2 Best Sights in Reykjavík, Iceland

Designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937 (though not completed until 1986), Reykjavík’s iconic church towers over the city with its striking modernist form inspired by Iceland’s basalt landscapes. A must-visit, the observation tower offers stunning panoramic views of the capital and surrounding mountains. The church is named for Hallgrímur Pétursson, one of Iceland's most beloved poets, best known for his Passion Hymns. In front of Hallgrímskirkja stands a statue of Leif Erikson, the Icelander who discovered America 500 years before Columbus (Leif's father was Eric the Red, who discovered Greenland). The statue, by American sculptor Alexander Calder, was presented to Iceland by the United States in 1930 to mark the millennium of the Alþingi parliament.

A place of worship has existed on this site since AD 1200. The current small church, built 1788–96, represents the state religion, Lutheranism. It was here that sovereignty and independence were first blessed and endorsed by the church. It's also where Iceland's national anthem, actually a hymn, was first sung in 1874. Since 1845, members and cabinet ministers of every Alþingi (Parliament) have gathered here for a service before the annual session. Among the treasured items inside is a baptismal font carved and donated by the famous 19th-century master sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who was half Icelandic.