Harpa Concert and Conference hall is one of Reykjavík’s most famous landmarks. Opened in 2011, this architectural masterpiece is a must-see while visiting Iceland. Hit a concert while you’re in Reykjavík to enjoy the local sounds of Iceland!
Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland has become one of Reykjavik‘s greatest and most distinguished landmarks. The first concert was held on the 4th of May 2011 and since then the center has attracted 10 million guests.
It is Reykjavík’s cultural and social center standing gracefully in the center of downtown Reykjavík and plays a big part in most of the city’s events. Harpa and its award-winning architecture are truly a must see while exploring Reykjavík and in this article, we will go over the multiple ways to do so.
The building of Harpa started in the year 2007 but a year later the financial crisis shook the country and the construction was halted. Later in 2008, the government decides to this half-finished building needed to be finished and for several years Harpa was the only construction project in progress in Iceland.
Harpa is the first building in Reykjavík ever to be built to serve as a concert hall and was developed in consultations with artistic advisor Vladimir Ashkenazy and international consultant Jasper Parrott of Harrison Parrott. Today Harpa houses the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and The Icelandic Opera’s offices.
The inside of the building is best to enjoy during the daytime. However, during the night, the outside of Harpa lights up in multicolored waves. Our recommendation is to visit during the daytime and then walk past again at night time.
Harpa is open Sunday to Tuesday from 10:00-18:00 and Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00-20:00.
Harpa's Box Office is on the ground floor and is open every day from 10:00-18:00 and longer on event nights.
The name of the concert and conference hall was made public two years before it held its first concert. The name Harpa stood out as a winner after a competition was held where 1200 citizens proposed 4,156 names. The demand was that the name would be in Icelandic but still easy for foreign language speakers to pronounce.
The name has more than one meaning. One meaning is that its the Icelandic word for the instrument harp. And the second meaning is from the Viking times. In the Viking times, a different way was used to count the months, it had to do with crops, weather, and pagan traditions.
In this Nordic Calendar, there was a month called Harpa. The first day of Harpa is celebrated in Iceland as the first day of summer and marks the beginning of a brighter time.
Harpa Concert and Conference Hall was designed by the Danish company Henning Larsen Architects in a collaboration with one of Iceland’s most famous artists Ólafur Elíasson. The structure of the building consists of a steel framework that holds multicolored geometric shaped glass panels.
It’s one of the top ten best-designed buildings in the world according to Architectural Digest Magazine. In 2013, it won the Mies van der Rohe award for the best public space, the Arkitekturmassan Awards in 2012 and World Architecture Award in 2010.
The exact location is at Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. It is located down by the harbor and boats surrounding the stunning building. One side you have a view over Reykjavík and the other ocean and mountains on the next peninsula.
On a good day, you can see all the way over to Snæfellsnesnes Peninsula from the building.
GPS coordinates of Harpa: 64.1502° N, 21.9323° W
Harpa Concert Hall is a premier cultural venue renowned for its stunning architecture and world-class acoustics. It hosts a wide variety of events, from classical symphonies to contemporary concerts. Every year the hall welcomes major events, including the Iceland Symphony Orchestra's concert season. With captivating symphonies, theatrical performances and international music festivals in this iconic venue, Harpa is a cultural hub for locals and visitors alike. Find out more on the official What's On page.
Discover Harpa's award-winning architecture with a guided tour that takes you beyond the public areas. Explore hidden corners of the building and uncover its best-kept secrets while your guide shares intriguing stories and surprising incidents.
Learn how Iceland's dramatic nature, from its volcanoes to the mesmerizing Arctic light, inspired the creation of this extraordinary design. It’s a unique opportunity to dive into both the building's history and the natural forces that shaped it. Find more about Harpa's private and guided tours here.
If you visit Harpa you have the amazing opportunity to visit the Iceland Expo Pavilion that was designed for the World Fair that was held in the year 2010 in Shanghai, China.
The Pavilion features an amazing 360-degree film where the walls and ceiling form a visual unity. The aim of the show is to present the best of Icelandic nature in a short 15-minutes film.
Icelandic Sagas the Greatest Hits: A show put up by two Icelandic actors where they play out 40 Icelandic sagas in 75 minutes. This comedy roller coaster has gotten great reviews and is recommended to anyone looking for a fun night!
A hilarious show about the quirks and customs of Icelanders. Originally performed in Icelandic, it quickly became a hit, and now it's available in English. The show has been sold out for five consecutive years. Come, see, laugh, and learn in this entertaining exploration of How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes.
Harpa features one restaurant and one bistro. The restaurant, La Primavera, is located on the 4th floor and offers a stunning view of the harbor. It is open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening. Hnoss Bistro, situated on the ground floor, is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00, with extended hours on concert nights. Hnoss serves a lunch menu on weekdays and a tasty brunch every weekend.
Other than restaurants, it also has an Icelandic design and craftsmanship shop. Open every day of the week.
You can easily park your car beneath the center in the multi-level parking garage.
Sense8 (2015) – Netflix series, episode 10, What is Human.
The Bachelor (Season 26, 2022): The "rose ceremony from hell" was filmed at Harpa.
Heart of Stone (2023): Harpa is featured in a dramatic scene where the building is blown up.
Harpa’s iconic architecture has made it a popular filming location for various productions.
