Reykjavik: 2-Hour Imagine Peace Tower Tour

What makes this tour so interesting is the combo of art, music history, and Icelandic night air, all on one small island trip. You start in central Reykjavik, take a short ferry to Viðey, then get out for a guided walk that ends with the Imagine Peace Tower lighting up the darkness during its seasonal window.

I like two things right away. First, the small-group feel keeps the pace human, and guides (including one named Lucas who gets praised for turning the night into a story) do real explaining along the way. Second, the payoff is both visual and emotional, with the tower visit tied directly to Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s ongoing world-peace message, plus a good shot at Northern Lights if the skies cooperate.

One drawback to plan for: this is an outdoor night tour in Iceland, and conditions can get brutal fast. Wind and ice happen, so you’ll want serious warm layers and you should expect the tour to be more about moving safely than about lingering slowly.

Key things to know about the Imagine Peace Tower tour

• A 20-minute ferry from Reykjavik’s old harbor gets you out to Viðey, with chances to spot aurora from the water
• Seasonal lighting schedule matters: 9 Oct to 8 Dec, plus winter solstice to New Year, and a week around the spring equinox
• Guided walk with stops on Viðey Island, not just a quick photo stop
• Tower views plus a hill viewing point, then time at the tower itself
• Viðeyjarkirkja Church and Viðey house stop, with a warm break that can include hot chocolate and klenät
• Weather plays a starring role, and the guide brings calm, especially in icy wind

From Reykjavik’s old harbor to Viðey, in 2 hours

The timing here is tight in a good way. You meet at the Elding ticket office in Reykjavik, right by the old harbor area (about a 5-minute walk from the downtown Tourist Information Centre). After you exchange your ticket, you head onto the boat.

The ferry ride is about 20 minutes to Viðey Island. That short chunk of time is more useful than it sounds. The water travel gets you away from city lights and starts the evening atmosphere early. It’s also where you can first look up for aurora, especially when the sky is clear.

Even better, this tour is run with a lived-in, practical rhythm. On one departure, the group size was described as an intimate set of six, and that matches what you want for an island walk in the dark. You won’t be swallowed by a big bus crowd, and it’s easier for the guide to keep an eye on footing.

The Imagine Peace Tower at night, and why the weather matters

The main event is the Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey. It’s dedicated to Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s continuing world-peace campaign, and the tour explains the story as you move around the island.

What I find especially meaningful is that this isn’t just a monument you pass by. The tower lights up on a specific schedule, which turns planning into part of the experience. The tower is illuminated every year from 9 October to 8 December, running from Lennon’s birthday through the day of his death. It also lights up from the Winter Solstice to New Year, and for about a week during the Spring Equinox, plus a few other selected dates.

The lighting schedule changes what you’ll see, and that affects your best strategy. If you can line your visit up during a lighting period, you’ll get the full effect, the tower glow set against Reykjavik’s night sky. If you’re there outside those dates, you might still visit the structure, but you lose the signature light show that makes this outing feel like more than sightseeing.

Also, Icelandic weather is not background noise here. Wind and mist can change the way the tower looks and how vivid the glow feels. One person described mist creating rainbow-like waves, and that’s the kind of spontaneous visual twist you can sometimes get on the island at night.

Guided walk on Viðey Island, with real stops

Once you’re on Viðey, you get a guided walk that includes small pauses to absorb what you’re looking at. The pace is designed for a 2-hour total experience, so it’s not an all-day hike, but it’s enough time to go from shoreline to viewpoint and then to the tower area.

A couple specific moments show up repeatedly in the experience:

• A hill or viewing point before you’re right up close to the tower
• Stops en route that help connect the art to the surrounding island setting

You’re also walking on uneven outdoor ground at night. That’s why the tour provides flashlights and crampons if needed and asks for warm clothing and comfortable shoes. In the real world, that means your best footwear is something with grip and ankle support, not your dressy “looks good in photos” shoes.

One more practical note from experience reports: guides and staff tend to be very hands-on when conditions are rough. People reported icy wind and the guide being helpful in getting others comfortable and steady. So if you’re the type who worries about footing, you’ll likely feel better with the group and guidance rather than wandering on your own.

Viðeyjarkirkja and Viðey house, where the night warms up

After the tower time, the tour typically continues on Viðey with more than just art. You’ll visit Viðeyjarkirkja Church, and you’ll also stop at Viðey house.

This matters because it breaks the sensory flow. The tower and aurora hunting is very head-up, eyes-to-the-sky. The church visit and the house stop bring you back to human-scale details and a chance to warm up. At Viðey house, people have specifically mentioned hot chocolate and klenät, Icelandic donuts, as the cozy reset button for a windy night.

If you’re trying to decide whether this is “just for the tower,” the answer is no. The island itself is part of the story, and the church stop gives you context beyond the peace message.

There’s also a subtle benefit to doing this with a guide. In a short time, you’ll move through multiple island elements without having to figure out the connections on your own. It’s a fast on-ramp to a place that could otherwise feel like random stops in the dark.

Northern Lights odds: what to do with your expectations

The tour description is honest about Northern Lights. Seeing the aurora is never guaranteed, but the conditions that improve your chances are the ones you can control.

Go in knowing two things:

1) Clear, dark skies help more than anything

2) Being on the water and away from street lights can improve the view

People have described seeing aurora from the ferry and during the tower visit. That’s why I like that the tour isn’t only a land-based photo mission. You have an actual viewing environment, plus multiple chances to look up while you’re already out at night.

If the skies don’t light up, you’re still getting a meaningful evening with the tower as the anchor. So you’re not paying only for a lottery ticket.

Price and value for a 2-hour Iceland evening

At $134 per person for a 2-hour experience, this isn’t the cheapest thing you can do in Reykjavik. But it also isn’t overpriced for what you’re actually buying.

You’re paying for:

• A ferry transfer to Viðey and back
• A guided walk and island navigation in winter conditions
• Entry time at the tower area and the island stops, including church and house
• Safety support like flashlights and crampons if needed
• The emotional and interpretive component, tied directly to Yoko Ono and John Lennon

Two hours is also a value feature. It’s long enough for the island experience to feel complete, but short enough to fit into a normal travel rhythm without eating your whole day.

The best way to get value is to time it when the tower lighting is active. If you visit during the main illumination window (9 Oct to 8 Dec) or one of the winter or spring seasonal periods, the tower becomes the star attraction the tour is designed around. That’s when the price stops feeling like “transport to a thing,” and starts feeling like “a focused evening built around a real moment.”

What to pack and how to stay comfortable in the cold

This is an outdoor tour. Warmth is not optional.

Bring:

• Warm clothing, ideally in layers
• Comfortable shoes with good traction

If you’re the type who gets cold easily, also bring wind protection. One reviewer specifically advised wind pants, which is a clue that the island walk can get chilly even when you think you’re dressed enough.

And remember the rules about bags: no luggage or large bags are allowed. Keep it simple with a small day bag, then focus on keeping your hands and feet warm and dry.

Who should book, and who might skip this one

This tour suits you if:

• You want a short Reykjavik night plan with a clear payoff
• You’re interested in the Lennon and Yoko Ono peace story and the way it’s expressed through art
• You want a realistic shot at aurora viewing without building your own island itinerary

It might not be your best fit if:

• You need wheelchair accessibility. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
• You hate cold weather walking. You can expect wind, and the tour includes safety gear like crampons if needed.

If you’re traveling with limited time, this is one of the more efficient ways to do Viðey. And if you’re already doing other Reykjavik highlights, this adds something different, art and nature in the same night.

Should you book the 2-hour Imagine Peace Tower tour?

I think you should book if your travel dates line up with the tower lighting periods and you’re ready for an outdoor Reykjavik night. The best part is that you’re not only chasing the aurora. You’re also getting a guided story built around the tower, then adding church and a warm stop at Viðey house.

Skip it (or at least reconsider timing) if you’re traveling with mobility limits, hate winter footing, or you’re visiting during a period when the tower isn’t lit. The tower’s glow is a big part of why this tour feels special.

If you do go, go prepared. Dress warmer than you think you need, wear shoes with grip, and keep your bag small. Then let the night do its thing. When the tower is lit and the sky cooperates, the whole experience feels like it was designed for exactly this kind of Reykjavik evening.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Imagine Peace Tower tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet at the Elding ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík. It is in the heart of Reykjavik and is described as no more than about 300 meters, a short walk from the downtown Tourist Information Centre.

Is pick-up included?

No pick-up is listed as included.

What should I wear or bring?

Bring warm clothing. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the tour is outdoors and includes walking.

Are flashlights and crampons provided?

Yes. Flashlights and crampons are provided if needed.

When is the Imagine Peace Tower lit?

The tower lights up each year from 9 October to 8 December, from Winter Solstice to New Year, for about one week during the Spring Equinox, and on selected other dates.

Will I definitely see the Northern Lights?

No. Northern Lights are something you might see depending on conditions.

Can I bring luggage or large bags?

No. Luggage or large bags are not allowed.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes. There is free cancellation, with a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance.