Place · Laugavegur & Austurvöllur
Austurvöllur squareAusturvöllur
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.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 15–25 min
- p95 40 min
- Price
- Free
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- 09:00–10:00
- desk crowd estimate
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Laugavegur & Austurvöllur: painful
- Getting there
- Austurvöllur, between Austurstræti and Kirkjustræti
- 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
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- 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.
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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
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
Know before you go
- The parliament building dates from 1881 (≈ US$16); 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
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
10min
Worthwhile
15min
Typical
25min
p95
40min
Open air; the parliament building and the cathedral have their own hours.
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.
Inside, in order
Jón Sigurðsson statue and lawn
5 minThe centre of the square.
Parliament building (outside)
5 minGrey stone building of 1881 (≈ US$16).
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.
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.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Austurvöllur, between Austurstræti and Kirkjustræti
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- None
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Cafés fill on sunny days from noon; the square is quiet in the early morning.
- Sensory load
- 2/5
- Exposure
- medium
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)
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).
Combine with
- 1 minReykjavík Cathedral (Dómkirkjan) — Small Lutheran church from 1796 (≈ US$15).
- 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 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. |
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.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids
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.
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.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
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.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- officialVisit Reykjavík (official)