Gljufrabui

Gljúfrabúi — ‘Canyon Dweller’ — is one of Iceland’s most enchanting hidden waterfalls, tucked inside a tall, narrow crack in a basalt cliff just a few hundred metres north of the famous Seljalandsfoss. To reach it, visitors must wade or hop across a shallow stream and duck through a low fissure in the rock, emerging inside a dramatic enclosed grotto where a 40-metre waterfall tumbles from a circular opening in the cave roof above, creating swirling mist and a constant fine spray. The experience is genuinely theatrical.

Unlike the entirely open Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi’s enclosed setting means the light inside the grotto shifts constantly with cloud cover and time of day — at its best, a shaft of sunlight pierces the opening above and illuminates the falling water in a way that borders on magical. Waterproof clothing is strongly recommended as the spray is substantial, but this only adds to the sense of adventure. The cave floor is rocky and the stream crossing requires care.

Gljúfrabúi is located within easy walking distance of the Seljalandsfoss car park on the South Coast, roughly 120 km from Reykjavík off the Ring Road. It is free to visit and accessible year-round, though icy conditions in winter can make the stream crossing and rocky floor more hazardous. It is almost always visited in combination with Seljalandsfoss next door.