Reykjavík City Hall, Ráðhús Reykjavíkur, is the concrete and glass building that sits right at the water's edge of Tjörnin, the pond in the centre of the city. Opened in 1992, it was designed to feel like a meeting point between the town and nature, with a moss-covered wall and the pond lapping at its feet. Inside, anyone can walk in to see a huge three-dimensional relief map of Iceland.
Reykjavík City Hall at a glance
- Where: on the northern bank of Tjörnin at Tjarnargata 11, a few minutes' walk from Austurvöllur square and the old harbour.
- Opened: 14 April 1992, after construction began in 1988.
- By: Margrét Harðardóttir and Steve Christer of Studio Granda, who won an international design competition.
- What it is today: the seat of the mayor and city council, with a public ground-floor hall used for exhibitions, concerts and events.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes inside, longer if you walk round the pond.
A city hall built into the pond
In the 1980s the city held an international competition, and the young practice Studio Granda, founded by Margrét Harðardóttir and Steve Christer, won with a design that pushed the building out into the north end of Tjörnin. Work began in 1988, and the hall opened on 14 April 1992. The architects described it as an interface between the city and the landscape, with the pond reaching right up to its walls.
The building uses plain concrete, glass and steel rather than grand decoration, and one of its walls is covered in moss, a reminder of Iceland's lava fields. Outside, a small man-made pool sits in front of the moss wall, and in winter a patch of the pond in front of City Hall is kept free of ice with geothermal water, so the ducks, geese and swans always have open water. It is one of the most recognisable modern buildings in the centre of Reykjavík.
What to look for
- The relief map of Iceland in the ground-floor hall: about 76 square metres, made of layered sheets cut along contour lines.
- The moss-covered wall on the outside, with the small pool in front of it.
- The way the building stands in the water, with the pond reaching right up to its glass walls.
- The footpath and pedestrian bridge along the pond, right beside the building.
- The birds on Tjörnin: ducks, geese, swans and gulls gather by the open water in front of the hall.
How the map began
The relief map was not originally meant to show the whole country. Work began in 1985 on a model showing the route of Ingólfur Arnarson, traditionally Iceland's first permanent settler, who made his home in Reykjavík in the 9th century. The project grew into a model of all of Iceland, built from cardboard layers stacked in steps of 20 metres of height. Walk around it to find the glaciers, the fjords of the north-west and the capital itself; the map sits on a movable platform so that it can be rolled away when the hall is used for events.
Tips for your visit
- Go in on a weekday: the hall is open to the public, but it is sometimes closed for events.
- Walk around Tjörnin afterwards; the path and the bridge across the pond give the best views of the building.
- In winter, come on a clear evening when the lights of the city reflect in the open water by the hall.
- Bring bread for the birds only where it is allowed, and keep a distance from nesting areas in spring.
Nearby
- Tjörnin: the city pond, with paths, a bridge and plenty of birdlife, right outside.
- Austurvöllur and the Parliament House: the small square with Iceland's parliament building, a few minutes' walk north.
- National Gallery of Iceland: the country's main art museum, on the eastern bank of the pond.
- Hallgrímskirkja: the tall concrete church on the hill, about fifteen minutes' walk east.
See Reykjavík with World City Trail
Our Reykjavík scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 41 minutes of walking. It includes Hallgrímskirkja.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Reykjavík.
Play the Reykjavik scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Reykjavik →
Play the outdoor escape game in Reykjavik →
Facts checked in October 2026.