Thorufoss Waterfall

The Laxá í Kjós runs over a wide shelf of rock and drops about 18 metres in a single broad curtain. Thorufoss is not one of Iceland's loudest waterfalls, and that is what makes it worth the turn-off: it lies close to Reykjavík and to Þingvellir National Park, yet takes far fewer visitors than the falls on the Golden Circle proper.

The car park sits above the lip, so the first view looks down onto the falls. A small trail carries on towards the water, and the river can also be walked downstream. The falls were used as a filming location for Game of Thrones, which brings people here on that account alone. In winter snow covers the banks and the water runs quieter than in summer.

• No facilities: there is no toilet, no café and no visitor centre at the falls, and no information board.
• Winter ice: ice builds up around the waterfall in winter, and the way down to the water is not walkable without spikes.
• After rain: the path turns muddy and slippery. Wear shoes with grip.
• Short stop: the falls work as a break between other sights rather than as an outing in themselves.

Access is by car. A paved road runs down to the car park by the river, and from there the view over the falls from above is only a few steps away. A small trail continues towards the water. To reach the bottom, take the small stream that runs downhill on the left-hand side of the car park, follow it down, then turn upstream along the river. The riverbank can also be walked downstream.

Better: morning, before the tour traffic of the day builds up.

Avoid: the peak tour hours in the middle of the day.

The car park stands directly above the falls, so how quiet the place feels depends on how many cars are in it, and in the morning there are few. In winter there are fewer still, but ice around the water makes the way down unsafe without spikes.