The island of Viðey in Kollafjörður Bay, just outside Reykjavík Harbour is a historic place. Archaeological investigations on the island in recent years have revealed evidence of settlement as early as the 10th century. The ‘father of Reykjavík’ Skúli Magnússon built the mansion and the church on the island in the late 18th century.
The Icelandic Government presented the City of Reykjavík with Viðey on the city’s 200th Anniversary on August 18th, 1986.
WHERE TO GO
WHEN TO COME
• 9 October 8pm until morning.
• 10 – 31 October: 8pm until midnight.
• 1 – 30 November: 7pm until midnight.
• 1 – 30 December: 6pm until midnight.
• 31 December: 6pm until morning.
IMAGINE PEACE TOWER RELIGHTS OCTOBER 9TH
The IMAGINE PEACE TOWER by Yoko Ono on Viðey will be lit for the 18th time on Wednesday, October 9th at 8:00 PM. A peaceful ceremony will be held on the island to celebrate the event.
Free ferry and bus rides will be provided before and after the event. The Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik City Museum, will host a program on Viðey starting at 5:45 PM and lasting until 9:30 PM.
Valdimar Guðmundsson and Örn Eldjárn will perform music beside the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, and the Mayor of Reykjavik, Einar Þorsteinsson, will give a speech. It is customary that as soon as the tower is lit, the song Imagine is played, and people will have the opportunity to take photos and share the event on social media.
Ferry and Bus Information
Yoko Ono offers free ferry rides to Viðey. The ferry will depart from Skarfabakki from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Ferries will depart from Skarfabakki at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, and 19:30, and return trips will be made as needed. Tickets for the Viðey ferry must be reserved, with a limit of 5 tickets per booking, and a total of 1,200 tickets available. Further information is available on the Elding website.
Free bus rides will be available from Reykjavík City Hall, with a stop at Harpa, and then to Skarfabakki. The first bus will leave City Hall at 17:30, and the service will run until 19:00.
The first ferry after the lighting of the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER will depart from Viðey at 8:30 PM. It will be possible to take a bus from Skarfabakki to Hlemmur from 8:40 PM until all guests have been transported from Viðey.
Program
The Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik City Museum, and others will host a program starting at 5:45 PM and ending at 9:00 PM.
5:45 PM: A walk led by the Reykjavik Art Museum through works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono.
6:00 PM: A history walk led by the Reykjavik City Museum.
6:45 PM: A walk led by the Reykjavik Art Museum through works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono.
7:00 PM: A history walk led by the Reykjavik City Museum.
Program Related to the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER:
7:45 PM: Valdimar Guðmundsson and Örn Eldjárn perform music by the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.
7:58 PM: Einar Þorsteinsson, the mayor, gives a speech.
8:00 PM: The IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is lit under the song Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Refreshments will be available for purchase at Viðeyjarstofa.
ATTENTION – WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY ACCORDING TO WEATHER.
From 10th October
From 10th October, IMAGINE PEACE TOWER guided tours start running every evening from Skarfabakki for approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. They unite history, art and nature in an interesting manner and give a deep insight into this magnificent work of art. The price for the IMAGINE PEACE Tour is 5.000 ISK per person and pick up from hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík area is complimentary, and occurs 45 mins before the ferry departs.
Ferry times from Ægisgarður are 8pm (Oct 9-Dec 8, Feb 18) , 6pm (21,22,27,28,30 Dec), 4pm (31 Dec) and 8pm (20-26 March).
For bookings call +354 555 3565 no later than 16:00 the same day.
Our winter schedule offers trips to Viðey on Saturdays and Sundays.
Viðey House Café is open according to the schedule for our guests to enjoy lovely refreshments after walking around the island.
Walking paths in Viðey are easy for all and hikers have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful view over Reykjavik City and surroundings. On the eastern part of the island the history of the village and the fishing company placed there a century ago is made accessable and alive with information posters.Two magnificent works of art can be found on the west part of the island; Richard Serra´s Afangar and Yoko Ono´s IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.
For more information, go to the Elding website.
On the map of the Earth planet, Iceland is a country situated in the northern
most part of our world. It is an ideal location from which to cover the Earth
with enlightenment and love.
Iceland is a magical and beautiful country. The electrical energy source for the
country and for the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is geothermal – water, instead
of oil. No pollution. No war. This is just one of the incredible situations that
creates the magic of Iceland.
Right now, light is what the world so desperately needs, since, in varying
degrees, we all live in darkness of fear and confusion of the polluted world.
This column of light in Iceland will not be extinguished. It is the eternal flame
we send out to the world and the universe to give light and warmth, and the hope
and conviction that our dreams can come true.
I hope the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER will give light to the strong wishes of
World Peace from all corners of the planet and give encouragement, inspiration
and a sense of solidarity in a world now filled with fear and confusion.
Let us come together to realize a peaceful world.
I dedicate this tower to John Lennon.
my love for you is forever.
Yoko Ono
