Kirkjufell Mountain - The most photographed mountain in Iceland
The most iconic and famous sightseeing spot of Snæfellsnes is undeniable the Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall.
This scenery was not only used in “Game of Thrones”, but the mountain was also entitled as one of the most beautiful mountains of the world.
Read below, why it is worth visiting this breathtaking scenery, what else to see and experience and how to plan your visit.
Roadtrip itinerary for a one-day roadtrip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell Mountain – starting at Reykjavik.
This blog article will take you all the way to the peninsula of Snæfellsnes, located at the west coast of Iceland. It is described as a one-day road trip, which starts at Reykjavik. When driving up the coast to the western fjords or to the northern coast of Iceland, a stopover at the peninsula of Snæfellsnes is a must, but also a day-trip from Reykjavík is also a manageable effort.
On your way you will see snow-covered mountain ranges, Fjords, which cut deeply into the shores and lava fields, which bespeak past volcanic activities.
The most iconic and famous sightseeing spot of Snæfellsnes is undeniable the Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall. This scenery was not only used in “Game of Thrones”, but the mountain was also entitled as one of the most beautiful mountains of the world. When approaching the mountain, it does not appear really spectacular. But as soon as you make your way down to the waterfall, you will encounter the beauty of it.
We combined this road trip with a stop at the Búðakirkja – a traditional wooden church, which is painted all black. It fits perfectly into the black and white winter landscape and is just another picture-perfect place to visit. You can find the church at the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Closeby you can also find a view point (coordinates: 64.82833406287826, -23.455741224584184), which offers a nice view of the Snæfellsnes national park, which is located at the western coast of the peninsula.
Usually the church itself is closed and cannot be visited, but the outside as well as the surrounding lava fields are worth-visiting. There is no city nearby, but you can find a small hotel called “Hótel Búðir”.
The Snæfellsnes peninsula offers much more to see and to discover. Following you can find some ideas how to enhance this road trip itinerary, if you have a little bit more time.
- Snæfellsjökull-Nationalpark – This national parc is named after the Snæfellsjökull volcano and is located at the western coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. In winter the parc is mostly closed due to the harsh weather conditions, but in summer in offers many hikes. You will find craters, lava fields and if you are lucky: puffins.
- Ingjaldshólskirkja – Another church and famous photo scene is the Ingjaldshólskirkja. It is located at the north-western coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. In summer, meadows around it are covered with purple lupins.
Duration: A full day (starting at and returning to Reykjavik: 360 km, 5 hours)
Entrance: You do not have to pay any entrance fees, when visiting the mountain and the waterfall.
Parking: There are several free parking lots directly in front of the mountain.
Eat: You can find some restaurants and a small supermarket at the small city of “Grundarfjörður”.
Sleep: If you want to stay overnight to experience the northern lights (September to April) above the Kirkjufell mountain you can stay at one of the small Bed and Breakfasts or at the campground at Grundarfjörður.
Best photo spot: The best photo spots is the one, which enables you to shoot both: the mountain and the waterfall. You have to cross a small bridge above the waterfall and take the stairs to the lower part of the waterfall.
Best time to visit: Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall can be visited all year around. In summer you will experience a mountain covered in lush-green, while in winter a white dress of snow and ice is wrapped around the mountain and aurora borealis are dancing above the impressive scenery.
