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 page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
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Official sources to check
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
As checked on 10 September 2026, Harpa lists building hours of 10:00–18:00 Sunday to Tuesday and 10:00–20:00 Wednesday to Saturday. The box office closes at 18:00 daily, with longer hours on event nights; the car park operates around the clock. A building visit, a concert and a guided tour require different planning, so check your chosen event separately.
Seeing the halls behind the public foyer
Harpa’s scheduled building tours run in summer, with other dates announced on its events calendar. An empty tour calendar means no scheduled departures are available; general opening hours do not imply that a tour will run.
Private tours need advance arrangements and at least ten paying participants. You cannot join another group’s private booking. If your aim is to see Eldborg rather than only the foyer, check the guided-tour or concert offering before arriving.
Opening-hours reference: Harpa’s visitor information.
Planning help
Harpa Concert Hall FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
Is it free to visit Harpa Concert Hall?
Yes, you can enter Harpa's public areas for free during opening hours. The ground floor, lobby, and terrace are open to the public. Tickets are only required for performances, concerts, and guided building tours. The gift shop and restaurants are accessible without a ticket.
Who designed Harpa's glass facade?
The distinctive geometric glass facade was designed by Icelandic-Danish artist Ólafur Elíasson in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects. The quasi-brick facade is made up of individually framed steel and glass hexagonal cells that reflect and refract light differently depending on weather and time of day.
What kind of events are held at Harpa?
Harpa hosts a wide range of events including classical concerts by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, performances by the Icelandic Opera, pop and rock concerts, comedy shows, conferences, and cultural festivals. Notable annual events include Iceland Airwaves music festival and the Reykjavik International Film Festival.
Is there parking at Harpa?
There is a paid parking garage beneath Harpa with direct access to the building. Street parking is also available nearby but is limited and metered in central Reykjavik. Harpa is easily walkable from most downtown hotels and guesthouses, about a 5-10 minute walk from Laugavegur.
Country reference: Iceland statistics.