Experience Iceland's iconic black church between lava and sea

Búðakirkja is a small black wooden church in the remote settlement of Búðir on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It was built in 1987 as a faithful reconstruction of the 1849 church. The dark colour originally came from wood treated with tar, which served as weather protection against Iceland's harsh climate. Inside you find a simple altar, wooden pews and an old church bell in the tower. Despite its small size, the church is still used today for services and weddings and is considered a symbol of Icelandic cultural heritage and the country's typical Lutheran wooden church tradition.

The church stands in the middle of the Búðahraun lava field within Snæfellsjökull National Park and can be reached on foot from the car park in just a few minutes. The short path leads through volcanic landscape with views of the Atlantic, black beaches and, in good weather, the nearby Snæfellsjökull glacier. Directly next to the church there is a small cemetery with engraved gravestones. The church itself is usually visited from the outside as it is often locked. The car park can quickly fill up when tourist buses arrive, so it is worth visiting outside peak times. Allow around 20 to 30 minutes for your visit.