10 of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world

Often the journey to the falls is as memorable as the sight of the water itself, as you trek through forests or venture along rocky paths, listening to the roar long before the cascades themselves come into view.

Even with the anticipation, the moment you turn that final corner to face these magnificent wonders of nature always takes your breath away. So it’s not surprising that some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls feature high on travel wish lists – and there’s far more to see than the most famous waterfalls like Niagara. Here’s our pick of the best to see around the world.

Krimml, Austria

Krimml, Austria

The highest waterfalls in Europe, the Krimml Waterfalls in Austria, are less well-known than you might expect considering the thundering spectacle which awaits. The fifth highest waterfalls in the world, they drop 380 metres from their peak in a mighty sheet of white water, often plunging into a rainbow at the bottom.

Unlike some of the other beautiful waterfalls around the world, they’re also very accessible – no trekking through remote rainforest to reach this sight – and you can also experience the whole of this impressive force of nature as you follow the trail from the lowest falls to the highest point of the cascades.

Along the way, there are viewpoints to soak up the sight of pine-clad slopes through fairytale drifts of mist, as you listen to the roar of the crashing torrents of water. An unmissable part of any holiday to the Austrian Alps.

Gullfoss Falls, Iceland

Gullfoss Falls, Iceland

Elsewhere in Europe, the Gullfoss Falls in Iceland are firmly on the beaten track, one of the most famous waterfalls in the country and part of all Golden Circle tours leaving from Reykjavik, which also visit Thingvellir and the geysers at Geysir.

This crashing curtain of water tumbles into a canyon formed at the end of the last Ice Age, with part of the falls freezing during Iceland’s coldest months for a chance to see the waterfall suspended mid-torrent.

Gullfoss, which translates as Golden Falls, is actually made up of two separate drops which fall around 32 metres in total, with a first smaller fall before the final 21 metre cascade. Fed by water from the Langjökull glacier, the location is among many reasons it’s considered one of the most beautiful falls in the world, with the rugged landscape making the perfect backdrop for the astonishing force of the water – expect to feel the spray as you follow the paths around Gullfoss up to the viewing platform.

Plitvice Waterfalls, Croatia

Plitvice Waterfalls, Croatia

The loveliest and most famous waterfalls in Croatia are found in the country’s UNESCO-protected Plitvice Lakes National Park – unlike some of the other most beautiful waterfalls around the world, this isn’t a single cascade, with a total of around 90 falls connecting 16 sparkling turquoise lakes.

The highest of them, the Great Waterfall (or Veliki Slap), is formed by the nearby river, dropping 78 metres. In winter, it turns into a spectacular ice sculpture as the water almost completely freezes.

The nearby Sastavci Slap is among Plitvice’s most beautiful waterfalls, but it’s the sight of cascade after cascade which really makes this area so memorable, with many of the others created by water flowing from the park’s upper to lower lakes. There are trails throughout the park, and if you’re exploring Croatia’s Adriatic coast, it’s easy to explore this fairytale setting.

Steinsdalsfossen, Norway

Steinsdalsfossen, Norway

It’s not just the eye-catching scenery in this part of southern Norway which helps Steinsdalsfossen make the list of Europe’s most beautiful waterfalls – it’s the fact you can see this particular cascade from behind the water, as well as views from below and above.

Dropping 50 metres, the path along the riverbank leads behind Steinsdalsfossen and out to a viewpoint on the other side, looking out over the Steindalen valley as well as back onto the falls. Around an hour from Bergen and Voss on the Norwegian Scenic Route, it’s easy to visit on tours of Norway and the fjords, and as an added bonus, the area is accessible for all, including wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. If you don’t fancy heading behind the curtain of water, you can still admire it from the viewpoint at the front, as well as the nearby café.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the pre-colonial name of ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya' (the smoke that thunders) perfectly describes this force of nature bordering Zimbabwe and Zambia. A mile-wide curtain of water freefalls down the rockface for almost a quarter of a mile, causing mists that can be seen from up to 12 miles away.

Discovered by Livingstone in 1885, today it’s one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, an essential part of any safari holidays in Zimbabwe, where around 75% of Victoria Falls are to be found.

With the remainder of the falls in Zambia, it’s possible to gaze on the torrents of water from both sides of the border, as well as from various viewpoints in the national parks for a truly unforgettable spectacle.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

This astonishing natural wonder is not only one of the most famous waterfalls but also among the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, curving around the cliffs on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

One of the highlights of any South America holiday, a total of 275 separate waterfalls make up the complete curtain of cascades, which is both wider and taller than Niagara. And for the best experience, you should view them from both sides.

On the Brazilian side, you’ll find tranquil pools where birds and insects sparkle in the rainbow droplets of spray, before heading to one of the viewing platforms attached to the cliff where you can gaze across the astonishing length of the Iguazu Falls and its cloud of spray.

Meanwhile, on the Argentinian side, you can follow the trails leading through the national park to get closer to the base of the falls, to begin to experience the awesome power of the crashing water, which plunges 80m from its highest point.

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls, Venezuela

No list of the best waterfalls in the world would be complete without Angel Falls in Venezuela, the highest waterfall on earth. Dropping a breath-taking 979 metres in total, 807 metres of that is uninterrupted, pouring in a sheet of white water from the flat-topped mountain down into a cloud of mist as it crashes into the valley below.

Its indigenous name, Kerepakupai-merú, translates as ‘leap from the deepest place’ and as you see the water thundering down from almost a kilometre above, it could harder be more apt. One of the best times to visit the falls, in UNESCO-listed Canaima National Park, is between June and November to see them in full flow.

For the truly intrepid, the world’s highest single-drop waterfall is also found in South America. The Kaieteur Falls in Guyana are hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest, dropping 226 metres into a basin carved out among the trees by the force of the water.

Yosemite Falls, USA

Vernal Falls, USA

If you’re visiting California during your holiday in the USA, you’ll be spoiled for choice with several of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world within Yosemite National Park alone. But if we have to pick one, it would be Vernal Falls, which stands out for the rainbows which shimmer at the foot of the falls and the verdant green trees which surround the waterfalls throughout the year.

Dropping 97 metres on the Merced River, it lies just downstream of Nevada Fall, its taller neighbour at 180 metres. There are some wonderful views from Glacier Point but you can also follow the well-named Mist Trail, climbing a natural staircase to view both Vernal and Nevada Falls – be prepared for the spray to soak you in spring.

The falls are easy to visit on California tours, as well as during stays at Yosemite National Park, where you can also see a string of other waterfalls, including the majestic Yosemite Falls with its astonishing 739-metre drop.

Another strong contender for the list of the most beautiful falls in the world, these are at their most impressive in May/June as the snowmelt floods through, but dry up almost completely in August. There’s an accessible walkway to the foot of the falls, but the hike up is harder.

Niagara Falls, USA and Canada

Niagara Falls, USA and Canada

The second largest waterfall in the world, Niagara Falls is easily one of the planet’s most famous waterfalls, as well as being one of the most visited as it stretches along the border between Canada and the USA.

Made up of three falls – Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls – you can fly above Niagara for magnificent views of the entire falls, or head up the Skylon Tower for an alternative way to look down on the spectacle. No trip is complete without sailing towards the crashing white water on one of the tour boats though.

Then there’s a chance to enjoy a unique view of the falls from below and behind, at the Journey Behind the Falls attraction; after taking the lift down, a short tunnel leads to two outdoor observation decks and two portals to experience another side to Niagara.

The water itself passes over the falls at almost 70mph, flowing from four of the Great Lakes and feeding another, before eventually reaching the Atlantic.

Sutherland Falls, Fiordland, New Zealand

Sutherland Falls, Fiordland, New Zealand

One of the most remote as well as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, Sutherland Falls in New Zealand are set in the wildly rugged mountains in Fiordland National Park on the South Island. The UNESCO World Heritage site, not far from Milford Sound, takes around four days to reach on foot by the Milford Track, although there are shorter four-hour trails, while you can also fly to the falls for an easier way to enjoy the spectacular views.

With three levels, dropping 580 metres in total, they bear the name of Scottish explorer Donald Sutherland, the first European to see them in 1880 – their Maori name is Te Tau-tea.

But it’s the setting which makes these falls so spectacular, with water flowing from snow-fed Lake Quill in its rock basin surrounded by jagged peaks, before the white thread of the water drops down towards the trees below. An image which seems more like a storybook than even one of the most unspoiled corners of New Zealand.

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