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Best waterfall destinations in Europe

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Plitvice Lakes National Park
Cascading Waterfalls and Turquoise Lakes
8.2
Plitvice Lakes cascades through sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls and travertine barriers. Mineral deposits keep building the natural dams that separate each turquoise pool. Visitors can follow wooden boardwalks that cross directly over the flowing water. A small boat also ferries visitors between the upper and lower lake groups.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Take a boat ride across pristine Lake Kozjak
  • 💦 See the breathtaking Veliki Slap, Croatia’s tallest waterfall
  • 🌊 Walk the wooden footbridges among turquoise lakes and falls
Lauterbrunnen
Valley of 72 waterfalls
9.1
Locals call Lauterbrunnen the Valley of 72 Waterfalls for the cliffs that ring its floor. Tolkien is said to have drawn on the steep walled valley when imagining Rivendell. Visitors can hike or cycle the flat valley floor past cascade after cascade. Sheer rock walls rise nearly a kilometre on either side.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic Valley of 72 Waterfalls trail
  • 🌊 Explore the glacier-fed Trümmelbach Falls inside a mountain
  • 💦 Admire the towering Staubbach Falls cascading nearby
Geiranger
Majestic Fjords and Dramatic Waterfalls
8.3
The Seven Sisters waterfall drops in seven separate streams down a cliff in Geirangerfjord. A second falls called the Suitor faces it from across the water. Visitors can view both from a small boat cruising beneath the cliffs. Cruise ships pass close enough for passengers to feel the spray.
Highlights:
  • 🦅 Drive the Eagle Road for breathtaking fjord views
  • 🥾 Hike the Fosseråsa Trail to Storsæter waterfall's base
  • 🚤 Take a scenic boat tour of UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord
Krka National Park
Waterfalls and Pristine Nature
7.6
Skradinski Buk cascades down a series of travertine steps inside Krka National Park. Old watermills once used the falling water to grind grain along the riverbank. Visitors can walk boardwalks that wind close beside the tiered pools. Swimming beneath the falls was allowed for decades before a 2021 ban.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Walk the wooden boardwalk trail through scenic river canyons
  • 🏊‍♀️ Swim in crystal-clear pools surrounded by lush forest
  • 💦 Marvel at Skradinski Buk’s cascading turquoise waterfalls
Jajce
Waterfalls, Fortress and Fairytale Views
7.0
A waterfall drops right in the centre of Jajce, where the Pliva River meets the Vrbas. The 20 metre falls sit only steps from the old town walls. Visitors can watch the water crash from a bridge above the gorge. Medieval fortifications and a royal tomb overlook the falls from the hillside.
Highlights:
  • 🕯️ Visit the historic underground Catacombs and burial chambers
  • 🏰 Explore the medieval Jajce Fortress with panoramic views
  • 🌊 Admire the stunning Pliva Waterfall at Jajce
Gullfoss Falls
Majestic golden cascade in Iceland
Gullfoss drops in two stages into a narrow canyon that seems to swallow the river. Farmer Sigridur Tomasdottir fought plans to dam the falls for hydropower in the early 1900s. Visitors can walk paths along both rims for views into the canyon. On sunny days, rainbows often arc across the spray.
Highlights:
  • ☕ Relax and dine at the cozy Gullfoss Visitor Center café
  • 🥾 Explore walking trails around Gullfoss canyon rim
  • 🌊 View the powerful two-tiered cascade from multiple platforms
Staubbach Fall
Switzerland’s Majestic Free-Falling Waterfall
Staubbach Fall drops nearly 300 metres in a single free fall above Lauterbrunnen village. Wind often scatters the water into fine spray before it reaches the ground. Visitors can walk a short trail from the village to a viewing platform below. Goethe wrote a poem about the falls after visiting in 1779.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley’s scenic trails nearby
  • 📸 Capture sunrise or sunset light on the cascading falls
  • 💧 Walk behind the waterfall for a thrilling mist experience
Trümmelbach Falls
Europe’s Largest Subterranean Waterfalls
Trummelbach Falls churns entirely inside a mountain, carved out by glacial meltwater. Ten separate cascades drop through narrow rock chambers before reaching daylight. Visitors can ride a funicular partway up, then climb stairs past each roaring tier. The falls drain most of the meltwater from the Jungfrau glaciers above.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Experience thundering meltwater from Jungfrau, Mönch, Eiger
  • 🚶‍♂️ Walk secured paths for close-up views of 10 cascades
  • 🛗 Descend via lift to Europe's largest underground waterfalls
Kravica Waterfall
Spectacular Cascade in Herzegovina
Kravica Waterfall spreads in a wide horseshoe across the Trebizat River near Ljubuski. Water drops about 25 metres into a natural pool ringed by trees. Visitors can swim in the pool during the warm summer months. Wooden walkways and a small beach area line the shore closest to the falls.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Capture the waterfall during sunrise when it’s most magical
  • 🚣‍♂️ Take a kayak or paddleboat to explore the surrounding river
  • 💦 Swim in the crystal-clear pools beneath the waterfall
Dettifoss
Majestic cascade plunges into crystal blue
Dettifoss carries more water than any other waterfall in Europe, fed by a glacial river. The falls drop into a canyon within Vatnajokull National Park. Visitors can view the thundering water from paths on either bank. Its opening scene appeared in the 2012 film Prometheus.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Capture sunrise over Dettifoss in early morning
  • 🗻 Explore the volcanic canyon surrounding Dettifoss
  • 🌊 Witness Dettifoss' roaring cascade from viewpoint
Krimml Waterfalls
Majestic cascades echo through alpine valleys
Krimml Waterfalls drops nearly 380 metres across three tiers, Austria's tallest falls. Meltwater from the Hohe Tauern glaciers feeds the cascade year round. Visitors can follow a trail that climbs alongside all three levels. Mist from the lower tier cools hikers even on warm summer days.
Highlights:
  • 🥐 Taste local Austrian pastries at a café
  • 🕰️ Explore the historic town center of Salzburg
  • 🏞️ Hike to the stunning Krimml Waterfalls
Rhine Falls
Majestic cascades echo through alpine valleys
Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen ranks as the largest plain waterfall in Europe by volume. A rocky pillar stands in the middle of the churning water. Visitors can take a small boat right up to the rock and climb a platform on top. Floodlights light up the falls after dark in summer.
Highlights:
  • 🕰️ Stroll through Schaffhausen's historic old town nearby
  • 🏞️ Climb observation deck, capture panoramic waterfall views
  • 🚤 Ride a boat to the base of Rhine Falls
Seljalandsfoss
Majestic cascade framed by misty cliffs
Seljalandsfoss drops about 60 metres over a cliff that curves back from the water. A path behind the falls lets visitors walk in a full circle around the cascade. Waterproof clothing helps against the constant spray on the walkway. Sunset light often turns the falling water gold from behind.
Highlights:
  • 🕳️ Discover Gljúfrabúi hidden waterfall inside a canyon
  • 🏞️ Hike the 2 km trail to Skógafoss, spray in your hair
  • 🌅 Walk behind Seljalandsfoss, capturing sunrise reflections
Skógafoss
Majestic cascade plunges into emerald canyon
Skogafoss plunges 60 metres over an old sea cliff left behind as the coastline retreated. Local legend tells of a Viking chest of treasure buried behind the falls. Visitors can climb a steep staircase to a platform level with the top. Rainbows appear in the spray on most sunny afternoons.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Explore the hidden basalt columns nearby
  • 🚤 Take a boat tour to see the glacier lagoon
  • 🌊 Stand beneath Skógafoss waterfall, feel mist
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