Private Folklore Walking Tour – Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland

Reykjavik’s streets have more than colorful houses and coffee shops. This private walk brings you into Iceland’s stranger side, with tales of elves, trolls, ghosts, and guardian spirits tied to real places around the city. You’ll visit an old cemetery, an elf stone, Lake Tjornin, and the Parliament building while your guide acts out parts of the stories.

I like the private format, since your group can ask questions without waiting for a large crowd. I also like the mix of folklore and local history, from the first Viking settlement to the effect of Christianity on Icelandic mythical beings. The main consideration is the price: at $172.55 per person, this makes the most sense for a small group that values personal attention.

Key points to know before booking

• Ingólfstorg starts the story: Meet by the two tall stone pillars linked to Iceland’s first Viking settler.
• The route uses real places: You’ll hear ghost stories in a cemetery, visit an elf stone, and discuss possible lake monsters beside Tjornin.
• A private guide changes the pace: Your party gets room for questions, slower walking, and conversation.
• The tour lasts about 90 minutes: It covers central Reykjavik on foot and ends near Hallgrimskirkja.
• The storytelling is lively: The guide may act out parts of the mini sagas, rather than simply reciting facts.
• Pickup has limits: Hotel pickup is offered within a specified downtown radius. If you stay farther out, meet at Ingólfstorg.

Reykjavik’s folklore begins at Ingólfstorg

Your walk starts at Ingólfstorg, outside Hlöllabátar, facing the square and its two tall stone pillars. The pillars represent the discovery and settlement of Reykjavik by the first Viking, giving the tour a useful starting point: before the ghosts and trolls, you get the story of how this city began.

The meeting point is easy to identify. CenterHotel Plaza is to the right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a comfortable place to wait. Your guide wears a light blue jacket, and using Google Maps is recommended.

This opening matters because the tour is not just a collection of spooky stories. The folklore is tied to Icelandic ideas about settlement, belief, religion, and the forces that shape a place. You get a short historical frame before the stranger stories begin.

The tour is offered in English. Since it is private, you can ask for more detail about a word, a legend, or a custom without worrying about slowing down a larger group. That is especially useful if you are curious about how much of Icelandic folklore belongs to old belief, later storytelling, or both.

The Settlement Exhibition and the art of summoning the dead

The next stop is beside the Settlement Exhibition, in front of what is described as Reykjavik’s oldest graveyard. Here the subject turns to ghosts and the undead, including the old method for summoning a zombie or ghost to do your bidding.

This is a brief stop of about seven minutes, so expect a compact tale rather than a long lecture. The setting does much of the work. An old graveyard gives the story a stronger edge than a modern street corner would, and the guide can connect the story to Icelandic beliefs about the dead.

The tone appears to be playful as well as eerie. This is not presented as a serious paranormal investigation. You are hearing folklore, old customs, and stories meant to entertain, with enough historical context to show why these tales mattered.

The stop also helps set the rhythm of the walk. You move from a real city site to a story attached to it, then continue on foot. If you enjoy guided walks that use the setting as part of the narration, this is one of the stronger features.

An elf stone close to the museum

Near the Settlement Exhibition, you visit a secret elf stone or elf home. This is one of the tour’s most distinctive stops because the folklore is attached to an actual feature in the city rather than presented as a general legend.

The guide shares stories about Iceland’s elves and explains their place in local tradition. You will not need a museum display or a special effect to make the stop interesting. The point is to look at an ordinary stone or small site with a different set of eyes.

The language around hidden people and elf homes can be easy to oversimplify. A good guide needs to keep the story engaging without turning it into a cartoon. The private format helps here. You can ask what the story means, how it fits Icelandic culture, and how local people relate to these traditions today.

Allow about seven minutes. That is enough time for a focused explanation, but not enough for an extended discussion of every version of Icelandic elf lore. If this is the part you care about most, use the question time well.

Catholicism, trolls, and the Cathedral of Christ the King

The walk continues to the Cathedral of Christ the King, Reykjavik’s Catholic cathedral. Here the subject broadens from individual tales to religion and the way religious change affected Icelandic mythical beings.

The guide explains that Iceland’s trolls did not like the church very much. That idea gives you a memorable way to consider the tension between older supernatural beliefs and Christianity. It also keeps the tour from treating folklore as a sealed-off world. Beliefs change, and stories change with them.

This stop lasts about seven minutes. The cathedral provides a clear setting for a short discussion, though the tour does not appear to include a formal interior visit or religious service. You are there mainly to hear how faith and folklore meet.

I like this part because it adds context to the more theatrical material. A ghost story is fun, but the connection between religion and folk belief gives the walk more substance. You get a glimpse of how Icelandic stories carry traces of older ideas even as the country’s religious life changed.

Holavallagardur Cemetery, the longest stop

Holavallagardur Cemetery is the longest stop, at about 20 minutes. It is described as beautiful and haunting, making it a natural setting for stories about ghosts and the undead.

This is probably the point where the tour’s mood becomes most atmospheric. You are not simply hearing about the supernatural in a busy square. You are walking through a cemetery chosen for its quiet, old-fashioned character and its connection to the dead.

The extra time matters. Twenty minutes gives the guide room to tell more than one story, explain details, and answer questions. It also lets the group slow down, which is helpful if you prefer a gentler walking pace. One guest specifically praised the tour for working well with a slower-going group, and that is useful advice for anyone who does not want a rushed city walk.

The cemetery setting may not suit very young children or anyone who dislikes spooky themes. The material is presented as folklore, but the subjects include ghosts, zombies, and the undead. If your group wants only bright city sightseeing, this stop may feel too dark. If you enjoy a good chill with your local culture, it is likely to be a highlight.

Lake Tjornin and possible water monsters

From the cemetery, the route heads to Lake Tjornin, Reykjavik’s central pond. The water adds a different type of folklore to the tour, with possible aquatic monsters and other mythical beings.

This stop lasts about ten minutes. The subject shifts from graves and haunted places to creatures that might live in or visit the water. That change keeps the walk from repeating the same ghost story in different locations.

Lake Tjornin is also a pleasant city setting, giving you a visual pause after the cemetery. You can look across the pond while the guide explains the local tales. The tour does not promise that you will see a monster, of course. The appeal is the old storytelling habit of giving mysterious places their own creatures and warnings.

The stop is a good example of how this walk uses Reykjavik itself. You are not placed in a theater or handed a series of unrelated legends. The city’s square, graveyard, cathedral, cemetery, pond, and government buildings all become parts of the narrative.

A look toward City Hall and Iceland’s Parliament

On the way back, the group passes Reykjavik City Hall. The guide may sometimes look inside if something interesting is happening, but this is not listed as a guaranteed stop or formal visit. Think of it as a possible extra rather than a central part of the tour.

The final planned stop is outside the Parliament House, Althingishus. Here the guide discusses Iceland’s guardian spirits and may teach you some Icelandic magic. After tales of elves, trolls, and the dead, guardian spirits bring the tour back to the wider idea of protection and place.

This is a fitting final topic. The route begins with the settlement of Reykjavik and ends with the forces believed to guard Iceland. You get a story arc, not just a string of unrelated stops.

The Parliament area also gives you a civic setting for the closing discussion. It connects folklore to national identity without requiring a long political lecture. Since the stop lasts about ten minutes, you should have time to ask about the guardian spirits and the magical traditions mentioned by the guide.

Why the private format matters

A private tour is the clearest reason to consider this experience instead of a standard group walk. Only your party takes part, so the guide can adjust the pace and respond to your interests.

That is useful in several ways:

• You can ask for more stories about elves, trolls, ghosts, or Icelandic magic.
• You can spend more time on the topics your group finds most interesting.
• A slower group can keep a comfortable pace.
• You do not have to compete with a large crowd to hear the guide.
• The guide can use humor and storytelling without trying to manage a busy public group.

The tour received a 4.9 rating from 37 reviews, with 100 percent of travelers recommending it. The strongest praise focuses on the storytelling. One review highlighted the local tales and mini sagas, while another described a guide who acted out parts of the stories and kept the group laughing.

That detail is important. This is not mainly a sightseeing walk with occasional folklore added on. The guide’s delivery is a major part of the experience. If you enjoy a performer who uses expression and humor, you are likely to get more from it than someone seeking a quiet, academic lecture.

Price, timing, and practical value

The listed price is $172.55 per person, and the walk lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. That is a high per-person cost for a short city tour, but it is also a private experience. The value depends heavily on your group size and your interest in the subject.

For a couple or a very small party, the price may feel steep. For a group that would otherwise book several places on a shared tour, private access can make the cost easier to justify. Group discounts are offered, though the exact amount is not specified.

The tour is booked, on average, 52 days ahead. That suggests you should reserve early if the timing matters, especially during a busy Reykjavik visit. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted.

Hotel or accommodation pickup is offered within a specified radius. The exact radius is not given, so confirm it before assuming pickup is included. If you stay outside the downtown area, meet outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorg. The end point is Hallgrimskirkja, which makes it easy to continue exploring central Reykjavik afterward.

The tour is near public transportation, mobile tickets are accepted, and service animals are allowed. Most people can take part, but remember that this is a walking route with several outdoor stops. Wear shoes and clothing suited to Reykjavik’s changing weather.

Who will enjoy this walk most

I would choose this tour if you want local stories told in place, rather than a general city tour with a few legends added at the end. It suits couples, families with older children, friends, and small groups who like folklore with a humorous edge.

It is also a good choice if you have already seen Reykjavik’s main sights and want a different way to understand the city. The route passes familiar central locations, but the stories give them a new meaning.

You may want another type of tour if you need a fast overview of Reykjavik’s major landmarks, a museum-heavy experience, or a detailed academic study of Icelandic mythology. The walk is short, selective, and story-led. Its strength is atmosphere and personal conversation, not a large number of attractions.

Should you book the elves, trolls, and ghosts walk?

Book it if you like folklore, enjoy a good storyteller, and want a private walk where you can ask questions freely. The cemetery, elf stone, lake, cathedral, and Parliament stops give the 90-minute route a clear shape, while the private format lets your group set the pace.

Think carefully about the price and the spooky subject matter. At $172.55 per person, this is not a cheap way to see central Reykjavik. But if your group values a lively guide, local tales, and a more personal experience, it offers something a standard sightseeing walk cannot. Reserve early, confirm pickup if needed, and meet at Ingólfstorg in time to find the light blue jacket.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins outside Hlöllabátar, at Ingólfstorg 1 in Reykjavik. Meet facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Hallgrimskirkja, at Hallgrímstorg 1 in Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered from hotels and accommodations within the specified radius. If you are staying outside the downtown area, you are asked to meet at the central meeting point.

How will I recognize the guide?

The guide wears a light blue jacket that is easy to recognize.

What places are visited?

The route includes Ingólfstorg, the area near the Settlement Exhibition, an elf stone or elf home, the Cathedral of Christ the King, Holavallagardur Cemetery, Lake Tjornin, the area near Reykjavik City Hall, and Parliament House.

Is the tour suitable for most people?

Most travelers can participate. The tour is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.