Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik

An unusual-looking church, the design of Hallgrimskirkja was inspired by the forms created when lava cools into basalt rock. The church was designed by Gudjon Samuel in 1937 and constructed between 1945 and 1986. The tower, at 73 m (239.5 ft) tall, dominates Reykjavik's skyline. The view from the top looks out over the entire city, plus the rocky, volcanic landscape and the sea beside the capital. Inside the church, listen to the melodies wafting from the enormous, 25-ton pipe organ. A statue of Leifur Ericsson, the first European to reach America, stands directly outside the strange edifice. A visit to Hallgrimskirkja represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Reykjavik online travel route planner to plot your vacation.