CityBuddy
Sun Voyager (Sólfar)
Best time to visit
Early morning for calm water and soft light, or after sunset in winter to see northern lights reflections on the sculpture and bay.
Budget tips
Free to visit, as an outdoor public sculpture; no entry fee and suitable for any budget. Combine with a self-guided walk along the seafront to avoid transport costs.
Recommended for
Photography enthusiasts, Couples, Architecture and design fans, Walkers and nature lovers
Plan your visit
15-30 minutes
About
Quick facts: Gleaming stainless steel arcs catch the sunset and sea spray, making the whole piece look different every five minutes as clouds shift and waves roll in. Photographers love the scale change the curved ribs create, the tallest point rising roughly nine meters while the low, black plinth offers a perfect foreground for long-exposure shots.
Highlights: Sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason conceived it as an ode to dreams and voyages, so walk its sweeping spine and you can almost hear imagined rigging and gull calls against the steel. Photographers often use three- to five-second exposures during blue hour to turn reflections into molten silver, a trick repeated across postcards and online galleries.
Insider tips
- Wear a windproof jacket and sturdy shoes, the shoreline can be cold and slippery.
- Get low on the western side for wide-angle shots that include Hallgrímskirkja and the bay.
- Visit early weekday mornings or late evenings to avoid tour bus clusters.
- Walk the coastal path toward Harpa to extend the visit without extra cost.
Where to Stay in Reykjavík
Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions
Search all hotels in ReykjavíkPowered by agoda
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
100% tip-based
Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best
You tip what feels right
At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right
I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Reykjavík, Iceland, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
More attractions in Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
Perlan (The Pearl)
National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands)
Most popular itineraries!
Browse trip plans created by other travelers