Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland you can visit

When Game of Thrones needed snowfields, glaciers, lava caves and wild black beaches for the lands north of the Wall, the production came to Iceland. From the second season onwards, crews filmed here several times, mostly in winter, and the country's landscapes became some of the most recognisable backdrops in the series.

The nice thing about Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland is that they are not studio lots. They are national parks, lava fields, glaciers and beaches that anyone can visit. Nothing from the sets has been left behind, so you will not find props or signs saying where a scene was shot, but you will recognise the landscapes immediately, and they are spectacular in their own right.

This guide covers the locations that are widely documented and easy to reach: Þingvellir on the Golden Circle, Grjótagjá and Dimmuborgir by Lake Mývatn, Svínafellsjökull in the Vatnajökull area, Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey on the South Coast, and Kirkjufell on Snæfellsnes. For each one we explain what was filmed there in general terms, how far it is from Reykjavík and what to keep in mind when you visit.

Why Iceland became the land beyond the Wall

Iceland offers something that is hard to find elsewhere in Europe: huge open spaces with almost no trees, buildings or roads in the frame, real glaciers that can be reached by vehicle, and volcanic terrain that looks very different from the green landscapes used for the southern kingdoms. In winter, low sun and snow give that cold, desolate look the northern storylines needed.

Over the seasons, the production used locations in South Iceland, the north around Lake Mývatn and the west. A few places also stood in for other parts of the map, most famously the gorge at Þingvellir. Many of the most spectacular snow scenes were shot on or near glaciers that are not open to casual visitors, so this guide sticks to places where you can walk, look and take photos safely.

• Þingvellir National Park (Golden Circle): about 45 minutes from Reykjavík
• Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey (South Coast): about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík
• Kirkjufell (Snæfellsnes): about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík
• Svínafellsjökull (Vatnajökull area): roughly 4.5 hours from Reykjavík
• Grjótagjá and Dimmuborgir (Lake Mývatn): about an hour and a quarter from Akureyri, around 6 hours from Reykjavík

Þingvellir National Park: the gorge on the road to the Eyrie

Þingvellir is the closest Game of Thrones location to Reykjavík and the easiest to include in a trip. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, first met in the year 930. It lies in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, and the walls of that rift form long, dramatic gorges.

What was filmed here

The main path through Almannagjá, the big gorge on the western edge of the rift, was used in season 4 for scenes in the Vale, as Arya and the Hound travel towards the Eyrie. Other scenes from the same season were filmed in the wider Þingvellir area. Standing between the rock walls, it is easy to see why the location was chosen: the gorge feels like a natural gateway.

Visiting Þingvellir

A paved path runs through Almannagjá from the visitor centre at Hakið down towards the old assembly site, with the Öxarárfoss waterfall a short walk away. The walk is easy and works in all seasons, though paths can be icy in winter. Plan at least an hour, more if you want to walk to the waterfall or visit the visitor centre exhibition. Our Þingvellir National Park guide has more detail.

Because Þingvellir is the first stop on the Golden Circle, you can see it together with the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall in one relaxed day. A private Golden Circle tour from your hotel in Reykjavík is the simplest way to do it.

Lake Mývatn: Grjótagjá and Dimmuborgir

The volcanic area around Lake Mývatn in North Iceland was used for several season 3 scenes north of the Wall. It is far from Reykjavík, but if your trip includes Akureyri or the north, two locations are within a few minutes of each other.

Grjótagjá cave

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave with a pool of clear, geothermally heated water inside a fissure. It is where the scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte in the cave in season 3 was filmed, which made it one of the most visited Game of Thrones spots in the country. The cave is small and the entrance is low and rocky, so watch your head and your footing.

Dimmuborgir lava field

Dimmuborgir, on the eastern side of the lake, is a maze of twisted lava pillars, arches and caves formed during an eruption thousands of years ago. It was used in season 3 for the wildlings' camp. Marked trails of different lengths start from the car park, from a short loop of a few minutes to longer walks through the formations. Stay on the trails: the lava and the vegetation are fragile.

Nearby you can also walk up the huge Hverfjall crater and visit the steaming Hverir geothermal field. Our Lake Mývatn guide covers the whole area, and our Akureyri guide explains how to use the town as a base. If you are travelling straight from the airport, see our private transfer from Keflavík Airport to Mývatn.

Svínafellsjökull: the glacier beyond the Wall

Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest ice cap, just west of the Skaftafell area in Vatnajökull National Park. Its crevassed ice tongue, framed by steep mountains, was used in season 2 for scenes north of the Wall around the Fist of the First Men. The same glacier also appears in other films, including Interstellar and Batman Begins, which we cover in our guide to the Interstellar, Batman Begins and Star Wars locations.

A short side road off the Ring Road leads to a car park, and from there a path takes you to a viewpoint over the glacier tongue and its lagoon. You can see the ice up close without stepping onto it. Never walk on the glacier itself without a certified glacier guide: the ice is full of crevasses and moves constantly. Guided glacier walks in the area start near Skaftafell; book them directly with a licensed operator.

Access to the viewpoint can change with conditions on the slopes around the glacier, so follow signs and any closures on site. Svínafellsjökull is roughly 4.5 hours' drive from Reykjavík, which makes it a very long day trip, but it sits right on the way to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Many visitors combine both with a night in the area; see our Keflavík Airport to Skaftafell transfer.

Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey: the South Coast in season 7

The black sand beach at Reynisfjara and the headland of Dyrhólaey, near the village of Vík, are among the most dramatic places on Iceland's South Coast. Both are widely listed as locations for season 7 scenes at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, the Night's Watch castle on the coast. The basalt columns, sea stacks and wide black beaches are easy to recognise.

Visiting Reynisfjara safely

Reynisfjara is beautiful but dangerous. Unpredictable sneaker waves can run far up the beach without warning and pull people into very cold, rough water. Stay well back from the waterline, never turn your back on the sea and follow the warning signs at the car park. Our Reynisfjara safety guide explains what to watch for.

Visiting Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a short drive west of Reynisfjara. From the upper car park by the lighthouse you get wide views along the coast, and in summer you may see puffins on the cliffs. Parts of the headland can be closed in late spring during the bird nesting season, and the road to the top is narrow and steep, so check the current access before you go.

Both places fit easily into a South Coast day from Reykjavík together with Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. See our South Coast day trip guide and our Vík travel guide.

9–10 hours · private

South Coast & Vík

Seljalandsfoss · Skógafoss · Reynisfjara · Vík

Car

1–4 people

120,000 kr

Van

5–7 people

142,000 kr

Book this tour

Kirkjufell on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Kirkjufell, the steep, cone-shaped mountain by the village of Grundarfjörður, is probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It appears in later seasons of Game of Thrones in scenes set north of the Wall, where fans know it as the arrowhead-shaped mountain.

The classic view is from beside the small Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, a few minutes' walk from the car park on the other side of the road. The view is best in calm weather, when the mountain is reflected in the water around it. Climbing Kirkjufell itself is steep and exposed, and there have been serious accidents on the mountain, so leave the climb to experienced mountaineers with a local guide and enjoy the view from below.

Kirkjufell is about 2.5 hours' drive from Reykjavík and is one of the highlights of a Snæfellsnes day trip, together with black beaches, lava fields and fishing villages. Our Snæfellsnes day trip guide and the private Snæfellsnes tour cover the whole peninsula. For a stay in the area, see the Keflavík Airport to Grundarfjörður transfer.

How to plan a Game of Thrones trip in Iceland

The locations are spread across the country, so it helps to group them by region rather than trying to see everything at once. A few realistic options:

• One easy day from Reykjavík: Þingvellir on the Golden Circle, with Geysir and Gullfoss.
• One long day from Reykjavík: the South Coast with Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey, plus waterfalls on the way.
• Another long day from Reykjavík: Snæfellsnes with Kirkjufell.
• Two days or more in the south: continue past Vík to Svínafellsjökull and Jökulsárlón, staying overnight near Skaftafell or Höfn.
• A trip to the north: fly or travel to Akureyri, then visit Grjótagjá, Dimmuborgir and the rest of the Mývatn area.

When to go

Most of the northern scenes were filmed in winter, so if you want the snowy look you will need to visit between roughly November and March. Days are short then and road conditions change quickly, which is a good argument for letting someone else drive. In summer, the same places are green, the days are long and roads are easier, but the landscapes look very different from the screen. Autumn and spring are a good compromise.

Respect the places

Many of these locations are protected nature areas. Stay on marked paths, do not stack stones or move rocks, take all your rubbish with you, and check the rules before flying a drone, because several sites and national parks restrict them. These small habits help keep the places as you saw them on screen.

Seeing the locations with a private driver

With a private tour or transfer, you travel at your own pace and can spend longer at the places that matter to you. Our private tours are priced per vehicle, not per person, and start with hotel pick-up in Reykjavík. If you want a specific location added on the way, such as Dyrhólaey on a South Coast day, tell us when you book and we will tell you what fits in the day.

• Fixed price per car (Tesla or similar) for 1 to 4 people, or per van (Mercedes Vito) for 5 to 7
• Groups of 8 to 16: minibus on request via WhatsApp at +354 777 3949
• Door-to-door transfers from Keflavík Airport or Reykjavík, same price day and night
• Stops on the way if agreed in advance
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up

See all our routes and fixed prices, or start with the airport transfer page.

Frequently asked questions

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