Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss Waterfall
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Dettifoss Waterfall

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

The area

Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
2 within 6 miles

See what travelers are saying

  • Sophie M
    26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    Stunning. A must see if you're in the area. The road to the west side from the south is now open (7th March) although I would recommend only attempting it with 4wd as a lot of ice and snow remains. The road north from the west side is only accessible in a truck/jeep and the whole of the east side road remains closed.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 7, 2024
  • WWalter23
    Bad Lippspringe, Germany988 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth seeing
    I've been to Niagara Falls several times, which are of a different dimension. Dettifoss is worth a look. The path there is now being rebuilt for tourists, so in the future you won't be able to move around freely. The crowds of visitors just have to be kept in check.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 3, 2024
  • Roula
    Lebanon510 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dettifoss waterfall in surrounded in snow in Mid June
    We went early in morning on June 14 on the west side (road 862). We parked the car and noticed that path was full of snow. Start of path was fine (just watch out you don't slip) but then the waypoint to Dettifoss is blocked off by rope as it's too icy. We noticed that others in front of us had made a second path but we learned the hard way that it the snow was melting and had become icy slush (yes we stepped into it). Made it to the high lookout and got to see the waterfall but all other further waypoints where blocked off as too dangerous. luckily we had change of shoes in the car (toes were frozen). we heard the next day that they had closed off the access due to the hazardous paths (too much snow / icy slush).
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 19, 2024
  • Nicola
    Florence, Italy49 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great power
    Impressive waterfall in a remote place, on a very little anthropized plateau. From the car park, which is free and has many toilets, it can be reached in a 10-12 minute flat walk. The descent to the closest point was closed due to mud, unfortunately. But even from above you can appreciate its power and overwhelming roar. To be seen
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 19, 2024
  • Tourist05873481889
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Forget about other Icelandic waterfalls: Dettifoss and Selfoss are the real ones!!!
    Definitively the highlight of our Iceland stay so far. Sure you have seen quite a few spectacular Icelandic waterfalls yet, but I assure you: if the others already play Champions League - this one is definitively on a galactical level. Such a brutal force of nature, in the middle of a desertlike nowhere!!! Unlike some travellers say, the access is very easy, at least from the west side and in july. It's an asphalted road to a free parksite, and then an easy 1 km hike. You get really close and probably a better view than from the less easily accessible east bank. And the best: it's only 400 meter to Selfoss, the second waterfall upstreams. Don't miss it! It's a very different type of waterfall, and believe it or not: we liked it even better...
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 11, 2024
  • jjluke
    Calgary, Canada2,046 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing monster waterfalls, but plan for the extra drive time
    Without a doubt, Dettifoss is up there for sights and sounds. A monster of waterfalls with picturesque rainbows when we visited. It will require a bit of a walk to get there, approx. 20 minutes from parking. Parking is free, which is a bonus. The drive there does eat into your day some as you have to traverse the 862 in and out back to the ring road (unless there are other things further north on your journey such as accommodation). The drive and walk to the site have to be factored in and I debated reducing the score because of this, but these falls are still worth it despite the effort. If you found this information helpful, please consider giving a thanks as it would be appreciated!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 21, 2024
  • Poppenlander
    288 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yet another (GREAT) waterfall
    Every time we came to a new waterfall in Iceland, we wondered if it would be worth the time to stop. I mean, if you've seen one waterfall, you've seen them all, right? Wrong. Detifoss was another "should we or shouldn't we?" attraction and we're so glad we did. This powerful falls had multiple viewing platforms, massive amounts of spray, and near constant rainbows. Such an epic experience! Make the drive off of the ring road to see this one. It's worth it!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 28, 2024
  • Davidjellis
    Lowestoft, United Kingdom9,546 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the highlights from my Iceland cruise excursions - so much natural power - wow!
    I visited Dettifoss on a cruise ship excursion from Akureyri, taking in the best of that part of the island. Our bus parked in the (free) car park and from there it's approximately 1km to walk along a reasonably solid path to see the falls. There are multiple viewing areas, some closer to the falls than others but I visited all the viewing platforms I had time for, to get various different angles and try to avoid the huge amount of water spray, which combined with light rain made taking photos / video a little challenging. Our guide said it was the second most powerful waterfall in Europe and one where nobody has survived going over the edge (unlike Niagara). It was one of the highlights of the various excursions I did in Iceland...very much worth the stop!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written August 26, 2024
  • Noegg
    Pinto, Spain88 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular waterfall
    Spectacular waterfall in Iceland. You can approach both the east and west. We, coming from Highway 1 from the south, came to it from the west by tarmac road. From the parking lot you have to walk for about 10 or 15 minutes. In our case we were caught in a snowstorm and the road to it was a bit complicated. But everything was very well marked and you just had to go slowly not to slip. And of course, a spectacular landscape. To reach the east you must do so from the north of the island and by unpaved track.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 13, 2024
  • Destinos Pasajeros
    Cadiz, Spain1,887 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive and essential
    Stunning and essential this piece water jump. With a tremendous force that looks like water is falling in slow motion. Compulsory raincoat and pleasant walk of 1.5 km or so. You can complete it with the somewhat simpler but equally beautiful selfoss waterfall
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 21, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,374 reviews
Excellent
1,733
Very good
530
Average
97
Poor
10
Terrible
4

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Tom&NikkiTravel
London, UK1,900 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
So Dettifoss Waterfall...the "second most powerful in Europe" and one of the highlights of the Diamond circle in the North of Iceland. Having visited Iceland twice before and both times doing the Golden circle - once in the Summer and once in the Winter I had high expectations for Dettifoss.

We decided to approach from the East as we were driving the ring road counter clockwise and we'd read that this provided the best photographic opportunities. On arrival it was clearly busy, the car park was pretty full and others were driving around looking for another visitor to leave. After a couple of minutes we were able to park and get set to head to the falls.

At the car park they have a toilet block (pretty primal as its a compost toilet designed for recycling) but there are no other facilities, unlike at Gullfoss where they have a cafe, shop etc. It's a bit of a shame as given its quite a big draw I'd have thought they'd have put something there especially given how far out of the way Dettifoss can be. For that reason make sure you have water and snacks packed with you.

We started the walk from the car park to the falls, all of which is easily signposted. We visited after a fair amount of rain and given this there were a few areas of the path that were exceptionally muddy, so much so that some of the grates that had been put down to aid the path had actually be submerged. I'd highly advise like with most sites to have boots on as they are likely to get a little wet and possibly quite muddy. We seen a few rather disappointed teens in very muddy otherwise bright white trainers.

The walk from the carpark to the viewing platform for Dettifoss is surprisingly long - it took about 20 minutes or so. Its not a particularly arduous walk but its worthwhile considering this when deciding on the jacket you are going to wear and whether or not to take water - its not a quick 2 min walk back to the car.

The falls themselves are impressive. It is a MASS of water falling with a large curtain. There is a great opportunity for some compression shots if you are a photographer but beyond that, you'd need to be on the west side to get the whole drop in the photo. The masses of tourists made it particularly difficult but I wasn't hugely bothered about the photos as this waterfall was more about the experience.

In terms of how I'd break it down:

Facilities: 4/10
It would have been great to have been able to grab a coffee whilst there, even from a food truck!

Accessibility: 6/10
There is a fair walk between the carpark and the viewing, plenty of muddy puddles and some grates that took a bit of navigating around.

Falls: 7/10
The sheer volume is impressive but the likelihood is if you've driven the ring road to this point you will have seen far prettier by this point.

It's definitely one to see if you haven't and I am glad I visited. Would I do it again, probably not as there are far prettier falls that are less busy to photograph in Iceland.
Written November 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Claudio R
Palermo, Italy242 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
You know that the waterfall is the one with the largest flow rate in Europe before you get there. The view, however, takes your breath away: if you arrive from the east side, reachable after a stretch of dirt road (and not recommended in winter), you will arrive right at the top of the waterfall, advancing between the sprays of water and the basalt boulders . The first waterfall you reach from the route is Selfoss, also very beautiful, but you absolutely must continue along the 1.4 kilometer route that leads to this authentic jewel. I would have stayed there for hours and hours. I repeat: it is better to arrive from the east, if the weather conditions allow it; from the west you get a better overall view, but from the east you find yourself just a few meters from the point where the waterfall collapses.
Google
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D D
Samarate, Italy8,582 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
I tried twice on consecutive days but the result was that the first day it was immersed in fog, the second it rained cats and dogs.
It's a good excuse to say that I have to go back to Iceland.
Anyway... take the SS862 and at the crossroads go down to the car park (free). From here the route is 1.2 km long and takes you across small boulders to the edge of the waterfall (various observation platforms). From here, a staircase goes down to the low edge of the west side (it gets very wet) or if you take the other path up to the high platform along the cliff. The water flow is incredible (depending on the season it is the first or second in Europe). 45 meters high, 100 meters wide, formed by the Jokulsa river. Impressive however you see it. To be clear, it is the one seen at the beginning of Ridley Scott's film "Prometheus"
Google
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alisei-net
Bologna, Italy996 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Friends
This impressive waterfall is considered the most impressive in Europe and represents an unmissable stop for tourists. The waterfall can be reached from both sides but there is no local connection that allows you to cross the canyon, a long car ride is necessary to go from one bank to the other. The most popular and well-known is the west bank which is easier and more convenient to reach thanks also to the presence of a large car park, a solution which I also adopted. The drop of the waterfall is not excessive but it is the large quantity of water that certainly impresses, also associated with a notable roar. The color of the water is not crystalline, rather it tends towards gray. On sunny days, the vapor creates a beautiful and extensive rainbow that lasts for a long time. There are several observation points, some of them are little frequented due to the presence of considerable quantities of steam and you learn this immediately because, if not adequately covered, you will get soaked to the core...
Google
Written November 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jules060617
Lausanne, Switzerland1,559 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
I understand that this is THE most powerful waterfall in Europe with up to 600 cubic meters per second. Before you see it, you know it is there from the noise, the spray and the rainbows. It certainly is impressive, thundering over a wide cliff, roaring forward, and drenching onlookers. Not to be missed but wear strong soled shoes (if possible waterproof) and take a cape or thin anorak for the spray. Also beware of the wind that can be chilly and fierce at times.
Written June 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ron S
New York City, NY6,102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
The waterfall is grand and impressive. We visited the east side only. The reason being a horrible road (Rt 864), by far the worst in Iceland. The road to the west bank (Rt 862) looked good from Rt 1 but so did the east one too though only for the first 2-3 km. So we decided not to take our chances. Practical advice: try to maintain your speed at 60-70 km as opposed to 20-30 unless you encounter a real bad pothole. Surprisingly, this would alleviate the effects of a bad road to some extent.
Written July 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ben P
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Friends
A real gem set in the Icelandic plateau, the waterfall can be reached via a 15-minute walk, immersed in a bare and silent landscape that seems straight out of a fairy tale. Like many Icelandic waterfalls it enjoys a spectacular surprise effect: in the distance you start to see the edge of the ravine and a little steam, then suddenly the waterfall appears in all its majesty, leaving you speechless at the dizzying jump of the water. The whole natural setting is equally fairytale, especially the canyon with the columnar rock walls, but unfortunately the path to descend near the cliff may not be accessible depending on the weather conditions.
Small note: in September the trek is already snowy and does not have balustrades, so arm yourself with mountain boots and possibly someone to support yourself with! Slips and cold wind aside, an unmissable experience for anyone visiting Iceland for the first time.
Automatically translated
Written October 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NomadicTraveller7
Fuerteventura12,293 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
On our first visit on the way from Egillstadir to Lake Myvatn, it had been a miserable 100 kms in blizzard. When we got to the falls the horizontal sleet stung our eyes so much that we abandoned the visit after 10 minutes. We did go back, backtracking on the way from Lake Myvatn to Akureyri.

Said to be one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls, 45metres high and 100 metres wide, what is impressive is the sheer volume of water that sends spray hundreds of metres into the air away from the wind direction. It is said to have the greatest volume of water than any waterfall in Europe, though to us Gulfoss seemed to have more. From the car park and toilets, it is about 1km to the first viewpoint above the falls, with a further few hundred metres to the elevated viewpoint where the full width of the falls can be seen. It is also worth continuing on the track past the first viewpoint to Selfoss, a broad 10-metre-high fall. There is a path that leads back to the car park from there. The round trip to both falls is about 2.5kms. There is a large car park and there are toilets.
Written August 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonas Gunnarsson
Stockholm, Sweden676 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Europe's largest waterfall (by volume) is well worth a visit. You have two options. Either you follow the crowds and see the falls from the Western side, or you take the bumpy gravel road to see the falls from the East. On the Eastern side, you get closer to the falls and if you come in the morning, you will have the sun in your back for good photography. (For the same reason, late afternoon visits are probably better fram the Western side if you want to take good pictures.)
Written October 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alan C
Sittingbourne, UK295 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Solo
"The mightiest waterfall in all Europe is how it is billed and I can quite beieve it. A huge curtain of falling waer. It is well worth seeing but is not so accessible as many of Iceland's waterfalls. It is about a 1km walk from the car [ark, some over gravel paths but some also over rocky ground. Difficult of access for the disabled although I understand improvements are due. Several viewing platforms are available so you can view the falls from the top, sides and base. No facilities at the car park except toilets
Written October 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,407
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Dettifoss Waterfall - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All things to do in Lake Myvatn
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars