Grundarfjordur

Grundarfjörður is a small fishing town of around 900 residents tucked into a sheltered bay on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is utterly dominated by Kirkjufell — a 463-metre-tall, arrow-shaped mountain that rises so steeply and symmetrically from the water’s edge that it looks almost like a film set prop. Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland and arguably one of the most recognised natural shapes in all of Iceland’s remarkable landscape, made additionally famous by its use as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

The classic composition pairs Kirkjufell with the small Kirkjufellfoss waterfall in the foreground, a scene that has appeared in countless travel publications and social media feeds. Golden hour and blue hour light transforms the mountain dramatically, and in winter the chance of capturing Kirkjufell with the aurora borealis above it attracts photographers from around the world. The town itself is quiet and friendly, with a small harbour and a couple of cafés.

Grundarfjörður is located on Route 54, approximately 170 km from Reykjavík. The Snæfellsnes peninsula is easily done as a long day trip or overnight from the capital. The mountain is free to view and the Kirkjufellfoss car park is a short walk from the road; Kirkjufell itself has a summit hiking trail for fit hikers. Accessible year-round on paved roads.