Hvalsnes Church stands on the outer coast of the Reykjanes peninsula, near Keflavík, on the Road 45 loop. It was built in 1886 and 1887 from stone collected in the area and carved by local people, and the interior was fitted out with driftwood gathered on the shore nearby. A church has stood on the site since the Middle Ages; the present one is Lutheran and still in use. The graveyard beside it keeps old headstones, among them the gravestone of Steinunn Hallgrímsdóttir.
Hvalsnes Church
Local name: Hvalsneskirkja
The gravestone of Hallgrímur Pétursson's four-year-old daughter, carved by her parents in 1649, was lost for years and turned up in 1964 in the walkway leading to the church door.
- Parking
- Free parking at the church.
- Transport
- No public transport; the church is reached by car.
- Address
- Hvalsnes, 246
What makes it special
The building was made by the people who used it. The stone was collected around Hvalsnes and carved by hand in 1886 and 1887, and the interior was fitted with driftwood picked up on the shore.
The site is older than the building. There has been a church here since the Middle Ages, and the first ones were Catholic, dedicated to the Holy Mother, St Olaf and St Catherine. Its best-known clergyman was Hallgrímur Pétursson, who served here longer than anyone in the 17th century. Icelanders still sing his hymns, and Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík carries his name.
In the graveyard is the gravestone of his daughter Steinunn, who died in 1649 at the age of four. Her parents carved it themselves.
Good to know
- The church is locked. Viewing is from the outside, so the driftwood interior is not part of a normal visit.
- No facilities. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information board at the site.
- Still a working church. Services are held here, and the building holds up to 100 people.
- Everything is outdoors. In winter it is dark and bitterly cold, and there is no shelter on the site.
Getting there
Hvalsnes Church stands on the Road 45 loop near Keflavík, on the seaward side of the Reykjanes peninsula. No bus comes here, so this is a drive. Parking is at the church itself, and there is no approach on foot to speak of: you step out of the car onto the churchyard. It works as a stop on the loop rather than a trip of its own.
Best time to visit
Best: in daylight. The church is kept locked, so the whole visit happens outdoors — the carved stone walls, the graveyard and the old headstones.
Avoid: winter mornings before first light. There is nothing to see in the dark, and the cold at this exposed coastal site is severe.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside Hvalsnes Church?
The church is kept locked and viewing is done from the outside. The interior, fitted with driftwood collected on the nearby shore, holds up to 100 people and is still in use.What is the Steinunn gravestone?
It marks Steinunn Hallgrímsdóttir, daughter of Hallgrímur Pétursson and Guðríður Símonardóttir, who died in 1649 aged four. Her parents carved the stone. It went missing for years, and in 1964 construction workers found it: locals had built it into the walkway to the church.How old is the church, and how old is the site?
The present church was built in 1886 and 1887 from carved local stone. A church has stood on the site since the Middle Ages. The earliest ones were Catholic, dedicated to the Holy Mother, St Olaf and St Catherine; today the church is Lutheran.How is Hvalsnes Church connected to Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík?
Hallgrímur Pétursson, the 17th-century priest and hymn poet, was the longest-serving clergyman at Hvalsnes. Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík is named after him.Are there toilets at Hvalsnes Church?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no visitor facilities at the church, and none within a few kilometres of it.