17 Best Iceland Elopement Locations, Chosen by Elopement Photographers
Updated: 34 minutes ago
Iceland was the first country we dreamed of traveling to photograph an elopement. After finally experiencing it for ourselves, it quickly became our favorite international destination for couples who love to travel.
Iceland has no shortage of dramatic and unique landscapes, we understand how overwhelming it can be trying to narrow it down.
Some locations require hours of driving. Some involve rough Highland roads or a real hike. Others are easy to reach but busy enough that privacy is never guaranteed.
We are Leti and Stefan, the husband-and-wife team behind Backcountry Portraits.
We visited and photographed the Iceland elopement locations in this guide during our road trip through the Highlands, South Coast, and Southeast Iceland in late August and early September.
This is based on what the roads, walks, crowds, weather, and landscapes were actually like when we experienced them. Some famous locations lived up to the attention. Others were not for us. A few quieter places became our favorites.
If you are beginning to plan your own trip, our Iceland elopement photography and planning packages include help choosing locations, understanding the travel, and building a timeline that gives you room to enjoy the day.
Table Of Contents
Iceland elopement locations at a glance
Location | Region | Privacy | Walking or hiking | Road access | Best for |
Landmannalaugar | Highlands | Varies | Short walks to longer hikes | Highland roads, suitable vehicle required | Colorful mountains and an active day |
Háifoss | Highlands | Quieter during our visit | Viewpoint with hiking options | Gravel road | Large waterfalls and canyon views |
Seljalandsfoss | South Coast | Popular | Short walk | Easy access from Route 1 | A recognizable waterfall setting |
Gljúfrabúi | South Coast | Varies | Short wet walk | Same area as Seljalandsfoss | A close, enclosed waterfall experience |
Skógafoss | South Coast | Popular | Short walk, stairs optional | Easy access from Route 1 | Scale, movement, and waterfall portraits |
Kvernufoss | South Coast | More contained | Short hike | Easy approach near Skógar | A quieter-feeling waterfall setting |
Ásólfsskáli | South Coast | Very quiet during our visit | Valley hike | Access from the South Coast | Couples who value quiet exploration |
Sólheimajökull | South Coast | Varies | Walk to glacier area | Paved and maintained access | Glacier landscapes with proper guidance |
Dyrhólaey | South Coast | Busy during our visit | Short walks | Regular road access | Coastal overlooks and sea cliffs |
Loftsalahellir | South Coast | Varies | Short uphill walk | Near Road 218 | Framed coastal photographs |
Reynisfjara | South Coast | Popular | Short walk | Regular road access | Basalt columns and black sand |
Víkurfjara | South Coast | Varies | Short walk | Access from Vík | Black sand and sea-stack views |
Fjaðrárgljúfur | Southeast | Popular | Established walking path | Regular road access | Easy canyon overlooks |
Múlagljúfur Canyon | Southeast | Shared trail | Real hike | Gravel approach and trailhead parking | Couples who want hiking and huge scale |
Jökulsárlón | Southeast | Popular | Short walks | Directly off Route 1 | Glacial lagoon and floating ice |
Diamond Beach | Southeast | Popular | Short walk | Directly off Route 1 | Ice on black sand |
Stokksnes and Vestrahorn | Southeast | Open landscape | Short walks | Coastal access road | Mountain, dunes, and sunset light |
Crowds, roads, weather, and trail conditions can change quickly. Our notes describe our own visit, not a promise of what any location will be like on a future date.
Iceland Highlands elopement locations
The Highlands felt completely different from the South Coast. Getting there required more planning, but the drive itself became part of the experience. Roads were rough, services were limited, and the landscape felt much larger and less predictable.
Landmannalaugar: an Iceland Highlands elopement location worth the drive
Landmannalaugar was one of the clearest highlights of our trip. The mountains shift between rust, green, charcoal, and pale yellow, with black lava fields cutting through the softer colors. Even after seeing countless photographs, the landscape still felt surprising in person.
We drove the northern approach in our Suzuki Jimny and parked before the final river crossing. We did not drive through the water. The Highland road was slow and rough, but we stopped often because the route itself was part of what made the day memorable.
Our hike was around five miles and combined the lava field with the colorful mountain terrain. It gave us elevated views without committing to the longest route in the area. There are shorter options, but this is still a location for couples who enjoy moving, carrying layers, and letting the weather shape the day.
Landmannalaugar could work especially well for an elopement built around hiking rather than a quick ceremony stop. It deserves most of a day. Trying to add several distant locations afterward would take away from the reason to come here.
Good fit for: couples who want an Iceland Highlands elopement, colorful mountains, hiking, and a day that feels like a real outing.
Know before choosing it: Highland access is seasonal, weather dependent, and vehicle dependent. Check current road conditions and vehicle requirements through official Icelandic sources before traveling. Stay on marked trails and do not attempt river crossings unless both the conditions and vehicle are appropriate.
Háifoss: a quieter waterfall and canyon landscape
Háifoss was one of our favorite choices because it gave us enormous scenery without the same crowd experience we found at several South Coast stops. Two waterfalls drop into the canyon, and the viewpoint lets you understand the scale immediately.
The road was rougher than the main highway but manageable for our Jimny when we visited. Conditions can change, so this is not a place to choose based only on a map estimate.
Háifoss works for couples who want waterfall photographs without standing directly in the spray or among a constant line of visitors. The overlooks create wide landscape compositions, while the surrounding trails offer room to explore.
Good fit for: large waterfall views, a less compressed experience, and couples comfortable with a gravel-road drive.
Practical tip: allow extra driving time. Google Maps does not communicate how slowly you may need to travel on rough roads.
South Coast Iceland Elopement Locations
The South Coast makes it possible to see waterfalls, a glacier, cliffs, and black sand within the same region. That convenience also brings tour buses and heavy traffic at the most recognizable stops. Timing helps, but no photographer can promise privacy at a public location.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi: two very different waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss is open, tall, and visible from the road. The path brings you close enough to feel the spray, which means waterproof layers matter even when it is not raining. Its accessibility makes it easy to include in a South Coast plan, but it is also one of the places where you should expect other visitors.
Nearby Gljúfrabúi feels more enclosed. Reaching the closer view involves stepping through a narrow, wet opening, so footwear and clothing need to match the experience. It is not the place for keeping a dress perfectly dry (and that is okay we plan the timelines with this in mind).
Together, they offer two different visual experiences without adding another long drive. We would not build an entire day around seeing as many waterfalls as possible, but this pairing can make sense when the schedule has enough breathing room.
Good fit for: couples who want close waterfall photographs and do not mind spray, wet ground, or sharing a famous location.
Skógafoss: powerful, accessible, and popular
Skógafoss is one of Iceland's most recognizable waterfalls for a reason. It is wide, loud, and powerful, with open black ground in front of it. The scale works particularly well when people are allowed to move rather than being placed in one static pose beneath the falls.
We photographed here early. That improved the experience, but Skógafoss is well known and privacy should never be expected. Wind also changes the direction of the mist constantly.
For an elopement, we would use Skógafoss as one part of the story rather than the only ceremony location. Arrive prepared to work around other visitors and to get wet.
Good fit for: dramatic scale, easy access, movement, and couples who care more about the landscape than complete privacy.
Kvernufoss: a more contained waterfall experience
Kvernufoss requires a short walk rather than appearing directly beside the parking area. The trail enters a green gorge, and the waterfall gradually comes into view. That approach makes the location feel more like an experience and less like a roadside stop.
It was still accessible enough to combine with Skógafoss, but the visual feeling was completely different. The surrounding slopes create natural boundaries around the scene, and the walk gives everyone time to settle between photographs. This is one of the waterfalls in Iceland you can walk behind it.
Good fit for: couples who want a short hike, a waterfall surrounded by green cliffs, and a more contained landscape.
Sólheimajökull Glacier: an accessible glacier landscape
Sólheimajökull offers a close look at the textures and dark sediment of a retreating glacier. The landscape feels different from the waterfalls and green valleys nearby, making it a strong contrast within a longer South Coast story.
We photographed from the accessible glacier area. Walking onto glacier ice is not something to do independently. Conditions change, hidden crevasses exist, and any glacier activity should be arranged with a qualified local guide and proper equipment.
Good fit for: couples who want a glacier setting.
Dyrhólaey: impressive views, but not our favorite experience
Dyrhólaey has huge coastal views, cliffs, and black sand stretching in both directions. Visually, it makes sense that so many travelers stop there.
But our own experience was crowded. After visiting quieter valleys and hiking locations, Dyrhólaey felt less personal to us. That does not make it a bad location. It means couples should choose it because they genuinely want the coastal overlook, not because every Iceland itinerary says they have to go.
Wildlife is never guaranteed, and access can change to protect nesting birds.
Good fit for: couples who want broad coastal views and are comfortable visiting a popular public location.
Loftsalahellir Cave: a natural frame above the coast
Loftsalahellir sits near the road to Dyrhólaey and requires a short uphill walk. From inside the opening, the darker rock creates a natural frame around the coastline.
This is better suited to a brief portrait stop than a full elopement experience. The value is the composition and the view, not spending several hours there.
Reynisfjara: basalt columns, black sand, and serious ocean safety
Reynisfjara is known for its basalt columns, black sand, and view toward the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. It is also a location where the ocean must be taken seriously.
Because it is famous and easily accessed, crowds are part of the calculation. It can still work for an elopement story, but we would not promise an empty beach.
Víkurfjara: black sand from the Vík side
Víkurfjara is the black sand beach on the Vík side of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. We photographed there later in the day, when the dark beach, ocean, and rock formations created a simple background with plenty of room for movement.
This beach gave us the black sand experience from a different perspective than Reynisfjara. It is still an active ocean environment, so the same caution applies around waves and changing tides.
Good fit for: a South Coast sunset plan, open beach photographs, and couples staying near Vík.
Southeast Iceland elopement locations
Southeast Iceland involves longer drives, which makes lodging part of the location decision. Múlagljúfur, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, and Stokksnes may look close when planning from home, but hiking, weather, meals, and photography stops change the timeline quickly.
Fjaðrárgljúfur: an accessible canyon overlook
Fjaðrárgljúfur has an established path above a winding canyon. Compared with Múlagljúfur, it is the more accessible canyon experience and requires less commitment.
That accessibility also means it attracts more visitors. It works well as a stop during a longer driving day, but couples wanting a more physical hike and a larger sense of scale may connect more with Múlagljúfur.
Stay on the established path. The vegetation is fragile, and closures or barriers should always be respected.
Good fit for: canyon views without committing to a long hike.
Múlagljúfur Canyon: the hike that surprised us most
Múlagljúfur was one of the most powerful landscapes we experienced in Iceland. The trail climbs above a deep green canyon with waterfalls dropping through the cliffs. Low clouds and rain changed how much of the canyon we could see, but they also gave the landscape depth and movement.
This is not a quick roadside portrait stop. The hike requires time, appropriate clothing, and comfort on uneven terrain. There were other hikers, so it was not empty, but the canyon was large enough that people became small within the landscape.
For couples who enjoy hiking, Múlagljúfur can hold the ceremony and portrait experience on its own. It does not need to be followed by six more locations.
Good fit for: hiking couples, changing weather, waterfalls, and photographs that show people within a much larger landscape.
Read the complete story from E + M's rainy Múlagljúfur Canyon elopement.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: ice, and an easy stop
Jökulsárlón is directly beside Route 1, but the lagoon looks nothing like a typical roadside stop. Icebergs drift through dark water toward the ocean, and the scene changes constantly as the ice moves.
It is easy to access and understandably popular. Rather than expecting privacy, plan to work with the open landscape and give yourself time to walk beyond the busiest gathering points where access allows.
Good fit for: couples who want glacial ice without a long hike and are already traveling through Southeast Iceland.
Diamond Beach: ice against black sand
Across the road from the lagoon, pieces of ice wash onto the black sand at Diamond Beach. The amount, size, and placement of the ice constantly change, so no specific photograph can be promised.
The contrast is beautiful, but it remains an active shoreline. Keep a safe distance from the water, watch the waves, and never climb onto unstable ice.
Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach naturally work together because they require very little additional driving. They make more sense as one area in the timeline than as separate headline destinations.
Good fit for: an easy-to-access pairing with glacier ice, black sand, and changing conditions.
Stokksnes and Vestrahorn: a strong ending near Höfn
Stokksnes gives you black dunes, coastal grass, and the sharp profile of Vestrahorn rising behind them. The landscape is open, which makes wind and weather a major part of the experience.
We ended the day here around sunset after hiking Múlagljúfur. That pairing worked because we stayed near Höfn rather than attempting to drive all the way back toward Reykjavík afterward.
This is a good example of why lodging should be planned around the final location. A beautiful sunset stop becomes much less enjoyable when it is followed by several exhausted hours on the road.
Good fit for: couples who want mountain scale without a long hike, coastal textures, and an evening near Höfn.
Which Iceland elopeent location is right for you?
The best place to elope in Iceland depends less on which photograph looks most dramatic and more on how you want to spend the day.
Choose Landmannalaugar or Múlagljúfur if hiking is part of the experience, not merely the way to reach a view.
Choose Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, or Jökulsárlón if accessibility matters and you are comfortable sharing a famous place with other visitors.
Choose Ásólfsskáli or Háifoss if quiet exploration matters more than checking off the most recognizable landmark.
Choose Víkurfjara, Diamond Beach, or Stokksnes if black sand and coastal landscapes are central to what draws you to Iceland.
Choose Sólheimajökull if a glacier is important, while understanding that glacier activities require proper local guidance.
You also do not have to choose only one landscape. The important part is combining locations that genuinely work together rather than building a schedule around how many pins can fit on a map.
Sample Iceland elopement location pairings
These are examples based on routes we traveled, not fixed packages or promises about access.
South Coast waterfall and glacier experience
Early photographs at Skógafoss
Short hike to Kvernufoss
Long midday break
Sólheimajökull later in the day
Stay near the South Coast rather than returning to Reykjavík
A two-day South Coast elopement
Day one in casual clothing at Skógafoss, Kvernufoss, and Sólheimajökull
Day two for getting ready, vows, and Víkurfjara
Splitting the story over two days creates variety without making either day feel like a
race. See the full two-day South Coast Iceland elopement.
Southeast hiking and sunset experience
Hike and ceremony at Múlagljúfur Canyon
Meal and driving break
Sunset at Stokksnes and Vestrahorn
Stay overnight in Höfn
Read the complete story from E + M's rainy Múlagljúfur Canyon elopement.
A full Highlands day
Drive the appropriate northern route into Landmannalaugar
Stop for landscapes along the way
Complete a hike that fits your ability and the conditions
Leave time to enjoy the area rather than immediately adding another destination
A few practical lessons from our Iceland trip
Driving takes longer than it looks
Distance is only one part of an Iceland timeline. Gravel, Highland roads, weather, construction, photo stops, meals, and trail time all matter. We would rather remove a location than turn the day into hours of rushing.
Pack essentials in your carry-on
Our checked luggage did not arrive with us. We lost time buying essentials and later retrieving the bags ourselves. Keep medications, weather layers, basic toiletries, chargers, and anything irreplaceable for the elopement in your carry-on.
Build a weather plan, not a weather expectation
Rain and low clouds changed several landscapes while we were there. Sometimes visibility improved. Sometimes a mountain disappeared. A good plan leaves room to adjust instead of treating one exact view as the only successful outcome.
Famous does not always mean better
Some famous locations were worth seeing. Others felt crowded enough that we connected more with an unplanned valley or a quieter trail. Your elopement does not need to prove that you visited Iceland by including every landmark.
Stay near where the day ends
This mattered most in Southeast Iceland. Finishing around Vestrahorn and sleeping in Höfn made far more sense than adding a long nighttime drive after an already full day.
Planning an Iceland elopement around the experience
We help couples choose Iceland elopement locations that fit their priorities, understand the travel between them, and create a realistic plan with room to hike, eat, change direction, and actually experience the place.
Every Iceland collection includes both of us as photographers, personalized location and timeline planning, vendor and lodging recommendations, weather backup planning, and travel. We have driven these roads, walked these trails, and photographed in Iceland's changing conditions ourselves.
If Iceland feels right but you do not know where to begin, explore our Iceland elopement photography packages or tell us what you are planning. We can start with the kind of day you want and choose the landscape from there
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