Where to Elope in North Iceland
Kari Bjorn Photography | Iceland Elopement Photographer
ELOPING IN NORTH ICELAND AND THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT
Eloping in Iceland is a dream! While most couples choose an elopement location near Reykjavik or in south Iceland, the north has many amazing spots, and fewer people! Iceland can be divided into 8 regions, the capital region, Reykjanes peninsula, south Iceland, east Iceland, north Iceland, the West Fjords, and the Snæfellsnes peninsula with west Iceland is one region.
North Iceland spreads from the Hrútafjörður fjord in the northwest to the tiny fishing village Kópasker in the northeast. Akureyri is the capital of the region with a population just over 20,000 people.
ELOPEMENTS IN NORTH ICELAND
Eloping in north Iceland is ideal for couples who would like an intimate experience. The north has way fewer inhabitants and less tourist traffic than Reykjavik and south Iceland, for example. This means you are way more likely to have the landscapes of Iceland all to yourself.
In addition to that, the weather in the north is usually better in summer than in the south. Summer usually brings warm winds from the south which usually include rain that then falls in south Iceland. When the winds finally get to the north, all the rain has fallen and it’s just sunny and warm.
Learn more about my Iceland elopement photography and check out more of my favorite locations in Iceland.
THE DIAMOND CIRCLE
You might be more familiar with the Golden Circle down in Southeast Iceland. The Diamond Circle is the northern equivalent. Many of the best elopement locations in north Iceland are on the Diamond Circle. A small part of the Diamond Circle is on the Ring Road (or highway 1) but most of it are newly paved country roads. It used to be rugged and unpaved until the last bit was finished in 2020. On the circle is Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, and favorite place in all of Iceland, Ásbyrgi! The Diamond Circle on its own would be a perfect setting for a full elopement day with a ceremony and portraits in the Icelandic landscape.
MY 5 FAVORITE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS IN NORTH ICELAND
GOÐAFOSS
Goðafoss waterfalls is one of the most visited spots in north Iceland, but it never gets as crowded as it gets around the big waterfalls in the south. It is right on the Ring Road, about an hour east of Akureyri. Goðafoss has a few small cliffs that would be ideal for an elopement ceremony or couples portraits. The falls are also perfect for a midnight ceremony in summer, when the sun never sets.
ALDEYJARFOSS
Aldeyjarfoss is one of the more overlooked waterfalls in the north! It is about an hour south of Goðafoss and takes its unique look from the basalt columns, also known as Stuðlaberg. There is a viewing deck and another spot to take pictures from. If you are into the dark and moody type of images, then Aldeyjarfoss could be a great option for your elopement ceremony. Aldeyjarfoss is the entryway into the Icelandic highlands from the north, so there is barely any greenery around, most of the year.
HVÍTSERKUR
Speaking of basalt! Hvítserkur is a basalt stack in the shores of Vatnsnes peninsula in northwestern Iceland. Just like the previous location, it is slightly off the Ring Road, so you can expect a bit less tourist traffic. Hvítserkur is a magical place for an elopement! The perfect time would be during the midnight sun when the tide is low and you can walk up to the rock.
MÝVATN
The Mývatn lake nature preserve has a tiny bit different landscape than the rest of Iceland. The Laxá river that feeds the lake also makes the area forested, which is pretty rare in Iceland. This makes Mývatn an excellent option if you want to get some fall colors in your elopement photos, aim to be there around mid-September for the ultimate foliage.
ÁSBYRGI
Last but not least is Ásbyrgi, a large horseshoe shaped canyon on the Diamond Circle road. This is my favorite place in Iceland, it is about as far as you can get from Reykjavík by the way. Getting up to the top of the canyon is a bit of a trek, but worth it. Two more spots are the bigger and smaller viewing decks over the Botnstjörn lake, seen in the photo. Ásbyrgi is forested, so my recommendation would be to have your elopement there in September to take full advantage of the fall colors, otherwise barely seen in Iceland.
© Kari Bjorn, 2024