Iceland had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, and it didn't disappoint. Dan and I spent 8 days driving the entire Ring Road in late April and early May, stopping at waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier lagoons, canyons and puffin colonies, and I took some of my favourite travel photos ever.
This is my Iceland Ring Road photography guide: our 8-day itinerary, the best photo spots in each region, the camera gear I used and practical tips for photographing Iceland. Each region has its own detailed guide with many more photos, linked below.
Our 8-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary
We drove the Ring Road anticlockwise from Reykjavik, starting with the Golden Circle and South Coast, then heading east and across the north. The drives start short, 30 to 60 minutes between accommodations, and get longer as you go, up to four or five hours on the day across the north.
| Day | Stops |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Golden Circle: Öxarárfoss, Geysir, Gullfoss |
| Day 2 | Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, Kvernufoss, Sólheimasandur plane wreck, Dyrhólaey |
| Day 3 | Vík, Reynisfjara, the Yoda Cave, Fjaðrárgljúfur, Stjórnarfoss |
| Day 4 | Svartifoss, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, golden hour with Icelandic horses |
| Day 5 | Stokksnes and Vestrahorn, the East Fjords, puffins at Borgarfjörður eystri |
| Day 6 | Stuðlagil Canyon, Dettifoss, Mývatn |
| Day 7 | Goðafoss and the long drive across the north |
| Day 8 | Reykjavik |
Golden Circle and South Coast
The first three days are packed with Iceland's most famous waterfalls: Gullfoss and its rainbows, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and the hidden Gljúfrabúi, plus the plane wreck, Reynisfjara's basalt columns and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon.
Gullfoss, edited with Earthy.
Skógafoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Gljúfrabúi and Kvernufoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Reynisfjara, edited with Mountains.
Fjaðrárgljúfur and Stjórnarfoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Read the full guide: Iceland South Coast and Golden Circle photography spots.
Jökulsárlón and Southeast Iceland
Further east, the mountains get bigger and the crowds thin out. Highlights are Svartifoss, the icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Vestrahorn reflected in the black sand at Stokksnes, and plenty of friendly Icelandic horses.
Jökulsárlón, edited with Dulce.
Svartifoss, edited with Disposable Film, and an Icelandic horse, edited with Meadow.
Jökulsárlón, edited with Dulce.
Vestrahorn, edited with Meadow.
Golden hour from the side of the road, edited with Meadow.
Read the full guide: Jökulsárlón and Southeast Iceland photography guide.
Puffins in East Iceland
We made a one-hour detour over a snowy mountain pass to Borgarfjörður eystri and found hundreds of puffins on the cliffs at Hafnarhólmi. It was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
Puffin at 200mm, edited with Meadow.
Read the full guide: Where to see puffins in Iceland.
North Iceland and Reykjavik
The north was still covered in snow in early May: Stuðlagil's basalt canyon, Dettifoss with a rainbow in the mist, the volcanic landscape around Mývatn and Goðafoss. We finished with a rainy, colourful day in Reykjavik.
Stuðlagil Canyon, edited with Meadow.
Dettifoss and Goðafoss, edited with Meadow.
Reykjavik's rainbow street, edited with Disposable Film.
Reykjavik, edited with Disposable Film.
Read the full guide: North Iceland and Reykjavik photography spots.
Camera gear for Iceland
I kept my kit simple this trip, and after years of experimenting with focal lengths for travel, this combination finally let me capture everything I wanted:
| Gear | What I used it for |
|---|---|
| Sony A7IV | My camera for all the photos |
| Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM | Portraits with the landscape in the frame, and everyday shooting |
| Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II | Wildlife, rainbows, details and cutting out crowds |
| Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (Dan's) | Extra-wide shots in tight spots, like canyons and behind waterfalls |
| Polarising and mist filters | Boosting rainbows and softening highlights |
| Tripod | Photos of the two of us |
Dan filmed on the Sony A9 III on a gimbal, and because we're on the same system we could swap zooms whenever we needed to. Wondering whether to pack a wide or a telephoto? Read my comparison of wide angle vs telephoto lenses for landscape photography.
Life on the Ring Road, edited with Disposable Film.
Tips for photographing Iceland
- Dress warmly, even in summer. The first week of summer felt like Antarctica to me. I wore wool socks and wool base layers, two fleeces, an insulated windproof jacket, a beanie and waterproof boots.
- Expect long daylight hours. It's tempting to shoot from 6am to 10pm every day. Pace yourself, because the trip takes everything in the tank.
- Pay for parking and petrol. Most attractions charge around 1,000 ISK for parking. Petrol stations are self-service and tap-and-go doesn't always work, so carry a physical card.
- Keep your camera ready. An Arctic fox ran right past me at Stuðlagil while my camera was in my bag.
- Stay close to the big sights. Sleeping near Skógafoss meant we had it almost to ourselves in the morning.
- Bring spare cards and batteries. We charged batteries in the car every day and still barely kept up.
- Check road conditions. Mountain passes can still be snowed in during May.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film and Meadow.
Looking for more travel photography inspiration? Read my Kyoto travel photography guide.
Iceland photography FAQ
How many days do you need to drive Iceland's Ring Road?
We did it in 8 days with lots of photography stops. It was a busy pace, so add extra days if you want more time at each location.
What is the best lens for Iceland?
I found a 35mm and a 70-200mm the perfect pair: the 35mm for portraits with the landscape in the frame, and the 70-200mm for wildlife, rainbows and details. A 16-35mm is useful for very wide scenes.
When is the best time to visit Iceland for photography?
We went in late April and early May. The waterfalls were powerful from the melting snow, the puffins had arrived, there were long daylight hours and the north was still covered in snow.
What should I wear in Iceland in spring?
Layers: wool socks and wool base layers, fleeces, an insulated windproof jacket, a beanie and waterproof boots. It was around 1°C some days.
Do you need a 4WD for the Ring Road?
The Ring Road itself is paved. We hired a Suzuki Jimny, but we also saw regular cars and campervans on bumpy side roads like the one to the east side of Stuðlagil.
What Lightroom presets did you use for your Iceland photos?
I edited my Iceland photos with my Disposable Film, Meadow, Dulce, Earthy and Mountains Lightroom preset packs.
All the photos in this guide were edited with my own Lightroom presets: Disposable Film, Meadow, Dulce, Earthy and Mountains. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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