Opened
2011
Won the 2013 EU Mies van der Rohe Architecture Award
Harpa Concert Hall on Reykjavik's Waterfront
Reykjavik's concert hall and conference center on the Old Harbour waterfront, with a geometric glass facade designed by Ólafur Elíasson.
Location
Reykjavik Harbour
Austurbakki 2 • Old Harbour waterfront
Quick Answer
Harpa is Reykjavik's waterfront concert hall and conference centre, opened in 2011 on the Old Harbour. Its geometric glass facade, designed by artist Olafur Eliasson, is one of the city's landmarks and won the 2013 Mies van der Rohe Award. The public areas are free to enter; tickets are needed only for performances and building tours.
Harpa is a concert hall and conference center on Reykjavik's Old Harbour waterfront, opened in 2011. The building was designed by Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Icelandic-Danish artist Ólafur Elíasson, whose distinctive geometric glass facade has become one of Reykjavik's defining images. The facade consists of irregularly stacked hexagonal and quasi-brick shaped steel and glass cells that capture and reflect the changing Icelandic light. Harpa won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Award) in 2013 and is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Sources and last reviewed
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
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Concert Halls
4 halls
Main hall Eldborg seats 1,800; the others are Norðurljós, Kaldalón, and Silfurberg
Location
Old Harbour
Waterfront location walkable from central Reykjavik
What to Expect
Geometric Glass Facade
Ólafur Elíasson's steel-and-glass cells shift in color with the weather, the season, and the time of day
Eldborg Main Hall
The largest of the four halls seats 1,800 and hosts symphony, opera, and other large performances
Harbour Views
Floor-to-ceiling windows look out on Mount Esja, the harbor, and the North Atlantic
Public Spaces
Freely accessible lobbies and terraces; the facade casts shifting light across the interior
Dining & Shopping
On-site restaurants and a design shop selling Icelandic art, music, and crafts
Cultural Events
Year-round programming from Iceland Airwaves festival to classical concerts, comedy, and conferences
Getting There
Harpa is located at Austurbakki 2 on the Reykjavik waterfront, a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping street Laugavegur. Walk north toward the harbor from the city center and you will see the building's distinctive facade. A paid underground parking garage is available beneath the building. City buses stop nearby on Lækjargata.
Best Time to Visit
Harpa's public areas are open year-round. The facade catches the light in any weather, and the low winter sun makes the reflections and color shifts especially noticeable. In the evening the facade is lit up against the dark sky. For performances, book tickets in advance through Harpa's website, especially for popular events during festivals like Iceland Airwaves (November) or the Reykjavik Arts Festival (June).
Planning help
Harpa Concert Hall FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.