Reykjavík · Iceland

Gullfoss

Waterfall at the end of the Golden Circle with a large upper car park and viewing platform, about 1 h 45 min from Reykjavík.

See tonight's live score and best time to go for Gullfoss in Aurora Atlas

Gullfoss (16443755146)
“Gullfoss (16443755146)” by sergejf, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).

Why it works for the aurora

View
North and east over the Hvítá canyon and the uplands toward Langjökull.
Darkness
Very dark sky, grade 0 on a scale from 0 (darkest) to 5. No towns or road lights nearby; the faintest aurora shows.
Aurora
Near the edge of the auroral oval: aurora on most active nights, low in the northern sky on quiet ones.

Getting there

Distance
About 112 km by road from Reykjavík (estimate), roughly 2 h 09 by car.
Parking
Upper car park by the visitor centre.
Bus or train
Nearest stop: Gullfoss (seasonal tour/bus stop).
Coordinates
64.3251, -20.1306 · Open in OpenStreetMap

Before you go

The lower path is closed in winter and the spray is icy: stay on the open path.

Dress for standing still in the cold, bring a head torch with a red light, and park only where parking is allowed. A forecast is guidance, not a promise: check the road and weather warnings for Iceland before a night drive. See our winter safety note.

Spot information from openstreetmap.org.