Culture Night - Information

This year, Culture Night is happening on August 24, 2024, and the program runs from 12pm to 11pm.

The festival area is the entire city center, stretching from Langahlíð in Austurbær to Hagatorg in Vesturbær and extending to Grandi.

Culture Night formally starts at 12pm and events are held throughout the city continuously after that.

The formal program concludes with a fireworks display at Arnarhóll at 11pm.

In consultation with the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, parts of the city center 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 7am on Saturday, August 24, and will last until 1am, unless otherwise stated.

Please note that the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon takes place from 8:40am to 4:10pm 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 can be found at www.rmi.is.

Remember, traffic laws apply every day of the year! The police will fine anyone who parks illegally. Vehicles that are parked illegally and/or obstruct the access of police, fire service, or ambulances will be removed and towed to Vaka. This is so that emergency services' access in emergency situations can be ensured.

Yes, there will be a fireworks display as the final event of Culture Night. The display begins at 11pm or immediately after the end of the concert at Arnarhóll.

You can get to the city center 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 10:30pm, 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 center is being cleared, from 11pm to 1am. Strætó pick-up will only be available from Sæbraut from 10:30pm to 1am. Routes will be available to all neighborhoods in the capital area.

Night bus service starts at 1am at the normal price.

People wanting to drive their own cars to the city center 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 center. This way, everyone can reach the festival area quickly and safely. Shuttles run from 7:30am to 1am from Laugardalshöll Arena, stopping at bus stops in Borgartún, then directly to Hallgrímskirkja. Shuttle stops will be clearly marked.

There are many bike racks across the city center, such as by Austurbæjarskóli, Lækjartorg, City Hall, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Technical College.

Here is information on bike parking in the city center.

The electric scooter zones are in the following areas:

• Updates will be provided as the event approaches.

A portion of the city center 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 everyone 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 7am to 11:30am and from 4pm to midnight.
  • Vesturgata 7.
  • Vitatorg Parking Garage, Lindargata.
  • Stjörnuport Parking Garage, Laugavegur 94.
  • Harpa from 2pm to 9pm. From 9pm, exiting will only be allowed through Kolagata and west along Geirsgata.

Pant, driving services for disabled people

You can book a ride online or by phone at 540 2727.

Services operate from 7:30am to 1am

The last trip departs at 1am

• On Saturdays, general operating hours are from 10am to 2pm.
• Before 10am and after 2pm, 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.

Restroom facilities

Restroom facilities for disabled people are located at the following places:

• By Arnarhóll (next to the Central Bank's parking garage),
• On Miðbakki
• In Hljómskálagarður
• At the Technical College parking lot
• Hverfisgata 23 (by Lýðveldisgarður)
• In City Hall – open until 7pm
• In Harpa - open until 10pm
• In Reykjavík Art Museum, Hafnarhús - open until 10pm

A map of street closures will be made available here in August 2024.

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.

Here is detailed information on bike parking in the city center.

People are strongly encouraged to use electric scooters, an environmentally friendly mode of transportation to get to and from the city center 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.

Strætó Public Transport will take passengers from all city districts from morning to evening at the normal price. Travel frequency will increase, and we kindly ask people to check out the bus schedule on Culture Night..

After 10pm, the route system will be disrupted and all buses will be directed to Sæbraut by the Sun Voyager. The public bus will be free while transporting people home after the fireworks show. The bus will only be available from Sæbraut after 10:30pm until 1am. Routes will be available to all neighborhoods in the capital area.

Night bus service starts at 1am at the normal price.

For those who prefer to drive to the city center, please note that parking will be limited in the area on Culture Night. However, a special Strætó shuttle service will run free for those who want to reach the festival area quickly and safely. You can park at Laugardalur or Borgartún. The shuttle buses will run from 7am to 1am from Laugardalshöll Arena, with stops at Strætó bus stops in Borgartún, before heading directly up to Hallgrímskirkja. The shuttle stops will be specially marked.

You may get to the city center 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.

There will be limited parking available in the city center on Culture Night. Parking is available in the following garages: City Hall (from 7am to 11:30am and from 4pm to midnight), Vesturgata, Vitatorg, Stjörnuport, and Höfðatorg. The parking garage at Harpa is open from 2pm to 9pm. 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 center and avoid parking in private parking spots or obstructing residents’ driveways.

For those who prefer driving to the city center, 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 7am to 1am 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 that are parked illegally and/or obstruct the access of police, fire service, or ambulances will be removed and towed to Vaka. This is so that emergency services' access in emergency situations can be ensured.

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.

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 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 7am to 1am.

Here is a street closure map for Culture Night 2023.

Pant, the driving service for disabled people, will operate on Culture Night

You can book a ride online or by phone at 540 2727.

Services operate from 7:30am to 1am

The last trip departs at 1am

• On Saturdays, general operating hours are from 10am to 2pm.
• Before 10am and after 2pm, 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.

The Reykjavík Sports Association is the organizer and executor of the Reykjavík Marathon, and all information can be found on the Reykjavík Marathon website.