The magnificent mountain of Kirkjufell Iceland, and its waterfalls Kirkjufellsfoss, are the icon of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
There is something special about the shape, location and colors of the Kirkjufell Mountain.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with map, tips and photos.
Note: If you plan on visiting in Winter, head to my other article about Kirkjufell in Winter.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching
Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure
My favorite places to stay:
- Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
- Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
- Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal
Why visit Kirkjufell in Iceland?
What is Kirkjufell?
Kirkjufell is a 463 meter (1519ft) high mountain on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Because of its shape and stand-alone location by the sea with waterfalls close by, it has become one of the most iconic landscapes in Iceland (and one of the most photographed).
I really enjoyed it, and visited it under different weather conditions. It was always magical, so I selected it in my Top 10 Iceland Landscapes.
What does Kirkjufell mean?
Its name means “Church Mountain”, because of its shape. Kirkja is the Icelandic name for church.
Is Kirkjufell a volcano?
No.
Because of its strange shape and the volcanic nature of Iceland, people wonder if Kirkjufell is a volcano. It is not. Just the work of time with sediments and erosion.
See the next paragraph to understand how it was formed.
How to pronounce Kirkjufell?
If reading this article is difficult because you are wondering about the pronunciation of Kirkjufell, check it out here
About Iceland’s Mount Kirkjufell
So how was Kirkjufell formed? What type of Mountain is Kirkjufell? (Geology)
Kirkjufell is a stack of layers of sedimentary rocks from glacial and interglacial stages. At the base is Tertiary Lava. And then it alternates between Sandstone, and Quaternary lava. At the top is tuff (a geological profile is available at the bottom of this article).
And then during the last Ice age, erosion shaped it. Its side are so steep because it was a high rock pressured between 2 glacier tongues.
Other facts about Kirkjufell…
- The location was also made famous by Game of Thrones.
- It is a great place for photographing the Northern lights on a clear night as it is facing North
Can you climb Kirkjufell?
KIRKJUFELL HIKE – Yes, it is possible to hike to the top of Kirkjufell (Kirkjufell hike).
However It is a difficult hike with very steep sections, slippery rocks and wind. Do not go by yourself (it can be very dangerous, with people fatally falling). Hire an experienced guide who can take you along the right tracks.
About the Kirkjufellsfoss (Kirkjufell waterfalls)
“Foss” means waterfall in Icelandic.
Very close to Mt Kirkjufell is a series of waterfalls. The alignment is ideal to photograph all of that together.
They are located on River Kirkjufellsá flowing from the Snaefellsjokull glacier over the Helgrindur ridge.
Both steps of the waterfall are not very high (they reach around 5 meters (16ft) in height) but the interest is the combined view with the mountain behind.
Planning tips & Map – Kirkjufell Iceland
Where is Kirkjufell located? Map
It is located
- on the North Coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (see my guide), just West of Grundarfjordur, one of the main towns in the region.
- East of the Snaefellsjökull glacier.
- Reykjavik to Kirkjufell = 2h15 drive on paved roads – 185km (114mi)
- Below is a map to help you locate Mt Kirkjufell:
All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning tips) in my travel guide eBook to help you easily plan your Iceland road trip (5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days…)
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 130+ original photos to help you choose
Access by car – Carpark
- Located along road 54 (the circular road around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula)
- Just a 2 minute drive past Grundarfjörður towards the West,
- Thingvellir to Kirkjufell (if you want to do both Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes) – 2h30 drive
- The drive is easy, with one lane in each direction and wide enough roads
Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Where to park for Kirkjufell?
When you approach the mountain, you will find a small parking area.
Beware, surprisingly it is located on the side of the road opposite to the mountain.
So, if you arrive from the East, it will be to your left; and if you arrive from the West end of the peninsula, it will be to your right.
Walks
- WALK to the view – 5 min walk from the parking to the famous view – From the car park a trail climbs to a bridge over the river and you can then walk down to get the famous views of the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and the mountain
- NOTE – Wear good shoes as it gets very muddy and get layers. The weather is not always comfortable. During one of my visits, it was windy cold and very difficult to do anything – see photo, I know it is scary, but it is not always like that – Check out my complete article on what to wear and pack for Iceland to stay warm and comfortable
- BASE WALK – The West Iceland tourism board indicates that you can walk around the base of it. It can be a family walk and takes 3 hours
Organized tours – Reykjavik to Kirkjufell & Snaefellsnes
Another option is to opt for a day trip from Reykjavik, where you just sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. There are tours taking you to all the main attractions on the peninsula:
- An all day tour from Reykjavik to the Snaefellsnes National Park with a maximum of 15 people – Check out program and book
- Photography Day Tour to capture the best of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Check out program and book
- 2 day Snaefellsnes tour with Northern light hunt – Check out program and book
Best angles to photograph Kirkjufell Mountain and Waterfalls
In any weather, the place keeps its magic!
However know that Kirkjufellsfoss is a photographer magnet – don’t expect to be alone!
Best places to photograph Kirkjufell:
- With the waterfall: top or lower sections, see the panoramic above where you can see both.
- With the reflection on the lake: at the bottom of the waterfalls there is a lake. When it is completely calm, it shows an almost perfect mirror image of the Kirkjufell.
- Apparently, you can go on higher ground for an interesting perspective without the waterfall. I have not tried it, considering the weather.
- From the town in Grundarfjordur
- And you can see Kirkjufell on both sides from Road 54 that goes along the North Shore of the peninsula
With both sections of the waterfall:
With the lake:
Driving from the East
And as you drive on Road 54 on the Snaefellsnes peninsula towards the town of Grundarfjordur, you can get nice views of the surprising mountain.
This is one of my favorite viewpoints.
Everybody rushes to the waterfalls, but this is such a peaceful place!
From Grundarfjordur
The following shot with the rainbow was taken from the town of Grundarfjordur near hotel Framnes. But just with my iPhone because it was pouring rain.
Driving from the West
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
Best time to Photograph Kirkjufell (Northern lights + sunrise)
Sunrise and Sunsets at Kirkjufell
Of course, like anywhere, the best times are sunrise and sunset. Because of its location facing North and the openness of the area, it is really good for both conditions.
Sadly I did not get much colors the many times I went…
Northern Lights at at Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell Iceland is a good location for aurora borealis for 3 reasons:
- the place is already very photogenic,
- the position from the waterfall is facing North,
- plus, there are no strong sources of light so you could see them well.
Learn more about tracking and photographing the northern lights on my special article.
Sadly, the conditions were not good for me, but here is a photo I purchase, taken by another photographer:
Plan your trip to Iceland this Summer:
Kirkjufell Accommodations – Grundarfjordur
Hotels near Kirkjufell
The town near the mountain is Grundarfjordur.
I stayed at 2 different accommodations on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula near Kirkjufell: The Old Post Office and Framnes.
Framnes
Framnes in Grundarfjörður: The location was great not far from the famous Kirkjufellsfoss allowing us to get there at sunset and sunrise. In the morning we were even greeted by a beautiful rainbow over Kirkjufell.
Check out pictures and availability
The Old Post office
And here is a cheaper accommodation at The Old Post Office Guesthouse with shared bathroom. It was comfortable, clean and very well located.
Check out pictures and availability
Camping near Kirkjufell
There is a campsite at Grundarfjordur near the pool. Check at the swimming pool reception.
Or check out the best rated accommodations in Grundarfjordur
Or find out more ideas in my article about where to stay in Snaefellsnes.
Where to stay in Iceland?
My favorites:
- Reykjavik, capital city: see best rated accommodations – or my article on where to stay
- Selfoss, between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
- Vik, near waterfalls and glaciers: see best rated accommodations
- Höfn, gateway to the East fjords: see best rated accommodations
- Egilsstadir, between fjords and North Iceland: see best rated accommodations
- Reykjahlid, for the wonders of Lake Myvatn: see best rated accommodations
- Akureyri, capital of the North: see best rated accommodations
- Grundarfjordur, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: see best rated accommodations
Kirkjufell in Winter
Kirkjufell Iceland is as magic Winter as it is in Summer. Below is a picture to prove it.
You might be lucky to see it under the snow. But know that the waterfalls normally don’t freeze entirely.
Accessing Kirkjufell in Winter: The road to get there is normally cleared to the waterfall carpark.
But always be careful, it can be slippery.
You can learn more with extra pictures in my article: Kirkjufell in Winter
And if you are planning a trip to Iceland in Winter, check out my planning guide.
Want to see other highlights of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula region?
- Go off the beaten path to see the Berserkjahraun lava field – read article
- Enjoy the charming Glanni waterfalls – read article
- Go up to Grabrok crater – read article
- Head inland on the Silver Circle – read article
- Enjoy the lava formation at Arnarstapi, Londrangar and the other volcanic craters…
- Read my Guide to the best things to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Planning a trip to Iceland?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 100+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 130+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
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Loved your panoramas! Iceland is high on my list of places I would love to visit (if only it weren’t so expensive!), in part because my husband and I really enjoy photography… it really seems like it’s one of those breathtaking places where it’s almost impossible to take a bad picture (even if the weather isn’t cooperating). I don’t think I had heard of this particular place in Iceland, but your pictures have convinced me that it’s somewhere we MUST visit.
Thanks Steph
Very good information provided Claire. This post has put the visit to Kirkjufell Iceland on my Must See list.
Thank you so much for the detailed information.
Thanks Srinath. Glad you found it helpful.