Ingjaldsholskirkja Church is a small, red-roofed church near Hellissandur on Iceland's Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and one of the oldest concrete churches in Iceland. It is tied to a Christopher Columbus legend and known online as the "eye-test church." Read on to plan your visit.
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church sits about 120 miles (195 km) west of Reykjavik, near the western tip of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The drive takes about 2.5 hours, and the church works best as one stop on a longer loop of the region. Most travelers arrive by driving rental cars, though you can also reach it on this small-group Snaefellsnes tour.
The church stands in West Iceland, and if you are mapping out things to do in Snaefellsnes, it fits in neatly between the bigger sights. Pair it with cafes on Snaefellsnes for lunch, and sort out accommodation in Snaefellsnes for the night. If you are driving down from the north, there are plenty of things to see from Akureyri to Snaefellsnes.
For a wider trip, enjoy the things to do in West Iceland and stay in one of the hotels in West Iceland. Below you will find the story behind the church, the truth about the Columbus legend, why it went viral as the eye-test church, and clear directions for finding it. Keep reading to start planning your trip.
Key Takeaways
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Ingjaldsholskirkja Church was built in 1903 and is one of the oldest concrete churches in Iceland.
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It sits near Hellissandur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, about 120 miles (195 km) from Reykjavik.
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Local legend says Christopher Columbus spent the winter of 1477 at the Ingjaldsholl farm here.
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The church went viral as the "eye-test church" for resembling the little building shown in optometry machines.
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The setting and long-distance views are the main draw, and a rental car is the easiest way to reach it.
About Ingjaldsholskirkja Church
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church is a concrete church built in 1903, standing on a low rise between the villages of Hellissandur and Rif on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. It is one of the oldest concrete churches in the country.
What stands out is the way the church sits against its surroundings. White walls and a bright red roof rise from open green fields, with glacier-capped peaks behind, making it a great photography spot.
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church is modest in size, about 41 feet (12.4 meters) long and 24 feet (7.5 meters) wide, with a tower on its western gable. Master builder Jón Sveinsson raised the original in 1903, and architect Rögnvaldur Ólafsson reshaped the tower and roof in 1914. The church has been a protected heritage building since 1990.
Why Ingjaldsholskirkja Is Called the Eye-Test Church
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church is better known online as the "eye-test church," resembling the red-roofed building shown in the auto-refractor machines used during eye exams. The long straight road, the small white church, and the mountains behind line up with the image many people remember squinting at during a visit to the optometrist.
That resemblance has turned the church into a kind of pilgrimage for visitors from China, who come to line up for the classic shot from the bottom of the approach road. No optical company has confirmed it is the building in the machines, so enjoy it as a happy coincidence and a good story to tell while you frame your own version.
The Christopher Columbus Legend at Ingjaldsholl
Painting by Sebastiano del Piombo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Local legend says Christopher Columbus stayed at the Ingjaldsholl farm through the winter of 1477, and that he came to learn what Icelandic sailors knew about lands to the west. Historians cannot prove the visit happened, so it remains a local story rather than settled history.
A painting inside the church shows Columbus in conversation with the local priest. The church also keeps a replica altarpiece, painted by Þórarinn B. Þorláksson, of the Resurrection altarpiece in Reykjavik Cathedral. Þórarinn is often named as Iceland's first professional painter.
How To Get to Ingjaldsholskirkja Church
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Chris Johnston. No edits made.
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church sits about 120 miles (195 km) west of Reykjavik, a drive of roughly 2.5 hours. Take Route 1 north out of the city, then Route 54 onto the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and follow the road toward Hellissandur near the western tip, where a short turn inland climbs to the church.
Driving yourself is the simplest way to visit, since the church is one of many stops strung along the peninsula. Hellissandur and Olafsvik have fuel and food within a short drive. The church sits near the edge of Snaefellsjokull National Park.
| From | Distance to Ingjaldsholskirkja | Driving Time to Ingjaldsholskirkja |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik | 120 miles (195 km) | about 2.5 hours |
| Stykkisholmur | 45 miles (73 km) | about 1 hour |
| Hellissandur | 1 mile (2 km) | about 3 minutes |
What To See Near Ingjaldsholskirkja Church
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church sits at the quiet western end of one of Iceland's most scenic peninsulas, so it fits neatly into a full day of sightseeing. The stops below are all within about half an hour by car and are on the same route as the church.
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Snaefellsjokull National Park: begins near the church, home to the glacier-capped volcano made famous by Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth."
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Olafsvik: the nearest town, about 8 minutes east, with fuel, restaurants, and whale-watching tours.
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Saxholl Crater: a small volcanic crater about 12 minutes west, with a metal staircase to the rim and sweeping coastal views.
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Djupalonssandur: a black-pebble beach about 25 minutes away, scattered with the rusted remains of a shipwreck.
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Londrangar Cliff: a pair of towering basalt pinnacles that local folklore ties to petrified trolls.
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Kirkjufell Mountain: Iceland's most photographed mountain, about 30 minutes east near the town of Grundarfjordur, is often paired with the Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall.
In summer, one of Iceland's largest Arctic tern colonies nests in the fields between Hellissandur and Rif near the church. The birds may dive at anyone who strays too close to their nests, so keep your distance from the nesting areas. They also fly low across the road and often sit on it. Drive slowly and heed the warning signs.
Plan Your Visit to Ingjaldsholskirkja Church
Ingjaldsholskirkja Church is a short stop rather than a half-day outing, but it rewards the detour all the same. Most people come away struck by the quiet of the open fields as much as by the view, and like many of the most beautiful churches in Iceland, it pairs naturally with the attractions and destinations around it.
When you are ready to plan the wider trip, you can join this small-group Snaefellsnes tour that takes in the church, or set out at your own pace with one of our rental cars.
