Attraction
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavik's landmark Lutheran church on Skólavörðuholt hill, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, with a lift up the tower for views across the city and bay.
Viðey Island
Small island a short ferry ride from Reykjavik with walking trails, birdlife, an 18th-century stone house, Richard Serra's basalt sculpture and Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower.
At a glance
- Type
- Island with history, art and nature
- Area
- Kollafjörður bay, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Official site
- borgarsogusafn.is
Good to know
- Ferry from Skarfabakki and the Old Harbour
- Walking trails
- Imagine Peace Tower
- Restaurant in Viðeyjarstofa
- Birdlife
Why we recommend it
Viðey is the largest island in Kollafjörður bay, lying just off the coast of Reykjavik, and it makes one of the easiest half-day escapes from the city. The island is small, at around 1.6 square kilometres, and low, with its highest point only 32 metres above the sea, so it is easy to explore on foot. It is one of the sites of the Reykjavik City Museum, and it is reached by a short ferry crossing.
People have lived on Viðey for a very long time: archaeological remains go back to the early tenth century, and an Augustinian monastery stood here from 1225 until 1539. The most striking building is Viðeyjarstofa, a stone house built between 1753 and 1755 by the Danish government to a design by the architect Nicolai Eigtved, which now houses a restaurant. A small village on the island was abandoned in 1943, and its remains can still be seen.
Viðey is also a place for art. On the island stands Áfangar, a 1990 work by the American sculptor Richard Serra made of nine pairs of basalt columns set around the landscape. Viðey is also home to the Imagine Peace Tower, created by Yoko Ono as a memorial to John Lennon: a column of light rising from a wishing well inscribed with the words imagine peace in 24 languages. It is lit every year from 9 October, Lennon's birthday, to 8 December, the anniversary of his death, and can be seen from much of Reykjavik on clear evenings.
Nature is the other draw. Around 30 bird species breed on the island, including puffins, guillemots and fulmars, and at least 156 plant species have been recorded. Two hiking trails start behind Viðeyjarstofa. The island suits walkers, birdwatchers, families with children who can manage a few kilometres on foot and anyone wanting quiet after the city centre. Allow at least two to three hours, bring windproof layers and good shoes, and check the return ferry times before you set off.
In summer the ferry, run by Elding, sails daily from Skarfabakki pier, with departures also from the Old Harbour, while in winter it runs from Skarfabakki at weekends only. Skarfabakki lies east of the city centre, so allow time to get there by bus or taxi. The Reykjavik City Card includes a free ferry crossing.
Viðey Island FAQs
How do I get to Viðey?
Take the ferry run by Elding. In summer it sails daily from Skarfabakki pier, with departures also from the Old Harbour. In winter it runs from Skarfabakki at weekends only.
Is the Viðey ferry included in the Reykjavik City Card?
Yes. The Reykjavik City Card includes a free ferry crossing to Viðey.
When is the Imagine Peace Tower lit?
It is lit every year from 9 October, John Lennon's birthday, to 8 December, the anniversary of his death.
What is there to see on Viðey?
Viðeyjarstofa, an 18th-century stone house, the remains of an abandoned village, Richard Serra's sculpture Áfangar, the Imagine Peace Tower and plenty of birdlife.
Can I see puffins on Viðey?
Puffins are among the roughly 30 bird species that breed on the island.
Is there anywhere to eat on Viðey?
Viðeyjarstofa houses a restaurant.
How big is Viðey?
The island covers around 1.6 square kilometres and its highest point is 32 metres above sea level.
How long should I allow?
Allow at least two to three hours, including the ferry crossing and a walk on the trails.