FAQ's about Reykjavík Culture Night
This year, Culture Night is happening on August 24, 2024, and the program runs from 12 pm to 11 pm.
The festival area is the entire city centre, stretching from Langahlíð in Austurbær to Hagatorg in Vesturbær and extending to Grandi. Culture Night formally starts at noon and events are held throughout the city continuously after that.
The formal program concludes with a fireworks display at Arnarhóll at 11 pm.
All events held on Culture Night are free of charge. It isn't possible to guarantee unlimited access to all events as they are held in different places. Some places have to consider capacity limit but everyone should be able to find something to suit their interests on Culture Night.
The Reykjavík Sports Association is the organizer and executor of the Reykjavík Marathon, and all information can be found on the Reykjavík Marathon website.
You can get to the city centre in various ways: by public transport, walking, cycling, on an electric scooter, or driving.
Strætó Public Transport will take passengers from all city districts from morning to evening at the normal price. Travel frequency will increase, and everyone is encouraged to check all trip information and more on the Strætó website.
After 10:30 pm, regular routes will not be driven and all buses will be directed to Sæbraut near the Sun Voyager, where they will begin taking people home after the fireworks display. Strætó buses are free while the city centre is being cleared, from 11 pm to 1 am. Strætó pick-up will only be available from Sæbraut from 10:30 pm to 1 am. Routes will be available to all neighbourhoods in the capital area.
The night bus service starts at 1 am at the normal price.
People wanting to drive their cars to the city centre should note parking will be limited. It's ideal to park in Laugardalur or Borgartún and get a free ride to the festival area in the city centre. This way, everyone can reach the festival area quickly and safely. Shuttles run from 7:30 am to 1 am from Laugardalshöll Arena, stopping at bus stops in Borgartún, then directly to Hallgrímskirkja. Shuttle stops will be marked. There are many bike racks across the city centre, such as by Austurbæjarskóli, Lækjartorg, City Hall, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Technical College.
A portion of the city centre will be closed off to all car traffic to ensure pedestrian safety, with no exceptions. However, every effort will be made to ensure full access for all to the festival area.
Wheelchair platforms will be in front of the stage at the concerts in Hljómskálagarður and on Arnarhóll to ensure accessibility for everyone to the concerts.
Parking for disabled people
Parking spots for disabled people are located at the following places:
In front of Skúlagata 6, a designated area will be used exclusively for accessible parking of cars with the P-badge.
At the Technical College, part of the spaces will be used for accessible parking with the P-badge.
The following parking garages have designated spots for disabled people:
- The city hall parking garage will be open from 7 am to 11:30 am and from 4 pm to midnight.
- Vesturgata 7.
- Vitatorg Parking Garage, Lindargata.
- Stjörnuport Parking Garage, Laugavegur 94.
- Harpa from 2 pm to 9 pm. From 9 pm, exiting will only be allowed through Kolagata and west along Geirsgata.
People are always encouraged to use their bikes to reach the city center on Culture Night if they are able to do so. However, due to the crowd, it may be hard to navigate on a bike so you are encouraged to lock your bicycle at any of the many bike racks around the city center, for instance at Austurbæjarskóli School, Harpa Concert Hall, in Pósthússtræti, on Lækjatorg, in Hafnarstræti, and at the Technical College.
People are strongly encouraged to use electric scooters, an environmentally friendly mode of transportation to get to and from the city centre on Culture Night.
In coordination with the electric scooter companies, the maximum speed of the electric scooters will be reduced in the city center on Culture Night. In addition, journeys can only be started or ended in certain spots in the center. The electric scooter spots are in the following areas: Updates will be provided in August 2024.
In consultation with the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, parts of the city centre will be closed to driving to ensure the safety of Culture Night attendees.
A map of closure areas will show the area closed to vehicular traffic. No exceptions will be made.
A map of the closed area will be available at the beginning of August.
Generally, street closures will be in effect from 7 am on Saturday, August 24, and will last until 1 am, unless otherwise stated.
Please note that the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon occurs from 8:40 am to 4:10 pm on Culture Night. The Reykjavík Sports Association is the event organizer, and further traffic disruptions will be related to this. More information about the marathon, race routes, and schedules is available at www.rmi.is.
Remember, traffic laws apply every day of the year! The police will fine anyone who parks illegally. Vehicles parked illegally and/or obstructing access to police, fire service, or ambulances will be removed and towed to Vaka. This is so that emergency services' access in emergencies can be ensured.
There will be limited parking available in the city centre on Culture Night. Parking is available in the following garages: City Hall (from 7 am to 11:30 am and from 4 pm to midnight), Vesturgata, Vitatorg, Stjörnuport, and Höfðatorg. The parking garage at Harpa is open from 2 pm to 9 pm. The Bergstaðir, Traðarkot, and Kolaport parking garages will be closed on Culture Night.
Standard fees apply.
Park closer to get further!
Respect the residents of the city centre and avoid parking in private parking spots or obstructing residents’ driveways.
For those who prefer driving to the city centre, note that Strætó's shuttle service is available to quickly and safely reach the festival area. Cars can be parked at Laugardalur and Borgartún. The shuttles will run non-stop from 7 am to 1 am from Laugardalshöll Arena with stops at bus stops on Borgartún, then straight to Hallgrímskirkja. Shuttle stops will be clearly marked.
Remember, traffic laws apply every day of the year!
The police will fine anyone who parks illegally. Vehicles parked illegally and/or obstructing access to police, fire service, or ambulances will be removed and towed to Vaka. This is so that emergency services' access in emergencies can be ensured.
You may get to the city centre by taxi, but driving taxis within the closed-off area is forbidden. Therefore it's recommended to plan accordingly.
There will be four taxi stands at the outer edges of the festival area. At Hallgrímskirkja, Skúlagata, BSÍ, and Túngata at the parking lot near Landakotskirkja. A taxi can also take you anywhere, as long as it's not within the closed-off area.
Several toilets will be made available throughout the city center so people don't need to go into restaurants to use the bathroom.
There will be toilets for both disabled and non-disabled people including:
- By Arnarhóll (next to the Central Bank's parking garage)
- On Miðbakki
- In Hljómskálagarður
- At the Technical College parking lot
- Hverfisgata 23 (by Lýðveldisgarðurinn)
- In City Hall – open until 6pm
- In Harpa - open until 10pm
- In Reykjavík Art Museum, Hafnarhús - open until 10pm
- ...and other places.
In consultation with the Association of Travel Service Providers and emergency responders, there will be parking facilities for buses on Culture Night at Túngata, Hallgrímskirkja, and Skúlagata. These spots are only for picking up and dropping off passengers.
- Túngata below Landakotskirkja: Facilities for smaller buses. Parking at Hallgrímskirkja, on the Eiríksgata side: Facilities for smaller and larger buses. Access at the intersection of Eiríksgata and Snorrabraut). Exit back via Njarðargata.
- Skúlagata (west of Olís): Facility for larger buses. Access at the intersection of Snorrabraut and Hverfisgata, and down Barónstígur and Skúlagata. However, after 2pm until 9pm, you may enter via Skúlagata from Sæbraut. The exit is through the same route back. While the marathon is ongoing, there is an open route via Borgartún to Snorrabraut/Hverfisgata.
Only cars specially marked by authorized travel service companies may use the services mentioned above.
Drop-off spots no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be inactive on Culture Night from 7 am to 1 am.
Pant, driving services for disabled people
You can book a ride online or by phone at 540 2727.
Services operate from 7:30 am to 1 am
The last trip departs at 1 am
On Saturdays, general operating hours are from 10 am to 2 pm.
Before 10 am and after 2 pm, you can only book single trips, cancel trips, or receive responses to urgent matters.
You can book a trip with two hours' notice on Culture Night as usual.
Passengers are kindly asked to make reservations in advance to facilitate travel arrangements.
The driving service will stop at the following places to drop off and pick up passengers:
- Skólavörðuholt – parking lot by Hallgrímskirkja
- N1 Hringbraut – parking lot by N1
- Túngata – parking lot at the corner of Suðurgata
- The Ministry of Fisheries – parking lot by Skúlagata 4
NO stops will be made at City Hall
Some delays may occur due to traffic. Passengers are asked to show patience and understanding.