Iceland Photography: 10 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit

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Finding a bad picture of Iceland is hard. The country is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Anyone with a dream of adding some fantastic Iceland photography to their name will not be short on subjects. I had to remind myself to stop clicking every now and again and just enjoy where I was.

Are you on the fence about whether Iceland is actually worth visiting? Or maybe just looking for some travel inspiration? Well you’re in luck, because today I’m sharing ten photos that will likely put you firmly on Team Iceland.

Is Iceland really all that?

After sitting at the top of my bucket list for what seems like forever, I’ve finally been able to cross Iceland off of it. That doesn’t mean I won’t be back. I can’t wait to return as soon as I possibly can. In fact a flight delay causing a missed connection got me back there a lot sooner than I expected. Another free day in Iceland I hadn’t planned on.

Any Iceland photography you see perfectly captures the incredible natural beauty of the country. The pristine coastline, fast flowing waterfalls and unique landscapes. But Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik is also a visually stunning place to visit. Distinctive architecture is interlaced with colorful buildings and streets that make this city feel like a small town.

In short, yes Iceland is amazing. I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with it as soon as they land. But don’t just trust my words, see for yourself with these pictures.

Is Iceland good for solo travelers?

Iceland is a fabulous place with friendly people, lots to see and do and very English language friendly. Which all add up to it being a really easy destination to travel to as a solo traveler or with others.

Crime in Iceland is very low. And although you should always think about travel safety as a solo female traveler it’s a very safe destination to visit.

Reykjavik is a very walkable city and super easy to get around. To get around the rest of the country is easy enough too if you rent your own vehicle. Less so if you don’t. A great way to see more of the country if you don’t want to drive is to take advantage of some local small group tours.

In the summer the days are extremely long and the sun barely goes down. I was up at 3am for an airport transfer and you’d think it was daytime. I even got to watch the sunset at midnight – although it never fully went down.

Of all the places in the world I’ve traveled by myself, Iceland was maybe my favorite. I felt unbelievably safe and everyone was so welcoming.

Iceland Photography: Pictures to fall in love with Iceland by

Iceland is so much more than these 10 photos. This enchanting country has almost limitless scenic views. But if you want to narrow it down, here are some of the things and places that made Iceland extra special to me.

Mountains

Iceland has over 4000 mountains, so despite the flat looking terrain as you arrive near the ocean and lava fields, it can get quite hilly.

As well as mountains, the country is also home to over 100 volcanoes. Iceland photography doesn’t get much more dramatic than a cloudy mountain picture – the stormier looking the better.

Coastline

Being an island, Iceland has plenty of coastline for you to visit. Sandy beaches, rocky peninsulas and vertical cliffs hug the island at every twist and turn.

And the clear blue waters make for an even bigger contrast. Get out of Reykjavik and see some of the coastal wonders of Iceland – breathing in the ever-fresh sea air.

Churches

Many European countries are known for their historic and traditional looking churches. Not Iceland. Many of their churches are wonderfully unique that you can’t help be drawn in by them.

As well as the Black Church, seen earlier in this post, another quirky church can be found in Reykjavik. Hallgrímskirkja is one of the tallest buildings in the country, and stands on top of a hill in the centre of Iceland’s capital.

Icelandic Folklore

Ask an Icelandic person if they believe in Elves and they will most likely say yes. The country has a rich history of local folklore that is really still a part of everyday life.

Trolls are another big belief here. These scary creatures came from mountains at night to feast (often on people) but are turned to stone if they see daylight. So there are many rocks which people believe were formerly trolls.

This particular troll is in Arnarstapi and is a sculpture created more as a protector of the small village based on another local legend.

Thermal spas

If you know anything about Iceland it’s probably about the Blue Lagoon thermal spa. The luxury spa might not be Iceland’s only geothermal spa, but it’s the most famous.

The name becomes clear when you see it, the milky blue water very distinct against the black volcanic rock. Although there are cheaper alternatives, none are probably as visually stunning as this.

Architecture

Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, grew at an incredible rate after WWII from more of a small village to a large city. Post-war development was huge, so the city has a lot of modern architecture mixed in with some more traditional styles.

Hallgrímskirkja church was built in the late 1980s, and a lot of other distinctive buildings followed. The Harpa Concert Hall is one of my favorites. Opened in 2011, it’s a magnificent structure made of colored glass.

Beaches

Iceland photography locations don’t get much more otherworldly than its unusual black sand beaches. From the smallest, smoothest black pebbles you’ve ever seen, to the grainy black sand itself, they are unique to say the least.

A stormy sky, rusted remains of wrecked ships and the lapping blue waves of the ocean make these hauntingly beautiful places to visit. And probably somewhere you won’t want to leave in a hurry.

Colorful streets

While a lot of Iceland’s landscape is known for being rugged with an almost permanent dark and stormy appearance, Reykjavik hits differently. The city has splashes of color everywhere and it makes it a really fun place to explore.

As well as the pretty, Scandinavian-inspired, colorful buildings you’ll see, even some of the streets are painted bright colors.

Rainbow Street, known locally as Skólavörðustígur is one of the most Instagrammable places in Iceland. It’s not hard to see why this place always crops up in any Iceland photography guide.

Artwork

Painted streets are almost as popular as street art in Reykjavik. There are many murals painted on the side of buildings in and around the city. The country is also known for many other pieces of artwork too, some of which you can find in its fantastic museums.

Look out for public art as you travel around Iceland – a lot of this artwork also has some Icelandic heritage behind it. Like this piece called Sun Voyager, which among other things symbolizes early migration to Iceland.

Waterfalls

You can’t help but chase them. The subject of some of the best Iceland photography, its waterfalls are second to none. There are said to be over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland (or foss as they are known there).

Some of the most famous waterfalls are now getting so popular that you have to get there really early (or late if it’s the summer and you have sun all night long) if you want to see them without lots of people. A lot of patience, and a good camera angle can really help capture some stunning shots though.

The best Iceland photography locations

You can’t go wrong with finding a muse or two in the Icelandic countryside – or its towns and cities for that matter. The country is surreal, and maybe unlike any other you’ve ever visited.

Lava fields are as common here as the rolling green hills of England. The striking mountain views punctuated with gushing waterfalls will have your jaw dropping to the floor.

The Golden Circle is a 140-mile scenic circular route through some of the best of what the country has to offer. But make sure to check out other areas of Iceland too. The South Coast, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and even East Iceland deserve some love. Allow plenty of time to discover everything the country has to offer – and get some stellar photos to remember it by.

If you’ve enjoyed this post and loved some of the Iceland photography shots here leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to Iceland before? What is your favorite thing about this beautiful country?