Iceland's Golden Circle and South Coast pack more waterfalls, black sand beaches and dramatic cliffs into a few hours of driving than anywhere I've ever photographed. They were the first three days of our 8-day road trip around the Ring Road, and some of my favourite travel photos ever came from this stretch.
In this guide I share the best photography spots on Iceland's Golden Circle and South Coast, in the order we visited them, with tips for each location, which lenses I used and how to avoid the crowds. Everything was shot on the Sony A7IV with the 35mm f/1.4 GM and 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II, plus Dan's 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II for a few wide shots. You can follow the whole route in the vlog below, and see the full itinerary in my Iceland Ring Road photography guide.
Golden Circle photography spots
Öxarárfoss, Þingvellir National Park
Our first official stop was Öxarárfoss in Þingvellir National Park. The walk is easy and flat, and the lava rocks around the falls look incredible. We visited in late April, so the waterfalls were in full force from the melting snow. Tip: parking in P2 gives you a much flatter walk than the next car park, which has a steep hill.
Öxarárfoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Geysir
Next on the Golden Circle is the Geysir geothermal area. It smells like sulphur and Strokkur takes a lot of patience to catch mid-eruption, so start recording on your phone early and keep it rolling.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is huge, and on a sunny afternoon the backlit spray throws a rainbow right across the falls. I switched to my 70-200mm to isolate the rainbow against the water. If you use a polarising filter, be careful: rotating it the wrong way can make a rainbow disappear completely, so check it before you shoot.
Gullfoss, edited with Earthy.
Using the 70-200mm to isolate the rainbow at Gullfoss, edited with Earthy.
Gullfoss, edited with Earthy.
South Coast waterfalls
Skógafoss
Skógafoss was at the top of my bucket list. We stayed at Hotel Skógafoss, right next to the falls, and even though jet lag made us miss sunrise, we still had it almost to ourselves for an hour first thing in the morning. Staying nearby is the best way to beat the crowds.
Skógafoss, edited with Disposable Film.
I used the 35mm for portraits with the whole waterfall in the frame. It's wide enough to show the scale of the location while keeping the person the hero of the photo.
Portraits at Skógafoss, edited with Disposable Film.
A 35mm portrait at Skógafoss, edited with Disposable Film.
When more people arrived, I switched to the 70-200mm and photographed the seabirds flying in front of the falls. At 200mm, with the waterfall as a soft grey backdrop, it looks beautiful. It's a game of patience, waiting for the birds to fly towards you.
Birds at Skógafoss with the 70-200mm, edited with Disposable Film.
Crowd tip: there's always a wave of people, and then a gap. If you wait a few minutes, you'll get a window with nobody in the frame. I also often photograph strangers to work out my composition, then ask Dan to stand in that spot.
Skógafoss, edited with Disposable Film. Get a raincoat on: the spray drenches you.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
A 20-minute drive back west, Seljalandsfoss has a short walk past three waterfalls. You can walk right behind Seljalandsfoss, and the last waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, is hidden inside a narrow canyon. Parking costs about 900 ISK, and there's a small gift shop and free toilets.
Bring a raincoat and something to wipe your lens. With the sun behind the falls, the backlit spray is gorgeous for portraits, but my lens was so wet that my camera struggled to focus.
Backlit portraits at Seljalandsfoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Seljalandsfoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Gljúfrabúi, edited with Disposable Film. Wait for a gap between people walking out of the canyon.
Kvernufoss
Kvernufoss is a quieter waterfall in a canyon just near Skógafoss, and you can walk behind it too. The river makes a swirly leading line up to the falls, and there was a perfect rainbow when we visited. This is where my memory card filled up, so pack spares.
Kvernufoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Plane wreck, Dyrhólaey and Vík
Sólheimasandur plane wreck
The DC-3 plane wreck on Sólheimasandur beach is a long, completely flat walk across black sand. It took us 47 minutes each way. The plane crashed in 1973 after severe icing caused engine failure, and all seven people on board survived. It's busy, so I take several frames and stitch together the ones with nobody in each spot. A drone shot from above shows how isolated it is.
Sólheimasandur plane wreck, edited with Disposable Film.
Dyrhólaey
The cliffs at Dyrhólaey lighthouse have incredible views over the black sand beaches on either side. We hoped to spot puffins here but had no luck. If you want to see puffins, read my guide to where to see puffins in Iceland.
Dyrhólaey at golden hour, edited with Disposable Film.
Reynisfjara and Reynisdrangar
We stayed in Vík, nestled between huge mountains, and walked to Reynisfjara black sand beach in the morning. The basalt columns and the cave are amazing for portraits: the columns look like layers of pastry, and the soft light bouncing in the cave is so flattering. Stay well back from the water here, as the waves are notoriously dangerous.
Reynisdrangar sea stacks from Vík, edited with Havana.
Portraits at the Reynisfjara basalt columns, edited with Mountains.
Inside the Reynisfjara cave, edited with Mountains.
The Yoda Cave, Hjörleifshöfði
Just east of Vík, the Yoda Cave at Hjörleifshöfði gets its name from the shape of its entrance. Shoot from deep inside, with someone standing in the opening, for a striking silhouette.
The Yoda Cave, edited with Mountains.
Fjaðrárgljúfur and Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a mossy, winding canyon with viewing platforms along the top. It's very windy up there, with gusts that physically push you. With the cloudy, even light I mostly shot at f/2.5 instead of f/1.4, and a wide angle lens shows off the canyon's shape best.
Fjaðrárgljúfur, edited with Disposable Film.
The viewing platform at Fjaðrárgljúfur, edited with Disposable Film.
Stjórnarfoss
Our last stop that day was Stjórnarfoss near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, five minutes from our hotel. We had it completely to ourselves. Pro tip: wait until everyone leaves. Even five minutes alone is sometimes all you need.
Stjórnarfoss, edited with Disposable Film.
The fields behind our accommodation were perfect for golden hour portraits with the 35mm, even with the sun going in and out of the clouds.
Golden hour near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Tips for photographing Iceland's South Coast
- Stay close to the big spots. Sleeping next to Skógafoss meant we had it almost to ourselves.
- Pack a raincoat and lens cloths. Waterfall spray soaks you and your lens.
- Bring a telephoto. The 70-200mm was perfect for rainbows, birds and cutting out crowds.
- Use a polariser carefully. It can boost a rainbow or erase it completely.
- Budget for parking. Most attractions charge around 1,000 ISK for parking.
- Carry spare memory cards and batteries. Long daylight hours mean you'll shoot far more than you expect.
- Wait for gaps in the crowds. People arrive in waves, so a few minutes of patience pays off.
Continue the road trip east in my Jökulsárlón and Southeast Iceland photography guide.
Iceland South Coast photography FAQ
What are the best photography spots on Iceland's South Coast?
Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, Kvernufoss, the Sólheimasandur plane wreck, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara black sand beach, the Yoda Cave, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and Stjórnarfoss are all highlights.
How long is the walk to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck?
The walk is completely flat but long. It took us about 47 minutes each way.
Can you walk behind Seljalandsfoss?
Yes. You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss, and you can also walk behind Kvernufoss near Skógafoss. Wear a raincoat because you'll get wet.
What lens should I bring to photograph Iceland's waterfalls?
A 35mm is great for portraits with the whole waterfall in the frame, a 70-200mm is useful for rainbows, birds and avoiding crowds, and a 16-35mm helps with very wide or close-up scenes.
How do you avoid crowds at Skógafoss?
Stay nearby and go early in the morning. Later in the day, wait for gaps between groups of people, which usually come every few minutes.
Do you have to pay for parking at Iceland's waterfalls?
Most attractions charge for parking, usually around 1,000 ISK. Seljalandsfoss was about 900 ISK when we visited.
All the photos in this post were edited with my Disposable Film, Earthy, Mountains and Havana Lightroom presets. 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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