Information
Landmark: Viðey IslandCity: Reykjavik
Country: Iceland
Continent: Europe
Viðey Island, Reykjavik, Iceland, Europe
Overview
Viðey Island sits quietly in Faxaflói Bay, its grassy paths and old stone walls holding centuries of history, only a short boat ride from Reykjavik.With its sweeping views, rich heritage, and quiet paths where seabirds wheel overhead, Viðey feels like a rare retreat from the city’s rush, offering a window into Iceland’s history, art, and wildlife.Just a short ferry ride from Reykjavik, Viðey is the bay’s largest island, settled since the 10th century and once home to monks, traders, and political intrigue; today, visitors wander its quiet trails past old stone walls and modern art pieces scattered across the grass.Archaeologists believe the island was first settled in the late 9th or early 10th century, during the Settlement Age, and traces of Viking farms still lie in its soil.By the 12th century, Viðey had become a center of religious life with an Augustinian monastery-among the earliest in Iceland-rising beside the shore.The monastery thrived until the Reformation in the 16th century, when it was shut down.Built in 1755, Viðey House-made of pale gray stone-was Iceland’s first building of its kind and is still one of the island’s most recognizable sights.It was originally home to Skúli Magnússon, known as the “Father of Reykjavik” for boosting trade and shaping the city’s growth.Today, the carefully restored house is a museum and café, filled with artifacts and furnishings from its earliest days.By the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, Viðey bustled with fishing boats and factory work, its small harbor busy with the smell of drying fish.Though those industries have long disappeared, you can still wander past their remains-rusted beams, worn brick walls, and weeds breaking through the pavement.Viðey is famed for its striking beauty, with soft green fields rolling toward black volcanic rock and wide views of Reykjavik, Mount Esja, and the glittering Atlantic.Birdwatchers flock here too, hoping to spot puffins, Arctic terns, and eiders skimming the shore.Seals swim in the clear waters around the island, and once in a while, a whale might surface with a quiet splash.Well-kept walking and hiking trails wind through forests, rocky hills, and past old stone ruins.You’ll find trails for every pace, from a gentle stroll shaded by pines to longer hikes that test your legs and tempt the adventurous.Artistic and Cultural Attractions 1.Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower, unveiled in 2007 as a tribute to John Lennon, sends a brilliant beam of light straight into the night sky.It glows each year from October 9, Lennon’s birthday, until December 8, the day he died, and again on the winter solstice and New Year’s Eve.Etched into the monument in 24 languages are the words “Imagine Peace,” carrying Ono and Lennon’s call for unity across the world.On Viðey, you’ll also find striking outdoor works, like Richard Serra’s *Áfangar*-a series of basalt columns positioned to frame sweeping views of the sea and hills.This minimalist installation melts into the island’s natural beauty, like driftwood resting quietly on the shore.Activities and Visitor Experience 1.You can reach Viðey by ferry, with boats leaving in summer from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and from Skarfabakki Harbour, where the scent of salt hangs in the air.A boat ride treats you to sweeping views of Reykjavík’s skyline and the glittering bay, while rented bikes let you wander the island’s winding trails at your own pace; you can spread a blanket for a quiet picnic, join a guided tour to uncover its history, culture, and wildlife, or warm up in Café Viðeyjarstofa inside Viðey House with a plate of traditional Icelandic fare, especially in summer when long, golden days make the island even more inviting.The Imagine Peace Tower shines brightest on crisp autumn and winter nights when it’s lit, though the ferry runs all year-just expect it to come more often in summer.Some areas of the island can be reached by visitors with limited mobility, though a few trails may prove tricky underfoot.There’s no charge to step onto the island itself, but you’ll need to buy a ferry ticket.Viðey Island weaves history, art, and untamed beauty together, drawing in history buffs, art lovers, nature seekers, and anyone craving a quiet moment by the sea.You might wander its quiet trails, stand beneath the glow of the Imagine Peace Tower, or take in Reykjavík’s skyline shimmering in the distance-whatever you choose, Viðey offers an Icelandic experience you won’t forget.
