Oxararfoss
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  • MarcSantaCruz
    Kensington, California266 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful waterfall in national park
    This is a smaller but still beautiful waterfall in Thingvellir National Park. It's a short walk from the lower parking lot, though there are some rock steps. It is worth the time to see if you are in the national park.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 12 October 2023
  • Bandit-One
    Lucerne, Switzerland10,268 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful waterfall
    If you started at the visitor center at the southern carpark, then you will walk along the American-Eurasian tectonic plates gap for about half a mile. An easy, flat but very rewarding and beautiful walk with wonderful landscape, views and rock formation. A reason why it was chosen for some scenes of "Game Of Thrones". At the northern end you will find Öxarárfoss. Not the biggest, but one of the most beautiful falls here in southern Iceland. With the "wall", the river and the lighting it makes it look really magical. Like out of a fairytale. It's just stunning. Even though a popular spot, even though easy to reach (there's another carpark very close) it didn't feel crowded. We came in the late afternoon when many folks already left and when the lighting with the setting sun made it just a perfect scene. The park is a UNESCO heritage site that holds many historical claims. þingvellir means “Parliamentary Plains,” and as the name suggests, the location was the stage for the earliest Icelandic assemblies. The man-made waterfall was created by early Icelanders to create a water source for horses attending the early parliament assemblies. So it's not just a place of beauty, but of historically importance. Definitely a must-see.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 November 2023
  • BrakiWorldTraveler
    Belgrade, Serbia19,450 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful falls at Thingvellir NP
    Very easy to access by car, parking (payable) almost in front of them. From parking there's a wooden path (with some steps) up to them. You can proceed along that path to the right entering the gorge, and further hike where you'll see the splitting American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 23 November 2023
  • Monica B
    30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First Waterfall
    We were actually headed to Pingvallakirkja but i detoured down this road and unknowingly stumbled upon an opening for parking and saw people walking up a trail— which then led to the waterfall…the trail, steps and hike aren’t bad, less than a mile. About a handful of people at a time but we went after 5pm so not overly crowded at all. A little misty from afar and not too cold. Beautiful site! And def worth stumbling upon but it’s en route of the golden circle! See for yourself :)
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 June 2024
  • jjluke
    Calgary, Canada2,047 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A bit hidden from sight but worth the trip out
    Oxararfoss was more beautiful than expected. The walk is about an hour to and from the parking lot on a paved path. Parking is your one-time admission to Thingvellir for the day and good value overall for checking out other areas, but this was by far the highlight for us. The park is naturally busy being part of the Golden Circle. Be careful to obey the speeds posted as there are speed cameras that can record you. Also be sure to pay for parking as there are also cameras tracking license plates. Hoping this info is helpful, and if so, please kindly consider giving thanks :)
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 July 2024
  • AustintoBoston
    Boston, Massachusetts402 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our Favorite Waterfall
    Oxararfoss ended up being our favorite waterfall of the trip. Compared to the grander, more popular sites, it was far less crowded, and that is why we loved it so much. The hike from the parking lot to the falls was very manageable, but wear good hiking shoes. On the walk you really get the sense how geologically divided Iceland is, as you literally walk through the tectonic plate division. I've found that the smaller sites tend to be the best, and this was certainly one of them.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 August 2024
  • Karim Maarouf
    Cairo, Egypt892 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see when at Thingvellir
    This was my favorite part of Thingvellir National park. It is an easy but not so short walk from the start of the park to get to the waterfall. There are usually lots of people taking pictures and climbing on the rocks in the water. It's not the most impressive waterfall I've seen in Iceland, but it's still worth visiting.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 September 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles328 reviews
Excellent
168
Very good
120
Average
39
Poor
1
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0

Heather B
Providence, RI642 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
I absolutely love this waterfall! I've been here once before in February. In July it was even better! It's so green! There weren't many people when we got here. You pay a small fee to park and just hike a short way up a boardwalk to get to the waterfall.

There's nothing like it. To be able to stand between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and see this beautiful waterfall at the end is amazing. The waterfall is a turquoise color and is so gorgeous. If you're going to Thingvellir, you need to come see this waterfall.
Written 24 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jjluke
Calgary, Canada2,047 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Oxararfoss was more beautiful than expected. The walk is about an hour to and from the parking lot on a paved path. Parking is your one-time admission to Thingvellir for the day and good value overall for checking out other areas, but this was by far the highlight for us. The park is naturally busy being part of the Golden Circle. Be careful to obey the speeds posted as there are speed cameras that can record you. Also be sure to pay for parking as there are also cameras tracking license plates. Hoping this info is helpful, and if so, please kindly consider giving thanks :)
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NomadicTraveller7
Fuerteventura11,928 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
There is a very pleasant walk along the fissure for over a kilometre and then up to where the Oxar river falls off the basalt cliffs as a very nice medium sized waterfall. You can see the basalt cliffs of the fissure. Note that as some have said, this waterfall may be a bit underwhelming compared to other waterfalls at the end of an Iceland trip rather than at the beginning. If the weather is not very good, you can skip this.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travel_Addict_Cyprus
Michigan1,288 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Öxarárfoss is one of the sights within Þingvellir National Park. You will see much taller, beautiful, magnificent waterfalls on Iceland's South side, but while in the park, this is one of the things you can see. It is beautiful, and a good place for photos.
You will not spend a lot of time at the waterfall itself, but plan to spend at least 2 hrs in Þingvellir.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter B
Jersey City, NJ44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
It's a powerful, scenic waterfall that is easily accessible via a short, 10-minute walk from the parking lot nearest to it. You can get as close as you want to this waterfall, and it's also visible from afar from many different vantage points. Who knows - you might even run into Arya and the Hound here!
Written 22 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Edwelsh
North Canton, OH7,220 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
Our friends walked through the gorge from the visitors center and we drove down to the small parking lot by this falls. It’s about a pleasant 10 minute walk on mostly new wide wooden walkway to the falls, where they have constructed multilevel viewing platforms right at the face of Oxararfoss. Great opportunity to see a Foss as close as you want.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karim Maarouf
Cairo, Egypt892 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
This was my favorite part of Thingvellir National park. It is an easy but not so short walk from the start of the park to get to the waterfall. There are usually lots of people taking pictures and climbing on the rocks in the water. It's not the most impressive waterfall I've seen in Iceland, but it's still worth visiting.
Written 11 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AustintoBoston
Boston, MA402 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Friends
Oxararfoss ended up being our favorite waterfall of the trip. Compared to the grander, more popular sites, it was far less crowded, and that is why we loved it so much. The hike from the parking lot to the falls was very manageable, but wear good hiking shoes. On the walk you really get the sense how geologically divided Iceland is, as you literally walk through the tectonic plate division. I've found that the smaller sites tend to be the best, and this was certainly one of them.
Written 1 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thebestjourneyyet
Edinburgh, UK545 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
A stunning waterfall located within Thingvellir National Park! This really is worth the short walk from the car park (10 minutes or so). A great waterfall to see before going to visit the mighty Gulfoss waterfall!
Written 23 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,450 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Very easy to access by car, parking (payable) almost in front of them. From parking there's a wooden path (with some steps) up to them.
You can proceed along that path to the right entering the gorge, and further hike where you'll see the splitting American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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OXARARFOSS (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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