Imagine Peace Tower Tour on Viðey island | John Lennon tribute

The most striking part of this evening trip is the setting: a remote island after dark, reached by boat from Reykjavik and lit by John Lennon’s Imagine Peace Tower. The white beam rises into the Icelandic sky, and on clear nights it may share the view with the northern lights.

I like the small-group feel, with a maximum of 20 people, and the way the tour adds Viðey’s church, island story, and marine surroundings to the main memorial. I also like the simple comforts: flashlights, crampons when needed, and hot chocolate, coffee, or tea before the boat ride home.

The main drawback is the walk. It follows an unpaved road and includes a steep climb to a viewing platform, often in cold, windy, dark conditions. If you have limited mobility or dislike uncertain footing, this is not the easiest Reykjavik excursion.

Key points to know before you book

• The tower is viewed at night, when its beam is at its most powerful and atmospheric.
• The boat leaves Reykjavik Old Harbour and returns to the same meeting point at Ægisgarður 5c.
• The walk is longer and rougher than some people expect, with a steep section near the viewing platform.
• Guides add more than Beatles history, with useful context about Viðey, its church, and the waters around the island.
• Northern lights sightings are possible but not promised, and several evening trips have had this memorable bonus.
• A hot drink, flashlight, and crampons when needed are included, but food, hotel transfers, and other drinks are not.

Why Viðey makes this tribute more meaningful

The Imagine Peace Tower is not placed in a city square or beside a busy attraction. It sits on Viðey, an island just offshore from Reykjavik. That choice matters. You leave the city lights, cross dark water, and walk toward a single beam rising from open ground.

Yoko Ono created the tower as a tribute to peace and to John Lennon. The installation is especially fitting here because the island gives you quiet and space to think. You are not simply stopping for a photograph. You are making a small nighttime journey to reach it.

The beam is lit during particular periods, including around John Lennon’s birthday and the anniversary of his death, though the exact operating dates are not provided here. Check the available date when booking so you know the tower will be illuminated during your visit.

If you are a Beatles fan, the connection gives the evening a clear emotional focus. You do not need to be a Lennon enthusiast, though. The memorial works as a peaceful art installation, and the setting is often the bigger surprise.

Leaving Reykjavik Old Harbour by boat

The tour begins at the Elding Whale Watching office at Ægisgarður 5c in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way there. The meeting point is near public transportation, which keeps the start fairly straightforward if you are staying in central Reykjavik.

The crossing to Viðey is part of the experience, not just a transfer. You see Reykjavik recede while the island becomes a darker shape ahead. On some evenings, the northern lights have appeared during the crossing, giving you an early reason to step outside and watch the sky.

Dress for the boat as seriously as you dress for the island. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, and the wind over the water can make an already cold evening feel sharper. A warm jacket, thermals, hat, scarf, gloves, and sturdy footwear are sensible choices.

The trip lasts about two hours in total. That includes the boat ride, the walk to the tower, time at the memorial, and the return crossing. It is compact enough to fit into an evening in Reykjavik, but it is not a quick harbor cruise.

Walking across Viðey after dark

Once on Viðey, you follow the guide along an unpaved road toward the tower. Flashlights are provided, but you should still expect darkness and uneven ground. The island can feel wonderfully quiet, especially when the group pauses and the city noise falls away.

The walk is one of the tour’s strengths, but also its chief physical demand. One person found it longer than expected, and another found the dark, unsteady sections difficult. The description makes clear that there is a steep climb to a viewing platform, so do not treat this as a fully accessible stroll.

Crampons are supplied if icy conditions call for them. They are useful protection, not a substitute for proper shoes. Wear boots or other sturdy footwear with good grip, and avoid smooth casual sneakers if the forecast suggests snow or ice.

The size of the group can make a real difference. With no more than 20 people, the guide can usually keep the walk together and answer questions. Some departures have been much smaller, with only four or eight participants. A quiet island walk feels more personal with a small group than it would with a large crowd.

Reaching the Imagine Peace Tower

At the memorial, the guide explains the tower, Yoko Ono’s peace message, and Viðey’s place in Icelandic history. The beam reaches upward from the island and can look especially dramatic in snow, mist, or light rain. One account described the rain catching the light and creating an almost dreamlike effect.

The best photographs may not come from the tower alone. Look upward, then turn back toward Reykjavik. The city lights, dark water, and bright column make a strong contrast. If the northern lights appear, the combination can be spectacular, but you should book this for the memorial and island setting rather than as a guaranteed aurora outing.

Music connected with Imagine has been part of the visit, adding another emotional layer. The experience is not loud or showy. Its appeal comes from the silence around the beam, the short walk through the dark, and the chance to consider the peace message without the distractions of a city attraction.

The advertised experience includes a video narration by Yoko Ono about the tower and world peace. One past participant did not receive this part, so if that narration is important to you, it would be sensible to confirm how it will be presented on your departure. The central tower visit remains the main feature.

More than a light: Viðey’s church and island story

A good reason to choose this tour over simply viewing the beam from Reykjavik is the extra context. Guides have included a visit to the small church on the island and explained its history. That stop gives the evening a sense of place rather than making it only a memorial photograph.

The guides also bring their own interests to the walk. Knut, for example, added information about marine biology and the ecosystem around Viðey. Rob, Megan, Emily, and Sila were also praised for making the evening friendly, clear, and engaging. Staffing can change, so you should not assume a particular guide will lead your departure, but the guide is an important part of the experience.

This is where the tour can appeal beyond Beatles fans. You get a boat journey, a dark-island walk, local history, a small church, and views back toward Reykjavik. The peace tower is the reason for going, but Viðey gives the visit its character.

A hot drink before the return crossing

After the walk, you can warm up with hot chocolate, coffee, or tea before heading back to Reykjavik. In cold weather, this modest detail matters. It gives you a chance to thaw your hands, talk with the guide, and take in the experience before returning to the boat.

Food is not included, and this is not a dinner excursion. Eat before the tour if you need a proper meal, especially since the evening includes walking in cold conditions. The included drink is a comfort stop, not a replacement for dinner.

The boat returns to the original meeting point at the Old Harbour. Since there is no hotel drop-off, plan your route back in advance if you are staying outside central Reykjavik.

Is $120 a fair price?

At $120 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Imagine Peace Tower. You are paying for more than a view from across the water, though. The price includes the return boat ride, a professional English-speaking guide, the guided island walk, hot drinks, flashlights, and crampons if conditions require them.

The value depends on what you want from the evening. If your only goal is to photograph the beam, a paid island excursion may feel expensive. If you want the boat crossing, access to the island at night, local context, and a guided route in uncertain weather, the cost is easier to justify.

A maximum group size of 20 also helps. Several departures have been intimate, which can make the price feel more worthwhile than a large, impersonal outing. You are buying a carefully timed experience in a difficult environment, not just admission to a monument.

The high overall rating and 92 percent recommendation indicate that the tour usually delivers a strong evening. Still, the score is based on a relatively small number of ratings, so keep expectations grounded. Weather, walking conditions, the group size on your date, and the guide assigned can shape the experience.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would choose this tour if you like unusual city excursions, meaningful public art, nighttime boat rides, and a little physical effort. It suits Beatles fans, couples looking for a memorable evening, and anyone who enjoys quiet places more than crowded attractions.

It is also a good choice if you have already seen Reykjavik’s main sights and want something with a different pace. The island, church, sea crossing, and chance of northern lights make it feel distinct from a standard city tour.

You should think carefully before booking if you have limited mobility. The unpaved road, darkness, steep climb, and possible ice are clearly stated concerns. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but this is not a smooth, step-free route.

You also need to be comfortable with Icelandic weather. The boat may be cold, the wind can be strong, and conditions can change quickly. Pack more warmth than you think you need.

Practical details that affect the night

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and the activity ends back at the same Old Harbour meeting point.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation inside that window is not refunded, and changes are not accepted inside 24 hours. The tour can also be canceled if weather is poor or the minimum number of participants is not reached. In either case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The northern lights are never guaranteed. They have appeared during the boat ride and around the tower on some nights, but cloud and weather can easily block them. Think of them as a possible bonus, not the purpose of the booking.

Should you book the Imagine Peace Tower Tour?

Book it if you want to reach the memorial itself and appreciate the idea of a peaceful island setting. The combination of boat, darkness, music, history, hot drink, and bright beam can create a genuinely moving evening, even if you are not a John Lennon fan.

Skip it if you want a simple, low-cost viewpoint, dislike walking on uneven ground, or need a fully accessible route. For the right person, $120 buys a distinctive Reykjavik night rather than a routine sightseeing stop. Pack warmly, wear proper shoes, and allow the island walk to be part of the experience, not an inconvenience.

FAQ

Where does the Imagine Peace Tower tour begin?

It begins at the Elding Whale Watching meeting point at Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, in the Old Harbour area.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the same meeting point in Reykjavik.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours, including the boat journey, the walk on Viðey Island, the tower visit, and the return to Reykjavik.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a professional guide, hot chocolate, coffee or tea, flashlights, and crampons if conditions require them.

Is food included?

No. Food and other drinks are not included, although a hot drink is provided.

What should I wear?

Wear sturdy footwear, a warm jacket, thermals, a hat, scarf, and gloves. You should be prepared for all weather conditions because Icelandic weather can change quickly.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

It is not recommended for people with limited mobility because the route includes an unpaved road and a steep climb to a viewing platform.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.