Hallgrímskirkja

The Hallgrimskirkja is a unique modern church with a tall spire. It’s possible to go up to the top of the church tower to get a good look around the city – one advantage of it being new is that there is a lift instead of the winding spiral staircase you normally get! An advantage of staying in a hotel near here was that it was impossible for me to get lost in Reykjavik – anywhere I went, I could see the church spire at the top of the hill so all I had to do was follow it!

Wonderful architecture, like a cross between organ pipes and a rocket.

Standing on top of Skólavörðuholt, one of two hills making up 101, and towering over the whole of downtown, Hallgrímskirkja is one of Reykjavík’s most beloved landmarks. In fact, because of it’s great stature and position, most tourists believe it to be a cathedral but such is not the case. The Cathedral of the Icelandic Church is in fact a small old church on Austurvöllur next to the Icelandic Parlament. Hallgrímskirkja is the biggest church in the country however and has a great and renowned organ. It hosts many events, including a great number of concerts and exhibitions and is home to good choirs, a lively community and good priests. The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and features basalt columns in it’s architecture. In front of the church there is a statue of the great Icelandic-born explorer Leifur Eiríksson “The Lucky” and above the door there is a beautiful stained glass window by Leifur Breiðfjörð. For a nominal fee one can ascend to the top of the tower for a view of the city.