Snæfellsnes · Iceland
Búðakirkja
Búðakirkja is a small wooden church, tarred black against the Atlantic weather, standing alone in a lava field on the southern side of Snæfellsnes with Snæfellsjökull behind it. The current building dates from 1848 and it is still in use.
Worth seeing, not worth planning around. It is a small church in a pretty setting, and the pictures that made it famous flatter it — in person it does not carry the weight that Iceland’s bigger sights do. Stop if you are driving past, which you will be, and give it ten minutes.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Two out of five. The setting is good and the black timber against the lava photographs well. But at the end of it this is a church in front of a nice backdrop — set against the rest of what Iceland has, it is simply not as epic, and it is smaller in person than the photographs suggest.
The church is approximately a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík, with easy access via Route 54. A 1.5 km detour leads to the church on a well-maintained secondary road, which is usually clear but can be icy in winter.
Visiting Budakirkja and photographing the church from outside is free.
Budakirkja attracts photographers, nature lovers, and visitors intrigued by its history. It is generally peaceful, although popular during peak tourist season. Early or late visits help avoid the small crowds that gather mainly for photos or wedding ceremonies.
Before you go
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