Where Is Arendelle? 8 Real-Life Locations That Inspired Disney’s Frozen

Disney’s Frozen has always captured my heart and soul with its snowy blues and frosty landscapes, contrasted by sunny skies, dazzling waters, and warm spring feels. Apart from its storyline and scenes, what really stuck with me were the stunning location shots—the snowy mountains, the calm fjord that connects the whole town, and the black jewel beach.

These scenic locations captured and mesmerised me as it is an experience unique only to Frozen. With that said, I’m excited to share with you the real-world destinations from the world of Frozen—perfect for anyone who wants to step into the land of the unknown.

Locations from Frozen, the First movie 

Nærøyfjord, Aurland, Norway 
Inspired: The mainland of Arendelle

Arendelle’s gorgeous and scenic location is based on a fjord. However, it’s not just any fjord. It’s a branch fjord of Sognefjord (SOG-nuh-fyord), named Nærøyfjord (NAY-roy-fyord). Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord and the second-longest fjord in the world. It’s a long, calm flowing river just like Frozen, twisting through the valley surrounded by gorgeous towering mountains, connecting the entire town.

Now, back to Nærøyfjord. It is so beautifully stunning that it is officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the core inspiration behind the Frozen kingdom, Arendelle. This is even confirmed by sources citing the Disney Frozen team had gone on multiple trips to different Nordic countries including Norway, specifically for research and gathering information for the movie. Besides Nærøyfjord, the kingdom is also based on multiple locations in Norway – namely Bergen, Tromsø (TRAWM-suh), and Trondheim.

A fjord cruise in winter is the most common yet unique way of exploring this magical land, and it departs from either Oslo, Bergen, or Voss.

Hallstatt, Austria
Inspired: Arendelle

You’ve probably already seen lots of reels and pictures featuring Hallstatt as “The land that inspired Arendelle”. I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw how much it resembles Arendelle in my mind. It was like a dream town come true!

Hallstatt is a village located on Lake Hallstatt’s western shore in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region. It is home to the oldest salt mine in the world – Salzwelten Hallstatt. In this picturesque village, you’ll find charming alpine houses and historic alleyways that lead to local cafés and shops. Since it is a popular tourist destination, the best time to visit is in October and November as it is more peaceful and quiet with fewer people around.

The town of Hallstatt is by far the most visited place in reference to the fictional town of Arendelle, followed by the two remakes of it in Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. The recreations of the Frozen world are popular among tourists, and many travel far and wide to visit the real-life town of Arendelle come to life.

St. Olaf’s Church, Balestrand, Norway
Inspired: Olaf’s name & Elsa’s coronation venue

The St. Olaf’s Church in Norway is also known as ‘Frost Church’ and is the main inspiration behind Olaf’s name—the adorable goof snowman of Elsa’s creation. Elsa’s coronation venue, where she was crowned Queen of Arendelle, also drew inspiration from this church.

However, it is more than just a mere inspiration for the film — the church has its own love story to share. The church was built at the request of Knut Kvikne. His true love, Margaret Sophia, is the reason behind the existence of this church. Margaret visited Balestrand in 1888 and was taken by Knut as he went around showing the mountains to tourists. The two married but did not spend more than four years together before Margaret passed on in 1894. Out of pure love after her passing, Knut built St. Olaf’s as a promise to his wife.

This 125-year-old English stave church consists of a tower, spire, slate roof and arched windows with stunning stained glass windows. Its magnificence is a beautiful reminder of Knut’s love letter alongside Norwegian cultural heritage.

The church is idyllically situated between surrounding majestic mountains and the magical Sognefjord, just beyond the Kviknes Hotel.

Ice Castles, Eagle, Colorado
Looks like: North Mountain

The ice palace in North Mountain was created by Elsa in her infamous ‘Let It Go’ scene, while she battles anxiety and seeks refuge in isolation following her decision to leave Arendelle behind once and for all.

One close resemblance to the North Mountain is the Ice Castles in Eagle, Colorado. Although there isn’t an exact real-life location that inspired Elsa’s ice palace, this winter attraction definitely stands out. Except these ones do not give you solitude like the one Elsa has in Frozen as it is an attraction that’s open to the public.

If you love icy blue colours and exquisite ice craftsmanship, you’ll enjoy Ice Castles as there are hundreds and thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists that only come to life during winter. Breathtaking and beautifully lit LED sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, and fountains are some of the highlights. Personally, this is going on my bucket list of places to visit.

The Ice Castles attraction has five locations throughout North America: Eagle, Colorado; Cripple Creek, Colorado; Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Utah.

Locations from Frozen 2 

Skógafoss, Iceland
Looks like: Enchanted Forest Mist

This waterfall closely resembles the scene where Elsa and Anna stood in front of the dense bluey mist that holds the invisible door to the Enchanted Forest.

Skógafoss (SKOH-gah-foss) is known as the ‘hidden gem of waterfalls’ and is arguably the most famous one in Iceland. With a width of 25m (82 ft) and a drop of 60m (200 ft), it is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. To get here, follow the Ring Road eastwards from Reykjavík and you will eventually see Skógafoss from the road. (It is a two-hour drive from Reykjavík.)

Most people come here to enjoy the scenic view and to take a stroll while watching and admiring the beautiful clear waters of the waterfall. But if you’re up for something more, there’s also the option of a trail hike — the Skógafoss and the Waterfall Way Trail. The hike starts at the Skógafoss parking area and follows the river Skóga (SKOH-gah) upstream.

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Inspired: The black pebble beach

The black pebble beach appears in Frozen 2’s black cut scenes where Elsa attempts multiple times to cross the black sea to get to Ahtohallan to discover the truth behind Arendelle and to find herself.

Reynisfjara (RAY-nis-fyahr-ah) Beach is known for its unique black pebble sand, basalt columns, and powerful waves, particularly the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and the Hálsanefshellir (HAWLT-sah-nehf-shed-leer) cave. Reynisfjara is unique to Iceland not only for being absolutely stunning, but also for the dark, gothic haunting views surrounding the beach.

You might be curious as to why its sand is black in colour. Well, the short answer is: volcanic lava. Iceland is known for active volcanic activity. The black sediment is formed when boiling hot lava floats across the beach, cooling and solidifying when it hits cold water.

Although breathtaking, Reynisfjara Beach is not for everyone — skip if you are faint-hearted, afraid of the dark, or simply concerned for your safety. Unlike most beaches where you’re free to go about swimming, you are not allowed to swim in the waters of this beach for safety reasons. However, if you’re fond of the dark and mystical (like me), it is most definitely worth a visit! But as always when exploring, remember that your safety comes first.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland
Inspired: Ahtohallan

In Frozen 2, Ahtohallan is known as the ancient magical river of ice turned glacier. It is described as the river “full of memory” and this is reversed in the lullaby of ‘All Is Found’.

Ahtohallan is strongly based off of the Sámi people of Northern Scandinavia – mainly Norway, Sweden, and Finland – and takes many inspiration and forms from them. There is a signed agreement between Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Sámi Parliaments of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as the Sámi Council, to ensure respectful and accurate representation of the Sámi people and their culture featured in the film.

The ice caves of Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland
Looks like: The Icy Cave in Ahtohallan

In Ahtohallan, Elsa follows a mysterious voice into the mythical glacier, where she paces through an icy cave and vocalizes the song ‘Show Yourself’ as she steps into her true self.

Vatnajökull (VAHT-nah-yuh-kootl) is the largest and most voluminous ice cap in Iceland. It has around 30 outlet glaciers flowing from it and is the most visited glacier during winter. The stunning blue ice caves are open to visitors every winter and is arguably one of the inspirations behind the interior of Ahtohallan. Although there are no clear sources stating explicitly that the Frozen team actually took inspiration from this specific glacier, given how breathtakingly beautiful it is – it’s most definitely worth a visit in my opinion!

To make the most of your experience – hiking tours, ice cave tours and sailing around the glacier lagoons are amongst the popular activity options at Vatnajökull. Keep in mind that you are not allowed to explore the ice caves without proper safety gear or on your own without a certified guide. The caves are only accessible during winter months so planning ahead of time is crucial. If you prefer to be alone, you can still visit and take a stroll around the caves and admire the icy cold structures from afar.