The final days of our Ring Road trip took us across the north of Iceland, where everything was still covered in snow in early May, and back down to Reykjavik. This part of the country felt completely different from the South Coast: basalt canyons, thundering waterfalls surrounded by snow, volcanic lakes and, to finish, the most colourful little capital city.
In this guide I share my favourite North Iceland and Reykjavik photography spots: Stuðlagil Canyon, Dettifoss, Mývatn, Goðafoss and the best photo spots in Reykjavik, with practical tips for each. It covers days six to eight of our trip. The full itinerary is in my Iceland Ring Road photography guide.
Stuðlagil Canyon
Stuðlagil is a canyon lined with huge hexagonal basalt columns and a glacial river running through it. There are two ways to see it:
- West side: the main car park, with toilets and stairs down to a viewing platform.
- East side (our pick): about five minutes before the main car park there's a small town. Cross the bridge and park on the other side of the canyon. From there it's a walk of roughly half an hour, past a waterfall, and in good conditions you can walk down to the bottom of the canyon. The road to this car park is bumpy and rocky, but we saw regular cars and campervans make it.
When we visited it was 1°C, extremely windy and snowy, so nobody could get down to the canyon floor safely. It was still a beautiful walk. It took us about an hour to reach the canyon, including stops, and we even saw an Arctic fox run right past us. My camera was in my bag, so I missed the shot. Always keep your camera on and ready.
Stuðlagil Canyon in the snow, edited with Meadow.
The basalt columns of Stuðlagil, edited with Meadow.
A telephoto detail of the basalt columns, edited with Meadow.
The east side walk, edited with Meadow.
Dettifoss
Dettifoss is often called the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and it's humongous. We walked in through snow so deep and bright I could barely open my eyes. I'd never seen a waterfall surrounded by snow before, so this was a first for me. When the sun came out, a faint rainbow appeared in the mist. Walk back to the first lookout for the best chance of seeing it.
Dettifoss, edited with Meadow.
Mývatn
We stayed by Lake Mývatn, surrounded by volcanic craters, with another incredible view from our hotel room. In the evening we walked down to the water for portraits in the snowy landscape.
Portrait at Mývatn, edited with Meadow.
Mývatn and the view from our room, edited with Meadow.
A tip from my travel kit: I carry my camera on a Peak Design clip on my camera bag strap, with an Arca-Swiss compatible plate on the camera so I can be hands-free on hikes and still grab the camera in a second. Just be aware it can make your shoulder sore after a long day.
Goðafoss
On the long drive west across the north, Goðafoss appears out of nowhere in the middle of flat terrain. There are car parks on both sides of the river, and the views are quite different, so visit both. Dan and I both preferred the left-hand side. The lower viewing platform was closed when we visited because of snow, so I needed my 70-200mm to get closer.
Goðafoss, edited with Meadow.
Reykjavik photography spots
We finished the trip in Reykjavik, about an hour's drive from our last hotel. It was the only rainy day of the whole week, but the overcast light was perfect for the city's colourful buildings. We started with pastries at Brauð & Co. I had the pecan and maple, and Dan had rhubarb.
Murals and colourful buildings
Reykjavik is full of colourful houses and beautiful murals. Whale murals are a recurring theme, and they're my favourite. A black and white mural makes a striking background for a portrait.
Reykjavik murals, edited with Disposable Film.
A mural as a portrait backdrop, edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film.
The rainbow street, Skólavörðustígur
The painted rainbow street on Skólavörðustígur leads straight up to Hallgrímskirkja, so you get the church as a leading line at the end of the street. Walking shots work really well here.
The rainbow street, edited with Disposable Film.
Walking shots on Skólavörðustígur, edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavik's most famous landmark. Look for branches framing the church from the square out front. You can take a lift to the top of the tower. It cost us 2,800 ISK for two adults, and the view over the colourful rooftops is worth it. I put the 70-200mm on to pick out details. Fair warning: the bells are very loud if you're up there when they ring.
Hallgrímskirkja, edited with Disposable Film.
The view from the tower, edited with Disposable Film.
Compressing Reykjavik's colours with the 70-200mm, edited with Disposable Film.
Missed the start of the trip? Read my South Coast and Golden Circle guide, my Jökulsárlón and Southeast Iceland guide and my guide to where to see puffins in Iceland.
North Iceland and Reykjavik FAQ
How do you get to the bottom of Stuðlagil Canyon?
Park on the east side of the canyon by crossing the bridge before the main car park, then walk about half an hour past a waterfall. In good conditions you can walk down to the canyon floor, but when there's snow it may not be safe.
Which side of Goðafoss is better?
There are car parks on both sides. We both preferred the view from the left-hand side, but it's worth seeing both.
Can you go to the top of Hallgrímskirkja?
Yes. There's a lift to the top of the tower. It cost us 2,800 ISK for two adults.
Where is the rainbow street in Reykjavik?
The rainbow street is Skólavörðustígur, which leads up to Hallgrímskirkja church.
Is North Iceland snowy in May?
When we visited at the start of May, Stuðlagil, Dettifoss, Mývatn and Goðafoss were still covered in snow, and it was around 1°C.
The photos in this post were edited with my Meadow and Disposable Film Lightroom preset packs. 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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