9 Movie Locations in Iceland, And How to Visit Them

Iceland’s dramatic landscapes have become a go-to for filmmakers seeking otherworldly settings. From jagged glaciers to lava fields and black-sand beaches, the country doubles as alien worlds, fantasy realms, and frozen wastelands. Below are some of the most iconic movie locations in Iceland — and tips on how you can visit them too, with advice from Travel Director and Iceland expert Rob Joyce.

Travel Director Rob in Iceland

1. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Batman Begins (2005), Die Another Day (2002), A View to a Kill (1985)

If you recognize the shimmering icebergs of Jökulsárlón, you’re in good company. This glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland has appeared in several major blockbusters — most famously as the Arctic hideout in Die Another Day, where Pierce Brosnan’s Bond races across the frozen lagoon in a dramatic car chase. It also made a brief appearance in Batman Begins as part of Bruce Wayne’s Himalayan training sequence, filmed here for its otherworldly, frozen backdrop.

The lagoon, connected to Vatnajökull Glacier, is filled with luminous icebergs that drift slowly toward the sea. In A View to a Kill, the lagoon’s icy expanse was transformed into Siberia, proof that Iceland can convincingly become anywhere on Earth (or beyond).

How to visit: Located just off the Ring Road near Höfn, Jökulsárlón is about a five-hour drive from Reykjavík. Take a guided boat tour to glide between the icebergs or visit the nearby “Diamond Beach,” where fragments of crystal ice sparkle against the black volcanic sand. Rob has a few tips for visiting:

 Don’t miss on of the boat trips out onto the Lagoon. Drifting between calving icebergs with the seals and birds for company. The icebergs have not seen the sun for 10,000 years. Make sure you book in advance, stunning and fantastic guides to inform and entertain. While your waiting take a short trip to the Diamond Beach, named for the ice washed up on the shore. Between April and August don’t walk on the ropes of grass areas, Arctic Terns nest on the grass and will peck your head to protect the eggs and young. On the Diamond Beach take extra care and stay on the flat part of the beach. All Black Sand beaches in Iceland are dangerous due to rip waves.

2. Vatnajökull National Park – Prometheus (2012), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Interstellar (2014)

The sprawling Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest, has become Hollywood shorthand for alien or otherworldly terrain. Ridley Scott chose it as the opening scene in Prometheus, where the Engineer sacrifices himself amid vast icy plains. Tomb Raider also used this region for its desolate “Siberian” settings, while Christopher Nolan filmed parts of Interstellar here to represent the frozen planet Mann. The sheer scale of Vatnajökull — covering nearly 8% of Iceland — allows filmmakers to find unspoiled backdrops that seem untouched by civilization.

How to visit: Depart from Skaftafell or Höfn on a guided glacier walk or ice-cave tour (winter only). Many Prometheus filming sites are near the Svinafellsjökull glacier tongue, though note that access changes due to safety conditions. Even from the Ring Road, you’ll spot jaw-dropping views of the glacier snaking between volcanic peaks.

Stand in the shadow of an ancient giant. Use the main national park centre at Skaftafell as a base. If planning to go further into the park it is highly recommend that you only go with organised Mountain Leadership guide. Most of the companies offer conducted tours to the main film locations. If you’re driving please use the safe.is app and watch the weather and road conditions.

3. Thingvellir National Park – Game of Thrones (2013–2017)

A UNESCO World Heritage site and part of Iceland’s famed Golden Circle, Þingvellir (Thingvellir) was the dramatic backdrop for several scenes in Game of Thrones. It served as the narrow path to the Eyrie (the “Bloody Gate”), Arya and the Hound’s journey north, and parts of the land “beyond the Wall.” Thingvellir’s deep fissures and cliffs were formed by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, giving it an otherworldly, cinematic quality.

How to visit: Just 45 minutes from Reykjavík, Thingvellir is easily reached by car or on a Golden Circle tour. Stroll through the Almannagjá gorge, visit the Oxarárfoss waterfall, and imagine the camera sweeping over this same landscape. Winter adds snow and mist for an added touch of Game of Thrones magic.

One of the few places on Earth you can stand between two continents without getting wet. Most accessible of all the locations by tour or rental car. Good amenities and and excellent visitor centre. Lots of available tour and snorkelling in Silfra River is an experience never forgotten. In the winter months be aware of very icy conditions and a very cutting windchill. Go prepared. 

4. Snæfellsjökull Glacier, Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

This glacier-topped volcano is legendary in literature and film alike, first immortalized by Jules Verne as the entry point to the Earth’s core, then brought to life on screen in Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) starring Brendan Fraser. Filmmakers chose Snæfellsjökull for its mythic reputation and breathtaking beauty: twin peaks crowned with ice, surrounded by lava fields and wild coastline. It’s also said to be one of the world’s “energy centers,” with folklore tying it to mystical forces.

How to visit: The glacier sits at the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík. In good weather, you can join a 4×4 or snowcat tour to the summit. Otherwise, drive the Snæfellsnes coastal route, stopping at Arnarstapi cliffs, Djúpalónssandur black beach, and the fishing village of Hellnar. The entire peninsula is often called “Iceland in miniature” for its diversity of landscapes.

As above, it’s all of Iceland in one day. Various tours do different variants on the peninsula. In the winter months conditions can be treacherous but with an organised tour you’re in good hands. Learn about Iceland’s only serial killer and see if the Aliens finally arrive on Snæfellsjökull. 

5. Kirkjufell Mountain – Game of Thrones (Season 7)

Rising like a perfect cone beside a cascading waterfall, Kirkjufell (“Church Mountain”) is Iceland’s most photographed peak. In Game of Thrones, it became the “arrowhead mountain” that Jon Snow and his companions pass while venturing north of the Wall. Its symmetrical form and reflective pool make it look almost surreal on camera, and in winter, Kirkjufell often appears dusted in snow and haloed by the Northern Lights, adding even more drama to its cinematic silhouette.

How to visit: Kirkjufell is located near the town of Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Park near Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall for the best photo angle. Visit early morning or evening to avoid crowds and catch the mountain mirrored in still water.

One of the best known mountains in Iceland. Included in most day trips to Snæfellsnes. Not for climbing, a lot easier to go up than it is coming down. 

6. Dettifoss Waterfall – Prometheus (2012), Oblivion (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The thundering Dettifoss, often cited as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, has appeared in multiple science-fiction films thanks to its awe-inspiring scale and otherworldly mist. In Prometheus, the film’s opening sacrifice scene was shot here, the waterfall’s endless plume symbolizing creation and destruction. Thor: The Dark World also used its surroundings for Asgardian battle scenes, while Oblivion captured aerial shots of nearby canyons. With a 44-meter drop and 100-meter width, Dettifoss embodies Iceland’s primal energy, making it an irresistible choice for filmmakers.

How to visit: Dettifoss lies in Vatnajökull National Park in northeast Iceland, about 45 km from Mývatn. You can approach from either the east or west bank (the east has better views). Trails continue to Selfoss, another scenic waterfall nearby. Wear waterproof layers — the spray can be intense.

One of the most impressive Waterfalls in Iceland. In the winter months the paths can be treacherous with ice. The ice also pains an amazing picture on the falls. Walk like a penguin.

7. Reynisfjara Beach and the South Coast – Star Wars: Rogue One (2016), Game of Thrones, Fast & Furious 8 (2017)

Few places look more unearthly than Reynisfjara, the famous black-sand beach near Vík. Its towering basalt columns, roaring Atlantic waves, and Reynisdrangar sea stacks have made it one of Iceland’s most filmed spots. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story used Reynisfjara for the storm-lashed planet Eadu, while Fast & Furious 8 transformed Iceland’s south coast into a frozen battleground. Nearby Skógafoss waterfall has also appeared in Thor: The Dark World and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where Ben Stiller dives into a fantasy adventure beneath its misty cascade.

How to visit: Reynisfjara lies 2.5 hours from Reykjavík along the Ring Road. Visit with caution — the waves are powerful and unpredictable. Stop at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls along the way for more cinematic sights. The light here is stunning year-round, especially at dusk.

Do a Justin Bieber. One of his South Coast video locations. A long walk to the beach and like all black beaches in Iceland, exercise extreme care. Stay on the flat and stay off the slope of the beach. Ripper Waves again. 

8. Hrossaborg Crater – Oblivion (2013)

Deep in Iceland’s northeastern highlands, the volcanic Hrossaborg Crater served as the site of Tom Cruise’s bunker in Oblivion. Its circular, rust-colored walls and barren surroundings perfectly suited the film’s futuristic, post-apocalyptic world. This region’s isolation and desolation made it ideal for the movie’s setting of humanity surviving on a half-destroyed Earth. Even without the Hollywood set pieces, Hrossaborg feels like another planet entirely.

How to visit: Accessing Hrossaborg requires a 4×4 vehicle and good summer weather. It’s located off Route 864, about an hour from Lake Mývatn. If you’re exploring northern Iceland, combine it with visits to Dettifoss and the Ásbyrgi Canyon for a full day of rugged scenery.

An amazing visit but specialized vehicles are a necessity and if doing this by yourself take no chances with the condition. As Jason states in the article, 4×4 is a must. Watching weather and road conditions are a necessity too. 

9. Fjallsárlón & Skaftafell — Interstellar (2014)

Another site used in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Fjallsárlón, a smaller glacier lagoon near Jökulsárlón, provided the setting for the icy world of Dr. Mann (Matt Damon). The dark, frozen expanse and blue ice cliffs created the illusion of a faraway planet where time stands still. Nearby Skaftafell National Park also offered Nolan surreal landscapes, glacial tongues, black sand plains, and lava-scarred peaks that perfectly captured the feeling of isolation.

How to visit: Fjallsárlón is just 10 minutes west of Jökulsárlón and has fewer visitors. Boat tours and glacier hikes are available. Skaftafell, now part of Vatnajökull National Park, offers well-marked trails including the short hike to Svartifoss waterfall framed by basalt columns.

Fjallsárlón is an another glacial lagoon created by calving glaciers. – boat trip is again a must and should be booked in well in advance. The Svartfoss and the Glacial tongue are signposted from the visitor centre and are easily accessible. They are also spectacular. For the more adventurous, organized tours operate from the centre. If planning your own adventure plan ahead.

From volcanic craters and ice caves to ancient rift valleys, Iceland’s cinematic landscapes blur the line between fantasy and reality. Whether you’re chasing your favorite movie scenes or simply seeking nature’s raw drama, these movie locations in Iceland will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped straight onto the big screen.

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