English translation
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Reykjavík City received its trading rights on August 18, 1786. Traditionally, a grand festival is held on Culture Night and everyone is invited. Below are common questions and answers about the festival.
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 at Kjarvalsstaðir Museum and events are held throughout the city continuously after that.
The formal program concludes with a fireworks display at Arnarhóll at 11pm.
Culture night schedule will be ready in August 2024.
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.
The map of the festival area reflects the area that will be closed to traffic. No exceptions will be made.
Road closures will be in effect from 7am Saturday, August 19 and will last until 1am after midnight.
Please note that the Reykjavík Marathon will take place on Culture Night, from 8:40am until 4:10pm, resulting in further street closures. The Reykjavík Sports Association is the organizer of the marathon. More information about the race, routes, and timings 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. During which, or from 11pm to 1am, Strætó is free of charge. 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 and Hlemmur, 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:
A portion of the city center will be closed off to all car traffic to ensure pedestrian safety, with few if any exceptions made. 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 spots for disabled people are located at the following places:
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
The driving service will stop at the following places to drop off and pick up passengers:
Some delays may occur due to traffic. Passengers are asked to show patience and understanding.
Restroom facilities for disabled people are located at the following places:
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:
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 11:30pm, 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 bus stops in Borgartún and Hlemmur, 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 structures are available at City Hall, Vesturgata, Vitatorg, Stjörnuport, and Höfðatorg. The parking garage at Harpa is open from 2pm to 9pm. The parking garages of Traðakot and Kolaport are closed on Culture Night. Standard fees apply.
Park closer to get further!
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 Strætó's bus stops on Borgartún and Hlemmur, then straight to Hallgrímskirkja. Shuttle stops will be clearly marked.
Respect the residents of the city center and avoid parking in private parking spots or obstructing residents’ driveways.
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:
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.
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
The driving service will stop at the following places to drop off and pick up passengers:
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.