From Westeros to the Upside Down: Film Location Walking Tours and Outdoor Adventures in Iceland (2026)
Iceland’s landscape is so inherently cinematic that filmmakers often find they don’t need to build sets—the “alien planets” and “fantasy kingdoms” already exist in the volcanic deserts and glacial tongues of the island. In 2026, the arrival of the Stranger Things series finale has sparked a new wave of interest in the Highlands, making it the perfect time to pivot from standard sightseeing to a “location-scouting” adventure.
Whether you are a fan of sci-fi epics or gritty fantasy, here is how to step off the screen and onto the soil of the world’s most dramatic natural backlot.
1. The “Stranger Things” Finale at Háifoss
The most talked-about cinematic site of 2026 is undoubtedly the Þjórsárdalur valley. The series finale of Stranger Things concluded with a breathtaking panoramic shot of a deep volcanic canyon where two massive waterfalls plunge side-by-side—a place once thought to be a childhood dream, now revealed …
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