Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in the country, and towers over the centre of Reykjavik. Its 73-metre-high tower provides a wonderful 360° view over all Reykjavik, the mountains around and the ocean streaching west to Greenland and the Americas. Because of this, the tower is among the most visited tourist destinations in Reykjavik. Tower admission Adults: ISK 1000 Children: ISK 100 (ages 7-16) Tickets are sold in the church shop. Access to the tower is only by lift. At the top there are a few steps to the open-air viewing platform. Winter (October – April): 09:00 – 17:00. Tower closes 16:30. Summer (May – September): 09:00 – 21:00. Tower closes 20:30. The tower is closed on Sundays from 10:30 – 12:15 during mass at 11:00. Hallgrimskirkja is an active, working church and sometimes we may close the church without notice, especially due to weddings or funerals. Everyone is welcome to join services and concerts, but we ask visitors to stay the whole time to avoid disturbance.
Duration: < 1 hour
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  • Lynn S
    Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fab architecture
    Amazing building, beautiful architecture, fantastically calm, even when sat and listened to a group playing music. Amazing design both daytime and night-time. Spacious, light and airy. Worth a visit.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 March 2023
  • Michael M
    Dublin, Ireland582 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A church that is worth a look
    The spire of this church is visible from most part of downtown Reykjavik. Its definitely worth a visit Its an unusual style of architecture called Brutalism (essentially bare stone and plaster with little adornment). The inside of the Church is also quite bare but there is a magnificent organ. There is a statue of Leif Erickson in front of the church that is also worth a look
    Visited March 2023
    Written 20 March 2023
  • Jessica K
    80 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hallgrimskirkja Bell Tower
    We bought tickets to go up in the bell tower and just as we made it up, a snow storm picked up so visibility wasn’t great. But it was still fun being up there while the bells rang! The organ pipes are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 March 2023
  • Prabir G
    Kolkata (Calcutta), India2,739 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Novel concrete structure you can't miss
    Hallgrimskirkja is a parish church located at thd city centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 244 ft tall, it is the largest church in Iceland. The structure is known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings. This has become an important symbol for Iceland's national identity since its completion in 1986. It took 46 years to complete construction.  The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), author of the Passion Hymns. The design of the concrete structure is inspired by basalt lava flows found in Iceland. In front of Iceland’s largest church is a statue of Icelandic Viking Leif Eiriksson. I visited this place on 22nd Mar 2023. You can climb to the top viewpoint on a high-speed lift. There is a ticket of ISK 1200 per person for the lift ride. Though I bought the ticket, but surprisingly found that lot of tourists are going up without a ticket, since there is no checking for a ticket. This is just funny. You can catch a stunning view of the city, the bay from the top. The church is open from 9 am till 5 pm in winter and till 9 pm in summer. While entering the mass hall, one must keep in mind that this being a functional church, the devotee's privacy should not be disturbed.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 March 2023
  • Gareth P
    222 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Harsh geometric landmark
    A stark brutalist monument in the centre of Reykjavik the Hallgrimskirkja is powerful in its purity and geometric crispness. Inside it reflects a more modernist view of religious extravagance, although the organ is a powerhouse of its kind. Well worth a short elevator ride up to the top of the bell tower for the best view e city.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 26 March 2023
  • Gautam R
    Laurel, Maryland221 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful
    This was our first tourist stop of the day! It opens at 10 PM. We were able to hear an organ performance, which was great. For a fee, you can take a ride up to the 8th floor and climb some stairs to the top of the cathedral for a nice view.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 3 April 2023
  • Lexi D
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking views
    We went on Palm Sunday, about 30 minutes before they closed. The outside is magnificent but the inside is incredible. The organ is breathtaking. Views from the top are wonderful. We stayed up to listen to the bells which go off every 15 minutes, it is LOUD!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 April 2023
  • gringottsgoblin
    369 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A soaring edifice. Modern Nordic Gothic
    I was not expecting to be so moved. I have seen the photos of course but they can’t explain what this cathedral is. It is a soaring edifice very appropriate to Iceland its facade reflecting the basalt columns in its structure. What I was not expecting was it’s sheer elegance and how it’s pared back exterior and interior created a sense of being just right, slightly austere but with wonderful proportions and the entire elegant structure uncluttered and clear to see and so filled with light. I won’t compare it to the Sagrada Familia but it is up there as a really fine piece of church architecture that holds its own with the best of them. Modern Nordic Gothic. Loved it
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 7 April 2023
  • veronica l
    Northumberland, United Kingdom93 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great views from the top of the tower on a clear day.
    I was visiting the church but as the weather was bright sunny and clear decided to take the lift to the top of the tower. You pay at the desk first then its six people at a time in the lift. You are very quickly there. There is then a staircase to the open viewing area. It is under the bell which is deafening when it rang - but all in all the views over the city and the bay are worth it.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 14 April 2023
  • Judy L
    14 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A towering structure in Reykjavik
    When visiting Reykjavik, you won’t miss this church. It towers over the city with its distinct architecture and breathtaking exterior. Entrance into the church is free. At certain times throughout the day, you might hear the organ player practice. The interior, however, is rather minimalistic and for a fee you can take a trip up to the bell tower for better views of the city. Heads up - the bells go off every 15 minutes!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 14 April 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
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jrapeter
Bude, UK841 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
The church exterior is austere, graphic and impressive. Allegedly looking like the basalt pillars seen at the coast.

Interior is equally plain although the new organ pipes are impressive.

The real deal here, however, is the trip up the Tower to the bell tower and enclosed viewing platform with incredible 360 degree views over. Reykjavik and it’s surrounding bay and interior.

It is circa £8 per person. there is a lift up to the top (8th floor).

The bells chime (loudly) every 15 minutes and you are a few feet away from them.

As I say, the views are faultless (we had a lucky break in the dreary weather!) and I think worth the money.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GinnyConrad
Leland, NC7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
The architecture of the building is amazing! The inside is plain, unimpressive, aside from the architecture, they were doing some renovating, which may have impacted that. The organ pipes are quite impressive, though! We paid for the elevator to the top, and the view is definitely worth it! We always get caught in bell towers when they ring, and today was no exception!
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

anotheraeolist
New York City, NY42 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Hallgrímskirkja is the tallest building in Reykjavík and can easily be seen from within the city. The architecture is particularly striking, with its stone facade representing the basalt columns found around the country and its dramatic shape that resembles the curved peak of a Viking's helmet. The interior is similarly austere and does not contain any kind of adornment on the walls or windows.

If you enter the church's gift shop, you can purchase tickets (1400 ISK) to take the elevator to the top of the tower to view the city from above. I liked this view better than that of Perlan's because you can see the colorful Reykjavík houses against the mountains and sea. Just be aware that the bells ring at every hour so it will be very loud inside that tower at the right time.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nigel P
Worksop, UK259 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
I suppose this is a must visit location in Reykjavik; it certainly is imposing and unlike any other place of worship I’ve ever seen. We first visited after sunset and the external flood-lights and the internally illuminated stained glass windows really soften the stark concrete exterior. A day-time visit is certainly worth it to both go up in the lift to access the bell tower (the views across the town, the bay and the mountains are brilliant), but also to see the interior of the cathedral, which has the absolute minimum of decoration. If you’re lucky the organ may be being played as well.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DrCDB
Chile533 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
A must. Nice design and great to see it both at day and night. The view from the top is quite nice as well so recommendable to pay the fee to take the lift and get to the top of the church.
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

George V
Crouch End, UK9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Taking in Iceland's architecture is amazing, but the Hallgrimskirkja takes the cake, with it's minimalist brutalist style design it stands tall against the ice, cold and wind of Reykjavik.

The inside doesn't sleep on you either, although very bare and minimal, it makes it that much more striking.

There is the option to also climb it's tower and get and exquisite views of all of Reykjavik, but be prepared to pay.
Written 28 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy B
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
I see those commenting a 1 star are maybe correct in their opinion. In mine, no queues, and for £8 each, it well worth the views at the top.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jayfi303
Cambridge, UK12 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
A beautiful, peaceful place to visit. The modern architecture is stunning. The church towers above the city of Reykjavík visible all over. Inside it is equally beautiful, with a calm atmosphere.
We didn’t go up the tower due to poor visibility on the day we visited, but I imagine it provides amazing views across the city and beyond.
Written 22 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christy M
Kelty, UK241 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Really nice church very unique in design. Inside very plain but peaceful. Recommend a trip up to the tower which you can buy tickets for in the gift shop not expensive. Fantastic views over Reykjavik and great for photos. Gets very busy so go early.
Written 19 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RYCP71
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK186 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Well worth a trip up the tower, the views are amazing and it gives you a good feel of Reykjavik and the surrounding area. Recommmend to do this early on in your visit to the city....
Written 19 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik

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