Harpa, Reykjavík: opening hours, Eldborg capacity, tickets

Know before you go

The practical bit

Hours: Building open Sun to Tue 10:00 to 18:00 and Wed to Sat 10:00 to 20:00. Admission is free. Box office daily 10:00 to 18:00, longer on event nights.
Capacity: Eldborg seats 1,442 to 1,734 depending on the set-up. Kaldalón 165 to 195. Eldborg's reverberation is adjustable between 1.7 and 3.8 seconds; the walls are red birch plywood.
Getting there: Austurbakka 2, 101 Reykjavík, a few minutes' walk from the Lækjartorg bus hub. The Flybus from Keflavík takes about 45 minutes but stops at the BSÍ terminal. Car park: 545 spaces, open 24/7, 13 EV chargers.
Tickets: Box office 528 5050, [email protected], or harpa.is/en/whats-on. Refunds within 14 days of purchase if the event is more than 14 days away. Resale for profit is not allowed.
When to go: Guided tours run in summer only: about 45 to 60 minutes in English at 11:00 and/or 13:00, listed a month ahead on What's On. Private tours need at least 10 people ([email protected]).
Nearby: Laugavegur, Austurvöllur and Hafnartorg are a short walk. The Sun Voyager sculpture is about 1 km along the seafront. Hallgrímskirkja is the 74.5 m church on the hill.
Official: Official site and tickets → (harpa.is)

Checked on 15 October 2026 against the venue's own site. Times, prices and routes change: confirm before you travel.

In the room

The experience

Harpa stands on the harbour edge at Austurbakka 2, a few minutes' walk from Lækjartorg. Its facade of glass cells was designed by Olafur Eliasson with Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects. It opened on 13 May 2011 and won the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2013. The building is free to enter, and most days it is as much a public hall as a concert venue. Inside are the Rammagerðin shop, a free children's sound space called Hljóðhimnar and the Volcano Express simulator. Eldborg, the main hall, is lined in red birch plywood and seats between 1,442 and 1,734 depending on the set-up. Its reverberation can be adjusted from 1.7 to 3.8 seconds. The Iceland Symphony Orchestra plays here on Thursday evenings through the season. Guided tours run only in summer, at 11:00 and 13:00, and the box office is open daily from 10:00.

Gallery

Three frames

Rows of seats in Eldborg with the red tiered balconies rising behind — Image via cdn.sanity.io

The red interior of Eldborg concert hall, looking down the hall — Image via cdn.sanity.io

Harpa's Eldborg hall, its balconies lit in red — Image via cdn.sanity.io

Insider tip

Walk in knowing

Walk in for free and look up. If you want Eldborg, book a concert or a summer guided tour, listed a month ahead on What's On. Tickets are refundable within 14 days of purchase if the event is more than 14 days away.

Why it fits

Why it is in the atlas

A glass hall on the harbour, free to walk into, with a main room whose acoustics can be tuned from 1.7 to 3.8 seconds. The atlas's North Atlantic entry.

Plan the trip

When to go, hours, getting there

Best time to go

Iceland Symphony Orchestra concerts are listed on Thursday evenings at 19:30 through December 2026. Summer brings lunchtime concerts in Eldborg and the only guided tours. Any day, the building itself is free to visit.

Hours

Building: Sun to Tue 10:00 to 18:00, Wed to Sat 10:00 to 20:00; free entry. Box office daily 10:00 to 18:00 and later on event nights, tel 528 5050, [email protected]. Volcano Express daily 10:00 to 20:00. Car park open 24 hours.

Getting there

Austurbakka 2, 101 Reykjavík, on the harbourfront, a few minutes' walk from the Lækjartorg bus hub. Laugavegur, Austurvöllur and Hafnartorg are a short walk; Harpa is the first stop on the Hop On Hop Off bus. From Keflavík, the Flybus takes about 45 minutes but stops at BSÍ terminal, so expect a transfer. Two-storey car park: 545 spaces, 13 EV chargers.

Straight from the source

Official site and tickets

Official site and tickets →

Dates and tickets come from the venue itself. Opens harpa.is in a new tab.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Harpa free to visit?

Yes, entry to the building is free. It opens Sunday to Tuesday 10:00 to 18:00 and Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00. Concerts, the summer guided tours and the Volcano Express simulator are ticketed separately.

What are Harpa's opening hours?

Sunday to Tuesday 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00. The box office is open daily 10:00 to 18:00 and later on event nights. The car park is open 24 hours.

How many seats does Eldborg have?

Up to 1,734, depending on the configuration. It seats 1,442 with the large stage, 1,520 with the small stage and 1,499 with a mixing desk. With the small stage plus choir seating it reaches 1,734. Seating plans by concert type are on the Harpa website.

Are there tours of Harpa?

Yes, in the summer season only. Guided tours in English last about 45 to 60 minutes, start at 11:00 and/or 13:00 and include spaces such as Eldborg. They are listed a month ahead on What's On. Private tours need a minimum of 10 paying guests.

How do I get to Harpa from Keflavík airport?

The Flybus takes about 45 minutes to Reykjavík but stops at the BSÍ terminal, so expect a transfer. Harpa is at Austurbakka 2 on the harbourfront, a few minutes' walk from Lækjartorg, the main city bus hub. It is also the first stop on the Hop On Hop Off bus.

Where is Harpa?

Austurbakka 2, 101 Reykjavík, on the old harbour, a few minutes' walk from Lækjartorg and a short walk from Laugavegur, Austurvöllur and Hafnartorg. The Sun Voyager sculpture is about 1 km along the seafront.

Why is Harpa in the Sonic Paths atlas?

A glass hall on the harbour that anyone can walk into for free. Its main room has acoustics that can be tuned from 1.7 to 3.8 seconds. The atlas's North Atlantic entry.

On the atlas