There’s a reason why some of the world’s most iconic movie scenes were filmed in Iceland. From sweeping lava fields and hot spring lagoons to black sand beaches and dramatic canyons, Iceland’s landscapes are as cinematic as they come: wild, raw, and strangely familiar to fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and epic adventures. So here is our Top 10 Filming Locations in Iceland, take a look!
Movie & TV Sites You Can Visit in Iceland
Over the last two decades, our country has become a dream location for major international productions. Directors looking for untouched, “out-of-this-world” scenery have turned to Iceland again and again. Whether its dragons soaring above Þingvellir in Game of Thrones, intergalactic battles filmed near Vík in Star Wars, or James Bond racing across glacial ice, these scenes have helped showcase Iceland to millions of viewers across the globe.
But these aren’t just places to watch on screen: they’re places you can actually visit. And walking through them, you’ll quickly see why filmmakers fell in love.
At EastWest, we’ve designed our tours to connect you with Iceland’s natural wonders (many of which you may already have “visited” without knowing, while watching your favourite movies or shows).
Whether you’re a die-hard movie buff or just love incredible scenery, here are 10 must-see movie locations in Iceland — and where you can walk in the footsteps of your favourite characters.
Thingvellir National Park
Featured in: Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World.
This UNESCO site in Iceland served as the Bloody Gate in Game of Thrones, the narrow pass into the Vale of Arryn (where Arya and The Hound have a tense encounter with Lysa Arryn’s guards).
It also appears in Thor: The Dark World, where otherworldly landscapes are needed to portray the realms beyond Earth. The real-world site is equally impressive: a UNESCO World Heritage area where tectonic plates drift apart and Iceland’s first parliament met over 1,000 years ago.
A top stop on our Golden Circle tour, Thingvellir is a must for film lovers and nature fans alike.
Vík and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Featured in: Star Wars: Rogue One, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Noah.
One of the most famous black sand beaches in Iceland, Reynisfjara is instantly recognisable with its basalt columns, crashing Atlantic waves, and eerie sea stacks.
>In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it stood in for the storm-lashed planet Eadu, where the rebels crash land.
>In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, it features as part of the dreamlike journey across Iceland, adding texture and atmosphere to the adventure.
But perhaps most dramatically, Reynisfjara appeared in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, starring Russell Crowe. Its apocalyptic look (with black sand, towering cliffs, and turbulent sea) made it the perfect backdrop for a reimagined biblical world on the edge of destruction.
No matter what story it tells on screen, Reynisfjara always steals the scene, and it’s a highlight of our South Coast tour.
Skógafoss Waterfall
Featured in: Thor: The Dark World, Walter Mitty.
This mighty waterfall appears in Walter Mitty when Ben Stiller jumps into the unknown (quite literally), diving from a helicopter in a dramatic scene filmed next to Skógafoss.
In Thor: The Dark World, it helps create the sweeping natural grandeur of Asgard’s realms. Whether you’re chasing Marvel action or introspective adventure, Skógafoss delivers cinematic impact with thunderous mist and mythic beauty.
It’s an essential stop on any Iceland South Coast itinerary.
Snæfellsjökull Glacier & Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Featured in: Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Game of Thrones.
A legendary location in literature and film, Snæfellsjökull volcano inspired Jules Verne’s novel and its 2008 adaptation.
>Just along the coast, you’ll find Kirkjufell, the famously photogenic mountain that appeared in Game of Thrones as “Arrowhead Mountain”, seen in visions by the Three-Eyed Raven.
Scenes from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty were also filmed around Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður, showcasing the peninsula’s dreamlike charm.
It’s one of the signature stops on our Snæfellsnes tour, where we share not only the scenery but the stories that make this region one of Iceland’s most cinematic and unforgettable.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Featured in: Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You”.
This serpentine canyon in southeast Iceland starred in Game of Thrones as part of the journey beyond the Wall.
>Its winding cliffs and emerald green moss also appear in The Witcher as part of Geralt’s travels through otherworldly lands.
>And yes, it’s the very canyon where Justin Bieber runs shirtless in the “I’ll Show You” music video, sparking a flood of selfies and global attention.
>Film crews love it for its natural drama and intimate scale and is often searched as one of the most Instagrammable places in Iceland.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Featured in: James Bond: Die Another Day, Tomb Raider.
In Die Another Day, James Bond races across a frozen version of Jökulsárlón in a high-speed car chase over drifting icebergs.
The same lagoon appears in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, lending a surreal, icy beauty to Arctic scenes.
This glacial lake, with its sapphire-blue waters and slow-drifting icebergs, gives directors a real-world location that looks like CGI. It is one of the best film locations in Iceland.
Dettifoss Waterfall
Featured in: Prometheus.
This immense and thunderous waterfall opens Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, where an alien being sacrifices himself to seed life on Earth. The power and scale of Dettifoss (Europe’s most powerful waterfall) sets a tone of awe and cosmic mystery. It’s the perfect example of how Iceland’s raw nature becomes a character in its own right. A top destination on Ring Road itineraries.
Lake Mývatn & Hverir Geothermal Area
Featured in: Game of Thrones, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
The Hverir geothermal area, with its bubbling mud pools and steam vents, appeared in Rogue One as part of the mineral planet Jedha.
>Just nearby, Game of Thrones filmed several key scenes, including those in the caves where Jon Snow and Ygritte find shelter. The otherworldly textures of Mývatn make it a go-to for sci-fi and fantasy settings.
It’s a highlight of North Iceland’s film locations and geothermal tours.
Dyrhólaey Arch
Featured in: Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The dramatic stone arch of Dyrhólaey rises above Iceland’s southern coast like a natural fortress. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it was part of the windswept cliffs of Ahch-To, the hidden island where Luke Skywalker lives in exile. The remote and haunting scenery helped capture the mysticism of that final scene.
With panoramic views over the Atlantic and black beaches below, Dyrhólaey delivers the kind of epic scale filmmakers dream of.
Vatnajökull National Park
Featured in: Interstellar, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Batman Begins, Tomb Raider, Game of Thrones.
This immense national park (home to Europe’s largest glacier covering 14% of the country) has played everything from the ice planet in Interstellar to the glacier crossing in Batman Begins.
>In Walter Mitty, it provides the backdrop for a skateboard ride through epic mountain scenery, and Game of Thrones used its frozen terrain to depict the harsh lands north of the Wall.
Filmmakers return again and again for one reason: there’s nowhere else like it on Earth.
Plan Your Own Cinematic Journey
At EastWest Iceland, we don’t just take you to the sights: we help you explore Iceland like in the movies. Many of these filming locations are part of our Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula tours. All of them are guided by passionate locals!
Want to feel like you’re in a movie? You’re in the right place!
Explore the top 10 filming locations in Iceland from Game of Thrones, Star Wars, James Bond and more. Visit epic movie sites with EastWest guided tours.
