Famous Iceland Filming Locations: From Game of Thrones to Hollywood Blockbusters

Iceland has become one of the world’s most recognizable filming destinations. Its glaciers, volcanic deserts, waterfalls, and black sand beaches create dramatic landscapes that filmmakers use to represent alien planets, fantasy kingdoms, and remote wilderness.

Major productions filmed in Iceland include Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Thor: The Dark World, Batman Begins, Oblivion, and Stranger Things. Music videos from artists like Justin Bieber have also helped turn some locations into famous travel destinations.

Many of these cinematic landscapes are accessible to visitors through guided excursions. If you want to explore the same places seen on screen, you can discover them through popular Iceland tours that visit waterfalls, glaciers, and coastal landscapes used in films and television.

This guide explains the most famous Iceland filming locations, where they appear on screen, and how travelers can visit them.

Iceland played a major role in portraying “Beyond the Wall” in HBO’s Game of Thrones. The country’s glaciers, lava fields, and rugged mountains helped create the harsh northern world of the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings.

Many of these locations are now popular stops on South Coast and West Iceland tours.

The most famous Game of Thrones filming locations include:

• Kirkjufell mountain – featured in scenes north of the Wall
• Þingvellir National Park – used for the Bloody Gate and Eyrie paths
• Svínafellsjökull glacier – filming site for icy wilderness scenes
• Reynisfjara black sand beach – used for dramatic coastal scenes

These landscapes are not studio sets. They are real places travelers can visit while exploring Iceland.

Yes. Kirkjufell mountain, located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, appears in Game of Thrones Season 7 and Season 8.

The mountain is known in the series as “Arrowhead Mountain.” It appears during scenes where the Hound and the Brotherhood Without Banners travel beyond the Wall.

Kirkjufell is one of Iceland’s most photographed landmarks. The mountain rises 463 meters above sea level and sits beside Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, creating a striking landscape often used in travel photography.

Visitors typically reach Kirkjufell through Snæfellsnes Peninsula tours or self-drive routes from Reykjavík.

Reynisfjara beach, located near the village of Vík on Iceland’s South Coast, is one of the country’s most famous filming locations.

The beach is recognizable for its:

• black volcanic sand
• towering basalt columns
• powerful Atlantic waves
• sea stacks known as Reynisdrangar

These dramatic features make the location ideal for fantasy and sci-fi settings.

Reynisfjara appears in several productions, including:

• Game of Thrones
• Star Wars: Rogue One
• Noah (2014)

The beach is also one of the most visited natural attractions in Iceland and is included on many South Coast tours departing from Reykjavík.

The waterfall featured in Stranger Things Season 4 is Háifoss, one of Iceland’s largest and most powerful waterfalls.

Skógafoss stands approximately 122 meters (400 feet) tall and plunges down a great canyon wall. The waterfall is in the highlands in South Iceland, near the volcano Hekla.

The remote setting and rugged cliffs make it a natural backdrop for dramatic scenes.

Unlike some of Iceland’s more famous waterfalls, Háifoss is relatively remote and is usually accessed via a gravel road that may require a 4x4 vehicle, especially outside the summer season. Guided tours are available and highly recommended.

Our Into the Upside Down tour visits Háifoss, its neighbour Hjálparfoss waterfall which is an incredibly picturesque double waterfall, the Þjórsárdalur valley and the Commonwealth Farm, another famous filming location used in Game of Thrones.

Skógafoss waterfall, located on Iceland’s South Coast along the Ring Road, is one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks and a frequent filming location.

The waterfall drops 60 meters (197 feet) over a wide cliff formed by ancient coastal cliffs. Because visitors can walk directly to its base, Skógafoss is one of the most accessible large waterfalls in Iceland.

Several major productions have filmed here, including:

• Thor: The Dark World (2013) – scenes set on the realm of Asgard were filmed near the waterfall
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) – the waterfall appears during the Iceland travel sequences
• Numerous travel documentaries, music videos, and commercial shoots

Skógafoss is also located close to several other cinematic landscapes on the South Coast, including Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and the Sólheimasandur plane wreck.

Because of its accessibility and dramatic setting, Skógafoss is a regular stop on South Coast sightseeing tours, making it one of the easiest Iceland filming locations for travelers to visit.

The Sólheimasandur plane crash site became globally famous after appearing in Justin Bieber’s 2015 music video “I’ll Show You.”

The aircraft wreckage is a U.S. Navy DC-3 plane that crash-landed on the black sand desert in 1973. All crew members survived, and the plane was abandoned on the remote volcanic plain.

Today, the wreck is one of Iceland’s most photographed locations.

Important facts for visitors:

• Located between Skógafoss and Vík on Iceland’s South Coast
• Approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) walk from the parking area
• Accessible year-round depending on weather conditions
• Shuttle service is available from the parking lot
• From our Mountain Guides base camp at Mýrdalsjökull you can also join ATV tours, Buggy tours or an E-bike tour that stop at the plane wreck.

Many travelers visit the site during South Coast sightseeing tours that include nearby waterfalls and beaches.

The “I’ll Show You” music video also helped showcase some of Iceland’s most famous landscapes. Several recognizable locations appear throughout the video, including:

Sólheimasandur plane wreck – the abandoned DC-3 aircraft on a black sand desert

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – known for its basalt columns and powerful Atlantic waves

Skógafoss waterfall – one of Iceland’s largest and most photographed waterfalls

Seljalandsfoss waterfall – famous for the walking path behind the waterfall

Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon – a winding moss-covered canyon in South Iceland and to be fair, one of Iceland’s most difficult placenames

After the video’s release in 2015, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon saw a significant surge in visitors, demonstrating how popular media can quickly turn remote Icelandic landscapes into global travel destinations.

Iceland’s dramatic landscapes have appeared in dozens of international productions. The country’s glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, and volcanic deserts often stand in for alien planets, Arctic environments, and fantasy worlds.

Major studios choose Iceland because its scenery looks cinematic without heavy visual effects. Within a few hours’ drive, filmmakers can capture glaciers, black sand beaches, geothermal landscapes, and rugged coastlines.

Here are some of the most notable movies filmed in Iceland.

Science Fiction Films Filmed in Iceland

Iceland’s landscapes are frequently used to represent other planets or distant worlds.

Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan filmed several scenes at Svínafellsjökull glacier, part of Vatnajökull National Park. The glacier landscape was used to represent the icy planet explored by the astronauts.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Scenes set on the planet Eadu were filmed at Reynisfjara black sand beach, Dyrhólaey cliffs, and the Mýrdalssandur plains on Iceland’s South Coast.

Oblivion (2013)

The Tom Cruise science-fiction film used Icelandic landscapes to portray a post-apocalyptic Earth. Scenes were filmed around Hrossaborg crater in North Iceland.

Prometheus (2012)

Ridley Scott filmed the opening sequence of the movie at Dettifoss waterfall and other locations in North Iceland, creating the mysterious alien landscape seen at the beginning of the film.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Parts of the film’s opening scene were also shot at Dettifoss waterfall and surrounding lava fields, which doubled as an alien planet.

Fantasy and Superhero Films Shot in Iceland

Iceland’s rugged landscapes are also popular for fantasy and comic-book films.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The volcanic landscapes of Iceland were used to represent parts of Asgard, the mythical world from the Marvel universe.

Batman Begins (2005)

Scenes showing Bruce Wayne training with the League of Shadows were filmed on Vatnajökull glacier, one of Europe’s largest ice caps.

Noah (2014)

Director Darren Aronofsky used Iceland’s volcanic terrain, waterfalls, and glaciers to portray the ancient landscapes of the biblical story.

Adventure and Travel Films Filmed in Iceland

Some productions feature Iceland as a recognizable destination rather than disguising it as another world.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

This film includes several memorable Iceland scenes, including locations near Skógafoss waterfall, Seyðisfjörður, and other parts of South Iceland.

Tomb Raider (2018)

The reboot starring Alicia Vikander filmed scenes around Vatnajökull glacier and Iceland’s south coast.

James Bond Movies Filmed in Iceland

Iceland has hosted multiple James Bond productions, particularly around glacier lagoons.

Die Another Day (2002)

The famous ice palace scenes were filmed at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most spectacular natural attractions.

A View to a Kill (1985)

Glacier sequences in the film were also shot in Iceland.

Television productions have also used Iceland’s landscapes extensively.

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

Several seasons were filmed in Iceland. Locations such as Kirkjufell mountain, Þingvellir National Park, and Svínafellsjökull glacier were used to represent the lands north of the Wall.

True Detective: Night Country (2024)

Although set in Alaska, much of the HBO series was filmed in Iceland, where the country’s winter landscapes and remote terrain helped recreate the Arctic setting.

Stranger Things

Season 5 memorable finale featured an epic shot of Háifoss waterfall. No spoilers, but we too believe.

Iceland offers an unusual combination of landscapes within short travel distances.

Within a few hours of Reykjavík, filmmakers can capture:

• glaciers and ice caves
• volcanic deserts
• black sand beaches
• geothermal areas
• massive waterfalls
• lava fields

According to Film in Iceland, the country has hosted over 100 international productions in recent decades. Government incentives and experienced local film crews also make it attractive for international studios.

For travelers, this means many famous filming locations are accessible on day tours from Reykjavík.

Yes. Many of Iceland’s most famous filming locations are located along popular sightseeing routes such as the South Coast, Golden Circle, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We also offer a special Into the Upside Down tour which visits famous filming locations from Stranger Things and Game of Thrones and hiking tours such as Off the Beaten Path that stop at similar popular filming locations.

Guided tours allow visitors to reach these landscapes safely while learning about the films shot there.

Common stops on Iceland filming location tours include:

• Skógafoss waterfall
• Reynisfjara beach
• Sólheimasandur plane wreck
• glacier viewpoints
• lava fields used in science-fiction films

Travelers interested in visiting these landscapes can explore popular Iceland tours that include many of the same locations featured in films and television.

The South Coast of Iceland contains the highest concentration of famous filming locations.

Within a few hours of Reykjavík, visitors can see:

• Skógafoss waterfall
• Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Reynisfjara beach
• Sólheimasandur plane wreck
• glacier landscapes used in Interstellar

This region’s combination of waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, and coastal scenery makes it one of the most popular areas for filmmakers and travelers alike.

Because many locations sit directly along Iceland’s Ring Road, they are accessible on day tours or multi-day trips.

Most famous filming locations in Iceland are accessible throughout the year, but weather conditions may affect travel plans.

Winter visitors may encounter:

• snow and ice on hiking paths
• limited daylight hours
• road closures during storms

However, many major locations such as Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and Kirkjufell remain open year-round.

Guided tours are often recommended during winter months because local guides monitor weather and road conditions closely.

Most popular filming sites do not require a 4x4 vehicle.

Locations along the South Coast are accessible via Iceland’s main roads, weather permitting.

However, some remote highland filming areas used in movies are reachable only during summer with specialized vehicles.

Travelers who want to avoid planning logistics can explore these landscapes through guided excursions from Reykjavík.

For many travelers, visiting Iceland’s filming locations adds another dimension to exploring the country.

Standing in these landscapes allows visitors to recognize scenes from:

• epic fantasy series
• blockbuster films
• viral music videos

At the same time, Iceland’s scenery often feels even more dramatic in person than on screen.

The waterfalls roar louder, the glaciers appear larger, and the black sand beaches stretch farther than any camera frame can capture.

Iceland’s cinematic landscapes attract filmmakers and travelers alike. From the icy wilderness seen in Game of Thrones to waterfalls featured in Stranger Things, many of these famous locations are easy to reach while exploring the country.

Whether you’re a film enthusiast or simply curious to see these landscapes firsthand, Iceland offers the rare opportunity to walk through real places that have appeared in global productions.

To start planning your trip, explore popular Iceland tours that visit waterfalls, beaches, glaciers, and other locations used in films and television.