The Best Waterfalls in Europe

Iceland

Six waterfalls lie in Iceland. Gullfoss sits on the Hvítá River in the south, reached by car from Reykjavik on the Golden Circle. Dynjandi is about 100 metres high above a fjord in the Westfjords, and the road is gravel. Skógafoss drops about 60 metres over old sea cliffs. Dettifoss is 44 metres high and 100 metres wide, with a 1.5 km walk from the car park. Kvernufoss and Háifoss end the group, the first a narrow stream, the second a 122 metre drop.

Norway and Switzerland

Vøringsfossen drops nearly 200 metres into a narrow gorge in Eidfjord, Norway. Langfoss falls 612 metres beside a road into the Åkrafjorden, and steps climb about 300 metres to its upper viewpoint. Låtefossen plunges about 165 metres in twin streams in the Odda Valley. In Switzerland, Staubbach Falls drops about 297 metres from a cliff at Lauterbrunnen. Trümmelbach Falls drops through ten cascades inside a rock gorge. Rhine Falls is 23 metres high and 150 metres wide near Schaffhausen.

Slovenia, Austria and Italy

Peričnik Waterfall drops 52 metres from a rocky overhang into a forested valley in Slovenia, with a smaller upper fall above it. Cars are barred near the falls, so visitors park in Mojstrana and walk about 4.5 km or take a shuttle bus. In Austria, Krimml Waterfalls cascade down steep rock through forested slopes. Visitors pay about 9 euros per adult to enter. In Italy, Cascata del Toce drops 143 metres in foaming cascades when the Morasco Dam opens. Water flows only at set times.

Azores, Albania and Crete

In the Azores, Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro has dozens of waterfalls pouring down green cliffs into a lagoon. A rocky path leads from the car park in 15 to 20 minutes. Peshtura Waterfall drops over a rocky cliff into a river gorge in Albania. Visitors park on the road, climb over the guardrail and descend for about 15 to 25 minutes. On Crete, Kourtaliotiko Waterfall ends at the mouth of a cave above a cold pool. The walk down takes about 15 minutes, with many steps.