Iceland’s Most Instagrammable Spots

Not to brag, but Iceland is probably the most photogenic place on the planet. Its unique and dramatic natural history has moulded and carved an immense country of volcanoes, mountains and glaciers, and the valleys, lakes and rivers that were formed by them.

Unsurprisingly, this abundance of natural beauty means that Iceland is a draw for those with a keen eye. There is no shortage of incredible places to take memorable, shareable and (yes) Instagrammable photos! Here are some of our favorite spots.

Depending on who you ask, this epic mountain range is spelled “Thórsmörk” or “Þórsmörk.” Thor saw something of a comeback when he started appearing in Marvel superhero movies. But the Norse God of Thunder has a reputation that goes back centuries in legend.

Thórsmork, a nature reserve whose name means “Thor’s Valley,” was carved by glaciers. The result is a broad, wide ridge, flanked by lush green mountains and often bathed in misty clouds.

As you might expect, this is a place beloved by nature fans, hikers and especially photographers.

Waterfalls are frequent favorites with Instagrammers, and in Iceland, your waterfall needs will be comfortably met.

Skógafoss, and its Skógá River, are about two hours south of Reykjavik. The waterfall is 49 feet wide and – brace yourself – about 200 feet tall! It’s a humbling, gorgeous monument to the power of nature.

It’s also a pretty photogenic place to visit, as the white misty torrents fill a camera frame and (on many occasions) make their own little rainbows.

There are not many places in the world like it, which is probably why it’s been used as a filming location so many times (including – him again – Thor: The Dark World).

This is one of the best spots in Iceland, if not the world, to see whales. North of Reykjavík, it’s a charming port town.

The chances of seeing a magnificent sea mammal on the Dalvik whale tour is a whopping 98%. The awe-inspiring humpback whale is especially common in these waters, but you might also see the beautiful, monochrome minke whale, white-beaked dolphins or – if you’re very lucky – the world’s biggest animal, the blue whale.

The nexus of a lot of Icelandic natural activity, the Hraunfossar Waterfalls in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula feature gorgeous green glacier water flowing through rocks into a mighty river. The surrounding landscape consists of jagged rocks and glorious, various wild trees.

These waterfalls were formed by a lava field. So, visitors to these falls are witnessing the results of volcanic eruption, glacier ice melting and the long-term effect of both. Spectacular.

The amazing Thingvellir National Park includes many Insta-friendly spots.

There’s the Öxararfoss Waterfall, a gorgeous cascade topped off with a glorious smattering of rocks, moss, and crystal clear water. Visitors love the serene, reflecting and haunting Peningagjá pond. And the tectonic, rocky gorge Almannagjá has been the site of many the Instagram post.

Thingvellir National Park has all of this and more. We’d recommend a tour guide for this vast, beautiful place.

The incredible Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, with the Fjaðrá River running through it, this place has a wonderfully elevated view from the walking track above. From there, you’ll see the immense green grass blanketing the upper parts of the canyon, the sheer rock walls scaling about 300 feet on either side; and the metallic blue of the river at the base.

It was featured in Justin Bieber’s music video “I’ll Show You” – but why let him keep all the glory? Take your best pics to show off on Instagram!

A deservedly popular spot (in real life and on social media), the Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s best known hot springs. Bath in the therapeutic hot spring waters that are filled with silica, minerals and algae, enjoy a free white mud mask, and – should the mood take you – take a snap!

The steam, clear blue water, futuristic building and baron, fascinating landscape make for a heady, surreal and gorgeous view.

Iceland is not necessarily famous for its beaches, and indeed, Diamond Beach is not quite like the golden sands of the Bahamas. In fact, while most white sandy beaches are virtually interchangeable, Diamond Beach is like nowhere else on the planet.

The Diamond Beach differs from all other coasts, with its black sand and giant, large ice sculptures. As an added bonus, it even differs from itself, as new ice sculptures are formed every day.

There’s no denying that Studlagil Canyon is one of the more eye-popping pieces of real estate in all of Iceland! This gorgeous basalt display is all about geometric design and jet-black lava rocks.

To top it off, there’s an amazing waterfall, Studlafoss, flowing from the moss-covered basalt columns.

This ravine in East Iceland might be far from civilization and you might need a bit of a drive to get there, but rest assured – it’s worth it!

Countless visitors have returned from Iceland with a phone full of photos and a mind full of memories that will last them a lifetime. Will you be one of them?

Book a tour of Iceland to start your Instagram adventure!