A Complete Guide to Kirkjufell Mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland
Mount Kirkjufell, together with Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall on Snaefellsnes Peninsula, is one of Iceland's most visited and most iconic sites. Read our travel guide on visiting Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss, including tips on how to get there, when is the best time to visit, and photography tips.
Is Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall with the iconic, uniquely-shaped Mount Kirkjufell in the background worth your time, or is it just an overrated tourist place that will disappoint you? Let's find out.
Without any doubt, Mount Kirkjufell is one of the most photographed places in Iceland, and for a good reason.
The wonderful scenery attracts landscape photographers from all around the world, same as day-trippers from Reykjavik, people ticking bucket list places off their list, or travelers exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
It is impossible to avoid seeing the famous photos of the mountain and waterfall, usually with Northern Lights or sun setting down and with beautifully colored skies, before the actual visit.
You start seeing the photos when planning your Iceland itinerary. It is often enough to google the best photos of Iceland. Even when you land, it is usually one of the first pictures you can see at the airport.
For us, Mount Kirkjufell was one of those places where photos were better than reality and where we were not able to connect with nature as in other parts of the country.
What to Expect
Luckily for us, we sort of knew what to expect, set our expectations right, and we knew that this stop would most likely be just about the one iconic view.
We believe that this is something a first-time traveler should understand.
Do not take us wrong; Mount Kirkjufell is definitely worth your time; it is a quick stop anyway and an essential stop on your itinerary.
What we are trying to say is, do not revolve your entire day on Snaefellsnes Peninsula around it, as this area has definitely much more to offer.
The mountain's shape is for sure very distinct.
In translation, it means Church Mountain, and from the right angle, our photos of the mountain and waterfall turned out great, even though we did not wait for the best time to take pictures and visited the place around midday.
In this travel guide, we want to share everything you need to know before visiting Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss.
From how to get there, where to stay, to when is the best time to visit it, we've got you covered.
Kirkjufell Location
Kirkjufell Mountain is one of the top attractions in the northern part of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Even though the peninsula is off the Ring Road, most of the travelers decide to encircle it, and if you have one day to spare, we definitely recommend you to take the detour.
We traveled to Kirkjufell from Westfjords, so we approached the mountain from the east, which is the side from where you can see the iconic shape.
In case you travel in the opposite direction, you might not recognize the mountain until you get very close.
Kirkjufellsfoss is only a short drive from the mountain, and for the majority of travelers, the parking lot near the waterfall is the place to go when visiting this site.
How to Get There
Getting to Grundarfjordur, a village close to the Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall is possible by public transport (unlike reaching other popular places in Iceland), but time-consuming.
You might need to switch the line several times, depending on your departure point.
Car
Therefore the best way to get to Snaefellsnes Peninsula and visiting Kirkjufell is by car. Road 54 is mostly paved; some sections are gravel but still well-accessible even by 2WD (4x4 is recommended in the winter).
As traveling in Iceland by rental car is very common, we assume you will get there this way.
But even if you did not plan on renting a car for the whole time of your Iceland holiday, it might be a good idea to rent a car just for a couple of days.
It's way easier to get around, for example, around the famous Golden Circle and then Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Campervans are also super popular in Iceland.
The parking lot near the viewpoint is well-signposted, and it is close to the road as well, so it is impossible to miss it.
Tour
Because Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss are the shining stars of Iceland, it is possible to book a Snaefellsnes Peninsula Tour from Reykjavik that will show you the best of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Visiting Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
As we were traveling via Grundarfjordur, Kirkjufell was slowly revealing in front of us.
We pulled the car over a few hundred meters before the main Kirkjufellsfoss parking lot and took a few snaps of the mountain mirroring in the water.
Do not stop on the road, there is a smaller unmarked parking lot/dirt road.
This is probably one of the most important tips in this Kirkjufell travel guide. Do not rush and take in the views that can be seen before the actual viewpoint - personally, we enjoyed them more intensively.
Then we followed our GPS and continued to the parking lot, and Martin pointed out that we can already see Kirkjufellsfoss on our left.
Kirkjufellsfoss
To be honest, I was quite disappointed at the beginning, because the waterfall seemed really small.
Especially when compared with some of the best falls in Iceland we had seen during our road trip, such as Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Gullfoss, or Dettifoss.
But it is necessary to know that the waterfall just completes here all the beauty; it is not alone the main point of interest.
We parked the car, and a well-maintained path led us a few hundred meters slightly uphill; we crossed a bridge and reached the viewpoint from where it is best to take that sought-after photo of the Church mountain and waterfall.
Here we had to give this site credit as it was much more spectacular than from the road.
Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is 463 meters high peak towering above the sea, and it got its shape by the process of erosion during Ice Age.
Unless you wait for better light or sunset, the visit itself won't take you long; allow yourself approximately fifteen to thirty minutes.
Except for enjoying the views, we spent some time watching local kids jumping to the icy cold river flowing from the waterfall.
They had wetsuits, but we still found it a cool way how to kill time as it was an activity kids usually do not do in our homeland, the Czech Republic.
By the way, some of you might recognize Kirkjufell Mountain from the popular series Game of Thrones.
In case you want to get even a closer connection with the mountain and get even better views, it is possible to climb Kirkjufell.
But given the steep terrain and difficulty, it is recommended to be well-experienced, or even better, hire a guide and not to set off when the weather is bad.
By the way, some of you might recognize Kirkjufell Mountain from the popular series Game of Thrones.
In case you want to get even a closer connection with the mountain and get even better views, it is possible to climb Kirkjufell.
But given the steep terrain and difficulty, it is recommended to be well-experienced, or even better, hire a guide and not to set off when the weather is bad.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
The Best Time to Visit Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is a photogenic place all year round, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula is accessible even during the winter, so you can plan your visit anytime.
Summer, between June and August, is the busy season, and during this time, the parking lot can be full, so you might need to wait a bit for other travelers to leave.
No matter whether you are a keen photographer or just a regular traveler who can appreciate the beauty of the landscape, you will enjoy visiting Kirkjufell at any time of the year.
Winter brings snow but seeing the mountain covered in a white blanket with a frozen waterfall, and Northern Lights is something to remember, and many people travel to the area to get exactly this photo.
Northern Lights is actually quite a common phenomenon here in the winter because of little light pollutions, so if you can, plan your visit accordingly.
When it comes to the best time of the day, the mountain is very photogenic during the sunset and sunrise as well.
But if you travel to Iceland in the summer, it is good to know that the sun almost never sets, sometimes for a very brief moment, so you will have to stay up long.
As we've already mentioned, we arrived at the base of Kirkjufell Mountain around midday on a very sunny day, so the place lacked a bit of a mysterious atmosphere, but we enjoyed the views as well.
What to Pack
If you are serious about photography, make sure you have a wide-angle lens such as Canon RF 15-35MM F2.8L IS USM.
Add a sturdy tripod, B+W Circular Polarizer for general use and Neutral Density 0.9 Filter.
Now, you are all set for Kirkjufellsfoss photo trip.
Where to Stay
The closest village to Kirkjufell is Grundarfjordur, which is a great place to stay overnight in case you plan on taking photos either early in the morning or later in the evening.
Despite its small size, you can find here a few guesthouses and even a large campground.
In case you have a more packed itinerary and sleeping in Grundarfjordur does not make sense, you can continue either to Reykjavik, Budardalur, which could be your gateway to Westfjords, but it is possible to drive even to Akureyri in one day.
We've handpicked the best accommodation where you can spend a night before or after visiting Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss.
Grundarfjordur | Grundarfjordur Guesthouse and Apartments - Great location, clean and comfortable rooms, this guesthouse has perfect reviews that just confirm it is one of the best guesthouses in the area.
Budardalur | The Castle - This cozy guesthouse can be your getaway to both Westfjords and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Some of the rooms are facing the beach, and it is also a great place to spot Northern Lights.
Akureyri | Akureyri H.I. Hostel - Super-clean and modernly furnished hotels are a great pick for budget travelers looking for excellent accommodation in Akureyri. This hostel is just off the Ring Road, so perfect for those of you who plan on hitting the road early in the morning again.
Reykjavik | Hotel Klettur - If you are looking for accommodation in the capital city that is decent but that will not break the bank, this conveniently located hotel is a good choice.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
