Reykjavik: 2-Hour Imagine Peace Tower Tour

The Imagine Peace Tower is one of Reykjavik’s most unusual evening outings. You cross the dark water to Viðey Island, walk beneath open skies, and gather around Yoko Ono’s column of light, a work made in memory of John Lennon and their shared call for world peace. If the aurora appears, you may see it above the tower or from the ferry.

I like the mix of art and island history, especially the stops at Viðey Church and Viðey House. I also like the small-group feel, which lets a good guide such as Lucas or Captain Mike add context instead of simply pointing at the tower. The main drawback is the weather: wind, ice, darkness, and wet ground can make the walk hard, even with crampons supplied when needed.

Key points to know before you book

• The tower is seasonal: It normally shines from October 9, Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death, and on several other dates around the winter and spring equinoxes.
• Viðey feels remote despite its closeness: The ferry ride from Reykjavik takes about 20 minutes, but the island can feel wonderfully empty at night.
• The walk is part of the experience: You do not simply step off the boat at the tower. Your guide leads you along an outdoor route with stops along the way.
• Aurora sightings are possible, not promised: You may see the Northern Lights from Viðey or during the ferry ride, but this is not an aurora guarantee.
• Bring serious cold-weather gear: Warm clothing and comfortable shoes matter more than clever packing. Flashlights and crampons are available if needed.
• The $134 price pays for atmosphere and guiding: It is good value if the tower’s meaning matters to you, but less so if you only want a quick photo or a guaranteed Northern Lights show.

Why the Imagine Peace Tower feels different at night

Many Reykjavik sights are easy to reach, brightly lit, and designed for a quick stop. This one asks you to leave the city behind for a while. The ferry pulls away from the old harbor, the lights of Reykjavik spread across the water, and the island becomes a dark patch ahead.

That change of pace is the point. The tower is not a tall building or a complex monument. It is a powerful shaft of light projected into the night sky, connected to Lennon’s message of peace and Ono’s long-running work around it. The simplicity gives the visit its force. You have time to stand quietly, watch the beam rise, and think about what the work means to you.

The weather can change the mood. Mist may soften the light, wind may make it flicker and feel more dramatic, and a clear night gives you a wider view of the sky. One particularly memorable effect can occur when moisture catches the beam and creates colored arcs around it. You cannot plan for that, but the changing conditions are part of the Icelandic setting.

Meeting at Reykjavik’s old harbor

You meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, in the old harbor area. It is no more than about 300 meters, or a five-minute walk, from Reykjavik’s downtown Tourist Information Centre. You exchange your ticket at the office before walking to the boat.

There is no hotel pickup, so allow time to reach the harbor on your own. This is easy from central Reykjavik, but you should not treat the meeting point as a place to arrive at the last second. You may need to check in, find the correct boat, and get settled before departure.

Large bags and luggage are not allowed. That rule makes sense on a short island outing, but it matters if you are heading straight to or from the airport. Bring only what you need for warmth, your phone or camera, and any small personal items.

Some past departures have included a short film while people waited for the boat. You might also find a welcoming crew member or guide offering extra background before boarding. The main focus, however, begins with the ferry ride.

The 20-minute ferry to Viðey Island

The crossing takes about 20 minutes. It is short enough that you will not need much patience, but long enough to see Reykjavik from a useful angle. The city lights sit behind you, while the island’s dark outline grows ahead.

This boat ride also gives you an early chance to look for the Northern Lights. If the aurora is active and the sky is clear, the water can provide a wide, unobstructed view. Keep your expectations in check: aurora activity depends on conditions outside the tour operator’s control, and a visit to the tower is not sold as a guaranteed Northern Lights excursion.

The boat itself is part of the value, but it also exposes you to cold and wind. You should bring a proper outer layer even if the Reykjavik waterfront feels mild when you leave. The temperature can seem sharper on the water, especially after dark.

Your English-speaking guide travels with the group and provides information about the island, the tower, and the surrounding area. The small group format has been as intimate as six people on some departures, while another group had nine. That size is useful here. You can hear the guide, stay together on the dark path, and ask questions without fighting through a crowd.

Walking across Viðey after dark

Viðey is not just a platform for the tower. The route brings together open ground, old buildings, and views back toward Reykjavik. Your guide makes several stops while walking toward the light, so the visit has more shape than a simple transfer from boat to monument.

The island is also a place to notice nature. During the day, you might pay more attention to birdlife and the open setting. At night, darkness takes over, and your senses shift toward the wind, the sea, the beam of light, and the glow of the capital across the water.

The path can become icy or uneven. Crampons are supplied if needed, and flashlights are included, but neither replaces sensible footwear. Wear shoes with good grip and avoid anything you would find unstable on a dark outdoor path.

This is not a wheelchair-friendly activity. The outdoor route, boat transfer, and surface conditions make it unsuitable for wheelchair users. If you have limited mobility but do not use a wheelchair, ask the operator about current conditions before booking, since the supplied information does not promise an adapted route.

Meeting the light at Imagine Peace Tower

The main stop is the Imagine Peace Tower, created by Yoko Ono as a tribute to John Lennon and their campaign for world peace. The light is deliberately plain: a bright column reaching upward from the ground rather than a sculpture packed with detail.

That restraint makes the stop work best when you give it a little time. Your guide may explain the work, its connection to Lennon and Ono, and why the tower operates only on selected dates. Music has also been used during the visit, including John Lennon’s song while the group gathered around the light.

The tower usually operates from October 9 through December 8. Those dates connect with Lennon’s birthday and the anniversary of his death. It also lights during the period from the winter solstice to New Year, for one week around the spring equinox, and on a few other selected dates.

Check the operating date carefully before paying. This is the single most important booking detail. If you visit outside an illumination period, you may still see Viðey and learn about the work, but you will not get the full effect of the bright tower in the night sky.

The monument can feel especially moving on a quiet evening when your group is alone on the island. It is also a good place to remember that this is an art visit, not a large theatrical attraction. If you want lights, sound, and a busy program, this may feel too spare. If you appreciate a work that leaves room for thought, the simplicity is its strength.

Viðey Church, Viðey House, and the island’s older story

The tour adds useful depth by visiting Viðey Church and Viðey House. These stops keep the outing from becoming only a John Lennon pilgrimage.

Viðey Church is one of Iceland’s oldest churches, and its presence gives the island a sense of time that the modern tower alone cannot provide. You move from a twentieth-century peace memorial to an older religious building, then on to the surrounding grounds. That contrast is one of the best reasons to choose this tour instead of simply looking at the tower from Reykjavik.

Viðey House adds another layer. The building and church help you understand that people have used and valued this small island long before the Imagine Peace Tower appeared. The exact order and time spent at each stop can vary with the guide, light, and weather, but both are part of the island visit described for this experience.

Do not expect an extensive indoor museum program. The tour lasts only two hours, and the main focus remains the tower and outdoor walk. Still, these short stops make the trip feel more complete and give your guide something meaningful to explain on the way.

The Northern Lights question

The possibility of seeing the aurora gives this tour extra appeal, especially from October through the winter. You may spot green or pale lights from the boat, from the island, or above the tower if solar and weather conditions cooperate.

But you should book this for the Imagine Peace Tower first. A cloud-covered sky, low aurora activity, or poor visibility can end the Northern Lights possibility without making the tour a failure. The tower, ferry crossing, island walk, and historic buildings remain the core experience.

The island’s darkness can help. Reykjavik’s city glow is behind you rather than all around you, and the open setting gives you a broad view. Still, no guide can control cloud cover or aurora strength. If seeing the Northern Lights is your only goal, a flexible aurora hunt may suit you better.

Cold, wind, and what to wear

The most repeated practical lesson from this outing is simple: dress for real weather, not just the forecast on your phone. Past visits have included strong wind, ice, and bitter cold, yet a helpful guide and good preparation made the experience manageable.

Wear:

• A warm coat with protection from wind
• Gloves, a hat, and a scarf or neck warmer
• Sturdy shoes with good grip
• Warm trousers, and wind pants if you have them
• Layers that you can adjust on the boat and island

Flashlights and crampons are included when needed. You should still bring your own small flashlight if you have one, though it is not required. Comfortable shoes are specifically recommended, and that advice is worth taking seriously.

Refreshments are not included. Some past outings have included hot chocolate and Icelandic klenät at Viðey House, which sounds welcome after a cold walk, but you should not book on the assumption that food or drink is part of every departure. Bring what the operator permits if you need a snack, but remember that large bags are not allowed.

Is $134 a fair price?

At $134 per person, this is not a cheap ferry ride. The cost covers more than transport, though. You are paying for the crossing, a live English-speaking guide, the guided walk, equipment such as flashlights and crampons when required, and access to a very specific seasonal event.

I consider it fair value if you already care about Lennon and Ono, enjoy small-group cultural outings, or want an evening that combines art, nature, and Icelandic island history. The tower is hard to replace with another Reykjavik activity, and the ferry adds a sense of occasion.

The value is weaker if you are looking only for a panoramic view or a Northern Lights chance. You can see Reykjavik from other viewpoints, and the aurora is never assured here. The tour also asks you to pay for a short experience in difficult weather, so the quality of your clothing will affect how much value you feel you received.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make planning easier, particularly when Iceland’s weather can disrupt an itinerary. Those policies do not remove the need to check the tower’s operating dates.

Who should book this island evening?

I would recommend this tour to you if you enjoy:

• Art with a clear social message
• John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s work
• Short boat trips and unusual island settings
• Quiet evening activities instead of crowded nightlife
• Small groups and live guiding
• The possibility of combining a cultural visit with an aurora sighting

It suits couples, solo visitors, and adults who want something thoughtful after a day of sightseeing. It can also work well as a final Reykjavik activity because the ferry ride and island setting feel separate from the city’s usual streets.

I would hesitate if you dislike cold, wind, darkness, or uneven outdoor paths. Families with very young children may find the conditions tiring, though the supplied information does not set an age limit. The tour is also not suitable for wheelchair users, and anyone carrying airport luggage will need another plan.

Should you book the Imagine Peace Tower tour?

Book it if you can visit during an illumination period and the idea of standing beneath a peace memorial on a dark Icelandic island appeals to you. The strongest parts are the ferry crossing, the intimate group, the guide’s storytelling, and the contrast between Viðey Church, Viðey House, and the modern column of light.

Choose a clear evening if you have flexibility, but do not wait for perfect weather. Iceland rarely makes that promise. Instead, bring warm clothing, accept that the Northern Lights may not appear, and treat the tower itself as the reason to go.

If the price fits your budget, this is a distinctive two-hour outing with real atmosphere. It is not a standard Reykjavik sightseeing stop, and that is exactly why I think it earns a place on the right itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the Imagine Peace Tower tour meet?

Meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik’s old harbor. It is about 300 meters, or a five-minute walk, from the downtown Tourist Information Centre.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two hours. The ferry ride to Viðey Island takes about 20 minutes, followed by a guided walk and stops on the island before returning to Reykjavik.

When is the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated?

The tower normally lights from October 9, John Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death. It also operates from the winter solstice to New Year, for one week around the spring equinox, and on several other selected dates.

Can I see the Northern Lights?

You might see the Northern Lights from the boat or Viðey Island if the aurora is active and the sky is clear. A sighting is not guaranteed.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes suitable for an outdoor walk. 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 because it includes a boat transfer and an outdoor walk on the island.