The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Iceland filming locations road trip

In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), directed by and starring Ben Stiller, a daydreaming photo editor finally leaves his desk and sets off on a real adventure. The story takes him to Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas, but much of what you see on screen was filmed in Iceland, which stood in for several of those places.

The film's images of empty roads, colourful harbour towns and huge skies have inspired a lot of people to book a trip to Iceland. The good news is that the main locations are real towns and roads you can visit, from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west to Seyðisfjörður in the East Fjords.

This guide covers the best-documented Walter Mitty filming locations in Iceland, what each place is like today and a suggested road trip that links them. The film has no official connection to any of the places or to us. If a scene's exact location is disputed, we keep it general.

Part of the appeal is that the film shows an Iceland of small towns, empty roads and big landscapes rather than only famous sights. Following its locations takes you to places many visitors skip, such as the islands of Breiðafjörður and the quiet fjords of the east, and that is reason enough to go even if you have never seen the film.

Walter Mitty filming locations at a glance

• Stykkishólmur (Snæfellsnes, West Iceland): stood in for a town in Greenland. About 2.5 hours from Reykjavík.
• The Snæfellsnes Peninsula: nearby Grundarfjörður and the coast around it appear on many location lists.
• The road to Seyðisfjörður (East Iceland): the winding mountain road of the famous longboard scene. About 30 minutes from Egilsstaðir.
• Seyðisfjörður: the small fjord town at the end of that road.
• The Vatnajökull area (South-East Iceland): glacier and mountain scenery often linked to the film's later scenes.

The two main locations are on opposite sides of the country, roughly 700 km apart by road. You can see them on one trip around the Ring Road, or split them: Stykkishólmur as a day trip or short stay from Reykjavík, and Seyðisfjörður with a domestic flight to Egilsstaðir.

Stykkishólmur: the film's Greenland

Stykkishólmur is a harbour town on the north side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, looking out over the many islands of Breiðafjörður bay. In the film, it plays a small town in Greenland. The bar where Walter arrives and the scene in which he leaves by helicopter were filmed here, and the town's harbour and colourful houses are easy to recognise.

What to do in Stykkishólmur

• Walk up Súgandisey, the basalt island that shelters the harbour. A short path leads to a small lighthouse with views over the bay and the town.
• Stroll around the old town, with its restored wooden houses near the harbour.
• See the modern church, whose unusual white shape is visible from all over town.
• Take the ferry Baldur across Breiðafjörður to the island of Flatey or on to the Westfjords. Check the current timetable before you go.
• Visit the Library of Water, an art installation in a former library on the hill above the harbour. Check the opening times in advance.

Stykkishólmur is also a good base for exploring the rest of Snæfellsnes: lava fields, black beaches, the Snæfellsjökull glacier and the mountain Kirkjufell. Our Snæfellsnes day trip guide covers the whole peninsula.

Getting to Stykkishólmur

From Reykjavík, the drive takes about 2.5 hours via Borgarnes. If you land at Keflavík and want to go straight to Snæfellsnes, a one-way private transfer from Keflavík Airport to Stykkishólmur takes you door to door. Our Borgarnes and West Iceland guide has ideas for stops on the way.

More of Snæfellsnes: Grundarfjörður and Kirkjufell

About 40 minutes west of Stykkishólmur, the fishing village of Grundarfjörður sits below Kirkjufell, the cone-shaped mountain that is one of the most photographed in Iceland. Grundarfjörður and its coastline appear on many Walter Mitty location lists, and Kirkjufell also features in Game of Thrones (see our Game of Thrones locations guide).

Even without the film connection, this stretch of coast is worth a few hours. Stop at Kirkjufellsfoss for the classic view of the mountain, then continue west to the black church at Búðir, the cliffs at Arnarstapi and the lava fields around the glacier. Our private Snæfellsnes tour covers the highlights in one day from Reykjavík.

10–11 hours · private

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Kirkjufell · Arnarstapi · Djúpalónssandur · Snæfellsjökull

Car

1–4 people

123,000 kr

Van

5–7 people

151,000 kr

Book this tour

The road to Seyðisfjörður: the longboard scene

The most famous scene in the film shows Walter longboarding down a long, winding mountain road with wide views all around. It was filmed on Route 93, the road from Egilsstaðir over the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass and down into Seyðisfjörður in the East Fjords.

The road climbs from the green Lagarfljót valley to a high, often snowy plateau, then drops in tight bends towards the fjord. Near the bottom, the Gufufoss waterfall is right beside the road. On a clear day the views are exactly as wide as on screen; in fog or snow, the pass can be closed or slow.

Seyðisfjörður: the town at the end of the road

Seyðisfjörður is a small town at the head of a long, narrow fjord, surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls. It is known for its colourful wooden houses, its art scene and the pale blue church at the end of a street painted in rainbow colours. The international car ferry from Denmark via the Faroe Islands arrives here, which is why the town is busier on ferry days.

Plan at least half a day: walk along the fjord, see the church and the old wooden houses, and have coffee in one of the cafés. If you stay overnight, the evening light on the fjord is beautiful in summer. From Keflavík Airport, see our private transfer to Seyðisfjörður, or start from Egilsstaðir, the main town of East Iceland.

Getting to Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður is a long way from Reykjavík by road, so most visitors either drive around the Ring Road over several days or fly. Domestic flights connect Reykjavík Domestic Airport with Egilsstaðir, and from Egilsstaðir it is about 30 minutes by road over the pass. If you arrive on the ferry, you are already there.

Travelling along the South Coast instead, the last stretch to Seyðisfjörður follows the East Fjords: one fjord after another, fishing villages such as Djúpivogur, and very little traffic. It is one of the quietest and most beautiful drives in the country, but it is long, so split it with a night in Höfn or in one of the fjord villages.

The Vatnajökull area

Location guides also link some of the film's glacier and mountain scenery to the Vatnajökull area in South-East Iceland, around Skaftafell and Höfn. Wherever exactly each shot was taken, this part of the country is a natural stop on the way between Snæfellsnes and Seyðisfjörður if you travel along the South Coast.

• Skaftafell: hiking trails in Vatnajökull National Park, including the walk to Svartifoss waterfall. See the Keflavík Airport to Skaftafell transfer.
• Jökulsárlón: the glacier lagoon full of icebergs, with Diamond Beach across the road. See our Jökulsárlón guide.
• Höfn: a fishing town with views of the glacier tongues of Vatnajökull, and a good overnight stop. See the transfer to Höfn.

A suggested Walter Mitty road trip

Here is one way to link the locations in about a week, travelling counter-clockwise from the west to the east. Driving times are approximate and do not include stops; in winter, add extra time and keep a spare day for weather.

1. Day 1: Keflavík Airport to Stykkishólmur. Land, meet your driver and travel to Snæfellsnes. Evening walk up Súgandisey.
2. Day 2: Snæfellsnes. Grundarfjörður and Kirkjufell, then the western tip of the peninsula, and back to Stykkishólmur or on to Reykjavík.
3. Day 3: Reykjavík and the Golden Circle. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, then a night in Reykjavík or in the south.
4. Day 4: The South Coast. Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black beaches near Vík.
5. Day 5: Vatnajökull. Skaftafell, the glacier viewpoints and Jökulsárlón, with a night near Höfn.
6. Day 6: Through the East Fjords to Seyðisfjörður. A long, scenic coastal drive, finishing with Route 93 down into the fjord.
7. Day 7: Seyðisfjörður to Egilsstaðir. Morning in town, then fly back to Reykjavík from Egilsstaðir or continue around the Ring Road to the north.

Short on time? Do Stykkishólmur as a day trip from Reykjavík, then fly from Reykjavík Domestic Airport to Egilsstaðir and visit Seyðisfjörður from there. Our guide to Reykjavík Domestic Airport explains how the city airport works, and our Ring Road planning guide helps if you want to go all the way round.

When to go

The film shows Iceland mostly in its greener, brighter months, and summer is the easiest time for this road trip: long days, open mountain roads and more ferry and boat departures. Late spring and early autumn are quieter and still practical. In winter, the trip is possible but slower, with short days, mountain passes that can close and more need for flexibility. If you travel then, keep the Seyðisfjörður leg for a day with a good forecast.

Doing the road trip without driving yourself

Walter's journey looks effortless on screen, but long distances, gravel sections, mountain passes and winter weather can make driving in Iceland tiring. A private driver lets you enjoy the views instead of watching the road. You can book one-way transfers between stages of the trip, or a private day tour from Reykjavík for the Snæfellsnes part.

• 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
• Driver meets you in Keflavík arrivals with a name sign and checks your landing time from your flight number
• 45 minutes of free waiting at the airport and free child seats on request
• Stops on the way, such as Kirkjufell or Gufufoss, if agreed in advance
• Pay the driver by card or cash; free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up

See all our routes and fixed prices. Bookings can be made up to one hour before pick-up, but for long transfers we recommend booking well ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Where was The Secret Life of Walter Mitty filmed in Iceland?

Where is the Walter Mitty longboard road?

Which town in Iceland played Greenland in Walter Mitty?

Can I visit Stykkishólmur as a day trip from Reykjavík?

How do I get to Seyðisfjörður from Reykjavík?

How many days do I need for a Walter Mitty road trip?

Is the road to Seyðisfjörður open in winter?