If you are a Game of Thrones fan, no doubt you have toyed with the idea of a trip to Iceland. So many of the series’ incredible filming locations are to be found across its wild landscapes. Even if you’re not a super fan you’re probably aware of the phenomena, along with that well-used phrase ‘Winter is coming…’. Well in Iceland winter certainly is coming! The country’s glaciers and ice fields make the perfect backdrop for the show’s icy ‘North of the Wall’ scenes.
The freezing landscapes ‘Beyond the Wall’ that we begin to see in Season two were mostly shot in Iceland during the winter months. But many other locations in the series can be found throughout the country. It’s worth noting that the locations may look quite different depending on the time of year that you visit. If you visit Iceland in summer you may need to use a little imagination to picture a snowy scene, or visa versa.
Many of the Game of Throne filming locations are easily accessible, especially during summer. A good deal of them lie just off of Iceland’s ring road route, so it’s easy to combine a Game of Thrones tour with a classis ring road tour too. A few of the locations are harder to reach though, and especially so during winter. Some will be completely inaccessible or you will need a special 4x4 vehicle to tackle the journey. Read on for our guide to finding the most iconic Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland.
Myrdalsjokull Glacier and around
In southern Iceland, a little north of the town of Vik is the mountainous area of Höfðabrekkuheiði and the Myrdalsjokull Glacier. These scenic locations were used to shoot several Northern Westeros scenes beyond the wall, particularly the Frostfang Mountains. You can really get into the spirit of the series here and enter Wilding territory with an ice cave tour of the glacier. The glacier is also the location of Season Two’s Fist of the First Men, were the Dragon Glass was found.
The area is a short detour off of the ring road east of the town of Vik.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
This stunning canyon in south Iceland was the scene of Season Eight’s dragon flight. It’s a truly evocative place with 100 metre cliff walls that stretch for about 2km. Another easy to access location just a short drive off of the ring road in Southern Iceland. Note that the canyon is closed on occasion in order to protect its delicate flora. As in all areas of Iceland, if it is open when you visit it’s important to stick to the marked pathways to protect the delicate plant life.
Skogafoss Waterfall
The dragons then go on to land at the famous and spectacular Skogafoss Waterfall. This one is a really recognisable landmark and not far from the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Well worth a visit on any tour of Iceland.
Thingvellir National Park
This stunning and important national park is one of the three main stops on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle tour. Areas of the vast Thingvellir National Park were also used several times in Game of Thrones. One of the most recognisable locations is the impressive canyon where the Bloody Castle stood on the road to Eyrie. Used a couple of times in Season Four this rugged canyon is easy to find. It is just a short walk from the car park used for visiting the Oxararfoss Waterfall. This beautiful national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a wealth of things to see and do.
Hengill
The Hengill volcano and geothermal area lies in southwest Iceland, just to the south of Thingvellir National Park. It is in the surrounding hills that Brienne of Tarth and The Hound have their monumental fight in Season Four.
Kirkjufell Mountain
Iceland’s iconic Kirkjufell Mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula finally gets its moment in Season Seven. After The Hound has a vision of an arrowhead mountain, Jon Snow and his hunters set out in search of it. The distinctive point of Kirkjufell is the perfect embodiment of the arrowhead. This could well have been written into the script as a thank you to Iceland from the cast and crew.
Perhaps as a nod to all of the stunning locations that Iceland has provided throughout the different series. Kirkjufell Mountain can be seen right across the peninsula. But one of the most popular spots to observe it from is the lovely Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall. The peninsular is an easy drive from Reykjavik and a popular place for seeing the Northern Lights in season.
Svinafellsjokull Glacier
Nicknamed the Hollywood Glacier, Svinafellsjokull in the Skaftafell National Park has been used in many film and TV productions. The glacier is one icy tongue of the vast Vatnajökull ice cap and an incredible sight. Svinafellsjokullwas used in many north of the wall scenes beginning in Season Two when Jon Snow and the Night Watch first encountered Ygritte.
You can take guided glacier walking tours to explore the sites of different scenes. This is another filming location that is easily accessible from the ring road in southeast Iceland with a viewing area not far from the road.
