Austurvöllur square
Place · Laugavegur & Austurvöllur
The small green square in front of the parliament: 15–25 minutes, with the cathedral beside it and cafés around it; the natural start for the Laugavegur walk.
- Free and central
- Parliament and cathedral
- Café terraces
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
- Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.
- Capital Region Iceland ↗Check the road-condition and weather services before any drive out of the city; winter storms close roads.
- Reykjavík ↗In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Reykjavík ↗Check the Icelandic Met Office and the road-condition service on the day; storm warnings can close roads, the tower and tours.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours not on file: check the official site.
- Crowds
Quietest around 09:00–10:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon, Tue · busiest Sat · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free
- Time to spend
- 15–25 min · up to 40 min if you linger
Best time to go
Cafés fill on sunny days from noon; the square is quiet in the early morning.
By weekday: quietest Mon, Tue, busiest Sat.
Opening hours
- Note
- Open air; the parliament building and the cathedral have their own hours.
Which month is quietest
- Janquiet
- Febquiet
- Marlight
- Aprlight
- Maybusy
- Junheavy
- Julheavy
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octlight
- Novlight
- Decbusy
Quietest Jan–Feb · busiest Jun–Aug.
Estimate: desk reasoning from weekend, season and holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Austurvöllur, between Austurstræti and Kirkjustræti
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- None
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- YesStep-free entrance · None on the main paths.
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet · City Hall has one (check).
- YesWheelchair · Step-free; watch for ice in winter.
- YesStroller · Flat and paved.
- YesPlaces to sit · Benches and café terraces around the square.
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Shoes: Shoes on.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Allowed; ask before photographing people sunbathing or police.
- Drones are not allowed over the parliament.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- rain: A café on Austurstræti
- heat: The grass in the shade of the trees
- crowd: Tjörnin pond, 3 minutes south
Nearest rescue anchor: E — Austurstræti / Ingólfstorg café seating (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Parliament: the square is public, the building is not open for casual entry.
- Protests and events can close the square; follow police signs.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- The parliament building dates from 1881; a statue of Jón Sigurðsson stands in the centre of the square.
- On the first sunny day people crowd the grass and terraces; it is a good spot for people-watching.
- There are no toilets on the square: use a café or the City Hall by the pond.
- Winter evenings are lit with Christmas lights in December.
- Small protests are common and peaceful; follow police guidance if streets close.
Best time of day
Plan 15–25 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for a summer weekday; sunny days add one level; winter is much quieter
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Dress code
- Shoes: Shoes on.
- Bags & lockers
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- Allowed; ask before photographing people sunbathing or police.
- Drones are not allowed over the parliament.
- What's closed
- Parliament buildingcheckGuided visits exist on set days (check the Althing site); it is not a walk-in sight.
- CathedralcheckHours vary and services close it to visitors.
- EventscheckNew Year, National Day (17 June) and protests can close the square.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
How to do it well
- 1Start at the statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the leader of the independence movement, then look at the parliament building on the south side.
- 2Step into the cathedral next door if the door is open; it is small and free.
- 3Sit at a café terrace on sunny days; the square is where locals sunbathe in summer.
- 4Continue down Austurstræti to Ingólfstorg or up to Laugavegur.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
10min
Worthwhile
15min
Typical
25min
p95
40min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (25 min).
With the other 5 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Reykjavík Cathedral (Dómkirkjan)Small Lutheran church from 1796.1 min on foot · 4 min spare
- Ingólfstorg squareOpen plaza with cafés and street food.2 min on foot · 3 min spare
- Tjörnin pondDuck pond and City Hall on its edge.3 min on foot · 2 min spare
- LaugavegurThe shopping street.5 min on foot · 0 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
Jón Sigurðsson statue and lawn
5 minThe centre of the square.
Parliament building (outside)
5 minGrey stone building of 1881.
Reykjavík Cathedral
10 minSmall, plain interior; check the door.
optionalCafé terraces
20 minCoffee stop.
optional
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- quiet
- Leave by
- 09:259:25 AM
- Closing buffer
- 635′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 20:00. The square is open at all hours; cafés close earlier in winter.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesNone on the main paths.
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · noCity Hall has one (check).
- Wheelchair: yes · yesStep-free; watch for ice in winter.
- Stroller: yes · yesFlat and paved.
- Places to sit: yes · yesBenches and café terraces around the square.
Level square with paved paths; the nearby streets are flat.
Step-free route
- 1The square is flat; use the paved paths around it.
- 2Nearest accessible toilet is likely at the City Hall by Tjörnin (check).
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | check | None on the square; cafés and the City Hall have them. |
| Accessible toilet | check | City Hall has one (check). |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | yes | Cafés and restaurants around the square. |
| Drinking water | yes | Tap water is clean; ask a café. |
| Seating | yes | Benches and café terraces. |
| Wi-Fi | check | Cafés offer it. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun–Aug | Sun and long light | The grass is full; terraces are busy until late. | |
| 17 Jun | National Day | Parade and closures around the square. | |
| Dec | Christmas lights | A lit tree and evening crowds. | |
| Nov–Feb | Short days and ice | Quiet, dark early; paths can be slippery. |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to Reykjavík | good | Central, free and easy to combine with everything else. |
| Photographers | ok | Better for street scenes than for a landmark shot. |
| Families with small kids | good | Grass and flat ground. |
| Wheelchair users | good | Flat and paved. |
| Visitors who dislike crowds | good | Quiet before 11:00.Quiet before 11:00 AM. |
Skip it if
- You only have time for one stop: choose Hallgrímskirkja or Harpa.
- It is raining hard and you would rather be in a museum.
Rules on site
- food
- Picnics are fine on the grass in summer.
With kids
- with kids
- Grass to run on in summer; keep an eye on the streets around.
Combine with
Combine with
- 1 minReykjavík Cathedral (Dómkirkjan) — Small Lutheran church from 1796.
- 2 minIngólfstorg square — Open plaza with cafés and street food.
- 3 minTjörnin pond — Duck pond and City Hall on its edge.
- 5 minLaugavegur — The shopping street.
- 11 minOld Harbour — Boat quays.
- 12 minHarpa — A dry, warm stop on the shore.
- 14 minHlemmur Mathöll — Food hall at the east end of Laugavegur.
- 14 minHallgrímskirkja — Walk down the hill to the square.
Walk the Laugavegur & Austurvöllur area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament with the statue in front | Morning, sun behind you | Stay off the flower beds. |
| Square from the cathedral steps | Evening | Do not block the door during services. |
| Christmas tree and lights (Dec) | After dark | Crowds on weekends. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is there anything to do here besides looking?
Sit at a café, walk to the pond in three minutes, then on to Laugavegur.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is it safe at night?
Generally yes, with normal care; weekend nights around the bars are loud.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
What is at Austurvöllur?
The parliament (Alþingi) building, a statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the cathedral and a green square lined with cafés.
Can I go inside the parliament?
Only on guided visits on set days; check the Althing website.
How long do I need?
15–25 minutes, more if you stop for coffee.
Are there toilets?
Not on the square; use a café or the City Hall.
Is it worth visiting in winter?
Yes for a short stop, especially in December when the square is lit.
Photos
Photos
Austurvöllur square Photo: OddurBen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialVisit Reykjavík (official)
Was this useful?
Add Austurvöllur square to a day
Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.