Imagine Peace Tower
Rated 4.1 · 151 Google reviews
About Imagine Peace Tower
The Imagine Peace Tower is an outdoor artwork by Yoko Ono on Viðey, a small island just off Reykjavík, dedicated to John Lennon and unveiled on October 9, 2007, which would have been his 67th birthday. Its base is a white stone wishing well carved with the words "Imagine Peace" in 24 languages, and for a few months each year a column of light is projected straight up from it into the clouds.
The light runs on a fixed schedule. It switches on at 20:00 on October 9, Lennon's birthday, and shines until morning. Through the rest of October it runs from 20:00 to midnight, in November from 19:00 to midnight and in December from 18:00 to midnight, with an all-night lighting on New Year's Eve.
A few extra dates are added in winter and spring, so check the official schedule before you plan around one. You don't need to leave the mainland to see it, either. On a clear night the beam is visible from much of Reykjavík, and the seafront path along Sæbraut near the Sun Voyager gives an open view across the water.
Low cloud catches the light and makes the column look taller, while heavy rain can wash it out almost completely. To stand at the base after dark, you need an evening Imagine Peace Tower tour by boat from Ægisgarður in the Old Harbour. These run on set evenings during the lighting season and take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
The regular Viðey ferry from Skarfabakki costs 2,500 ISK return for adults, but from September to mid-May it sails only on weekend afternoons, when the tower is dark. A daytime visit still lets you see the well itself, and in summer the island makes a good half-day walk.
Photos
2 photos
Good to know
When is the Imagine Peace Tower lit?
It is lit every year from October 9, John Lennon's birthday, to December 31. It starts at 20:00 in October, 19:00 in November and 18:00 in December, and a few extra dates are added in winter and spring.
Can you see the Imagine Peace Tower from Reykjavík?
Yes. On clear nights the beam is visible from much of the city, and the seafront along Sæbraut has one of the best views.
How do you get to the Imagine Peace Tower?
Take the ferry to Viðey from Skarfabakki pier. For an evening visit while the tower is lit, book an Imagine Peace Tower boat tour from Ægisgarður, since the regular ferry does not sail at night.
How much is the ferry to Viðey?
A return ticket costs 2,500 ISK for adults and 1,250 ISK for children aged 7 to 17, and children under 7 travel free.
Who created the Imagine Peace Tower?
Yoko Ono created it as a memorial to John Lennon and unveiled it on Viðey on October 9, 2007.
Trip planning — free, no commitment
Put Imagine Peace Tower on your route
Tell us your dates, pace and can’t-miss list — a local planner builds the route, stays and tours around it, and stays a text away while you travel.