Tourist Numbers Soar at Háifoss Following TV Appearance

2026-02-28 - 23:07

The Icelandic waterfall Háifoss has seen a dramatic rise in interest after featuring in the final episode of the TV series Stranger Things. The cascade, located near the famous Hekla volcano in South Iceland, appeared in a key scene watched by more than 100 million viewers on Netflix. Following the broadcast at the start of the year, online searches for the site surged by 5,000%, RÚV reports. What's This Story? Visitor interest in Iceland’s Háifoss waterfall has surged by 5,000% after it featured in the finale of Stranger Things. Around 1,700 people have already visited since February, despite winter conditions and a closed access road. Local authorities plan to build a viewing platform, safety railings and improved facilities ahead of a potential summer tourism boom. Skógafoss waterfall. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review. Despite winter conditions and a road officially marked as closed, visitors were still arriving when reporters attended the site. Many said they had discovered the waterfall through the series. Since early February, about 1,700 people have travelled there, according to the Icelandic Tourist Board. Local authorities are now preparing for what could be a significant summer influx. Haraldur Þór Jónsson, head of the South Iceland municipality Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur, said safety measures were urgently needed. He warned visitor numbers could reach between 100,000 and 200,000 this summer.