Is it free to visit Harpa Concert Hall?

Yes, you can enter Harpa's public areas for free during opening hours. The ground floor, lobby, and terrace are open to the public. Tickets are only required for performances, concerts, and guided building tours. The gift shop and restaurants are accessible without a ticket.

Who designed Harpa's glass facade?

The distinctive geometric glass facade was designed by Icelandic-Danish artist Ólafur Elíasson in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects. The quasi-brick facade is made up of individually framed steel and glass hexagonal cells that reflect and refract light differently depending on weather and time of day.

What kind of events are held at Harpa?

Harpa hosts a wide range of events including classical concerts by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, performances by the Icelandic Opera, pop and rock concerts, comedy shows, conferences, and cultural festivals. Notable annual events include Iceland Airwaves music festival and the Reykjavik International Film Festival.

Is there parking at Harpa?

There is a paid parking garage beneath Harpa with direct access to the building. Street parking is also available nearby but is limited and metered in central Reykjavik. Harpa is easily walkable from most downtown hotels and guesthouses, about a 5-10 minute walk from Laugavegur.

Harpa Concert Hall: Reykjavik's Award-Winning Concert Venue

Reykjavik's award-winning concert hall and conference center, where Ólafur Elíasson's geometric glass facade meets world-class acoustics on the Old Harbour waterfront.

Updated February 1, 2026By the Iceland.org Travel Team

Location

Reykjavik Harbour

Austurbakki 2 • Old Harbour waterfront

Harpa is a concert hall and conference center on Reykjavik's Old Harbour waterfront, opened in 2011. The building was designed by Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Icelandic-Danish artist Ólafur Elíasson, whose distinctive geometric glass facade has become one of Reykjavik's defining images. The facade consists of irregularly stacked hexagonal and quasi-brick shaped steel and glass cells that capture and reflect the changing Icelandic light. Harpa won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Award) in 2013 and is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.

Safety + sourcing

Last updated: 2026-02-01

This guide is for trip planning, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly—always check official alerts and road conditions before you drive or hike.

Sources to check

Opened

2011

Won the 2013 EU Mies van der Rohe Architecture Award

Concert Halls

4 halls

Main hall Eldborg seats 1,800 — plus Norðurljós, Kaldalón, and Silfurberg

Location

Old Harbour

Waterfront location walkable from central Reykjavik

What to Expect

Geometric Glass Facade

Ólafur Elíasson's kaleidoscopic steel-and-glass cells shift in color with the weather, season, and time of day

Eldborg Main Hall

The largest of four halls seats 1,800 and hosts symphony, opera, and major performances with world-class acoustics

Harbour Views

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of Mount Esja, the harbor, and the North Atlantic

Public Spaces

Freely accessible lobbies and terraces with dramatic interior light effects created by the facade

Dining & Shopping

On-site restaurants and a design shop featuring Icelandic art, music, and crafts

Cultural Events

Year-round programming from Iceland Airwaves festival to classical concerts, comedy, and conferences

Getting There

Harpa is located at Austurbakki 2 on the Reykjavik waterfront, a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping street Laugavegur. Walk north toward the harbor from the city center and you will see the building's distinctive facade. A paid underground parking garage is available beneath the building. City buses stop nearby on Lækjargata.

Best Time to Visit

Harpa's public areas are open year-round. The facade is striking in any light, but the low winter sun creates particularly dramatic reflections and color shifts. Evening visits allow you to see the illuminated facade against the dark sky. For performances, book tickets in advance through Harpa's website, especially for popular events during festivals like Iceland Airwaves (November) or the Reykjavik Arts Festival (June).

Planning help

Harpa Concert Hall FAQs

Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.

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