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Godafoss Waterfall is one of the most beautiful sights in Iceland. Located just off the Ring Road, no one should pass this beauty without a visit. Plan a visit to the ‘waterfall of the gods’ on your Ring Road adventure in Iceland!
Goðafoss Waterfall is nicknamed the “Waterfall of the Gods.” Some believe that the name comes from the fact that the waterfall is god-like in beauty. However, an old Icelandic legend tells the tale of the waterfall’s name through a Viking leader named Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði.
Þorgeir is said to have had thrown his Pagan statues into the waterfall, resulting in its name. No one really knows the accurate story of the waterfall’s name but leaving it as a mystery might also play a part in keeping it mythic.
Goðafoss is one of Iceland’s true pearls and one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. Its fed by the river Skjálfandafljót which runs in a 7000-year-old lava field from the Trölladyngja volcano.
Tröll translates to troll in English so it’s safe to say that the area is nothing if not mystical. It’s understandably been an inspiration to many of Iceland’s best folklore tales.
The waterfall flows over a 30-meter (98 ft.) wide horseshoe-shaped rock that rises in the center separating the waterfall in two. One section is about 9 m. (30 ft.) and the second is 17-meters (55 ft.) high.
Goðafoss is located in the North East part of Iceland, right off the Ring Road 1. It is 438 kilometers away from Reykjavík, 50 kilometers away from Akureyri and 214 kilometers away from Egilsstaðir. The nearest attraction is Geitafoss waterfall.
GPS Coordinates of Goðafoss: 65.6828° N, 17.5502° W
Goðafoss is very well marked with a big sign and is hard to miss. At Goðafoss you will find a pretty good parking lot situated west of the waterfall.
The waterfall is often visited while driving the Ring Road or exploring the Northeast Iceland. You can visit Goðafoss on a Ring Road tour or on a 3-Day tour in the North. You can get to the North to join the three-day tour by driving or via airplane flying to Akureyri or Húsavík.
Driving from Reykjavík to Goðafoss will take you through Mosfellsbær, past mt. Esja and through an underwater tunnel, called Hvalfjarðargöng. As you continue, the road will take you through the beautiful Borgarfjörður and towards Skagafjörður the cradle of the Icelandic horse.
The drive should take about 5.5 hours with no stops. Still, we wouldn’t recommend doing the drive this way as there is simply far too much to be seen and experienced on the way. Take a couple of days and enjoy the ride.
Getting to the waterfall from the West: From the parking lot, you can easily walk down to the waterfall at the riverside.
Getting to the waterfall from the East: From the restaurant and the service house at Fosshóll you can walk down a short path and get very close to admire the waterfall.
Goðafoss is comfortably located right off the popular Ring Road, for this reason, accommodation is not scarce. Here are the accommodation options we found to have the best rating in the area:
Hotels
Guesthouse, Farmstays, and B&Bs
Cabins & Cottages
There are plenty of camping grounds scattered around the Goðafoss area. The general price for the night ranges from 1200-2000 ISK, and the facilities vary from simple to extremely well equipped. Here reports on the camping sites to help you with the choosing process.
Guesthouse Fosshóll is the nearest camping ground to Goðafoss waterfall, located only about 500 meters away from the waterfall. The camping ground offers basic services including running water, toilets, a gas station, a restaurant, and a grocery store.
Open: 15th of May until the 15th of September.
Hlíð at Mývatn is located only about 1 kilometers away from the brim of Lake Mývatn. The camping ground offers great facilities including running water, toilets, showers, electricity access, a cooking tent it the weather gets bad, a small shop and a playground.
Open: All year round.
Systragril in the fertile Fnjoskadalur valley and only a short walk away from the forest of Vaglaskógur. The first-class facilities include electricity, a place to cook, heated bathrooms, washers, showers, a golf course, fishing, a swimming pool, and a playground.
Open: early June until the 30th of October.
Vaglaskógur on inspiration to one of Iceland’s most beloved songs, Vor í Vaglaskógi. Facilities include toilets, running hot and cold water, walking paths, showers, electrify, a golf course and a playground.
Open: 1st of June until the 10th of September.
Asbyrgi camping ground is a large campsite in a stunning location. The services on site include WIFI, showers, toilets, running water, walking paths, a golf course, a playground, and dogs are allowed.
Open: 15th of May until the 30th of September.
Goðafoss is definitely a great place to visit in winter but getting there can be more challenging than in the summertime. Make sure to check the road conditions if you are planning on a self-drive mission.
If you join a tour, the guides will do that work for you. Dress for cold weather, wear layers and sturdy shoes, preferably with ice grips.
