Way hike; we just told ourselves that we would continue until it was interesting, and then we turned around.

The problem was that behind every turn was yet another waterfall, yet another wonderful cliff, so we walked and walked.

In the beginning, we were followed by a few people, but later it was just us, sheep, the canyon, green slopes, and tens of waterfalls.

Even though Skogafoss is wonderful, other falls we saw along the way, such as Hestavadsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss, Fremri-Fellsfoss, Innri-Fellsfoss, or Skalabrekkufoss, were simply amazing.

After an hour or so, we knew that we could continue like this for the next twenty kilometers because the trail was so scenic, so with a heavy heart, we decided to return to our campervan.

Do not forget that the weather in Iceland can change within a blink of an eye, be well-prepared, and have your rain jacket ready.

If you are planning to hike for a few hours, it's not a bad idea to bring your water bottle either.

Travel Insurance

We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.

Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.

SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.

Travel smarter and safer!

The Best Time To Visit Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss is an all-year-round destination, there is no opening or closing time, so you can visit it anytime you want, which is very convenient.

We saw photos from different seasons, and no matter whether the waterfall was icy and the slopes covered in snow or Skogafoss was captured with blue skies and the hills covered with lush green moss, it was always very eye-catching.

Being one of the most popular attractions in the area comes with a few lows, though, and it is not that easy to avoid the crowds.

There is always only one solution.

Arrive either early in the morning or later in the evening - to manage that, the best option might be to stay in Skogar, the nearest settlement to the falls, and spend the night there.

For more information, read our guide on the best time to visit Iceland.

Where to Stay Near Skogafoss

Skogafoss is located on Ring Road, and there are plenty of options on where to stay.

You can decide to sleep right in Skogar and choose the least frequented time to visit the waterfall.

Other popular places to stay that are within driving distance are Reykjavik, Selfoss, or Vik.

It is recommended to make a reservation well in advance because the southern part of Iceland is heavily trafficked.

Here's the list of hotels in each location to make your decision easier.

Skogar | Hótel Skógafoss - Conveniently located hotel only a few hundred meters from the waterfall offers different types of rooms, some of them even have a waterfall view.

Skogar Campground | If you travel in a campervan or sleep in a tent, this is the best choice for you nearest to the waterfall. These types of campsites in Iceland are basically large parking lots, and toilet facilities are used by regular visitors, so do next expect anything special.

Selfoss | Selfoss Hostel - Selfoss is a small town that offers plenty of activities but not that many hotels. Selfoss Hotel is one of the few ones. It is a budget-friendly accommodation that provides travelers with clean facilities and an on-site kitchen.

Reykjavik | Midgardur by Center Hotels - Close to all top attractions, this hotel offers its guests amazing services. Except for comfortable beds and a tasty breakfast, you can relax in an on-site spa.

Vik | Hotel Vik i Myrdal - Wonderfully decorated hotel close not only to Skogafoss but also to the famous Black Sand Beach and cliffs is one of the best places to stay in the south of Iceland.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

Pin It!

A Guide to Skogafoss Waterfall & Waterfall Way Hike