Snæfellsnes · Iceland
Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell rises 463 metres above Grundarfjörður, and its shape — steep, symmetrical, standing on its own — has made it the most photographed mountain in Iceland. The classic shot pairs it with the small Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground. Game of Thrones viewers know it as Arrowhead Mountain.
Honest verdict: a nice picture and not much else. You stand, you look, you photograph it, and then you are finished — there is no walk, no closer view, nothing to go into. In my opinion Iceland has more spectacular things to offer, and this one lives largely on its photographs. Stop, take the shot from the free roadside spaces, and carry on.
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.
Three out of five, which will surprise people. It is a good-looking mountain and the picture with the waterfall works. But looking at it is all there is to do here, and measured against what else Iceland puts in front of you, it does not reach the top rank.
Kirkjufell is about a 2.5-hour drive from Reykjavík, accessible via Route 54. There is a large parking area near Kirkjufellsfoss, which provides the best access to views of both the waterfall and the mountain.
You do not have to pay. There are one or two free spaces at the roadside, and from there you can take the classic photo. The car park by Kirkjufellsfoss costs 1,000 ISK for the day and is worth it only if you want to walk to the waterfall — cameras read the plates going in and out, so paying is not optional once you are in there. Checked August 2026.
Due to Kirkjufell’s popularity, especially during the summer and Northern Lights seasons, it can get quite busy at the waterfall viewpoint and parking lot. Early mornings or late evenings offer more peaceful experiences, and the mountain can be enjoyed from farther distances to avoid crowds.
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
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