Viðey Island Reykjavík Day Trip: Ferries, Timing, and Route Guide

Viðey Island Reykjavík Day Trip: At a Glance

Viðey sits in Kollafjörður Bay, a short ferry ride from central Reykjavík, and works best as a half-day add-on rather than a full-day excursion. Solitude seekers, birdwatchers, and fans of Yoko Ono and Richard Serra find the most to do here. The pace matches the city's quieter neighborhoods, just without any buildings at all. If time is tighter, compare it with Grótta Lighthouse instead. Grótta needs no ferry and suits a quick sunset stop. Viðey rewards a longer, unhurried visit.

• Best for: solitude seekers, birdwatchers, and fans of Yoko Ono and Richard Serra's outdoor art
• Size: under one square mile, an easy loop on foot
• Ferry duration: 5 minutes from Skarfabakki pier, 20 minutes from the Old Harbour
• Cost: free for Reykjavík City Card holders; otherwise budget 2,000 kr to 3,000 kr for an adult ferry ticket
• Season: daily sailings run mid-May through August; winter service is weekends-only from Skarfabakki
• No overnight options: no hotels, shops, or permanent residents, so the last ferry is a hard deadline

Skarfabakki vs. the Old Harbour: Choosing Your Viðey Ferry Pier

Elding Adventure at Sea runs the Viðey ferry service from two main piers, and picking the right one saves real time. Skarfabakki is the fast track. Crossing time runs 5 minutes, suiting travelers with a rental car or those catching the city bus to the terminal. Ægisgarður, in the Old Harbour, is the scenic route, with a 20-minute crossing that suits visitors staying in 101 Reykjavík without a car. Departing from the Old Harbour also puts Grandi's converted warehouse studios within walking distance before or after the crossing. In peak summer, Elding also sails from a dock near Harpa Concert Hall, an alternative worth checking if the Old Harbour terminal is inconvenient. Winter changes the math. From September 1 through May 14, weekend-only sailings run from Skarfabakki. Weekday winter departures do not exist from either pier, so plan a weekday visit for summer instead.

Suggested Viðey Day-Trip Timeline

Most visitors cover Viðey's highlights in three to four hours, moving from the West Island's history and art out to the East Island's nature and sculpture.

1. Catch an early or midday ferry from Skarfabakki or the Old Harbour and land at the West Island pier.
2. Walk to Viðeyjarstofa and Viðey Church, both close to the dock. Note the 1755 stone house that once belonged to Skúli Magnússon.
3. Continue to the Imagine Peace Tower site on the West Island. The light beam only runs October 9 through December 8, so outside that window you'll see just the stone base.
4. Cross toward the East Island to find Richard Serra's Milestones. The installation is nine pairs of basalt columns, placed in 1990 and angled to frame Esja mountain across the water.
5. Follow the coastal path for birdwatching and photography, watching for eider ducks and oystercatchers among the island's meadows.
6. Head back toward the pier in time for the return sailing. There is no later option once the last boat leaves.

Imagine Peace Tower, Milestones, and Viðeyjarstofa: Art and Heritage on Viðey

Yoko Ono dedicated the Imagine Peace Tower to John Lennon. The installation projects a column of light from a white stone base engraved with the words Imagine Peace in 24 languages. The tower lights up each year from October 9, Lennon's birthday, through December 8, the anniversary of his death, plus select global peace days. Photographers should note that Richard Serra's Milestones pillars, known in Icelandic as Áfangar, were placed to frame views of the mainland and Esja mountain. The East Island columns reward a stop even outside the tower's lit season. Viðeyjarstofa, built in 1755 by Danish architect Nicolai Eigtved, is the oldest stone building in Iceland. The house once sheltered Skúli Magnússon, credited as an early developer of Reykjavík's industry. Monastery ruins on the island date back to the 13th century, evidence of a settlement that predates the stone house by hundreds of years. Ownership of the buildings and land eventually passed to the National Museum of Iceland. The City of Reykjavík later took over and manages the site today.

Birdwatching, Wildflowers, and the Wind Factor on Viðey

Around 30 bird species live on the island, including eider ducks, oystercatchers, and snipes, most active in meadows away from the main paths. Over 150 wildflower species grow across the island, close to a third of all plant species found in Iceland. Volcanic activity shaped the island long before written history, and centuries of shifting sea levels carved the rock formations visible along today's shoreline. Pack a windproof layer regardless of the forecast in central Reykjavík. The open water crossing and the island's exposed meadows run noticeably windier than the city center. After a few hours on foot, a neighborhood swimming pool back in town makes a practical way to warm up.

Trail Etiquette on Viðey

Fragile terrain and nesting birds make a few ground rules worth following on the island.

• Stay on marked walking paths; moss and low plants take years to regrow once trampled.
• Give nesting birds room, especially in spring and summer when they're raising young.
• Pack out everything brought in, including any trash found along the way.
• Walk rather than rush; the details, from basalt texture to wildflowers underfoot, reward a slower pace.

Budget and Booking: the Reykjavík City Card and Combo Tours

A Reykjavík City Card covers the Viðey ferry along with unlimited city buses. Cards come in 24, 48, or 72-hour blocks, starting from the moment you activate one. Without the card, adult fares have run in the 2,000 kr to 3,000 kr range on Elding's published pricing. Confirm the current rate on Elding's site before you travel, since fares shift between seasons. Elding also runs a combined whale-watching and Viðey tour that pairs wildlife-watching in the bay with the island stop. The combined outing runs about 7 hours, useful if a single booking beats arranging two separate trips. Viðeyjarstofa functions as a restaurant and event space, though hours run seasonally. Check ahead if a meal on the island is part of the plan.

The One Mistake to Avoid: Missing the Last Ferry

Viðey has no hotels, no shops, and no permanent residents. Once the last boat leaves for the evening, there is no way off the island until the next sailing. Track the final departure time for your chosen pier and season before you start exploring. Leave time to walk back from wherever the Milestones or the Peace Tower site pulled you. The return sailing will not wait for stragglers, since the same boat often serves passengers coming back from whale-watching or other Elding tours.

Pairing Viðey with Grandi Harbour and the Rest of Your Reykjavík Day

Ferries from the Old Harbour land you back within walking distance of Grandi, Reykjavík's harbor district of converted warehouses and small studios. Grandi's food scene includes the Omnom Chocolate factory store, a short walk from the ferry dock, worth a stop before or after the Viðey crossing. Evenings suit a slower pace. A quiet cocktail bar downtown rounds out a day that started on the water. Travelers visiting between October 9 and December 8 catch the Imagine Peace Tower lit after dark. Time the return ferry for dusk to watch the light column from the mainland. Elding runs a dedicated evening walking tour to the tower during the lit season. The 2-hour outing suits travelers who'd rather join a guide after dark. For current opening hours and seasonal event listings across the city, the Visit Reykjavík tourism site keeps an updated calendar.