Reykjavik: 2-Hour Imagine Peace Tower Tour

The tower glows over Reykjavík. This short night trip combines Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s peace memorial with a ferry ride, island history, and open-sky views. I like the quiet setting on Viðey and the chance to see the Northern Lights from the boat or island. The main drawback is simple: this is an outdoor visit in Iceland, so wind, ice, cold, and darkness can shape the experience.

I also like the small-group feel and the thoughtful guides. Lucas and Captain Mike have both earned warm praise for making the outing special, while other guides have helped people over icy ground and kept spirits up in rough weather. At $134 per person, it is not a cheap evening, and you will need to bring your own warm clothing.

Key points to know before you book

• The Imagine Peace Tower shines on selected dates: It lights up from October 9, John Lennon’s birthday, through December 8, the date of his death, then appears around the Winter Solstice, New Year, the Spring Equinox, and a few other dates.
• Viðey Island adds much more than the tower: The walk can include Viðeyjarkirkja church, Viðey House, a hilltop viewpoint, and wide views back toward Reykjavík.
• The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes each way: You meet at Reykjavík’s old harbor and travel with a captain and English-speaking guide.
• Northern Lights sightings are possible but never guaranteed: The dark island and water can offer good viewing conditions when the aurora is active.
• Weather is part of the tour: Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. Flashlights and crampons are supplied if needed.
• The tour suits active visitors more than anyone needing step-free access: It is not suitable for wheelchair users, and large bags are not allowed.

Why this two-hour island trip feels different

Many Reykjavík activities focus on grand scenery, geothermal water, or the Northern Lights. This one is quieter and more personal. Its central subject is a work of public art built around a message of peace, but the setting gives it extra weight: you are on a small island, at night, with the city lights behind you and open sky above.

I like that the tour does not treat the Imagine Peace Tower as a quick photo stop. The guide explains Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s continuing campaign for world peace, then places the tower within the island’s natural setting. The result is part art visit, part short walk, part evening boat trip.

The overall rating is 4.3 from 44 ratings, which fits the nature of the outing. The strongest praise centers on the guides, the special atmosphere, the tower itself, and unexpected Northern Lights sightings. The less polished side is the weather. Several outings have been very windy, cold, icy, or misty. That is not a minor detail here. It is central to deciding if this tour suits you.

Meeting at Reykjavík’s old harbor

You meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, in the old harbor area. It is no more than 300 meters, or about a five-minute walk, from the downtown Tourist Information Centre.

You exchange your ticket at the office before heading to the boat. Since pickup is not included, you need to make your own way there. The meeting point is central, but allow enough time to find the office and get organized before departure.

The ferry crossing to Viðey takes about 20 minutes. That is short enough to keep the outing moving, yet long enough to give you a changing view of Reykjavík from the water. If the aurora is active, the ferry is one of the places you might see it. The darkness over the water can make even a brief sighting feel dramatic.

The exact starting time depends on availability. Check the schedule carefully, especially in winter when darkness and the tower’s lighting dates matter most.

Crossing to Viðey in the evening

The boat ride is not just transport. It creates a useful pause between Reykjavík and the island. You leave the city, cross the water, and arrive at a place that feels much quieter than the capital, even though it is close by.

Your captain and English-speaking guide accompany the group. The experience is designed for a small group, and one outing had only six people. That size matters because the guide can keep the walk together and respond to people who need help on cold or slippery ground.

The ferry may also provide background information about the island. One past outing included an interesting film about whaling while passengers waited for the boat. That detail is not promised on every departure, so treat it as a possible extra rather than part of the fixed program.

Bring a warm layer you can keep on during the crossing. The wind on the water can be sharper than it feels in central Reykjavík. A comfortable pair of shoes is just as important as a good coat.

Walking toward the Imagine Peace Tower

After reaching Viðey, you take a guided walk toward the tower, with stops along the way. The walk gives the guide room to explain the island, its surroundings, and the story behind the memorial instead of rushing straight to the light.

The route includes a climb to a viewpoint in some outings. From higher ground, you can look back toward Reykjavík and see the city spread across the water. At night, those city lights provide a useful contrast with the dark island and the bright beam ahead.

This is also where the weather can affect your pace. On icy evenings, crampons may be provided, and flashlights are included. Those supplies are helpful, but they do not turn the walk into an easy indoor activity. You should be comfortable walking outside in darkness and changing conditions.

The tower itself is simple but striking. Its vertical light beam rises into the night sky, and its appearance changes with weather, mist, and visibility. One particularly misty evening produced rainbow-like waves around the light. That kind of effect cannot be scheduled, but it explains why the memorial can feel different from one visit to the next.

What the tower means

The Imagine Peace Tower is a work of art created by Yoko Ono as part of her and John Lennon’s campaign for world peace. The guide explains the story and the ideas behind it, helping you see the light as more than a bright object on a dark island.

The dates are important. The tower is lit each year from October 9 through December 8. It also appears from the Winter Solstice through New Year, for one week around the Spring Equinox, and on a few other selected dates.

Check that your visit falls during one of these periods if seeing the tower illuminated is the main reason for booking. The tour can still offer an island walk and historic sites outside those dates, but the signature sight will not have the same effect without the beam.

The timing also gives the outing a strong seasonal feel. A visit near the Winter Solstice or New Year places you in some of Iceland’s darkest days, while the October and December dates connect the light directly with Lennon’s life. The memorial’s message about hope and solidarity feels especially direct when you are standing outside in the cold, looking across the water toward Reykjavík.

Viðeyjarkirkja and Viðey House

The tower is the main draw, but the island has other stops that help make the price more reasonable. Past outings have included Viðeyjarkirkja, one of Iceland’s oldest churches, and Viðey House.

The church offers a change of mood after the open-air tower. It gives you a small historic building to visit and helps show that Viðey is not simply a platform for modern art. The guide can connect the island’s older story with its present role as a place for reflection and public art.

Viðey House provides another stop, and some groups have warmed up there with hot chocolate and klenät, Icelandic doughnuts. Refreshments are not included in the listed price, so do not assume they will be provided on every departure. Still, the possibility of a warm drink is welcome after an hour outside.

The island can feel especially quiet at night. One past group found itself alone there, which added to the sense that the tower belonged to the darkness rather than to a busy sightseeing route. If you prefer constant activity, this may feel slow. If you like peaceful places and unusual settings, it is one of the tour’s best qualities.

Looking for the Northern Lights

Aurora viewing is an appealing extra, but it should not be your only reason to book. The tour operates in the evening and takes you away from the brightest city streets, so you have a reasonable chance of seeing the Northern Lights if they are active.

Past visitors have seen the aurora from the boat, from the island, and during special dates such as the Winter Solstice. Others have had no such luck. Cloud, solar activity, mist, and the timing of the tour all matter.

The tower and the aurora can also compete for your attention. You might spend part of the evening focused on the light beam and part looking up for green or pale ribbons in the sky. That mix of art and sky is memorable, but it is never guaranteed.

If the Northern Lights are your top priority, consider this tour as one possible viewing opportunity rather than a dedicated aurora chase. The fixed two-hour format gives you a clear experience, but it cannot move around in search of better conditions.

Is $134 good value?

At $134 per person, this is a premium short outing. You are paying for the return boat trip, a live guide, the island walk, and access to a sight that is available only on selected dates. You are not paying for pickup, refreshments, or a guaranteed aurora display.

I think the price makes the most sense if the Imagine Peace Tower has personal meaning for you, or if you want an evening experience that is different from the usual Reykjavík menu. The combination of ferry, island, public art, church, viewpoint, and possible Northern Lights gives you several elements in two hours.

The value is weaker if you only want a quick tower photograph. Reykjavík offers city views without a boat trip, and an aurora sighting cannot be promised. The tour earns its price through the whole setting and the guide’s storytelling, not through the tower alone.

A small group improves the value. Guides such as Lucas, Captain Mike, and others have been praised for being friendly, helpful, and well informed. In cold conditions, that personal attention matters. A good guide can turn a difficult night into an enjoyable one, while a poor guide would leave you simply standing in the wind.

Cold, wind, ice, and what to bring

Take the clothing advice seriously. Wear warm layers, a proper outer layer, and comfortable shoes with good grip. The supplied flashlights and crampons help when needed, but you should still arrive ready for a cold outdoor walk.

Several past outings were extremely windy or icy. One guide went out of the way to help people who needed assistance, but you should not count on the weather being gentle. Mist can also change how the tower looks, sometimes creating beautiful effects, but it can reduce visibility.

Large bags and luggage are not allowed. Bring only what you need for the two-hour outing. Refreshments are not included, so eat beforehand or ask about any available stop at Viðey House.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. You also need to be comfortable with a ferry ride, outdoor walking, darkness, and uneven or slippery conditions.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this tour for someone who likes art, quiet places, history, and a strong sense of place. It works particularly well for visitors already interested in Lennon and Ono, people visiting during the tower’s lighting dates, and anyone who wants a calmer alternative to a large bus excursion.

It is also a good fit for photographers who enjoy changing light, mist, and night scenes. The beam can look stark and simple in clear weather, then softer and more unusual when mist gathers around it.

Families and older visitors should consider the cold and walking conditions carefully. The tour may be fine for people who walk comfortably outdoors, but the supplied crampons do not remove the need for balance and warm clothing.

I would not book it solely because you hope to see the Northern Lights. I would book it for the tower and island experience, then treat the aurora as a possible bonus.

Should you book the Imagine Peace Tower tour?

Book it if you want a thoughtful evening on Viðey and your dates match the tower’s lighting schedule. The ferry crossing, small-group guiding, old church, island house, viewpoint, and possible Northern Lights give the two hours a clear sense of purpose.

Skip it if you dislike cold outdoor walks, need step-free access, or want a guaranteed aurora sighting. At $134, it needs to be more than a casual impulse purchase.

For the right visitor, this is one of Reykjavík’s more unusual outings. The tower is simple, the island is quiet, and the experience leaves room for you to think. Just wear windproof clothing, keep your bag small, and let the weather be part of the evening rather than a surprise.

FAQ

Where does the Imagine Peace Tower tour meet?

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

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two hours, including the ferry trip to and from Viðey Island and the guided walk.

How long is the ferry ride to Viðey?

The ferry ride from Reykjavík to Viðey takes about 20 minutes. The return crossing is also part of the experience.

What language is the tour guide?

The live tour guide speaks English.

When is the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated?

The tower is illuminated 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 a few other selected dates.

Can I see the Northern Lights on this tour?

You might see the Northern Lights from the ferry or Viðey Island if they are active and conditions allow. An aurora sighting is not guaranteed.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes suitable for an outdoor walk. Flashlights and crampons are supplied if needed.

Are refreshments included?

No. Refreshments are not included in the price. Some outings have included a stop at Viðey House where hot chocolate and klenät were available, but you should not assume this is included on every departure.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Large bags and luggage are also not allowed.