Gullfoss Visitor Center

The Gullfoss visitor center stands next to the upper car park, a couple of minutes’ walk from the upper viewing platform. It is the warm, dry base for the visit: restrooms, food, a shop and information about the falls and the nature reserve.

Entry to the building is free, and it is the natural first stop in bad weather — you can orient yourself, use the facilities and then walk out onto the platform.

Quick Facts

Location: Upper car park, next to the viewing platform
Facilities: Restrooms, café, gift shop, information
Entry: Free
Opening: Seasonal — longer hours in summer
Accessibility: Step-free from the upper lot; accessible restrooms
Walk to viewpoint: About 2 minutes

Where the visitor center is

The building sits at the top of the site, directly beside the upper car park and the accessible parking spaces. From Route 35, follow the Gullfoss signs to the upper lot; the center is the large building you see as you park.

Because of its position, it is the easiest meeting point for groups and the fastest route to the panoramic upper platform.

Facilities inside

Expect public restrooms, a café serving hot drinks and light meals, and a gift shop with Icelandic woollens and souvenirs. Information panels cover the geology of the canyon, the Hvítá river, and the story of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, whose campaign helped save the falls from a hydroelectric scheme.

The restrooms here are the main facilities on site, so it is worth using them before you walk down towards the canyon rim.

Opening hours

The visitor center follows seasonal hours: the longest days generally run through summer and early autumn, with shorter opening in winter. Hours are set year by year, so treat published times as indicative rather than fixed.

The waterfall viewpoints themselves are not affected — they stay open 24 hours even when the building is closed.

Accessibility

The route from the upper car park past the visitor center to the upper viewing platform is paved and step-free, which makes it workable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and visitors with limited mobility. Accessible parking and accessible restrooms are in the same area.

The lower path towards the canyon rim is steeper, uneven and often wet from spray, and it is frequently closed in winter. If you need a level surface, plan around the upper platform.

When to use it

Mid-day in summer is peak season: this is when the Golden Circle coaches arrive. If you want a quieter café and an emptier platform, come before 09:00 or later in the afternoon.

In winter the center doubles as a shelter. Warm up there before and after standing on the platform, where wind chill and frozen spray bite quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Gullfoss visitor center?

Next to the upper car park, about a two-minute walk from the upper viewing platform. Follow the signs to the upper lot when you turn off Route 35.

Are there toilets at Gullfoss?

Yes. Public restrooms are in the visitor center beside the upper car park, including accessible facilities.

Is there a café or restaurant at Gullfoss?

Yes. The visitor center has a café serving hot drinks and light meals, with quick access to the viewpoints.

Is the visitor center open in winter?

Yes, but with reduced seasonal hours. The building may close earlier in winter, while the waterfall viewpoints remain open 24 hours.

Is the Gullfoss visitor center wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Accessible parking and restrooms are at the upper lot, and the path from there to the upper viewing platform is paved and step-free.

Is there a gift shop at Gullfoss?

Yes. The visitor center shop sells Icelandic wool products, souvenirs and small travel items.

Information checked: Visitor center information checked October 2026. Seasonal hours are set by the operator and may change.