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Back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur

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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Stay 1 night, use a car to see nearby waterfalls and canyons; a day‑trip is enough unless you add highland hikes.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur is a tiny service village on the Ring Road, 3–4 h from Reykjavík. Its value lies in the surrounding nature – waterfalls, a canyon and volcanic landscapes – which are reachable by car in short drives. One night lets you see the main sights and use the village as a base for a day‑trip to Fjaðrárgljúfur or Skaftárhreppur.

ReykjavíkAkureyriArnarstapiBlue LagoonBorgarnesEgilsstaðirEyrarbakkiFosshollHafnarfjörðurHellaHellissandurHöfnHúsavíkHveragerðiKirkjubæjarklaustur100 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Iceland
Best months
May–Sep
Avoid
Winter (road closures, limited daylight)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
ISK
Money
Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK, kr). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including remote petrol stations and toilets. About 145 ISK to €1 — check.
Daily spend
Budget 8 000–12 000 kr excl. bed · Mid 12 000–18 000 kr excl. bed · High 18 000+ kr excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
EEA roaming applies: EU/EEA SIMs work at home prices.
Emergency
Police 112 · Non‑urgent doctor 1700
Plugs
Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin.
Tipping
Restaurant: Not expected.; Tour guide: Optional; ISK 1,000–3,000 for an excellent guide.; Taxi: Nothing.
Water
Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it.
Toilets
Few on long drives; petrol stations and paid toilets (ISK 200–500) at sites.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee400–700 kr
Hot dog600–900 kr
Meal at hotel restaurant2 500–4 500 kr
Car rental (compact, per day)7 000–9 000 kr

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

KEF · Keflavík International Airport
3–4 h drive via Ring Road; the nearest major airport

Typical fares

BSÍ bus Reykjavík → Kirkjubæjarklaustur
≈2 500 kr one‑way (check schedule)
Car rental (compact, 1 day)
≈8 000 kr, includes basic insurance (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Village is walkable; a rental car is essential for nearby attractions and highland trips.

See and do

Known for

  • Systrafoss waterfall
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
  • Systrastapi climbing cliff
  • Kirkjugólf basalt columns

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyonDrive 15 km (9.3 mi) east on Ring Road, park at trailhead≈30 min total
Systrastapi climbing cliffDrive 2 km (1.2 mi) west, park at base of cliff≈20 min total
Kirkjugólf basalt columnsDrive 5 km (3.1 mi) east, short walk to formation≈15 min total

Sleep

Icelandair Hotel Klaustur
Mid‑scale hotel with restaurant and free Wi‑Fi.
Klausturhof
Hostel; dorm 3 700 kr, double room 18 200 kr incl. breakfast.
Kirkjubær II camp site
Camping; 1 000 kr per person, walkable from village.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryAfsakiðafˈsakɪð
Thank youTakktahk
How much is it?Hversu mikið kostar það?ˈhversʏ ˈmɪkːtɛ ˈkʰɔstar ˈθauː?
Where is the toilet?Hvar er klósettið?kʰvar ɛr ˈkʰlouːsɛtːɪθ

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Using titles or surnames — there usually is no family name
  • Pools: Shower naked first, keep the hot pot conversational; avoid: Swimwear in the showers
  • Driving: Pull into lay-bys for photos, dip lights on single-lane bridges; avoid: Stopping on the road
  • Nature: Stay on paths, carry litter out; avoid: Stone stacks, walking on moss
  • Conversation: Ask about books, music, weather and the elves with good humour; avoid: Lecturing on whaling

Scams and watch-outs

  • Only one BSÍ bus per day passes through; plan car travel.
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon was closed in 2019; check current status.
  • Winter road conditions can block access to highland sites.

Generally safe; main risks are weather‑related road closures and limited daylight in winter.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Kirkjubæjarklaustur yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Systrafoss waterfall
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
  • Systrastapi climbing cliff
  • Kirkjugólf basalt columns

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Á þennan heimilisfang, takk

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Reykjavík; other embassies also in Reykjavík.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/kirkjubjarklaustur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.