The Sun Voyager, Steel sculpture at Sæbraut waterfront, Reykjavik, Iceland
The Sun Voyager is a steel sculpture at the Sæbraut waterfront in Reykjavík, Iceland. The piece consists of curved and welded ribs that lean toward the water and resemble the skeleton structure of a ship hull.
Jón Gunnar Árnason designed this sculpture for the city's bicentennial celebration in 1986, but installation took place in 1990. The artist died shortly after winning the competition, so others carried out the construction.
The name refers to a vessel of light from an old legend about adventure and longing for distant horizons. Visitors use the surrounding area to walk along the coast and connect the form with the mountains and open water behind it.
The piece stands freely accessible along the coastal path and can be viewed in any weather. The ground is paved and fairly level, making it easier to approach with a wheelchair or stroller.
At low sun angles the ribs cast narrow shadows on the ground and shift their lines with each season. On clear winter nights the surface reflects the northern lights in faint green or violet tones.
Location: Reykjavíkurborg
Inception: 1990
Creator: Jón Gunnar Árnason
Height: 9 m
Length: 18 m
Width: 7 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Made from material: steel
Address: Sæbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Phone: +3545515789
Website: https://sunvoyager.is
GPS coordinates: 64.14761,-21.92226
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26
Iceland is an island shaped by ice and fire. Glaciers cover much of the interior while geothermal areas show that something is always happening beneath the surface. The landscapes here look different from most places: black sand beaches formed by volcanic activity, fjords cutting deep into the coast, waterfalls dropping over cliffs and canyons with moss covered walls. Vatnajökull in the southeast is Europe's largest glacier, while smaller ice caps like Snæfellsjökull or Drangajökull have their own character. Reykjavik sits by the ocean and mixes city life with access to nature. The Harpa concert hall stands by the harbor, Hallgrímskirkja church rises above the rooftops, and along the shore you find the Sólfar sculpture. Lake Tjörnin lies in the center of town. Outside the city, routes lead to natural sites: the Blue Lagoon with its milky blue water, Strokkur geyser that erupts every few minutes, Gullfoss waterfall where a river plunges into a canyon. The southern coast shows different faces. Near Vík there is Reynisfjara beach with its basalt columns and black sand, and not far away the cliff at Dyrhólaey. Diamond Beach near Hornafjörður is scattered with ice chunks washed up by the sea. In the north, Lake Mývatn attracts visitors with its volcanic surroundings, while the Westfjords with the Hornstrandir reserve and the red sand of Rauðasandur beach belong to the more remote parts of the country. The Ring Road connects most of these places and circles the entire island.
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