Harpa

About Harpa

Harpa is Reykjavík's concert hall and conference centre, standing on the waterfront at Austurbakki 2 by the old harbour. It was designed by Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects together with the artist Ólafur Elíasson, whose façade of three-dimensional glass panels reflects daylight into the building. It is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Reykjavík Big Band, and hosts concerts and conferences through the year.

You do not need a ticket to go inside. The public areas are open Sunday to Tuesday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, and walking up through the foyers is the easiest way to see the glass structure from within and look out over the harbour. On the ground floor are Hnoss Bistro, open daily from 11:00 to 18:00, and the Rammagerðin shop for Icelandic design and crafts; La Primavera Ristorante on the fourth floor opens Thursday to Saturday evenings. The Volcano Express exhibition on floor K2 runs every 15 minutes, 10:00 to 20:00, all year.

To see Eldborg, the main concert hall, and other spaces closed to the public, join a guided tour. Scheduled tours run mainly in summer, starting at 11:00 and/or 13:00, last 45 to 60 minutes and are in English; they cost 5,200 ISK, with reduced prices for students, seniors and groups and free entry for children aged 12 and under. Tours are listed on Harpa's What's On page about a month ahead, and private group tours can be arranged.

Harpa is a short walk from the city centre, and the building has a 24-hour car park with 545 spaces and electric charging points. Going to a concert is the best way to experience the halls themselves; check the programme and box office before you travel.