Hallgrímskirkja: My Favourite View Over Reykjavík

I’ve been to Iceland 6 times now, and visiting the observation deck at Hallgrímskirkja has become my favorite way to begin each adventure. Standing 75.4 meters tall, Iceland’s second-tallest building is an unmistakable part of Reykjavík’s skyline. After exploring Iceland’s wonderful nature, the church is one of the first things to welcome you back to the capital. 

I always tell people that going to the tower at Hallgrímskirkja is the main thing you should make time for in Reykjavík (well, that and getting a cinnamon bun at Brauð & Co. 🤤). Here’s everything that you need to know about getting tickets, what you can see from the top, and other practical information. 

First Thing’s First: The View

You mainly came here for pictures of the view from Hallgrímskirkja, so I wouldn’t want to disappoint you…

You can see over the whole of Reykjavík from the top of Hallgrímskirkja, in addition to the capital region and towards Mount Esja. If you visit in the winter, I recommend coming here at sunrise or sunset. If you’re lucky, you’ll see stunning shades of pink dot across the sky.

Reaching the Observation Deck

Many churches in Europe, such as Vor Frelsers Kirke in Copenhagen, require a strenuous climb to reach the top. Hallgrímskirkja, however, is not one of those. An elevator takes you to the same floor as the bell, and from there, you only need to walk up a small set of stairs to reach the observation deck. 

The elevator to the church’s observation deck is next to the shop where you buy tickets. Tap the appropriate button, and you’ll be there in a few seconds. 

Buying Tickets for the Church

You can’t buy tickets for the church tower in advance. Instead, you can purchase them from the church shop on the day you visit. I’ve paid with both cash and card in the past, but I recommend that you pay by card as it’s much easier. If you choose to pay with cash, you can only use Icelandic Króna. 

Adult tickets cost 1,400 ISK (c.10 USD / £8 / 15 AUD / €9.30). Tickets for children (up to 16 years) are heavily discounted, costing just 200 ISK (c. €1.30 / 1.45 USD / 2 AUD / £1.15). 

Seniors, students with a valid ID card, and people with a valid disability card can visit for 1,000 ISK (c. £5.70 / 7.16 USD / 10.85 AUD / €6.65). 

If you pay by card, you can pay in multiple currencies: 

• ISK 🇮🇸
• GBP 🇬🇧
• USD 🇺🇲
• CAD 🇨🇦 
• CHF 🇨🇭
• EUR 🇪🇺

The church doesn’t accept American Express or Discover, but you can pay with Visa and MasterCard. 

Opening Times at Hallgrímskirkja

Generally speaking, Hallgrímskirkja is open from 10:00 – 17:00 each day. However, opening times for the observation deck can vary depending on whether there’s a service going on. I’d recommend checking the church’s website before you visit. 

Beware of the Bells… 

I need to warn you about the bells at Hallgrímskirkja… they ring every 15 minutes, and when I say that they’re loud, I’m not joking. When I was there with my girlfriend, I warned her before and spent the last minute checking my watch so I could avoid being shocked when they rang. That, however, was to no avail—we both still jumped. 

If you’re particularly sensitive to noise, you may want to put some headphones in while you’re up there. Around the time that the bells ring, you can listen to some music. The bells only last a few seconds, so you can go back to enjoying the view of Reykjavík soon after. 🙂

Wrap Up Warm

You probably don’t need me to tell you that a land called Iceland is, well, quite chilly much of the time. The observation deck gets very windy, especially during the winter. Wear a good pair of gloves and appropriate clothing (i.e. a good jacket and, if you want, a stylish Icelandic sweater). Basically, most of the same stuff you’d wear at street level.