Akureyrarkirkja Church
Akureyrarkirkja is the Lutheran church that defines the Akureyri skyline, sitting on a hill above the town with twin spires visible from across the Eyjafjördur fjord. Designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, Iceland's first state architect and the designer of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, it was consecrated in 1940 and remains the most visited church in North Iceland. Entry is free.
The Church That Defines Akureyri's Skyline, Designed by the Architect of Hallgrímskirkja
Guðjón Samúelsson designed both Akureyrarkirkja and Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland's two most recognisable churches, and the family resemblance is clear in both: angular spires, basalt-inspired geometry, and a modernist confidence that distinguishes them from anything else on the Icelandic landscape. Where Hallgrímskirkja reads as rocket-like and monumental, Akureyrarkirkja is more compressed, described by Lonely Planet as resembling a stylised 1920s US skyscraper. Construction began in 1929 and the church was consecrated in 1940. It stands at the top of a wide staircase that climbs from the town centre, and the climb itself is worth it for the views over the rooftops and down the fjord.
The interior has several details worth seeking out. The 3,200-pipe organ is one of the largest in Iceland and a central part of the church's musical life. A series of bas-reliefs depicting the life of Christ were made by sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson, one of Iceland's most celebrated artists. The font is a replica of one by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. A model ship hangs from the ceiling, following an old Nordic tradition of votive offerings for the protection of sailors at sea. Most strikingly, the large central stained-glass window above the altar originally came from Coventry Cathedral in England, removed and sold before that cathedral was destroyed in the Blitz in 1940.
The church is located at við Eyrarlandsveg in central Akureyri, at the top of the broad flight of steps that is one of the town's most photographed spots. It is open to visitors throughout the year, typically free of charge outside of services. Akureyri is 461 kilometres from Reykjavik by road, about a 4.5-hour drive, and is also served by domestic flights from Reykjavik City Airport. The church sits a short walk downhill from the Akureyri Botanical Garden, making the two a natural pair on a visit to the town.
