Skólavörðustígur — Rainbow Street to Hallgrímskirkja

Background

History & Background

The street name dates from the era when a Latin school stood on the hill where Hallgrímskirkja now rises. A stone cairn (vörður) marked the route, and the street was known as the 'School Cairn Road'. When Hallgrímskirkja was built 1945–1986, Skólavörðustígur became the ceremonial approach to Iceland's most iconic building. The rainbow paint was added in 2015 during Reykjavík Pride.

Skólavörðustígur is one of Reykjavík’s most recognisable walking streets, running uphill toward Hallgrímskirkja. Its rainbow-painted section has become a popular photo stop, while the surrounding blocks mix galleries, design shops, cafés and everyday city life. Traffic arrangements and paint layouts can change, so treat the street as a living part of downtown rather than a fixed installation.