.png)
After I had been able to roam through fascinating Iceland twice before in summer, it was finally time to visit the land of fire and ice in winter, more precisely at the beginning of February.
I traveled the north of Iceland for six days and a few nights.
From February to March - in these weeks you find a good compromise between the number of hours of sunshine and good light with a high probability of photographing the Northern Lights at night.
Here is a selection of my personal photo spot favorites in alphabetical order, purely subjective and without any claim to completeness:
Aldeyjarfoss waterfall
Aldeyjarfoss is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year, but in winter getting there can be tricky or even closed.
Therefore, make sure that you have a 4×4 vehicle available and that you have checked the weather and road conditions shortly before the trip.
I recommend the website https://umferdin.is/en or the “SafeTravel” app.
Aldeyjarfoss isn't huge, only about 20m tall, but it's just as impressive as the taller waterfalls found throughout Iceland.
A special beauty, with the surrounding basalt columns and the turquoise blue white foaming water color, it stands out impressively in this barren landscape.
You can drive almost to the waterfall, which is why Aldeyjarfoss is often referred to as “the perfect photography location in Iceland”.
GPS data parking lot: 65.364307, -17.341277.
Dettifoss waterfall
Dettifoss in the northeast of the island is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland. Considered the second most powerful waterfall in Europe (according to some sources, even the most powerful), it is known less for its appearance and more for its size and enormous volume: it stretches 100 meters wide and 45 meters high! This is why it is often nicknamed “the beast” – as a counterpart to Godafoss, which is known as “the beautiful one”.
Route 864 to Dettifoss
Route 864 is unpaved and leads to the eastern side of Dettifoss. This road is normally open from late May to early October, but is closed during the winter months due to potentially dangerous road conditions.
Route 862 to Dettifoss
Route 862 is a paved road that takes you to the western side of Dettifoss. This road is normally passable from April to December.
I was lucky that the winter of 2025 was relatively mild in the north of Iceland, so the 40-minute drive from the ring road was not closed on this route.
On both the west and east sides you still have to walk a few meters to the waterfall. On the west side, a largely flat path leads to the viewing platform in about 20 minutes.
Note that in winter you will need shoe spikes to hike to the waterfall to avoid slipping and falling on the icy trails.
GPS data parking lot west side: 65.811708, -16.399950.
Godafoss waterfall
Godafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods”, is one of Iceland's true treasures and one of the largest waterfalls in this impressive country. It is fed by the Skjálfandafljót River, which flows through a 7,000-year-old lava field from the Trölladyngja volcano. Tröll means troll in German, so the area definitely has a certain mystery to it and has inspired many legends.
The waterfall flows over 30-meter-wide horseshoe-shaped cliffs and is divided in the middle by rocks. One part is about 9 meters high and the second part is 17 meters high.
When the water is high enough, other waterfalls often appear, making this place even more magical.
In the winter time it can transform into a winter wonderland where icicles form despite the rushing water. In addition, the intense color of the water is further highlighted by the snow.
Although this luck was denied me during my stay, I had the pleasure of experiencing and photographing the Northern Lights over this majestic scenery on two nights.
Godafoss is right on the ring road, so no detour is necessary and the short walk to the waterfall is easy. However, be careful, there is a risk of slippery surfaces in some places, shoe claws are highly recommended. The only parking lot open in winter is next to the guest house, on the east bank of the river.
GPS data parking lot east side: 65.683810, -17.540715.
Husavik - Gatanöf/Bakkahöfdi
A lot of interesting monoliths and arched rocks can be found along the coast of Iceland, two of which are in northern Iceland at Cape Bakkahöfdi, 3 km north of the port town of Husavik.
One of them is called Gatanöf (GPS 66.073487, -17.358603), a very striking arched rock that, from a certain angle, resembles a huge elephant.
The other is called Bakkahöfdi (GPS 66.076758, -17.363743) and is at the tip of the peninsula.
You can take some beautiful sunset photos at these spots. These spots are also ideal for capturing the northern lights.
GPS data parking lot: 66.073009, -17.349290, from there about 15 or 20 minutes walk to the rocks.
Hvitserkur
On the eastern side of the Vatnsnes Peninsula stands another striking arched rock, Hvitserkur, which rises 15 meters from the beach.
Hvitserkur means “The White Kaftan,” which refers to the partially white color.
Unfortunately, this color has no mystical or geological origin, but rather comes from the birds that do their business on this interesting rock formation.
Since the formation is located just 30 kilometers from the Ring Road, there is really no reason to miss this incredible sight of nature.
This rock formation is believed to be an evil troll who was caught in the morning light after another night of cowardly pastime and then turned to stone.
The reality of this basalt cliff formation is just as interesting and impressive as the folklore about trolls. The reason the formation with its two holes looks like strange gateways to other worlds is due to its constant battle with the elements and the Arctic Ocean. One day it will undoubtedly lose this battle, but until then human intervention has reinforced the structure with concrete to keep it with us a little longer and continue to attract tourists ;-)
GPS data parking lot: 65.603702, -20.639602, from there about 20 minutes walk to the rock. Shoe spikes are recommended as the steep path towards the beach can be icy.
Lake Myvatn
In Northern Iceland lies the lake region of Myvatn, which many locals consider to be the most beautiful in all of Iceland. This natural wonder was created by a massive basalt eruption, which is why Lake Myvatn is now home to incredible geological features and a diverse range of flora and fauna.
The area surrounding the lake is dotted with various volcanic landscapes of incredible beauty, including pseudocraters, lava columns, lava fields and hot springs.
Not only are these places breathtaking to look at, but they also provide valuable insight into the raw natural forces that have shaped Iceland's unique landscape.
Although this lake region has many attractions that are more likely to be explored in the summer, the winter months offer their own charm.
One of the most outstanding experiences is the chance to observe the fascinating Northern Lights. The dark sky around Lake Myvatn provides the ideal backdrop for this natural spectacle. Driving around Lake Myvatn you will be able to enjoy many perspectives such as: B. the huge crater Hverfjall, which is around 2900 years old.
There are a lot of viewpoints and parking options around the lakeshore, so a special recommendation would be unnecessary.
Selfoss waterfall
Selfoss is located very close to Dettifoss and is also on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river in Northern Iceland. Although this waterfall is not as powerful or voluminous as Dettifoss, it is wider and consists of many smaller falls that make for beautiful photo opportunities.
From Dettifoss it is about 30 minutes walk to Selfoss, you can park your car in the same parking lot. Actually, route 864 is recommended because from the east side you have a better view of the small waterfalls, most of which are on the opposite side. However, this route is closed in winter. Of course you can also visit Selfoss from the west side - there you can experience it from a different perspective. GPS data parking lot west side: 65.811708, -16.399950.
Comments