Game of Thrones in Iceland – Go Beyond the Wall

The last season of Game of Thrones is starting in just under a month. Iceland has been featured extensively in the series and it is gratifying for us Game of Thrones nerds here in Iceland seeing Icelandic places featured in dramatic scenes. Game of Thrones in Iceland is the theme of this article and gives an overview of the places where the series have have been filmed.

What about Season 8?

According to rumours, Iceland was used as a filming location for season 8. Security has been tight but since winter has truly arrived in this last season it makes sense that Iceland will be featured extensively. But where these filming locations are in Iceland, we don’t’ know yet. Changes are we won’t learn anything about the Game Throne filming locations in Iceland until the series are out. But it does look like the awesome scene with the dragons  in the image above is from Fjadrargljufur canyon on the south coast of Iceland. You can see the scene in the trailer from season 8 here below on minute 1.12.

Game of Thrones tour

For those who really want to immerse themselves in Game of Thrones here in Iceland, they can join the full day Game of Thrones Tour where you will, amongst other things, visit Thingvellir, see the Settlement Era Viking farm and meet Icelandic horses.

Game of Thrones in Iceland

But what locations have been used so far? There have been four main areas where Game of Thrones has been filmed in Iceland. The north of Iceland, The South Coast, Vatnajökull glacier and of course Thingvellir

Snaefellsnes peninsula

Calling the Snaefellsnes peninsula a microcosm of Iceland is starting to become a bit of a cliche but many other cliches, it does have a lot of truth to it! Mt. Kirkjufell near the town of Grundarfjörður is of course featured in Game of Thrones as Arrowhead Mountain.

The north of Iceland

The Myvatn area has been the setting of the North of the Wall. Steam from geothermal pools add great mystique to the action. The lava field of Dimmuborgir was the home of the Wildlings way back in the third season. Jon´s Snow ‘encounter’ with Ygrette took place in the Grjótagja crevice which is a nature geothermal pool. Not sure if you can bathe there since I think it is closed off but you can certainly dip in the wonderful Myvatn Nature Baths.

Game of Thrones in Iceland – South Coast of Iceland

The filmmakers wanted cool scenes from north of the Wall the second and third season. So they headed up to Vatnajokull glacier. To show the desolate and frozen landscape required no special effects.

The Eastwatch and the surrounding are was set at the black beach at Reynisfjara. Northern Westeros was also set there.

The beautiful reconstructed Viking farm at Stong in the impressive Thjorsardalur valley poses as the Olly´s village which is attacked by the Wildlings. The farm at Stong was built in 1974 and is supposed the represent the many farms that were destroyed and abandoned by the massive eruption of Hekla volcano in 1105. It is a great place to visit, Games of Thrones notwithstanding.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is one of Iceland´s iconic destination, a crucial part of the Golden Circle. It has a lot of canyons and fissures and as such it has featured as the entrance to Eyrie. Thorufoss is a waterfall close to Thingvellir. This is where Drogon the dragon makes a meal out of a goat in the fourth season.

Nesjavellir is the scene of the The Vale where the Hound and Brienne lock swords at the end of the fourth season. A large geothermal power station dominates the area. Plumes of steam are all over the place.

Game of Thrones in Iceland – The Highlands

Thorsmork valley is jewel, pure and simple. The Stakkholtsgja canyon was where Jon Snow leads a team of warriors to ambush a pack of wights.

I am stoked to see what places in Iceland will be featured in the eight and final season of Game of Thrones. I just can´t wait to see the conclusion of this truly epic story.