29-11-2023
The Land of Ice and Fire is not only a world-class destination to visit for amazing geological features, but is also home to an impressive variety of cultural heritage sites, including some majestic churches. With both ancient and modern churches, touring these places of worship in Iceland gives you a unique glimpse into the country’s history and culture.
Looking to find out what the best churches to visit in Iceland are? Here’s our selection of the best and most famous churches in Iceland to inspire you with fantastic locations to visit during your vacation.
As the most famous church in Iceland and the largest church in Iceland, Hallgrimskirkja just has to be top of our list of the best churches in Iceland to visit. This Iceland famous church is the jewel of the capital, Reykjavik, standing 74.5 meters tall in the center of the city. Inspired by the uniquely beautiful natural landscapes of Iceland, the stunning structure of Hallgrimskirkja was created by the famous Icelandic architect, Gudjon Samuelsson.
Located in the coastal Icelandic village of Vik, this church sits on a hilltop overlooking a wonderfully picturesque village, seafront and mountain valley. Its iconic red roof and white walls make Vik y Mydral Church one of the most famous churches in Iceland, especially for photographers looking for beautiful locations to capture on camera. Built in 1929, this church is super easy to reach by taking the main Icelandic Ring Road (Route 1) in a southerly direction from Reykjavík.
A gift from Norway to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Christianization of Iceland, Heimaey Stave Church is located in the Westman Islands: an archipelago just off Iceland’s South Coast. This black church with its scale-like roof design stands on the island of Heimaey, which is the only populated island in the archipelago and an amazingly unique place for a day out! Masses are traditionally held in Heimaey Stave Church to mark the beginning and end of Eldfell Volcano eruptions.
In contrast to the modern Hallgrimskirkja, Grafarkirkja Turf Church is one of the oldest churches in Iceland. Built in the 17th century, this turf-roofed church brims with Icelandic history and mysticism. As one of only six remaining turf churches in Iceland, Grafarkirkja is well worth a visit during your Icelandic vacation. This famous church in Iceland has been carefully constructed to give an accurate insight into the turf-roof construction that was historically popular throughout Iceland.
Situated in the historic Thingvellir National Park, which is the site of the old Icelandic parliament, Thingvallakirkja is another famous church in Iceland to add to your vacation bucket list. The beautiful whites, greens and blacks of Thingvallakirkja make for one impressive photo, especially against the vibrant and expansive natural surroundings of the national park.
Another turf church in Iceland, Vidimyrarkirkja is located in North Iceland, just off the main Ring Road, making this famous church in Iceland an easy one to visit during your epic road trip adventure. Built in 1834, Vidimyrarkirkja still has some older remaining features, such as the clock tower that dates back to the 15th century.
This famous church in Iceland is a vibrantly colored spectacle, with a rainbow path leading up to the blue church, situated between the town of Hofn and Akureyri city in North Iceland. Blaa Kirkjan was moved from a farm in 1882, then suffered damage from a storm in 1894, followed by enduring a fire in 1989. Despite all this, after receiving restoration work, Blaa Kirkjan now stands strong as a major cultural events venue.
While in North Iceland, we recommend visiting the famous Akureyrarkirkja, which was designed by Gudjon Samuelsson: the same man who designed the largest church in Iceland: Hallgrimskirkja. One of the most distinctive landmarks in the city of Akureyri, this famous church in Iceland contains an organ with over 3000 pipes and some trademark stained-glass windows.
The striking wooden church of Husavikurkirkja was built in 1907 and resembles the style of Swiss chalet architecture. With a 26-meter high tower and a white exterior with brown doors and windows, plus a green roof, this photogenic church is located in North Iceland in the fishing town of Husavik, which also happens to be a whale watching hotspot!
Nestled in a lava field in the Snæfellsness Peninsula, the tiny, wooden Budakirkja is one of the most famous churches in Iceland, especially among photographers, as the desolate landscape surrounding this church makes for a stunning backdrop. This black church is only around 2 hours by car from Reyjavik and is located in an incredibly beautiful area of Iceland full of amazing geological wonders, making a visit here a perfect stop on your road trip itinerary.
While in Iceland, visiting some of the country’s most famous churches is a must! You can enjoy a wonderful selection of historic turf-roofed and stave churches, to impressive, modern city center churches during your tour of the island.
What better way to get an insight into Iceland’s history and cultural life than by taking a trip to some of the most famous places of worship across the country? We hope our list of famous churches in Iceland helps you when putting together your ideal Iceland vacation itinerary.
Inspired to take to the road and visit the most interesting, impressive and famous churches in Iceland for yourself? It’s time to rent a car in Iceland and get your dream Iceland vacation started!