Akureyrarkirkja
About Akureyrarkirkja
Akureyrarkirkja looks down on Akureyri from the top of a long stone stairway, and its twin stepped towers are the first thing most visitors notice when they arrive in town. The Akureyri church is a Lutheran parish church designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, the state architect who also drew Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík, and it was consecrated in 1940.
If the tall, stepped towers look familiar, that's because both churches carry his signature style. Inside, look for the stained-glass window above the altar, long said to have come from Coventry Cathedral in England, although a BBC documentary later cast doubt on that story. The church also has a large pipe organ with around 3,200 pipes and a baptismal font copied from a work by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
You'll find the church on Eyrarlandsvegur, right above the town center and an easy walk from the harbor where cruise ships dock. Climbing the steps takes a few minutes, and the top gives a good view over the rooftops to Eyjafjörður. Akureyri itself is about five hours' drive from Reykjavík on the Ring Road, or a short domestic flight.
Opening hours for visitors change with the season, and the church closes during funerals and other services, which are posted on the door. Check akureyrarkirkja.is before you go if seeing the interior matters to you. Half an hour is enough for the church and the stairway, and it pairs well with a walk through the town center.
Good to know
Who designed Akureyrarkirkja?
Guðjón Samúelsson, Iceland's state architect, who also designed Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík. The church was consecrated in 1940.
Is the Akureyri church window from Coventry Cathedral?
That is the traditional story about the central window above the altar. A BBC documentary later questioned it, so the window's origin is disputed.
Can you go inside Akureyri church?
Yes, when it's open to visitors, but hours change by season and the church closes for funerals and services. Check akureyrarkirkja.is or the notice on the door.
How do you get to Akureyrarkirkja from the cruise port?
Walk from the harbor into the town center and climb the stone steps up to the church on Eyrarlandsvegur. It is a short walk on flat streets until the stairway.
How far is Akureyri from Reykjavík?
About five hours by car on the Ring Road, or a short domestic flight from Reykjavík's city airport.
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