Reykjavik: 2-Hour Imagine Peace Tower Tour

The Imagine Peace Tower is more than a glowing memorial. On Viðey island, it becomes a quiet night-time experience of art, music, sea, and sky. You cross from Reykjavik by ferry, walk across the island, and gather around Yoko Ono’s tribute to John Lennon and their shared hope for peace.

I like the small-group feel and the way the tour adds island history to the main attraction. The ferry ride gives you fine views back toward Reykjavik, while the church and Viðey House help make the visit feel like a proper island outing rather than a quick photo stop.

The main drawback is the weather. Wind, ice, darkness, and wet ground can make the walk tough, and the Northern Lights are never guaranteed. At $134 per person, this is a special-interest tour, not a cheap way to spend two hours.

Key points to know before you book

• The tower is lit only on selected dates: Its main season runs from October 9 through December 8, with additional lighting around the winter solstice, New Year, spring equinox, and a few other dates.
• The ferry crossing takes about 20 minutes: You sail from Reykjavik’s old harbor to Viðey island, with a chance to see the city from the water.
• The walk includes more than the tower: Expect stops connected with Viðey’s nature and history, including Viðey Church and Viðey House.
• The Northern Lights are a bonus, not part of the guarantee: You may see them from the ferry or island if conditions are right.
• Cold-weather gear matters: Warm clothing, comfortable shoes, and possibly crampons are important for an outdoor visit in winter.
• The group is often intimate: A past group had only six people, and other departures have included about nine, though the exact size can vary.

Why the Imagine Peace Tower feels different at night

The tower is a column of light created by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon and as a continuing call for world peace. It is simple in form, but its setting gives it weight. You are not viewing it in a gallery or city square. You are standing on a dark island, with the sea and Reykjavik’s lights around you.

That setting changes the mood. The light can look sharp in clear air, soft in mist, or less steady in strong weather. Fog and rain may blur the beam, while wind and low cloud can make the night feel more dramatic. The weather is not just an inconvenience here. It becomes part of what you see.

The experience is also tied to specific dates. The tower lights every year from October 9, Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death. It also appears around the winter solstice and New Year, for one week during the spring equinox, and on a few other selected dates.

Check the operating dates before you pay. You may be able to visit Viðey island on a regular ferry at other times, but this evening tour is built around seeing the tower illuminated.

Meeting your guide at Reykjavik’s old harbor

You meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, in the old harbor area. It is about 300 meters, or roughly five minutes on foot, from Reykjavik’s downtown Tourist Information Centre.

Allow enough time to exchange your ticket before heading to the boat. The meeting point is central, but the harbor can feel spread out if you are arriving in the dark or dealing with winter weather. You do not get hotel pickup, so plan to reach the harbor on your own.

The tour is conducted in English. Your guide joins you for the ferry crossing and the walk on the island. The guide’s role matters here because the tower itself is visually spare. The background story, the timing of the light, and the details of the island give the visit its meaning.

Guides have included Lucas on past departures, with Captain Mike handling the boat on one well-regarded outing. Staff can change, but you can expect a live English-speaking guide rather than an audio tour.

The 20-minute ferry ride to Viðey

The crossing to Viðey takes about 20 minutes. It is short enough that you do not lose much of your evening, but long enough to give you a useful view of Reykjavik from the water.

At night, the city lights form a bright contrast with the dark island ahead. If the Northern Lights are active, you might spot them from the boat, which can be one of the best parts of the outing. The aurora is unpredictable, so treat it as luck rather than a promise.

The ferry also gives you a practical transition from the city to the quieter setting of Viðey. Once you leave the harbor, the noise and streets of Reykjavik fade quickly. Bring your warmest layer onto the boat, not just for the walk. Wind over open water can feel much colder than the temperature in town.

There are no refreshments included. Some past departures have included hot chocolate and Icelandic klenät at Viðey House, but you should not count on that being part of every tour. Bring anything you need before boarding, while keeping your bag small.

Walking across Viðey to the light tower

After landing, you follow your guide on foot toward the Imagine Peace Tower. The tour includes interesting stops along the way, so the walk is not simply transport from the dock to the light.

The exact walking conditions depend on the season. In winter, darkness, ice, wind, and uneven ground can make the route demanding. Flashlights and crampons are supplied if needed, but you still need comfortable shoes with good grip. Warm clothing is essential, and windproof trousers would be a sensible extra for a cold evening.

This is not a good choice if you need a fully accessible route. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the combination of outdoor walking, hills, ice, and darkness can be difficult for anyone with limited mobility.

One rewarding part of the route is the change in view. From the island, you can look back toward Reykjavik and see the city from a distance. The panoramic view is especially appealing if you have spent most of your Iceland visit on streets, in museums, or on coach excursions.

The climb to a viewing point has been part of past visits. From higher ground, you can appreciate the tower’s beam in relation to the island and the city rather than seeing it only from close up. The light often has more impact when you first glimpse it at a distance.

Viðey Church and Viðey House add real context

The tower is the headline attraction, but the island’s older buildings help round out the visit. Viðey Church is one of the oldest churches in Iceland, and it gives the evening a strong sense of place.

You also visit or stop at Viðey House, another important part of the island setting. Depending on the departure and conditions, this may be a place to pause and warm up. Hot chocolate and klenät, a type of Icelandic doughnut, have been served on some tours, but refreshments are not officially included.

These stops matter because they keep the tour from feeling like a single monument visit. You get art, local history, nature, and a boat journey in one compact outing. The island can also feel wonderfully empty in the evening, adding to the sense that you have left the city behind.

During daylight, Viðey is known for its birdlife and open views. This tour takes place in the evening, so you will not see the island in the same way as a daytime visit. If nesting birds and island scenery are your priority, consider returning in daylight if your schedule allows.

Standing beneath the Imagine Peace Tower

At the tower, your guide explains the story behind the artwork and its connection to Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s campaign for world peace. The visit is not built around a long formal lecture. It is more about understanding the idea, then having time to look and take in the setting.

The tower is deliberately simple. Its power comes from the beam rising into the night and from the words associated with the Imagine Peace project. In mist, the light can create soft bands and shifting colors. Clear weather gives you a cleaner, more direct shaft of light.

Music may be used during the stop. On one December visit, John Lennon’s song Imagine was played while the group gathered around the tower. That detail can add emotion, though the tone remains quiet rather than theatrical.

Do not expect an attraction with many displays or rooms. This is a short, reflective stop outdoors. If you want a fast-moving sightseeing tour, the pace may feel slow. If you appreciate memorials, modern art, music history, or symbolic places, the stillness is part of the appeal.

The Northern Lights are a lucky extra

The tour is often marketed with the possibility of seeing the aurora, but the Northern Lights depend on conditions beyond anyone’s control. You need suitable solar activity, darkness, and a break in the clouds.

The island and ferry provide dark surroundings, which can help if the aurora appears. Past departures have had clear views from the boat and the shore. Other nights have been windy, icy, or cloudy, with the tower itself carrying the visual interest.

Book this tour for the Imagine Peace Tower first. If you make the Northern Lights your main goal, you may be disappointed. A dedicated aurora excursion may give you more time and flexibility, while this tour gives you a set cultural experience with an aurora chance attached.

Why the $134 price can make sense

At $134 per person, this is not a bargain ferry ride. The cost covers a guided small-group outing, the return boat trip, interpretation on the island, and the chance to see an attraction that is lit only at selected times.

The value is strongest if the tower has personal meaning for you, or if you want an evening activity that combines several elements. You get a short sea journey, Reykjavik views, a historic island, an unusual artwork, and perhaps the Northern Lights.

The value is weaker if you only want a quick photograph of the tower or if you are already planning a separate Viðey visit. In that case, the price may feel high for two hours, especially since food and hotel pickup are not included.

Small group size improves the experience. With six or nine people, it is easier to hear the guide, move together in poor conditions, and ask questions. Group size is not fixed, so check the departure details if personal attention matters to you.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure gives you some protection if your plans change. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when an Iceland itinerary is still taking shape.

Who should book this island evening

I would recommend the tour to you if you like experiences with a clear story and a strong sense of place. It suits fans of Lennon and Ono, people interested in public art, and anyone who prefers a quiet cultural outing to another crowded city attraction.

It also works well as a final Reykjavik activity. The ferry, dark sea, glowing tower, and return to the harbor create a memorable shape to the evening.

You should think twice if you dislike cold, wind, uneven paths, or waiting outdoors. The tour runs in conditions that can turn unpleasant quickly. Comfortable shoes are not optional, and you should dress for Icelandic winter rather than for the temperature shown on your phone.

Families may enjoy the boat and light, but younger children need to manage a dark outdoor walk in cold weather. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and large luggage is not allowed.

Practical advice for a smoother visit

Wear several warm layers, including a windproof outer layer. Add gloves, a hat, and sturdy shoes with good traction. The tour operator supplies flashlights and crampons when needed, but those items do not replace proper clothing.

Keep your bag small. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and you will be walking outdoors rather than moving between indoor facilities.

Arrive at the Elding ticket office before the scheduled departure time. You need to exchange your ticket before going to the boats, and the old harbor is close to central Reykjavik but not a place where you want to rush at the last minute.

Check the tower dates carefully. The main lighting period is October 9 to December 8, with extra dates around the winter solstice, New Year, and spring equinox. Seeing the island without the tower lit would be a different outing.

Finally, keep your expectations balanced. The guide can explain the tower, but nobody can control the clouds, the wind, or the aurora. The strongest version of this tour includes clear skies, a glowing beam, and perhaps green light overhead. The worthwhile version still gives you an unusual island trip and a thoughtful piece of Reykjavik’s cultural life.

Should you book the Imagine Peace Tower tour?

Book it if you want more than a standard sightseeing stop and the dates match your visit. The combination of a 20-minute ferry ride, Viðey’s church and house, the glowing tower, and possible Northern Lights makes this one of Reykjavik’s more unusual short excursions.

Skip it if you need an indoor activity, easy access, or a guaranteed aurora display. At $134, the tour asks you to pay for atmosphere and meaning as much as for transport. For the right person, that is the point. For a casual sightseer, the price may be hard to justify.

FAQ

How long is the Imagine Peace Tower tour?

The tour lasts two hours, including the ferry journey, guided walk on Viðey island, time at the tower, and the return trip to Reykjavik.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik’s old harbor. It is about 300 meters, or five minutes on foot, from the downtown Tourist Information Centre.

How long is the ferry ride to Viðey island?

The ferry ride from Reykjavik to Viðey takes about 20 minutes.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

When is the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated?

The tower is illuminated every year from October 9 through December 8. It also lights around the winter solstice and New Year, for one week during the spring equinox, and on a few other selected dates.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. You may see the Northern Lights from the ferry or Viðey island, but sightings depend on solar activity and weather conditions.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes suitable for an outdoor walk. Wind, cold, ice, and darkness can affect the route.

Are flashlights and crampons provided?

Yes. Flashlights and crampons are provided if needed.

Is food included?

No refreshments are included. Hot chocolate and Icelandic klenät have been available on some visits at Viðey House, but you should not assume they are part of every departure.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and large luggage or bags are not allowed.