Reykjavik: 2-Hour Imagine Peace Tower Tour

Peace looks different under an Icelandic sky. This two-hour Viðey Island tour combines a short sea crossing, a guided walk, art, local history, and a chance to see the Northern Lights. I especially like the intimate small-group setting and the way the outing connects John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s peace campaign with the island’s older church and historic buildings. The main drawback is the weather: cold, wind, ice, and darkness can make the walk demanding, and the Northern Lights are never guaranteed.

You meet Elding Adventure at Sea in Reykjavík’s old harbor, take a 20-minute ferry to Viðey, and walk with an English-speaking guide to the Imagine Peace Tower. For $134 per person, this is not a cheap ferry ride, but it offers a focused cultural experience that is hard to arrange on your own during the tower’s lighting dates.

Key points to know before booking

• The tower is lit on specific dates: The main season runs from October 9, John Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death. It also lights around the Winter Solstice, for one week around the Spring Equinox, and on selected dates.
• The ferry ride is part of the experience: The crossing from Reykjavík’s old harbor takes about 20 minutes and can offer city views and, if conditions cooperate, a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
• Viðey adds more than the tower: The guided walk can include Viðeyjarkirkja church, Viðey House, and elevated viewpoints over Reykjavík.
• Expect real outdoor conditions: Warm clothing, sturdy comfortable shoes, and possibly windproof trousers are important. Flashlights and crampons are supplied if needed.
• Small groups make a difference: A group of six or nine allows the guide to help with icy paths and answer questions without turning the walk into a lecture.
• The tour suits curious adults more than rushed sightseers: It is best for anyone who values art, history, quiet surroundings, and atmosphere over a long list of attractions.

Why the Imagine Peace Tower matters

The Imagine Peace Tower is a work of public art created by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon and their shared campaign for world peace. It is not a conventional tower with rooms, stairs, or an indoor viewing deck. Instead, it sends a powerful beam of light into the night sky from Viðey Island.

That simplicity is part of its force. The work takes its name from Lennon’s song Imagine, and its message centers on peace, hope, and solidarity. Your guide explains the meaning behind the installation and how Yoko Ono wanted its light to offer encouragement during troubled times.

I would not book this tour only to check off a famous name. The tower is most affecting when you give it a few quiet minutes. Wind moves around you, Reykjavík glows across the water, and the beam rises into a sky that may be clear, cloudy, misty, or filled with moving aurora.

The weather can change the appearance of the light. Mist may soften the beam or create glowing rings and colored effects. Clear air gives you a sharper view, while cloud and moisture can make the tower feel more mysterious. Iceland’s weather is not just an inconvenience here. It becomes part of the artwork.

From Ægisgarður 5 to Viðey Island

The meeting point is the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, in Reykjavík’s old harbor. It is about 300 meters, or roughly five minutes on foot, from the downtown Tourist Information Centre. You need to exchange your ticket at the office before going to the boat, so allow enough time to find the harbor and check in.

There is no hotel pickup. That keeps the tour simple, but you are responsible for reaching the harbor yourself. The location is central and easy to reach on foot from downtown, though cold weather and dark streets can make a few extra minutes useful.

The ferry ride to Viðey takes about 20 minutes. That is short enough to avoid becoming a major time commitment, yet long enough to give you a new view of Reykjavík from the water. The city’s shoreline and lights take on a different character once you leave the harbor.

Your captain and guide welcome you aboard, and information begins during the crossing. On some departures, the ride itself has provided a chance to look for the Northern Lights. Keep your eyes on the sky, but do not treat the ferry as a dedicated aurora cruise. The lights require the right combination of darkness, clear skies, and solar activity.

The boat is also exposed to weather. A calm harbor does not guarantee a still crossing, and winter wind can make the ride feel colder than the temperature suggests. Bring a warm outer layer even if you feel comfortable while walking through central Reykjavík.

Walking across Viðey in the dark

Once you reach Viðey, the experience becomes a guided outdoor walk. You follow your guide toward the tower, with stops along the way to discuss the island’s setting and story.

This walk is one of the tour’s strengths. The outing does not simply deposit you beside the light, give you a few minutes for photographs, and send you back. The guide provides context, points out features along the route, and helps connect the modern installation with the older life of the island.

You may visit Viðeyjarkirkja, one of Iceland’s oldest churches, and Viðey House. These places give the island a sense of age that contrasts nicely with the modern peace tower. The exact amount of time at each stop can depend on weather, walking conditions, and the group.

Darkness changes the walk. Flashlights are provided, and crampons are available if needed. Still, you should wear shoes with good grip. An icy path may be manageable with the right footwear, but it is not a place for smooth-soled casual shoes.

The walk is not described as wheelchair accessible, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Uneven outdoor paths, darkness, and winter conditions are the main concerns. If you have limited mobility, ask the operator about current conditions before booking.

Reaching the Imagine Peace Tower

The tower is the emotional center of the outing. You first see the beam cutting upward from the island, then approach it on foot with the guide. A walk to a higher viewpoint may be included, giving you a wider look at the installation and Reykjavík beyond it.

From close up, the work is deliberately spare. There is no elaborate structure to distract from the light and the words connected with the project. That restraint gives the stop a calm, reflective quality, especially when the island is quiet and your group is the only one nearby.

Guides have sometimes added a personal touch by playing a John Lennon song beside the light. That is not listed as a guaranteed part of every departure, but music can make the stop feel more connected to the ideas behind the tower.

Photography is tempting, but do not spend the entire visit staring at a screen. Take a few pictures, then look upward. The beam can appear solid, hazy, or broken by cloud and mist. The best memory may be the changing light rather than a perfectly sharp photograph.

The tower’s operating calendar is crucial. It lights every year from October 9 through December 8, then appears again around the Winter Solstice and New Year, for one week during the Spring Equinox, and on several selected dates. Check your exact tour date before paying. If the tower is not illuminated, the island and the art installation may still be worth seeing, but the central visual effect will be different.

Adding Viðey’s church and historic buildings

Viðeyjarkirkja and Viðey House keep the outing from feeling like a single-purpose monument visit. The church is an important part of the island’s story, and its age creates a useful contrast with Yoko Ono’s modern installation.

Viðey House gives you another stop tied to the island’s past. A visit here may be brief, but it helps explain why Viðey is more than a convenient platform for a light beam. You are seeing an island with its own layers of settlement, worship, and public memory.

One previous outing included hot chocolate and klenät, an Icelandic doughnut, at Viðey House. Refreshments are officially not included, so do not book this expecting a guaranteed café stop. Bring anything you may need, especially if you are sensitive to cold.

The church and house are also useful if clouds hide the Northern Lights. You cannot control the sky, but you can still enjoy the island’s architecture and story. That makes this tour less dependent on luck than a trip focused only on aurora viewing.

The Northern Lights: a welcome bonus, not a promise

The tour is scheduled in the evening, during the season when darkness gives you a chance to see the aurora. Some departures have caught the lights from the ferry or from Viðey, and that can turn a thoughtful cultural outing into a memorable night.

Still, no guide can promise a display. The lights depend on solar activity, cloud cover, and visibility. If aurora viewing is your main goal, you should not make this your only Northern Lights plan.

I like the tour more when you view the aurora as an extra layer. The Imagine Peace Tower already gives you a reason to be on Viðey after dark. If green or white ribbons appear overhead, the moment becomes special. If the sky stays dark and cloudy, the tower, island, church, and ferry ride still provide the evening’s main content.

The same advice applies to photographs. A moving aurora, a bright tower, and a dark sky can be difficult to capture without the right camera settings. Enjoy the scene first. The guide can help with general orientation, but this is not presented as a technical photography workshop.

Weather, clothing, and comfort

I would take the clothing advice seriously. The tour is outdoors, the island is exposed, and winter weather can change quickly. Several outings have faced strong wind, cold, ice, or mist, yet good guides helped the group manage the conditions.

Wear warm layers, a proper jacket, gloves, and a hat. Windproof trousers are a smart addition, especially if the forecast is wet or blustery. Comfortable shoes are recommended, but I would go further and choose waterproof footwear with firm traction.

Flashlights and crampons are supplied if needed. That helps, but it does not replace warm clothing or sensible shoes. Crampons can improve grip on ice, but they will not make a thin jacket comfortable in a strong harbor wind.

The small-group format is useful here. A guide can notice when someone needs help, slow the pace on a slippery section, and answer questions without losing the whole group. Past departures have had as few as six or nine people, though group size can vary.

There are no refreshments included, and large bags or luggage are not allowed. Bring only what you need for the two-hour outing. A compact camera, phone, gloves, and a small water bottle are more sensible than a full backpack.

Is $134 a fair price?

At $134 per person, the tour is expensive for two hours. You are paying for a ferry crossing, an English-speaking guide, access to Viðey, and a structured visit to a site that is not part of a standard Reykjavík walking tour.

The value depends on your interests. If you only want to see the tower from a distance, you may find the price hard to justify. If you want the ferry ride, a guided island walk, the story of the installation, old Viðey buildings, and a chance at the Northern Lights, the package makes more sense.

You are also paying for timing. The tower is illuminated only during set periods, and visiting at night without local guidance would be less straightforward. The guide helps make sense of the art and the island, while the boat removes the need to arrange separate transport.

The tour includes flashlights and crampons when needed, but not pickup or refreshments. Factor in the cost of reaching the old harbor and dress properly before you go. Flexible booking is available, with cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund and the option to reserve now and pay later.

Who should book this Viðey evening tour?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy art with a strong personal story, quiet places, short boat rides, and unusual Reykjavík experiences. It is also a good choice if you have already seen the city’s main streets and want an evening with a different rhythm.

The tour suits couples, solo visitors, and small groups who do not mind cold weather. It can also work well for Lennon fans, though you do not need to know his music in depth to understand the message behind the tower.

You may want to skip it if you dislike boats, struggle with icy paths, need wheelchair access, or want a guaranteed Northern Lights show. It is also a poor fit for anyone looking for a warm indoor attraction with food and shelter.

The English-language guiding is the only language option listed. If you understand spoken English comfortably, the format is straightforward. If you need another language, this is not the right choice.

Final verdict: a thoughtful night beyond Reykjavík

Book this tour if the Imagine Peace Tower itself matters to you and you are willing to accept Icelandic weather as part of the bargain. The combination of ferry, island, church, historic house, and light installation gives the evening more substance than a quick photo stop.

I would book during one of the tower’s confirmed lighting periods, dress for wind and ice, and keep expectations sensible about the aurora. You might see the Northern Lights from the boat, as some departures have, but the real reason to go is the quiet meeting of art, music, history, and open sky on Viðey.

FAQ

How long is the Imagine Peace Tower tour?

The tour lasts two hours, including the ferry ride between Reykjavík and Viðey Island, the guided walk, and the visit to the tower.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, in the old harbor. It is about 300 meters, or five minutes on foot, from the downtown Tourist Information Centre.

When is the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated?

The tower is lit from October 9, John Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death. It also lights from the Winter Solstice to New Year, for one week around the Spring Equinox, and on selected dates.

Can I see the Northern Lights on this tour?

You might see the Northern Lights from the ferry or Viðey Island if the aurora is active and the sky is clear. The tour does not guarantee an aurora display.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes suitable for outdoor walking. Flashlights and crampons are provided if needed. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the outdoor walk may include uneven or icy paths.