Hallgrímskirkja
Iceland's most iconic church towers over Reykjavik like a concrete rocket ship.
Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church and the tallest building in Iceland, standing 74.5 metres tall at the centre of Reykjavik. Designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, it took over 40 years to build — construction began in 1945 and wasn't completed until 1986. The building's dramatic stepped facade was inspired by the basalt lava columns found across Iceland, the same geological formations you see at places like Svartifoss waterfall. It's both a functioning place of worship and the city's most recognisable landmark, visible from nearly everywhere in Reykjavik.
Most visitors come for the tower. For a small fee, you can take an elevator to the observation deck near the top and look out over the coloured rooftops of the old city, the harbour, and on a clear day, the snow-capped mountains beyond. Inside the nave, the space is strikingly austere — white walls, simple lines, and a vast pipe organ built by the German firm Marcussen & Søn that dominates the west wall. The organ has 5,275 pipes and is genuinely one of the most impressive instruments in northern Europe. In front of the church stands a statue of Leif Eriksson, the Norse explorer, gifted by the United States in 1930 to mark the Althing's millennium.
The church is active — services happen regularly, so some areas may be closed to visitors during worship. Arrive early in the morning to beat the tour groups, which tend to arrive mid-morning. The area around the church, Skólavörðuholt hill, is also worth a slow wander — the surrounding streets have some of Reykjavik's better independent shops and cafes.