The Best Places to Elope in Iceland

OMG, let me tell you – Iceland’s dramatic landscapes are LITERALLY the perfect backdrop for couples who want an intimate, adventurous wedding experience! From breathtaking waterfalls to those iconic black sand beaches, glacial lagoons to out-of-this-world volcanic terrain, Iceland offers ENDLESS possibilities for an elopement you’ll remember forever!! I’m taking you on a journey around the entire Ring Road to show you the best places to elope in Iceland.

As an Iceland elopement photographer, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to elope in Iceland! There’s a little bit of everything from black beaches, to glaciers, to volcanos, to ice caves, and so much more!

Why Elope in Iceland?

You know what, that’s A GREAT QUESTION!! Honestly, there’s so many freaking reasons to elope in Iceland, but here’s a few:

• A safe destination for LGBTQIA+ couples
• Insane, otherworldly landscapes (imagine being transported to a fantasy novel)
• Tons of adventuring and exploring to be had
• Midnight Sun in the summer
• Northern Lights in the winter
• Lots of cozy stays that embrace hygge
• Honeymoon destination at the same time

The Best Places to Elope in Iceland in 2026

Skógafoss Waterfall

Skógafoss is one of the most iconic waterfalls in all of Iceland! It’s absolutely GORGEOUS, but one thing you need to know is that this is one of the most visited places in Iceland. So keep this in mind when planning your elopement! You’ll probably want to elope at sunrise or sunset to avoid crowds as much as possible.

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: Between May and October
  
• Entry Ticket Required: Yes, paid through the Parka app.

• Where to Stay: Consider staying at Hotel Vik

• Pro Tip: GO UP THE STEPS!! If you are able to climb the 400+ steps located to the right of the waterfall, you’ll be in for a treat (and guess what – MORE waterfalls!) It felt like being in Terresan from Throne of Glass. It may have you huffing at the top, but it’s so worth it.

Check out Aiden & Corey’s Iceland Adventure featuring Skógafoss Here!

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Have you dreamed of including a glacier in your elopement day? Jökulsárlón is Europe’s biggest glacier located about 2 and 1/2 hours from Vik! You might want to consider adding this to your list of locations for your elopement.

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: All Year Round
  
• Entry Ticket Required: Yes, paid through the Parka app

• Where to Stay: Fosshotel

• Enhance Your Experience: Take a boat tour here! The lagoon offers 2 different kinds of boat tours so you can get up close and personal to the glaciers, which is pretty freaking cool. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can do a kayak tour in the lagoon. Go big or go home on your elopement day, right?!

Ice Cave

What if you took it a step further than a glacier? What if you and your partner visited an ice cave in your adventures for your Iceland elopement? Not only do you get stunning and unique photos from your adventure, but it also adds an experience to your day.

What You Need to Know about Eloping in an Ice Cave in Iceland

• The best time to elope in an ice cave is late fall (October/November) through Spring (March/April). While the glaciers still look beautiful in the summer, the ice caves are unstable and take on more of a brown/muddy color due to the melt in the summer.

• To get to an ice cave, you must book a tour with a licensed tour guide.

• Your tour guide with provide microspikes for you and your partner.

Kvernufoss

Still wanting a waterfall that might be a little less touristy than Skógafoss? Let me introduce you to Kvernufoss! This is located not very far from Skógafoss, but it offers a completely different view and vibe. Tucked back into a canyon, you can walk behind the waterfall, see sheep here in the summer, and more.

Check out Laura & Hugo’s Kvernufoss Iceland Elopement Here!

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: All Year Round
  
• Entry Ticket Required: Yes, paid through the Parka app

• Where to Stay: Black Beach Suites

• What You Need to Know:

Reynisfjara Black Beach

You already know – it’s the FAMOUS Reynisfjara Black Beach!! Now, this beach can get hella busy so you’ll want to keep that in mind for planning your elopement. But she’s GORGEOUS!

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: All Year Round
  
• Entry Ticket Required: Yes, paid through the Parka app.

• Where to Stay: Black Beach Suites

• What You Need to Know: Respect the deadly sneaker waves! Reynisfjara is famous for its powerful waves, which can unexpectedly surge much farther than expected. Never turn your back on the ocean, and stay a safe distance away from the shoreline even if it looks calm. (Take a look at the tide chart here)

Landmannalaugar

Is it Mars or is it Iceland?! Landmannalauger is a crazy gorgeous and unique spot to consider for your Iceland elopement. Not to mention the hot springs nearby that would be a perfect way to celebrate your day 😉

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: mid-June to mid-September

• Where to Stay: Hotel Ranga

• What You Need to Know: Landmannalugar (and the Icelandic Highlands in general) are only accessible from mid-June to mid-September. You will need a 4×4 vehicle to access the highlands and experience crossing rivers in a vehicle. Otherwise, you can hire a licensed tour guide to take you.

Stokksnes & Vestrahorn Mountain

This less-visited black sand beach features the dramatic Vestrahorn mountain as a backdrop and it’s incredible! If you can manage to catch the sunrise or sunset here, you’ll be in for an incredible treat.

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: May-September
  
• Entry Ticket Required: Yes, paid at the Viking Cafe. (About 1.100 ISK/$7-$10 USD)

• Where to Stay: Hotel Hofn

• What You Need to Know: Bring your jackets and layers, this spot can get pretty windy!

Búðir Black Church

You’ve probably seen photos of this iconic little black church, right?! The way it sits against the landscape of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula makes for a truly beautiful spot for your elopement. Not to mention, it’s actually one of the few churches in Iceland where you can have your ceremony – which means a perfect plan B spot!

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: All Year Round
  
• Entry Ticket Required: No, but if you’d like your ceremony inside the church, you will need to reserve it. You can find more info here!

• Where to Stay: Hótel Búðir

• What You Need to Know: Reserving the church for your ceremony is about 46.000 ISK/$365 USD for one hour.

Þingvellir National Park

This National Park in Iceland isn’t just gorgeous and located close to Reyjavik, but it’s also rich in history. it’s where Iceland’s first parliament was founded over 1,000 years ago! Not to mention, there’s lots of spots that are easy to access but you can still get that seclusion you’re wanting for your day.

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: All Year Round
  
• Entry Ticket Required: There is no entrance fee, but if you’re driving a car through the National Park, you do need to pay a 1.000 ISK/$7 USD fee for a vehicle with up to 5 seats.

• Where to Stay: Hótel Búðir

• What You Need to Know:

The West Fjords

If you and your partner are wanting the maximum amount of privacy, all the adventure, and some of the best scenery in all of Iceland: you might want to consider eloping in the West Fjords! It’s super remote (definitely plan out your time here, buy food in advance, etc) and it’s SO worth it.

The waterfalls in the West Fjords are breathtaking.

Take a look at Keira & Paige’s West Fjords Elopement Here!

• The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: June-September

• Where to Stay: Brekka Guesthouse

• What You Need to Know: You will be driving around the fjords, on mountain roads with no guardrails, and through long tunnels that might seem scary if you’re not used to them.

Northern Iceland

The Northern part of Iceland is EXTREMELY underrated in my opinion!! There’s lots of stunning beaches, fjords, mountains, etc. It is a big drive from Reykjavik, but it’s so worth it. And guess what – there’s trees!

The Best Time of the Year to Elope Here: June-September

• Where to Stay: Berjaya Akureyri
  
• What You Need to Know: Akureyri is the capital in North Iceland, with many small charming villages and towns scattered throughout.

Where to Elope in Northern Iceland

• Goðafoss
• Mývatn Lake

Feeling Overwhelmed with All The Possibilities?

I totally get it! Iceland is unlike anywhere else on Earth, so it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to planning your elopement. That’s where I come in! 😉

From helping you find the perfect locations for your elopement to planning out your day, I’ll take the stress out of the planning process so you can focus on the experience. Not only do you get the best places to elope in Iceland, but you get location recommendations tailored exactly to what you’re envisioning. (I like to call this location matchmaking!)

As an Iceland elopement photographer, let me guide you in finding the ideal location and capturing every magical moment of your adventure. Reach out, and let’s start planning your Iceland elopement!

(Pssst.. and don’t forget to check out my other blog post on The Best Airbnbs For Your Iceland Elopement!)

I’m a certified Leave No Trace Aware photographer and a proud supporter of the Public Land Creatives! Not to mention, I’m proud to support organizations such as: The Superior Hiking Trail, Gregory’s Gift of Hope, The Trevor Project, National Parks of Lake Superior, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Where we put our money matters.