Sun Voyager

About Sun Voyager

Sun Voyager (Sólfar) is the stainless-steel sculpture on the seafront at Sæbraut in central Reykjavík, about a 10-minute walk from Harpa concert hall and the bottom of Laugavegur. It looks like the skeleton of a Viking ship, but the artist, Jón Gunnar Árnason, described it as a dreamboat and an ode to the sun, symbolising the promise of undiscovered territory, hope, progress and freedom.

The design won a 1986 competition held to mark the 200th anniversary of Reykjavík's town charter. Jón Gunnar Árnason died in 1989, and the finished sculpture was unveiled on 18 August 1990, the year after his death. It is made of polished stainless steel set on granite slabs.

The setting is part of the appeal. Behind the sculpture is Faxaflói bay, with Mount Esja across the water, and on clear days you can see as far as the Akranes coast. The steel reflects the changing light, so the sculpture looks different at sunrise, in the long summer evenings and under snow. It is one of the most photographed spots in the city, so for photos without crowds come early in the morning or late in the evening. On clear winter nights it is also a popular place to watch for the northern lights, though city lights reduce visibility.

Sun Voyager is outdoors, free and accessible at any time of day, all year. There is a paved seafront path along Sæbraut, which is good for walking or cycling and continues towards Harpa and the Old Harbour in one direction and Höfði House in the other. Take care crossing Sæbraut, which is a busy road, and keep off the sculpture itself.