Hallgrímskirkja is the 74.5-metre church that stands over central Reykjavík, the tallest in Iceland. Its stepped grey front was designed by the state architect Guðjón Samúelsson to echo the basalt columns found across the Icelandic landscape, and it took about 41 years to build, from 1945 to 1986. A lift carries visitors up the tower to an observation deck over the city, Faxaflói Bay, and Mount Esja.
Hallgrímskirkja at a glance
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| Hallgrímskirkja | |
|---|---|
| Height | 74.5 m, the tallest church in Iceland |
| Built | 1945 to 1986, about 41 years |
| Architect | Guðjón Samúelsson |
| Design | Shaped after basalt columns |
| Tower | Lift up to a viewing deck |
| Location | Skólavörðuholt hill, central Reykjavík |
A church shaped like basalt columns
The design was commissioned in 1937 from Guðjón Samúelsson, the state architect, and its most striking feature is the way the front rises in stepped wings on either side of the tower. Those wings are meant to echo columnar basalt, the hexagonal rock forms that appear across Iceland at places like Svartifoss in Skaftafell. The result is usually described as Expressionist, and it looks unlike almost any other church. Construction ran from 1945 to 1986, so the building took about 41 years to finish, with the tower completed well before the rest.
The view from the tower
The tower is the main reason most visitors go inside. A lift carries you most of the way up to an observation deck, and from there the view opens over the coloured rooftops of the old town toward the water and the mountains. On a clear day you can pick out Faxaflói Bay and the long ridge of Mount Esja across it. It is the highest public vantage point in central Reykjavík, and it doubles as a way to get your bearings before walking the city.
Inside the church
The interior is plain and tall, in keeping with the outside. The organ is the centrepiece: it stands 15 metres high with 5,275 pipes, was built by Johannes Klais of Bonn, and was completed in 1992. The tower also holds a carillon of 29 bells. The church is named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, the 17th-century Icelandic poet and clergyman, whose hymns are among the best known in the country.
Where it stands and the statue out front
Hallgrímskirkja sits on Skólavörðuholt hill, at the top of the Skólavörðustígur shopping street, so it is visible from much of the centre and easy to walk to. In front of it stands a statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer, sculpted by Alexander Stirling Calder. It was a gift from the United States to mark the 1930 millennial festival of the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament, and it actually predates the church itself.
Visiting and nearby tours
The church anchors the top of the old town, so it pairs naturally with a walk down Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur, or with a wider loop toward the Old Harbour. Entry to the tower is ticketed and the nave keeps regular opening hours around services and concerts, so it is worth checking times before you climb. To add a guided city walk or a day trip out of Reykjavík to your stay, compare Reykjavík tours and day trips.
Bring the right layers
Use the Iceland Packing List to organise clothing and essentials before setting out for Hallgrímskirkja: Reykjavík's tallest church.
