Justin Bieber in Iceland: 5 Things Not to Copy from His Music Video

Discover the story of Justin Bieber in Iceland, including the South Coast locations featured in his 2015 “I’ll Show You” music video and the gorge now nicknamed Bieber Canyon. This guide maps the filming locations, explains what happened to the canyon, and shows how to visit responsibly.

When Justin Bieber released “I’ll Show You” in November 2015, its sweeping shots of Icelandic waterfalls, canyons, and glacial rivers reached hundreds of millions of viewers. Many of them wanted to stand where he stood, and the video still helps draw travelers to South Iceland today.

Almost every location sits along Iceland's South Coast, so they fit neatly into one route. Self-drive tours in Iceland let you set your own pace, while guided South Coast tours handle the driving and the storytelling. If you would rather build your own itinerary, you can rent a car and stop wherever a scene catches your eye.

Read on to find each filming location, learn why Fjadrargljufur became known as Bieber Canyon, see what visitors should never copy from the video, and discover where Bieber returned to Iceland in 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Justin Bieber filmed the “I’ll Show You” video in Iceland in 2015, mostly along the South Coast.

• Fjadrargljufur Canyon became widely known as Bieber Canyon after it appeared in the video.

• The video features Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skogafoss Waterfall, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and Solheimasandur DC3 Plane Wreck.

• Some scenes in Justin Bieber’s music video show behavior visitors should avoid, such as entering cold water and stepping on fragile vegetation.

• Justin Bieber returned to North Iceland in 2025 to record music and film the video for “First Place”.

At a Glance: Five Things Not to Copy From the Video

The video is entertaining, but a few scenes show what not to do in Iceland. Here is the quick version, with the full detail further down.

The I’ll Show You Filming Locations in Iceland

Justin Bieber filmed the music video for “I’ll Show You” in Iceland. The song came out in 2015 during his Purpose era, and the video was shot during a visit that same year.

The video puts Iceland’s scenery at the center, showing Bieber moving through rivers, canyons, waterfalls, and other dramatic landscapes. These locations helped the video attract worldwide attention.

Most of the filming took place in South Iceland, with several stops on or near the South Coast. Below, you can see each confirmed location, how it appears in the video, and how to visit it responsibly.

Here is a quick summary of the confirmed and likely locations and whether you can visit them.

Fjadrargljufur Canyon, or Bieber Canyon

Picture the moody, moss-draped walls Bieber walks along in the video. That’s the Fjadrargljufur Canyon (written Fjaðrárgljúfur in Icelandic), a gorge in South Iceland where a river winds 328 feet (100 meters) below jagged cliffs.

It’s the most recognizable backdrop in “I’ll Show You.” The canyon became so closely associated with the 2015 video that it is now widely nicknamed Bieber Canyon, although Fjadrargljufur remains its official name.

The video gave the canyon significant international exposure and helped drive a sharp increase in visitor numbers. Increased foot traffic placed pressure on its paths and fragile vegetation, leading to temporary closures to allow the area to recover.

Today, visitors can enjoy the sweeping canyon views from two viewpoints along a marked trail. Stay on the designated path and respect any closures or barriers in place.

Fjadrargljufur lies in a more remote part of the South Coast, so it fits well into a longer itinerary. Several multi-day Iceland vacation packages visit the canyon alongside Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the region’s waterfalls.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

The tall, single-drop waterfall you glimpse in the video is Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, and it has a trick few falls can match. A path leads right behind the curtain of water, so you can stand in the hollow and watch the South Coast through the spray.

The waterfall plunges 213 feet (65 meters) from an old sea cliff beside the main road, making it an easy first stop when heading east. You can also visit it on guided Seljalandsfoss tours, many of which include other major South Coast attractions.

The ground is often wet and slippery, so wear sturdy shoes and expect plenty of mist. In winter, the path behind the falls may close when it becomes icy.

Skogafoss Waterfall

A little farther along the coast is Skogafoss Waterfall, a broad, thundering wall of water that throws up rainbows on sunny days. It is one of Iceland’s most photographed falls, and standing at its base you feel the spray and the roar the moment you arrive.

A staircase beside the falls climbs to a viewing platform that looks out over the coastline and the top of the drop. Guided Skogafoss tours often bundle it with Seljalandsfoss and the black sand beaches for a full day on the South Coast.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

The icy water Bieber floats and wades into is the video’s most dramatic and most dangerous idea. Sources often place these scenes at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, a surreal bay where blue icebergs break off a glacier and drift toward the sea, though not every water shot has been pinned to one exact spot.

It’s a breathtaking place to watch from the shore, with seals bobbing between the ice and the Diamond Beach glittering nearby. You can get close to the icebergs the safe way, on the water. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon tours run boats among the floating ice through the summer.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Several scenes feature Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, its basalt columns, and dramatic coastal scenery. The beach is one of the best-known stops on Iceland’s South Coast and can be visited on black sand beach tours, but remember to be cautious when exploring the area.

Powerful sneaker waves can rush much farther up the shore than expected. Visitors should stay well back from the water, follow the warning lights, and never turn their backs on the sea.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

The silver aircraft seen on the black sand is the Solheimasandur DC Plane Wreck. The US Navy plane crash-landed on the beach in 1973, and its abandoned fuselage later became one of South Iceland’s most recognizable landmarks.

The wreck is reached by a long walk across an exposed gravel plain, so you should prepare for wind and changing weather. You should also avoid climbing on or damaging the aircraft.

Visiting the Justin Bieber Filming Locations in Iceland

You can visit most of the locations, especially along the South Coast, as long as you follow current access rules and stay on marked paths. Conditions change with the season, and some trails close temporarily for safety or maintenance.

Check safetravel.is for current alerts before you set out, and respect every barrier and closure. To see the glacier lagoon without any risk, join a boat trip on the glacier lagoon rather than entering the water.

Five Things Visitors Should Not Copy From the Video

Justin Bieber’s music video is fun and entertaining, but a few moments show exactly what not to do in Iceland. Here are five scenes to admire on screen and skip in real life.

1. Do Not Swim in Glacial Lagoons Like the Video

The scene where Bieber wades into icy water is the riskiest thing in the whole video. Glacial lagoons and rivers sit close to freezing all year, and cold-water shock can steal your breath and your strength within a minute of getting in.

There are no lifeguards at these remote sites. Icebergs can roll and pin a swimmer underwater, and currents can drag you toward the sea. People have died in Icelandic waters doing far less than this, so treat every glacier lagoon and glacial river as view-only.

If you want to be in the water, Iceland has better options. Warm up in the Reykjadalur Hot Spring River or a geothermal pool, where the water is meant for soaking and safe to enjoy.

2. Dress for Iceland, Not a Music Video Shoot

Bieber spends much of the video in shorts, a hoodie, and a cap. It looks good on camera, but it is the opposite of what you should wear in a country where the weather can move through four seasons in an afternoon.

Even in summer, wind and rain can chill an unprepared traveler fast. Bring a warm base layer, an insulating mid-layer like a wool sweater, a waterproof and windproof shell, and sturdy footwear for wet trails. Our guide on what to pack for Iceland breaks it down by season.

3. Explore Widely but Stay on Marked Paths

The video is titled “I’ll Show You,” yet it sticks to the busiest stops on the South Coast. Seeing quieter corners of Iceland is a great idea, but there is a right way to do it.

Explore on established roads, trails, and legal access points, and never drive off-road. Off-road driving is illegal across Iceland and leaves scars in the moss and soil that can last for decades. Less crowded does not mean unrestricted, so check where you are allowed to go.

4. Leave the Moss That Bieber Rolled In Alone

One scene shows Bieber rolling across a bed of moss, and locals really do wince at it. Moss and other plants on Iceland’s lava fields are extremely fragile and grow only a few millimeters a year.

Damage can take years or even decades to heal, and in the video you can actually see the moss tear. Avoid sitting, rolling, or walking on moss-covered ground, and never pull up vegetation. You can read more about Icelandic moss and why it matters.

Sticking to trails is one of the simplest ways to be a good guest. Trampling the moss is one of the things Icelanders dislike most about tourism, and there is plenty of ordinary grass to rest on instead.

5. Keep Back From the Cliff Edges He Filmed On

Those dramatic shots of Bieber perched on a cliff edge look striking, and they are a real gamble on unstable ground. Iceland’s cliffs are often wet, icy, loose, or undercut, and they give way more often than people expect.

Strong gusts can throw you off balance without warning, and there are usually no railings at these wild viewpoints. Enjoy the scene from behind any barriers and use the marked lookouts. Our guide to the things that can kill you in Iceland is a sobering but useful read.

Justin Bieber’s 2025 Return to Iceland

Bieber came back to Iceland in spring 2025, this time to the north. He stayed at Deplar Farm on the Trollaskagi Peninsula and recorded his seventh studio album, Swag, at its Floki Studio, deep in the snow-capped mountains of North Iceland.

That stay produced the black-and-white video for “First Place,” released in August 2025 and directed by Rory Kramer. It shows Bieber recording with collaborators and heading outdoors to snowboard and explore the northern landscape. If the north is calling, browse the must-see places in North Iceland to start planning.

Other Music Videos Filmed in Iceland

Bieber is far from the only artist drawn to Iceland’s scenery. A few of the best-known videos shot here include:

• Bon Iver, Holocene, which drifts across the mossy hills and waterfalls of South Iceland.

• Bjork, Joga, a love letter to her home country’s landscapes directed by Michel Gondry.

• KALEO, Way Down We Go, performed inside the dormant magma chamber of Thrihnukagigur Volcano.

• Zara Larsson, Never Forget You, filmed around Reykjavik and the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

For the full roundup, see our list of the top music videos shot in Iceland. You can also read about Iceland’s music scene, find the best live music venues in Reykjavik, or explore the country’s movie locations.

Enjoy Iceland the Right Way

Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You” video introduced millions of people to Fjadrargljufur and the South Coast, and his 2025 trip north shows his bond with Iceland runs deeper than one shoot. The landscapes are every bit as striking in person as they are on screen.

The difference is how you treat them. First-time visitors to Iceland should keep in mind to stay on marked paths, respect closures, keep out of glacial water, and dress for the weather, and you will come away with the same beauty and none of the risk.

No matter which draws you, Bieber Canyon, the waterfalls, or the wider South Coast, responsible travel is what keeps these places worth filming.