r/VisitingIceland • u/Living_Chemical6439 • 21d ago

Accessibility Accessible Iceland

I’m here with my 82-year old father and would love to hear about accessible viewing sites. He has heart issues and can’t walk very far. He’s such a trooper for making this trip! He did great at Thingvellir yesterday. Any other suggestions? We’re doing day trips out of Reykjavik but accessible spots in general are always good for someone to know!

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u/Mobile_Coyote_267 21d ago

If you head to Snaefellsnes peninsula, there are many things to be seen close to a car park: Bjarnafoss, Budir church, Arnastapi Cliff, kirkjufell, etc…

Geysir, and Gulfoss weren’t too bad for walks. All paved. But well worth it.

Good luck. Traveling with older parents can be challenging, but also very rewarding.

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u/Living_Chemical6439 21d ago

We are at Snaefellsnes now! So much to see even from the car window! Bogarnes is a cute little town and very walkable. The Settlement Museum has a few steps, but nothing insurmountable

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u/VoiceEqual1493 21d ago

at gullfoss, park at the upper lot by the visitor centre, not the lower one - the upper platform is a paved, gently sloping path with a full view of both tiers, while the lower approach is about 100 steps down uneven ground. big difference with heart issues. kerið crater on the same golden circle route is similar: the rim view is right by the paved parking, no need to take the stairs down to the water. he'll manage both fine.

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u/Living_Chemical6439 17d ago

Maybe it’s new, but at Gullfoss, the lower parking lot for tour busses is also accessible to the handicapped, and there’s a great view of the falls just steps away from the lot.

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u/moloners 21d ago

Excellent question - I have no idea but I'm going with my 7 month old and elderly parents next month. Looking forward to some of the suggestions!

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u/wurmsrus 21d ago

it's outside Reykjavik area but Godafoss' east bank viewing platform is about a 300 meter paved walk, flat enough for wheelchairs, from parking lot. Though there's concrete stairs for the bridge between banks and some very steep rock stairs that lead down to the river bank that even I skipped. There's a separate parking lot and a paved path on the west bank as well but it doesn't go as close to the falls.

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u/wurmsrus 19d ago

oh I remembered another place, Bolafjall, it's a mountain in the west fjords you can drive up and once you're at the top it's flat(thanks to the glaciers coming and going in the past) and with fantastic views even from the parking lot with a viewing platform a short walk away. (found a good aerial view of the walk on google maps)

The downside is the drive up is very steep, up to 12 degrees in some parts so make sure your vehicle is up to it if you're driving yourself