Gullfoss Waterfall (which means Golden Waterfall) on the Hvítá River is an integral part of the so-called Golden Circle, making it probably the most visited waterfall in Iceland. Often compared to Niagara Falls for its beauty, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Gullfoss is located about 120 kilometers east of Reykjavik. It is easily accessible by a small car or bus at any time of the year.
Most visitors reach Gullfoss via the viewpoint on the right bank of the Ölfusá River, where there are two large parking lots, several viewpoints of the Gullfoss Waterfall, and a path leading directly to the waterfall between the cascades. Due to the popularity of the site and its easy accessibility, there are almost always crowds of tourists.
For those with a more adventurous spirit, or those who want to experience new and unique perspectives and avoid the crowds at this popular tourist attraction, there is an option to visit Gullfoss from the left bank of the Hvítá River. In this case, turn off road no. 30 onto road no. 349, continue for about 2 kilometers to a junction where you turn sharply right (the slight right turn leads to a local farm). Continue on the unmarked local road, turn left at this intersection, and after a few hundred meters, you will reach a small parking lot (GPS: 64.318284, -20.109075). From there, walk about 2 kilometers to Gullfoss Waterfall. This route is drivable only until the first snow, and with significant caution, it is also passable by small cars.
