By far Reykjavík’s tallest building, this church offers views of the city’s colourful rooftops and a landmark to help your orient yourself throughout your stay.
The most striking landmark on the Reykjavík skyline is the 73-metre-tall (240-foot-tall) tower of the Hallgrimskirkja. It is visible from anywhere in town, and can even be seen from 20 kilometres (12 miles) away. Look over the town from the top of the tower, listen to the massive organ and learn the mysteries of this unusual church.
Hallgrimskirkja was designed in 1939 by the prominent Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. 40 years were required to build the monumental structure, which seats 1,000. Study the smooth curves leading up to the church’s steeple, which appears to rise naturally out of the ground. Samúelsson designed the building to resemble a common feature of Iceland’s natural landscape: the curved shapes of cooled lava.
Ride an elevator to the top of the tower, where you will have one of the best views of Reykjavík. Look out over the rooftops toward the harbour. From here, the brightly coloured houses resemble toy blocks.
Tour the brightly lit sanctum. Inside, you will find a huge, 5,275-pipe organ, which was built in Germany in 1992. Attend a concert or buy a recording to hear the organ echo throughout the church.
Out in front of the church stands a 1930 gift from the United States: a statue of Leif Ericson (Leifur Eiríksson), the Viking who discovered America half a millennium before Columbus set sail. This heroic sculpture commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament.
Entry to the church is free, but there is a fee to reach the top of the tower. During the summer after 5 p.m., all fares are given to local charities. Attend the Winter Lights Festival in February, when wild light displays are projected on the church’s façade.
Find Hallgrimskirkja in the inner-city neighbourhood of Skólavörðuholt. Due to its height, the church is not hard to locate.
