Game of Thrones filming locations to see on a tour in Iceland
Wondering which Game of Thrones scenes were filmed in Iceland? Check out our list below of top Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland from seasons 2-7.
Svínafellsjökull - “North of the Wall” (Season 2, multiple episodes)
This formidable glacier in South Iceland is the stomping ground of the White Walkers. As an outlet of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, Svínafellsjökull is easily visible from the Ring Road, the highway that loops around Iceland.
Note: just as it’s perilous for mortals to go beyond the Wall, it is extremely dangerous to explore a glacier on your own. Thankfully there are plenty of day tours, many with departures from Reykjavik, that include a guided glacier walk at Svínafellsjökull -- with crampons, an ice axe and incredible photo ops provided.
Thingvellir - “The Bloody Gate” (S04E05, S04E08)
The narrow Öxarárfoss trail in the Almannagjá gorge at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park stars as the entrance to the Eyrie, where Sansa Stark fled with Littlefinger after King Joffrey’s assassination. In a later episode, Arya Stark and the Hound travelled this same path on their unsuccessful mission to see Lysa Arryn. The castle and gate are computer generated, of course, but you can walk on the path between the rock walls just like the Stark sisters.
Part of the popular Golden Circle tourist route in South Iceland, Thingvellir sits in a rift valley between tectonic plates, resulting in unique geological formations such as deep fissures that visitors can snorkel in on guided day tours.
Reynisfjara - “Eastwatch-by-the-Sea” (S07E05 & S07E06)
This dramatic black sand beach in South Iceland stands in for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, where the guards of the Night’s Watch keep an eye on the Wall. Visible from the beach are the jagged Reynisdrangar sea stacks, which -- we assure you -- do not need any digital enhancement to make them look like part of a fantasy world. Reynisfjara beach is near the town of Vík and is easily accessible from the Ring Road.
Þjórsárdalur - “Olly’s village” (S04E03)
This beautiful valley in South Iceland is the site of some of Game of Thrones’ greatest massacres, in which elaborate scenes of a wildling attack on a farming village were filmed. The lone survivor of this bloody raid, a small boy named Olly, escaped to Castle Black to inform Jon and the Night’s Watch of the carnage.
At Þjórsárdalur you can visit a replica Settlement Era Viking lodge that was used on the film set. The traditional turf structure was actually modelled after Stöng, a medieval farmstead believed to have been buried by volcanic ash after an eruption of Hekla in 1104.
Grjótagjá - “the love cave” (S03E05)
Think back to the scene when things got steamy between Ygritte and Jon Snow. Yes, this is the place! The small Grjótagjá lava cave near Lake Mývatn in North Iceland is literally a steamy place as it contains a natural thermal pool inside. Decades ago it was a popular bathing spot for locals, but unfortunately the water has since become too hot.
If you want to bathe (safely) in a similarly magical geothermal lagoon with soothing water and great scenery, we recommend the nearby Mývatn Nature Baths that are open year-round.
Dimmuborgir - “the wildling camp” (S03E01, S03E02 & S03E05)
Also located in the Lake Mývatn area, Dimmuborgir is perfectly suited for an otherworldly Game of Thrones setting with its bizarre rock formations. You may recognise this eerie looking lava field as the site of Mance Rayder’s wildling camp, where Ygritte steals Jon’s sword to lure him into the aforementioned cave.
Though lacking in trees, Dimmuborgir was also used in a scene as the corner of the “Haunted Forest” where some of the Night’s Watch were attacked by White Walkers. Dimmuborgir (“dark fortresses” in Icelandic) is equally mythical in Icelandic folklore, as it’s the alleged home of a blood-thirsty troll named Grýlla and her sons, the naughty Yule Lads who visit children at Christmastime.
Kirkjufell - “Arrowhead Mountain” (S06E05 & S07E06)
Located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in the country. This uniquely shaped mountain can be seen in the background of the flashback scene in which the Children of the Forest created the first White Walker. It also appears covered in snow in the episode aptly named “Beyond the Wall”, when Jon and his fellow warriors journey north.
Good to know: this is not an exhaustive list of every single GOT filming location in Iceland, but if you’re interested in specific locations from the show we can tailor an adventure in Iceland according to your wishes.
Take a Game of Thrones-inspired road trip in Iceland
Want a do-it-yourself Game of Thrones tour in Iceland? If you want to pretend you’re on a journey through the kingdoms of Westeros, we can’t think of a better adventure than a self-drive tour in Iceland. A classic road trip around the Ring Road is perfect for enjoying a Game of Thrones self-guided tour in Iceland at your own pace.
Start your driving tour in Reykjavik and make a full circle of the island, taking in stunningly diverse scenery such as waterfalls, icebergs, volcanic craters, hot springs and other places that look ripped from a fantasy drama. You can even do an Iceland road trip in winter, when the whole country resembles the land of Winterfell.
Enjoy a Games of Thrones tour in Iceland from Reykjavik
Don’t want to do the driving? Enjoy a GOT tour in Iceland with Reykjavik as your base, and see some filming locations via day trips. Venture “beyond the Wall” on a guided glacier hike. Go day touring around the Golden Circle to see Thingvellir and other fascinating sites, like Gullfoss waterfall. Join a day tour to ride Icelandic horses, just like some of the Game of Thrones actors.
Do all this and more on a multi-day tour package in Iceland, which includes accommodation at one of our hand-picked Reykjavik hotels and bookings of all day tours included in your itinerary. Want to travel with your own personal guide to the filming sites? We can also arrange fully customised private tours.
Nordic Visitor offers a wide range of tours in Iceland that can be customised to your liking, such as with extra nights and optional activities added to your itinerary.
