Ferry to Viðey Island: A Half-Day Trip from Reykjavik

Getting There: Sundahöfn, Skarfabakki and the Crossing

Viðey is reached by ferry from the harbour at Sundahöfn, a few kilometres east of central Reykjavik and well signposted from Sæbraut, the coastal road that runs past the Harpa concert hall and Laugarnes. The crossing takes around ten minutes; services have historically run in the summer months, roughly May to September, with a limited winter schedule, so check the current timetable before you plan your day. If you are staying downtown near Laugavegur or Skólavörðustígur, a taxi or city bus to Skarfabakki takes 10–15 minutes. Drivers should note that parking at the harbour is limited on fine weekends, and rental cars are governed by normal Icelandic road and insurance rules rather than anything special for the ferry. Arrive 15 minutes early and hold your return ticket; you will want to know the last boat of the day before you start walking.

The crossing is short enough that some travellers treat it as a footnote, which is a mistake — the approach gives you the best single view of Mount Esja across Kollafjörður, and on clear days the snowline stays visible into June. There is no proper town on Viðey, only a small harbour, a church, a farmstead building and a network of footpaths, so bring water, a windproof layer and something to eat. Compass directions are simple: the island is about 1.7 square kilometres, the west shore faces the city and the east looks out toward the bay islands. Paths are gravel and grass, some with wooden boardwalks, and are manageable in trainers but not in flimsy sandals after rain.

I would book the morning sailing rather than the mid-afternoon one, because Reykjavik's wind tends to build through the day and the island has almost no shelter beyond the few buildings. The trade-off is that mornings can be colder, so pack gloves even in July. If your hotel is near Hlemmur or Kringlan, the trip is easy to fit before a museum afternoon; if you are out in a guesthouse in Hafnarfjörður, budget extra time for the drive.

The Imaginary Peace Tower, the Church and the Bird Cliffs

Most people come for Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower, a light project installed on the island and illuminated on a handful of dates each year, including John Lennon's birthday in October and the winter solstice in December. On those evenings, a ferry transfer is often arranged; the schedule and lighting dates change, so confirm with the operator. The tower's stone base is worth seeing even unlit, and the walk from the harbour takes about 20 minutes on a level path. You can see the tower's light from parts of the Reykjavik shoreline on illumination nights, but the island is where the installation makes sense.

The older buildings are the reason to slow down. Viðeyjarstofa, an 18th-century stone house, sits near the harbour beside the small church, and together they hold the island's history as a former estate and monastic site. Guided walks run in summer and cover the ruins and the island's birdlife; they are short and worthwhile if you want context rather than guesswork. The cliffs on the north and east coasts are colony sites for seabirds in late spring and early summer, so keep to marked paths and give nests a wide berth. Binoculars turn a pleasant walk into a good one.

The first paragraph of this section moves from harbour to tower in a straight line; the second circles back toward the buildings, which is the natural order of the walk. Keep in mind that trails can be wet underfoot and that the island has no shop, café or visitor centre open daily, so a flask and a sandwich cover you. Toilets at the harbour building may be open in season; otherwise plan around the city.

Of the two types of visit, an unlit tower and a quick loop of the church can be done in under two hours; a full circuit with birdwatching takes three or four. I would book the longer version only if the weather forecast is settled and you have good boots.

How to Fit It Into a Reykjavik Stay

Viðey works best as a half-day counterweight to the city rather than a headline excursion, so pair it with something nearby. A morning ferry, a two-hour loop and a return by early afternoon leaves time for the National Museum of Iceland near Suðurgata or the settlement exhibition by Aðalstræti, and both are a short walk from most downtown hotels. If you are based in the 101 district around Ingólfstræti and Austurstræti, you can walk to Sæbraut and pick up a bus or taxi to the harbour; hotels in the Miðborg area make this a genuinely easy outing.

Consider the season. The summer ferry window is when everything runs smoothly and daylight is almost endless; late May and June give you the brightest evenings and the most active bird cliffs. By September the light softens and crowds thin, though services shrink. In deep winter the island is usually out of reach except for the organised illumination crossings, and the weather can cancel sailings at short notice — always have a wet-weather plan in the city. There is no viewing fee for the island itself and fares for the boat are modest; you will not need to budget for much beyond transport and a snack.

For accommodation, I would book around Miðborg or the nearby streets toward Hlemmur rather than out near the airport, so the harbour is 15 minutes away and the rest of the city is walkable. If you are travelling with children, the short crossing and open grass are forgiving. If you want a quieter base, look at apartments near Laugardalur, which is still a quick drive to Sundahöfn and close to the botanical garden and swimming pool.

A word on timing: the island is exposed, and a sunny city forecast does not guarantee comfortable conditions on the water. Check the day's wind before you commit, and treat the ferry as the fixed point your day is built around rather than an afterthought.

Practical Comparisons: What to Skip and What to Choose

The obvious comparison is between Viðey and the more popular Golden Circle day tour. Viðey takes half a day and stays inside the capital area; the Golden Circle eats a full day and requires a car or coach. If your itinerary has only three nights in Reykjavik, I would skip one of the big-name stops rather than skip Viðey — the island gives you landscape, history and sea air without a long drive, and it is the sort of low-effort outing that fits around a late breakfast.

The second comparison is between Viðey and the whale-watching boats from the old harbour. Whale watching needs more time, more money and a tolerance for swell; Viðey needs none of that. If you are prone to seasickness, choose the island. If you want to see puffins from the water, the bay tours are better. For most first-time visitors I would book Viðey early in the trip and let it set the pace, then decide about longer excursions once you have seen how the weather behaves.

What to skip: don't plan an elaborate picnic, since wind and rain make it unreliable, and don't expect facilities or a café on the island. Do wear shoes with grip. Do take the guided walk if it is running. And do keep your return time in mind — the last boat of the day is the one thing you cannot negotiate with.