Faxi is a wide, calm waterfall. It is pretty on its own, but it does not stand up to the competition in Iceland.
Faxi – a small waterfall you pay to see
Faxi sits in a picturesque, peaceful landscape on the Tungufljót river. It is only 80 meters (260 feet) wide and at most 7 meters (23 feet) high. The river and the falls are of course nice to look at, but Faxi is neither particularly large nor unusually shaped. It is intimate and simple – and next to nearby Gullfoss, downright microscopic.
The best thing about Faxi is the café and restaurant built right above the falls. With no crowd around, it is a quiet spot, away from the noise of roads and towns, even romantic: the waterfall looks lovely from the terrace and hums along with your coffee or lunch. Access is paid, though, because the falls stand on private land – and the fee buys you no privacy at all. The owners clearly get along well with the tour operators, so the big parking lot is often full of cars and even coaches. And the nicest place in the world loses its romantic pull a minute after two coachloads of tourists walk in…
Faxi – tips and practical information
- The waterfall is accessible all year round.
- There is a public parking lot next to the waterfall. Nearby, on the Tungufljot river, there is also a campsite open from May 15 to September 30.
- At Faxi there is a restaurant with local dishes and a view of the waterfall.
- Parking costs 900 ISK (about $8) per car and covers a stay of up to 8 hours (source: Parka, prices September 2026). There is no way to see the waterfall or get to the restaurant without paying it.
- Faxi is marked on some maps as Vatnsleysufoss, and some of them put it a mile or two further upstream. It is worth knowing that when you drive around here.
- Faxi lies between roads 35 and 358 (the turn to the parking lot is off road 35), about halfway from Geysir to the village of Reykholt.
