Hjartartorg
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About Hjartartorg
Hjartatorg (Heart Square) is a small public square in central Reykjavík, set back from the street between Laugavegur to the south and Hverfisgata to the north, with Klapparstígur and Smiðjustígur on either side. It is free, open at all hours and takes a couple of minutes to reach on foot from the main shopping street.
The square has an unusual history. After the 2008 financial crisis stopped plans for a seven-storey shopping centre on the site, the empty lot was taken over by locals and nicknamed Hjartagarðurinn, the Heart Garden, after a heart-shaped pattern in its paving. From 2010 a community group ran it as an informal outdoor space with city support, and its walls became one of the best-known spots for graffiti and murals in Reykjavík. The garden's popularity persuaded the city to keep the site as a square rather than build on it, and it was later redeveloped into the paved Hjartatorg seen today.
The redesign is more formal than the old garden, and local debate continues about whether it has kept the same life. Small shops and galleries face onto it, and the city uses it for events, including a Christmas market in December in recent years. The best reason to stop is as part of a walk through the street art of Laugavegur and Hverfisgata, where large murals by Icelandic and international artists cover many building walls within a few hundred metres of the square.
Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the square itself, or an hour or so if you combine it with a mural walk along the two streets. Murals are repainted and replaced over time, so what you see may differ from older photos. Reykjavík's centre is compact, and Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa and the Old Harbour are all within a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Good to know
Where is Hjartatorg in Reykjavík?
It lies in the city centre between Laugavegur and Hverfisgata, bounded by Klapparstígur and Smiðjustígur, a short walk from the main shopping street.
Is Hjartatorg free to visit?
Yes, it is a public square that is free and open at all hours.
Why is it called Heart Square?
The name comes from a heart-shaped pattern in the paving of the vacant lot, which locals called Hjartagarðurinn, the Heart Garden, from 2009.
Is there still street art at Hjartatorg?
The square sits in the middle of Reykjavík's main mural area, and many large murals can be seen on the walls of Laugavegur and Hverfisgata nearby, though individual works change over time.
How long do you need at Hjartatorg?
The square itself takes 10 to 15 minutes; allow about an hour if you combine it with a walk to see the murals on the surrounding streets.
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