Distance
5 Min Ferry
The ferry from Skarfabakki harbour in Reykjavík takes just 5 minutes to reach the island.
Viðey Island: Reykjavík's Harbour Island
A quiet island just minutes from downtown Reykjavík, home to Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower, outdoor art installations, and one of Iceland's oldest stone buildings.
Location
Reykjavík Harbour, Capital Region
Just a 5-minute ferry ride from Skarfabakki.
Quick Answer
Viðey sits in Reykjavík harbour, five minutes by ferry from the city. The island holds Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower and Viðeyjarstofa, a stone house from 1755.
Viðey is a small island in Kollfjörður, the bay north of Reykjavík's harbour. Despite its proximity to the capital, the island is quiet: wide grassy meadows, a lava shoreline, and open views of Mount Esja and the Reykjanes peninsula. The island's centrepiece is Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower, a column of light that illuminates the sky each autumn and winter. Viðeyjarstofa, built in 1755, is one of Iceland's oldest stone structures and is now a café and cultural space.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
This guide is a travel-planning summary, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly; check official alerts, roads, and weather before driving, hiking, or booking around volatile conditions.
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Official sources to check
Highlight
Peace Tower
Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower beams light into the sky from October 9 to December 8 each year.
Season
Year-round
The island is accessible by ferry year-round, with more frequent summer sailings.
What to Expect
Imagine Peace Tower
Yoko Ono's light installation projects a powerful beam skyward, inscribed with 'Imagine Peace' in 24 languages. Lit annually October 9 to December 8.
Viðeyjarstofa
Built in 1755 by Iceland's first treasurer, Skúli Magnússon, this is one of Iceland's oldest stone buildings. Now a café and event space.
Richard Serra Sculptures
Nine pairs of basalt columns by sculptor Richard Serra stand across the island, a site-specific artwork called Áfangar (Milestones).
Walking Paths
Well-marked trails loop around the island through meadows, past ruins of a medieval monastery, and along the rocky shoreline with mountain views.
Birdlife
The island is home to dozens of bird species including eider ducks, Arctic terns, and oystercatchers, especially active during the breeding season.
Mountain Views
Clear-day views include Mount Esja to the north, the Snæfellsjökull glacier to the west, and the colourful Reykjavík skyline to the south.
Getting There
Ferries to Viðey depart from Skarfabakki harbour in Reykjavík, near the cruise ship terminal (about 10 minutes by car or bus from downtown). The crossing takes approximately 5 minutes. From May through September, ferries run several times daily. During the Imagine Peace Tower season (October to December), special evening sailings are available. Check the Reykjavík city website for current schedules.
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June to August) offers the most frequent ferry service, the best weather for walking, and the café at Viðeyjarstofa is open. For the Imagine Peace Tower, visit between October 9 and December 8 and check whether a specific evening event or tour has transport; regular daytime ferries do not establish an evening return. Spring is good for birdwatching as nesting season begins.
A day ferry is not an evening tower trip
Visit Reykjavík describes daily summer ferries from Skarfabakki and the Old Harbour, but winter service only on Saturdays and Sundays from Skarfabakki. A tower-lighting date does not itself create an evening ferry service.
Choose a dated sailing and confirm its last return before walking across the island. For an evening event, use that event’s transport instructions. The Skarfabakki booking page is the right place to check a regular island trip; do not assume you can return on any later boat.
Planning help
Viðey FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
How do I get to Viðey island?
Viðey ferries depart from Skarfabakki harbour in Reykjavík (near the cruise ship terminal). The crossing takes about 5 minutes. From May to September, ferries run multiple times daily. In winter, reduced schedules operate, with service particularly around the Imagine Peace Tower lighting season (October to December).
What is the Imagine Peace Tower?
The Imagine Peace Tower is a light installation by Yoko Ono dedicated to John Lennon. A powerful beam of light projects into the sky from a white stone base inscribed with 'Imagine Peace' in 24 languages. It is lit each year from October 9 (Lennon's birthday) to December 8 (the anniversary of his death).
Is there an entrance fee for Viðey?
There is no entrance fee for the island itself. You only need to purchase a ferry ticket. The art installations, walking paths, and historic buildings on Viðey are free to explore. The Viðey House café is open in summer.
How long does a visit to Viðey take?
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 3 hours on the island. This is enough time to walk around, see the art installations, explore Viðeyjarstofa (the historic house), and enjoy the views. Check the last return and the conditions of your ticket.
Country reference: Iceland statistics.