Whoever said you shouldn’t go chasing waterfalls has clearly never been to these dazzling destinations.
Each of our five favorite waterfall countries is overflowing with cascades of all shapes, sizes, and surroundings. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
1) Croatia
Social media helped Croatia skyrocket as a destination, due in large part to the out-of-this-world, waterfall-strewn national parks that dot its landscape.
And those images of waterfall-on-waterfall landscapes that populate your Instagram feed are even more magnificent in person when you can feel the mist, hear the rushing streams, and stroll past the lavender and wildflowers surrounding the walking paths in the parks.
Chasing Waterfalls in Croatia
- Krka National Park: Easily accessible from Zadar, the part of Krka most densely packed with waterfalls has twelve in the space of 450 m (over 1,400 feet!). Swim at the base of the main falls, Roski Slap.
- Plitvice National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Plitvice is bigger than Krka. The only downside to water-lovers is that you can’t swim anywhere within the park.
Beyond the two National Parks, you’ll find Kotli Waterfall tucked away near the city of Pula in northern Croatia. The old watermill here is the main attraction, along with beautiful stone houses of the charming small town. Kotli is part of the ‘7 waterfalls of Mirna River’ trail, so waterfall-lovers will have their hands full in the area.
If you have the option, try to visit in the off-season. For example, October still has mild weather but with a fraction of the crowds that you’ll find during the summer months.
2) Australia
When you think of Australia, you typically picture the vast outback full of red dirt and kangaroos, not lush green forests full of stunning cascades. But, all across this massive country there are hundreds of beautiful waterfalls, from the bamboo forests beside the mindblowing Great Ocean Road to the rainforests of New South Wales.
Chasing Waterfalls in Australia
- Waterfall Way (NSW): Drive along the coast a few hours north of Sydney to reach Coff’s Harbour. From their, Waterfall Way runs west for over 100 miles and is home to stunning Dangar Falls, Egor Falls, and Wollomombi Falls, among others.
- Along the Great Ocean Road (VIC): The waterfalls along the interior of the Great Ocean Road are incredible by themselves. The fact that they sit along one of the most beautiful drives in the world is just a bonus. Erskine, Triplet, Hopetoun, and Kalimna waterfalls are favorites.
- Wallaman Falls (QLD): Seeing Australia’s highest permanent single drop waterfall in Queensland is worth the trip north.
- Ellenborough Falls (NSW): Over 400 feet tall and close to beloved Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in NSW.
3) Iceland
There’s something very ethereal about Iceland–from its diamond ice beaches and sprawling glaciers to its powerful waterfalls of all shapes and sizes. In fact, it’s the waterfalls that make up the majority of the stops along the typical road trip route that travelers take through the country.
What makes Iceland’s waterfalls special is the same thing that makes this whole country magical: It doesn’t quite feel like Earth.
And it’s those out-of-this-world surroundings that raise Iceland’s waterfalls to another level.
Chasing Waterfalls in Iceland
- Gullfoss: The main attraction and nearby to very active geysers.
- Seljalandsfoss: You can walk behind this towering wall of water–the pictures you typically see of Iceland waterfalls are from here.
- Skógafoss waterfall: It’s worth the hike to the top.
- Dettifoss: Competes with Rhine Falls to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
4) Norway
Like everything else in Norway, the waterfalls here are on a scale all their own. In fact, ten of the world’s 30 tallest waterfalls are located in this Scandinavian country. Which means they’re not hard to find.
Simply driving through the middle of this country in the summer will have you cruising beside massive peaks, where lines of water cut their way down thousands of feet making paths from the melting snow to the vast fjords.
Chasing Waterfalls in Norway
- Vettisfossen: Has a single freefall drop of over 900 feet, Norway’s highest. It was also voted the most beautiful waterfall in Norway by locals in a Norwegian newspaper
- Langfoss: This waterfall cascades nearly 2,000 feet into the Åkrafjord.
- The Seven Sisters (“De syv søstre”): Located near Norway’s most famous fjord, Geiranger, are seven separate falls side by side that look like flowing hair.
- Tvindefossen: North of Voss, Tvindefossen may not be as tall as the rest, but this waterfall cascades down the dark rocks of the cliff face. Being surrounded by lush greenery makes it one of the most unique and beautiful.
5) The United States
The best waterfalls in the United States are just as diverse as everything else in the beautiful mishmash of the 50 states. From world-famous Niagara Falls in New York to Hawaii’s tropical cascades in bamboo forests, you could spend years enjoying the best of the U.S. waterfall scene.
Chasing Waterfalls in The United States
- Alaska: Nugget Falls, formed from a glacial creek, is a two-tiered waterfall at the end of the stunning Alaskan Mendenhall Glacier.
- California’s Yosemite National Park is home to Bridal Veil Falls, a stunning 620-foot plume of water that is made all the more incredible by the rest of Yosemite’s natural beauty.
- California’s Big Sur (a favorite road trip stop for travelers on Highway 1) is home to McWay Falls which plummets 80 feet directly into the Pacific Ocean.
- Niagara Falls: This waterfall speaks for itself.
- Hawaii: Each of the Hawaiian Islands is rich in waterfall landscapes, but the best is arguably Akaka Falls on the Big Island.
- Arizona: Havasu Falls in Supai, Arizona is the stuff waterfall photo dreams are made of.
Ready to go chasing waterfalls around the world? Search flights on Skyscanner to find your perfect waterfall wonderland. 👇
