Current updates for photographers planning or travelling in Iceland — volcanic activity, road closures, new conservation rules, drone regulations, and wildlife protection notices. Curated for photographers, not tourists.
The Hoffellsárbrú bridge on Route 987 in Hornafjörður, South East Iceland, is closed to all traffic from 07:00 on Tuesday 29 September until 16:00 on Thursday 1 October 2026. The closure is due to scheduled maintenance work on the single-lane structure, according to Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. Why this matters for photographers … Read more
Reykjanesbraut, the main road linking Reykjavík to the Reykjanes Peninsula, will be closed to northbound traffic overnight on four consecutive nights: 28–29 September, 29–30 September, and continuing overnight into Monday and Tuesday. The closure runs from 20:00 to 07:00 each night due to milling and paving works. Why this matters for photographers Reykjanesbraut is the … Read more
A draft bill published on Iceland’s government consultation portal this week proposes a new nature and infrastructure fee for non-resident visitors to Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. The fee — 4,500 ISK between 1 June and 31 October, and 3,000 ISK at other times — would apply to visitors aged 18 and over who are not … Read more
Route 1 beside Jökulsárlón will close overnight on Sunday 28 September from 20:00 until 07:00 Monday morning for paving and bridge-end repairs. A single supervised crossing is scheduled at 22:00. The closure affects the section of the Ring Road that runs directly past the lagoon and Diamond Beach. Why this matters for photographers Late September … Read more
A large landslide crossed the road at Kaldbaksvík on the Strandir coast in late September 2026, closing the route into Árneshrepp following heavy rainfall. Continued landslide risk in the area has been reported, and the road remains closed. Árneshrepp is one of Iceland’s most remote inhabited areas, situated in the northern Westfjords. Why this matters … Read more
Iceland’s government has submitted a bill for public consultation that would introduce a mandatory infrastructure fee at three major state-owned attractions: Geysir, Gullfoss and Þingvellir National Park. The fee is set at ISK 4,500 for non-tax-resident visitors aged 18 and over, with a reduced rate of ISK 3,000 applying from 1 November to 31 May. … Read more
Ongoing road improvements on Vestfjarðavegur (Route 60) through the southern Westfjords remain incomplete, with the final bridge and finishing works now scheduled for autumn 2028. The project, which has been under way in Gufudalssveit since 2019, has run significantly over both its original timeline and its initial budget of ISK 7.2 billion. Until the bridge … Read more
Route One (the Ring Road) will close to eastbound traffic at Hellisheiði later today, according to a report from RÚV. Hellisheiði is the lava plateau southeast of Reykjavík that forms a key gateway for photographers travelling toward the South Coast, including locations such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and Jökulsárlón. Why this matters for photographers: Hellisheiði … Read more
Daytime traffic restrictions have resumed on the Ring Road bridge crossing Jökulsá á Fjöllum in Northeast Iceland, near Grímsstaðir. According to Vegagerðin (the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration), maintenance work paused for the busy summer season restarted on August 17, and the bridge is now closed to traffic from 08:00 to 19:00 on dry weekdays. … Read more
E. coli bacteria has been detected in the drinking water supply in Borgarfjörður Eystra, a remote East Iceland fjord that is a key destination for photographers visiting the Atlantic puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi. Visitors should not drink tap water in the area until authorities confirm it is safe. Why this matters for photographers: Borgarfjörður Eystra … Read more