Sun Voyager
Sólfar
Sólfar (Sun Voyager) is a stainless-steel sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason standing on the Sæbraut waterfront path in Reykjavík, resembling the skeletal outline of a Viking-style ship mounted on a granite base. The artist intended it not as a literal historical reference but as a "dreamboat" — an ode to the sun and to undiscovered territory, hope, progress, and freedom.
Region
Reykjavík Capital Area
Coordinates
64.1476° N, 21.9223° W
Plan the stop
- Allow
- 15 min
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Full
- The sculpture sits on a level, paved waterfront promenade along Sæbraut with step-free access, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
- Limited mobility · Full
- A quick stop on a flat promenade with benches and nearby street access.
- Sensory · Partial
- The site is exposed to wind, traffic noise, bright water glare, and photo crowds.
- Cognitive · Full
- A simple single-object stop with easy orientation and no complex route.
Why it matters
The sculpture was the winning entry in a 1986 competition held to mark the 200th anniversary of Reykjavík as a city, and was unveiled on 18 August 1990, shortly after the artist's death. It has since become one of Reykjavík's most photographed landmarks, despite having no direct connection to the Settlement-era Viking ships it visually evokes.