Kirkjufell

Located in West Iceland, Kirkjufell is found on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. You could visit the mountain on a guided day tour from Reykjavík, or make it a stop on your Iceland road trip. 

In recent years, Kirkjufell mountain has been thrown into the limelight. This is partly thanks to it being used as a filming location for the TV series Game of Thrones. Not to mention the fact that snaps of this pyramidal peak look dreamy on Instagram. 

With all of the buzz around it, you might be wondering if it’s actually worth visiting. But when you get to Kirkjufell, you’ll soon realise there’s more to this stunning place than getting the perfect shot. 

While the mountain is easy to spot as you pass by on the road, make sure you head to the Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall viewpoint. This is one of the best places to appreciate its beauty. 

After just a short walk from the roadside parking lot, you’ll be wowed by a view of the waterfall with the mountain as a backdrop. From here, the peak’s steeple shape makes it obvious why it was named Kirkjufell (‘church mountain’). 

Another excellent viewpoint to check out is Kolgrafarfjördur. It’s about 12 km (7.5 mi) away from Kirkjufell, a drive of around 10 minutes. Head to this higher spot overlooking the bay and you’ll glimpse the mountain from a less recognizable, but just as beautiful, angle. 

Not far from Kirkjufell is the fishing town of Grundarfjörður. It’s the perfect place to stop for something to eat or drink. And if you have time, you could visit the Saga Center Grundarfjörður to learn a bit about the local area. 

Slightly further away, but also well worth visiting, is the colorful and charming town of Stykkishólmur. And you’ll spot Snæfellsjökull glacier, which sits on top of a volcano at the western end of the peninsula. 

What’s more, there’s Arnarstapi village, on the south side of Snæfellsnes, where you can take in jaw-dropping scenery from a short clifftop trail.