Hallgrímskirkja
Ideal: Ideal for first-time visitors to Reykjavik, architecture, and city views.
At 74.5 meters it is Iceland's tallest church; state architect Guðjón Samúelsson designed it in 1937 directly after the hexagonal basalt columns formed when lava cools slowly, so the façade rises in stepped tiers from the side. Construction took 41 years and was only completed in 1986. The Leif Eriksson statue in front is older than the church: the United States gifted it in 1930 for the thousandth anniversary of the Alþingi. An elevator takes you up the tower, where Reykjavík's colorful rooftops look their best.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1986
- Opened
- 26 October 1986
- Architect
- Guðjón Samúelsson
- Architectural style
- Gothic Revival
- Height
- 74 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
What is the church's shape based on?
The façade was designed after Iceland's volcanic basalt columns. The architect, Guðjón Samúelsson, aimed to build a national architectural language from the country's own natural forms.
How long did it take to build?
Construction ran from 1945 to 1986 — 41 years, during which the country's population and economy changed radically. At 74.5 m it is one of Iceland's tallest structures.
Who is the statue in front?
Leif Erikson, credited with reaching the Americas some 500 years before Columbus. The statue was a gift from the United States in 1930 for the millennium of Iceland's parliament.
Why go?
- To see Reykjavik's most iconic building
- To climb the tower and look out over the city and surroundings
- To feel Iceland's nature-inspired approach to architecture
Travel tip
The tower view is far more impressive in clear weather; check conditions before going up on windy days.
