The day we planned our drive in Iceland promised to be a long one, but we were excited because we’d be visiting some of Iceland’s most stunning waterfalls along the way. We were staying at the Greenhouse Hotel in Sellfoss and planned to drive all the way to Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. The journey was about three hours and 40 minutes without meal breaks, but with all the amazing waterfalls to stop at, it could easily take twice as long or more.
So, off we went! Our first stop was Seljalandsfoss, an incredible waterfall that you can walk behind, making it not only one of Iceland’s top waterfalls but perhaps one of the best in Europe. When we visited over a decade ago, the area was much less organized, but now it even has restroom facilities.
We parked and started heading over to the waterfall when I realized our mistake: we didn’t bring raincoats. Although it wasn’t raining, the wind quickly got us wet, even before getting up close to Seljalandsfoss. We decided not to go back for our raincoats from the car. If we thought the front of the waterfall was wet, walking behind it soaked us completely.
Soaked but unfazed, we decided to head down to the base of the waterfall. From a distance, Seljalandsfoss looks thin and wispy, but up close, you can feel its power. We then made our way back up and visited another nearby waterfall we hadn’t seen on previous trips: Gljufrabui.
Gljufrabui is hidden in plain sight, just a three-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss. It’s tucked in a little cavern, and though you might get your feet wet finding it, the view is so worth it. It feels like discovering a hidden gem in Iceland, even with a crowd waiting around for their turn to enjoy it.
After that, we headed back to the car and drove to Skogafoss. Before reaching it, we stopped for lunch to dry off since our hike two days prior and the waterfalls left us quite soaked and muddy. Lunch was at a nearby hotel, where I ordered the same lamb shank I enjoyed in the past, but this time it was just okay, and the service left much to be desired.
Once we felt a bit drier, we made our way to Skogafoss, only to get wet again. Despite getting drenched, the waterfall was magnificent, and we couldn’t help but venture a bit closer this time. After Skogafoss, we intended to reach our hotel but made a quick stop in Vik for dinner, as it was the last busy town with dining options.
In Vik, we found Smiðjan Brugghús, a microbrewery with delicious burgers, fries, and BBQ pork ribs. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the food was tasty—a definite recommendation from us. After dinner, we took a brief stroll around fog-covered Vik before resuming our road trip. We likely reached the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon close to midnight, but this time, we at least had dinner beforehand. The next day awaited with adventures involving glaciers, icebergs, and ice caves.