Amazing Videos from Iceland
Are you wondering what Icelandic landscapes look like? Do you long to see the beauty of the Northern Lights in Iceland or are you curious to know what places such as the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon are like? Then look no further and join us on a visual journey of Iceland that is sure to leave you amazed.
This island at the end of the world is home diverse landscapes of such natural beauty that one sometimes finds it hard to believe they are real. This is where volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, glaciers, winds and sea merge to create some of the planet's most dramatic sceneries.
Iceland’s striking and contrasting landscapes attract visitors from all over the world, who are drawn to the land's unique nature; the never-setting sun that the bright summer brings, and the long winters of frost, snow, ice caves and Northern Lights.
Many, if not most, travellers document their journey to Iceland through photographs and videos. As they travel through lush fields and mountainous terrains that fade into volcanic wastelands, they take out their camera, phone or drone to try to capture amazing photos or videos of the waterfalls, glaciers, mountains and geysers they come across.
Some of these keen photographers and filmmakers have created short movies of their memories of Iceland and have shared them with the world, so you too can see the breathtaking Arctic landscapes.
The above videos are by OZZO Photography and you can find more amazing videos from them on Vimeo, Instagram, and Facebook.
Amazing Nature Videos of Iceland
James Nicholas, an adventure-seeker from Scarsdale, New York, came to the country a short while ago and shot this amazing video on the South Coast and in western Iceland.
The 20-year-old is an enthusiastic traveller, always seeking out new places to explore and capture on film. Whether it be the Arctic or the Caribbean, James combines breathtaking nature shots with skilfull editing creating both incredible and unique videos for the world to see.
In his Iceland video, James not only shows you stunning footage of waterfalls, canyons and adorable lambs, he also takes you on some of his adventures. You’ll get a taste of what it is like to snorkel between two continents in the breathtaking Silfra fissure, walk through the maze of tunnels in Langjökull glacier, sail among the icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and unwind in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon.
See James travel around the world on his Youtube channel, and follow his adventures through his Instagram account.
In September of 2016, Anya Anti visited the country for the first time with her husband. The Icelandic nature, cloaked in the red and yellow autumn colours, had such an impact on them that they decided to visit again six months later.
This time they arrived in February when the whole country was blanketed in snow, and in the video, you’ll get to follow Anya past the snowy peaks and frosty landscapes of Iceland’s South Coast.
You’ll witness both thunderous waves crashing on the shore of the frozen Reynisfjara black sand beach and the stillness that the crisp winter air brings to the DC plane wreck on Sólheimasandur. You’ll see the contrasting scenery of Skógafoss waterfall in the winter as the white water cascades down the black cliffs, and how beautiful the mountain Eystrahorn is mirrored in the surrounding seawater.
Anya Anti is a Ukrainian fine art photographer based in New York. In 2014 she packed her bags and moved to the United States, giving herself the opportunity to explore new places and photograph the world around her.
After witnessing the beautiful Icelandic nature in both the autumn and the winter, Anya hopes to visit the country again and experience the 22 hours of sunlight the midnight sun delivers.
You can see more of Anya’s videos on her Youtube page, and check out her photography on her website and on Instagram.
In the summer of 2017, Nicola Bernardi and his two best friends, Lorenzo Civolari, and Simone Albrigi, decided they wanted to circumnavigate the country on bicycles in search of some of the wonders the unspoilt Icelandic nature has to offer.
- Check out Reykjavík City or the Icelandic Nature with a Biking Tour
The three best friends met many years ago at University where they formed a bond still holding strong today. Nicola is a photographer based in Melbourne, Australia and his fascination of people and their background is always reflected in his work. Simone is a successful comic book artist and Youtuber based in Italy, and Lorenzo is a chef in Venice, with a passion for food and the stories that inspire the dishes.
After contacting Guide to Iceland and receiving tips on what to do and where to go, the three Italians set out on their journey in July, cycling 1,775 kilometres around the island.
Nicola documented their journey and cut this incredible video which shows mostly the beautiful nature of northern Iceland; the divine Goðafoss waterfall, the otherworldly area around Lake Mývatn such as the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir and the bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð.
You can read about their journey and follow their other adventures on the friends' blog. You can find Nicola's photos on his website and you can see Simone's cartoons on his Youtube Channel.
For many, local boy Alex Michael Green has the perfect job; he travels around the country photographing and making videos of the stunning Icelandic nature.
His love of his homeland, as well as the pure joy he gets from creating something out of nothing, clearly shines through in his videos which show everything from popular tourist attractions to the hidden corners of Iceland. Every day, you can find a new video by Alex on the Guide to Iceland’s Facebook page.
When asked, Alex has a hard time naming a favourite place in Iceland, as there are so many, but after some thought, he names Grjótagjá in the Mývatn area. However, he refuses to reveal some of the secret, secluded places he has come across on his travels. Those, he would like to remain secret.
- I bet it is one of these places: 20 Hidden Gems in Iceland
You can find more of Alex's work on the Guide to Iceland Facebook page. You should also follow him on Instagram where you can find fantastic photos as well as more amazing videos like the one above which beautifully portrays the stunning Háifoss waterfall.
Frozen waterfalls, snowy mountains, and electric blue ice caves are what makes Iceland a frosty paradise in the wintertime. The days might be short, but the scene is beautiful as the Northern Lights move like dancers in the Arctic sky.
On the Guide to Iceland’s Youtube channel, you can find videos showcasing the stunning winter landscapes of Iceland. You can find videos showing you what it is like to venture inside an authentic ice cave, how a glacier hiking tour works, and what you see on a 2 Day South Coast tour.
You can also find videos of the Icelandic summer when the country is covered in the blue hue of the lupine and the midnight sun lights up everything from the Diamond beach to the misty highlands.
Amazing Vlogs About Iceland
For a more personal and down to earth view of Iceland, you can check out some of the many travel vloggers committed to showing you their best travel tips when visiting the country. By using creative storytelling editing, incredible drone shots, and cinematic flair these vloggers will take you along with them on their travels for a new perspective of the country.
Travel vloggers Craig and Aimee, also known as Kinging-it, have travelled to 18 countries all over the world but claim that Iceland is their absolute favourite.
They have been here twice now, visiting both famous places such as The Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Kirkjufell mountain, as well as some less known gems like the infinity pool at Hofsós, The Sea Monster Museum in the Westfjords and the Beer Spa in Eyjafjörður.
Their free-spirited nature, passion, and lust for life are clearly visible in their videos, as well as their love of the Iceland and the country's nature. Throughout their vlogs, you’ll witness both the good and the bad sides of travelling as they show you the real locations, not just the postcard versions.
Travel with Craig and Aimee through their vlogs on their Youtube channel, and be inspired to follow their motto to 'Rule Your Own World' by checking out Kingin-it’s web page, Instagram and Facebook.
After visiting the country two years ago, avid traveller Sorelle Amore couldn’t get Iceland out of her mind. So, she decided to come back and not leave.
Now she calls this place her home, finding comfort in the beautiful, untouched land and the kind and loving people.
Through her videos, you can see how much she both enjoys this country and how much she enjoys sharing her new home with the world. You’ll not only get to discover new places with her vlogs, you’ll also get tips on everything from what to do in Iceland in the winter to top tips for first-timers in Iceland and how to move to Iceland.
- You can also get great advice on the Guide to Iceland's Travel Information Page
Follow Sorelle on Youtube and Instagram for more insightful advice, and let her show you the country she fell in love with.
For both inspiration and motivation to photograph the magnificent Icelandic landscapes, you could check out Mads Peter Iversen vlogs.
Mads is a professional photographer who loves travelling to Iceland to shoot the raw and beautiful Icelandic nature. Although hailing from Aarhus, Denmark, Mads feels like he is coming home every time he travels to this little island.
Drawn to the cold, harsh Nordic nature, Mads’ has made numerous trips to Iceland, photographing diverse locations such as the jagged cliffs in the isolated Þórsmörk valley, the erupting geyser at Geysir geothermal area, and the diverse landscapes of Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
In both his vlogs and the blogs he writes on Guide to Iceland, Mads will give you tips on how to capture the wild Icelandic nature on film, and hopefully inspire you to pick up a camera and head out to the Icelandic countryside.
You can read about Mads’ photography adventures on his Guide to Iceland Blog, see more videos on his Youtube page, and look at his photographs of Iceland and other beautiful locations on his website and Instagram account.
Amazing Music Videos set in Iceland
Black sand beaches, glacier lagoons, cascading waterfalls, and vast lava fields have for years attracted many musicians to this little island of ice and fire. Both international and local artists have made their way to the countryside to create spectacular music videos with Icelandic nature in the foreground.
Zara Larsson is a Swedish singer and a songwriter who first came into the spotlight at the age of 10 when she won a national talent show. She released her debut album, ‘So Good’ in March 2017 where you can find the song ‘Never Forget You’.
The song, which she made with British singer and producer MNEK, made its way high up both UK singles charts and Billboard Hot 100. The video for this song has grabbed as much attention as the song due to its hauntingly beautiful storyline which is set in the wild Icelandic nature.
The video, which was directed by Richard Paris Wilson, was shot both in Reykjavík and on the Reykjanes Peninsula. As well as great views of Mt. Esja from one of the city’s suburbs, you’ll see Zara standing in the vast, moss-covered lava fields of the peninsula and MNEK rapping at the banks of Kleifarvatn lake.
- Read more about Kleifarvatn and other Lakes in Iceland here
Icelandic metal band Sólstafir was also inspired by the wild nature when they created their video for the 2012 song ‘Fjara’.
The contrasting Icelandic landscapes are not only the inspiration for many of Sólstafir’s videos but also their music. The band mixes hard metal with beautiful melodies mirroring both the severity and softness of the Icelandic elements.
The video for ‘Fjara’, created by directors Bowen Staines and Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson, shows a girl dragging a casket around the diverse attractions of Iceland’s South Coast. Starting at the smooth black pebbles of Kirkjufjara beach, located close to the famous black sand beach of Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey rock arch, and ending at the top of Skógafoss waterfall.
- Read about other Waterfalls in Iceland here
Sólstafir has made numerous other music videos showcasing the diverse Icelandic nature. You could check out the video for the song ‘Lágnætti’ which was shot at Kollafjörður fjord in the remote Westfjords, or the song ‘Silfur-Refur’ off their new album, ‘Berdreyminn’.
Another artist that has taken a shine to the South Coast is the Canadian singer Justin Bieber who came here in 2015 to shoot his music video ‘I’ll Show You’.
In the video, you can see Bieber running around and skateboarding through the Icelandic countryside. You can spot him sprinting under the cascading water at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, skateboarding on top of the derelict DC plane wreck on the black sands of Sólheimasandur, and standing lost in thought on the Diamond Beach.
Bieber managed to stir some feathers here in Iceland when the video aired, as some of the things he did in the video are highly frowned upon. Most notably, Bieber rolled around in the Icelandic moss. This might not sound like such a big deal, but the moss is very delicate, and it can take decades for it to recover if it is damaged.
To be fair, Bieber is not the only artist that has been caught damaging the moss, and he is not the only one on this list to do so. However, this video has gotten the most views on Youtube, and so it is worth a mention here.
- Read about the 5 Reasons not to Behave like Justin Bieber and The Dumbest Things to do in Iceland
Fjallsárlón is located south of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Titanic icebergs drift on this glacier lagoon while Öræfajökull, the tallest volcano in Iceland, looms over. Shot on an iceberg at Fjallsárlón is perhaps one of the coolest (pun intended) videos filmed in the Icelandic nature; Kaleo’s ‘Save Yourself’.
- Check out this Fjallsárlón Tour
Kaleo was formed by childhood friends from Mosfellsbær. They made their debut in 2012 at the Iceland Airwaves music festival, charming all those attending with their smoky sounds and soulful vocals.
Kaleo first single ‘Vor í Vaglaskógi’, a cover of a 1966 Icelandic classic, became a surprise hit in 2013 and later, the band gained international attention with the songs ‘All the Pretty Girls’ and ‘The Way Down We Go’.
What makes the ‘Save Yourself’ video different from all others on this list is that it was recorded live in the Icelandic nature. Yes, the boys somehow got all their musical instruments and equipment on an iceberg in the middle of the lagoon and performed live while producers onshore recorded. You can see how it was done in the ‘Behind the Scenes’ video.
Standing on top of the icebergs in any glacier lagoon in Iceland is also not something that people should be encouraged to do, as it is incredibly dangerous, so please do not copy their behaviour. No matter how 'cool' it looks, it's not worth dying for.
- See also: Things That Can Kill You in Iceland
This isn’t the first time Kaleo has done a live version like this. The band descended into the empty magma chamber of Þríhnúkagígur Volcano to record a live version of the song ‘The Way Down We Go’.
Not everybody heads on out to the countryside for amazing shots of Iceland. Singer Glowie’s video for the song ‘No More’ was shot in the capital city of Reykjavík.
Glowie is a young Icelandic pop singer who quickly became one of Iceland’s most popular artist. Her first single, ‘No More’ which she made with the songwriting team Stop Wait Go was one of the biggest hits of 2015, landing her an opening gig for Jessie J and an international recording contract.
In her video, Glowie travels, without moving her feet, past well-known and hidden corners of downtown Reykjavík. You can see her gliding down Skólavörðustígur street, past the old baiting sheds at the harbour of Grandi and the ever-changing lights of Harpa Concert Hall, and through Iceland’s largest flea market, Kolaportið.
- Find out everything you need to know about Reykjavík with The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Reykjavík
Special Mention
The Icelandic nature has not only attracted travellers and musicians, but Hollywood has also come knocking on our door.
The diverse scenery of Iceland serves as a background for numerous Hollywood movies, from the otherworldly landscapes of Star Wars: Rogue One to the Biblical wastelands in Noah. A high-speed car chase in The Fate of the Furious took place at Lake Mývatn, and Reykjavík city served as a safe haven for Jason Bourne.
Truenorth Film Production Company has comprised this amazing cinema reel of their work with Hollywood over the last couple of years. This montage shows various feature films and television shows shot all around the country. So now you can follow in the footsteps of Captain America, Walter Mitty or the Transformers.
- Read about Movie Locations in Iceland here
- Learn key information in Photography in Iceland
- Check out this fun and informative 8 Day Photography Workshop | Summer in Iceland
- Capture incredible seasonal colours with 9 Day Photography Workshop | Autumn in Iceland
Follow Guide to Iceland on both our Facebook page and Youtube channel, and discover new videos of the beautiful Icelandic nature every day. You can find amazing ones shot by Alex as well as other videos that people have sent to us. You’ll also find live streams of everything from waterfalls to sunsets and festivals.
Do you have an amazing video of Iceland? Are you a vlogger and have travelled to Iceland? Perhaps you are in a band and have created a spectacular video in the Icelandic nature? Show us in the comments, and we might add you to this article!
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