Hallgrímskirkja

The landmark of Reykjavik, a 74.5-metre Lutheran church whose form recalls basalt columns. A lift to the tower gives views of the colorful rooftops and Mount Esja.

Hallgrímskirkja stands on a small hill in central Reykjavik. At 74.5 metres, it is the tallest church in Iceland. Construction began in 1945 and it was completed in 1986. The architect Guðjón Samúelsson drew inspiration from Iceland’s basalt columns for the upward-tapering façade, which makes it the city’s most striking landmark and visible from almost anywhere in town. The interior is simple. The main attractions are the 15-metre German organ, installed in 1992 with 5,275 pipes, which hosts free or low-cost concerts at midday on summer Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the lift up the tower (adults ISK 1,400, children ISK 200). The tower is the best vantage point over Reykjavik’s colorful corrugated-iron roofs, the harbor and Mount Esja across the bay. On clear days you can see the Snæfellsjökull glacier in the distance. In front of the church stands the statue of Leif Erikson, a gift from the United States in 1930, commemorating the Viking who reached North America some 500 years before Columbus. The street facing the church, Skólavörðustígur, is Rainbow Street, lined with design shops and cafés. A 10-minute walk takes you to the main street Laugavegur and the Old Harbor. This is the starting point of a half-day walking route through the city center: church → Rainbow Street → Harpa concert hall → Sun Voyager sculpture → Old Harbor, where you can join a whale-watching or puffin-watching boat. Note: the tower is closed during Sunday morning services. Visiting the church interior is free, and only the tower climb costs money. The square is one of the convenient spots in town to watch the northern lights, though light pollution is strong.

Opening hours

09:00–17:00 (May–Sept until 20:00; tower tickets stop 30 minutes before closing)

Landmark · Church · Viewpoint · Reykjavík

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