Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland

The most memorable part of this Reykjavík folklore walk is the way ordinary streets become part of Icelandic legend. You pass old graves, a quiet lake, a Catholic cathedral, and the Parliament building while your guide explains elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits.

I like the easy central route and the strong storytelling. Guides such as Mathias, Bo, Stefán, Magnus, and Dúi have been praised for humor, songs, character voices, and local insight. I also like that the walk helps you get your bearings early in a Reykjavík stay. The drawback is that the experience depends heavily on your guide, and one guide may wander off topic or spend less time on elves than you expect.

Key points to know before booking

• Old Reykjavík with a supernatural twist: See the city center through folklore rather than a standard list of dates and landmarks.
• A cemetery visit gives the tour its atmosphere: Hear about the Deacon of Dark River at Hólavallagarður, Reykjavík’s second-oldest cemetery.
• Tjörnin adds a local monster story: The city pond is a calm, scenic stop with tales of creatures beneath or near the water.
• Guide style matters: Mathias is often praised for humor, while Dúi and Steingrímur have added music and singing to their storytelling.
• Plan for 90 minutes on foot: Wear good shoes and bring waterproof layers. The walk runs in poor weather unless the operator cancels it.
• The price is reasonable for a small cultural introduction: At $55.63, you are paying for a live guide, entertainment, and a focused route through central Reykjavík.

Why folklore makes a good first walk in Reykjavík

I like this tour because it gives you a way into Icelandic culture without asking you to sit through a formal lecture. The guide uses places in the city as prompts for stories, so you learn while walking rather than stopping for long blocks of explanation.

Icelandic folklore is not limited to fairy tales for children. It includes the huldufólk, or hidden people, along with trolls, ghosts, guardian spirits, and creatures tied to lava fields, rocks, water, and remote country roads. Some stories are funny. Others are eerie or surprisingly grim.

That mixture is important. If you expect a polished fantasy show, you may find the darker stories rough around the edges. Icelandic tales can involve death, strange transformations, revenge, and harsh encounters with the natural world. The guide may also add personal observations, songs, jokes, or local history.

The tone varies by guide. Mathias has been praised for being animated and funny, while Bo and Stefán have been noted for lively delivery and memorable voices for trolls and elves. Dúi and Steingrímur have used singing to bring the tales to life. The company does not promise one specific guide, so treat these names as examples of the style you might encounter rather than a guarantee.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square

The walk begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavík. You should arrive about five minutes early. The starting point is near public transportation, but allow a little time to locate the exact place if you are unfamiliar with the square.

This is one of the practical weak spots. One person found the meeting place hard to identify without a map. I would open the location on your phone before leaving your hotel and avoid arriving at the last second.

The tour starts with a short meet-and-greet, then the guide introduces the mythical creatures of Iceland. From there, the route loops through the older part of central Reykjavík and finishes at Austurvöllur Square, close to the starting area.

No hotel pickup is included. You make your own way to the square, and you return to the city center under your own steam after the walk. That is useful if you want to continue with dinner, a drink, or another central attraction.

Skúli Magnússon and the oldest graveyard

The first main stop is linked with Skúli Magnússon, an important figure in Reykjavík’s early development. The group visits what is described as Iceland’s oldest graveyard, dating from around the year 900.

The stop itself is scheduled for about ten minutes, so do not expect a long archaeological visit or time to study every grave. The value is the setting. A graveyard this old gives the stories a stronger sense of place than a classroom explanation would.

I would pay attention to how your guide connects the cemetery with Iceland’s older beliefs. This is where the walk begins to move from city sightseeing into a world where the dead, the unseen, and the natural environment overlap.

If you are especially interested in burial customs or old gravestones, you may wish the tour allowed more time here. The route covers several stops in 90 minutes, so the guide has to keep moving.

Christ the King Cathedral and the trolls

The next stop is at Christ the King Cathedral, Reykjavík’s Catholic cathedral. The scheduled visit is short, about five minutes, but the subject is memorable: trolls and their uneasy relationship with churches.

This is a good example of the tour’s method. You are not simply looking at a building and receiving its construction date. You are hearing how local stories interpret the place and how Christian landmarks sit alongside older Icelandic beliefs.

The cathedral stop may appeal to families because the idea of trolls disliking churches is easy to picture. Children can follow the story even if they know little about Icelandic religion or architecture. Adults will get more from it if they enjoy the way folklore and faith sometimes overlap.

One caution: the tour includes religious sites, and the guide’s humor may not suit everyone. One unhappy experience involved a participant feeling that Christian belief was mocked. That appears to be a guide-style issue rather than the stated purpose of the walk, but it is worth keeping in mind if you prefer a strictly respectful, non-comedic treatment of religion.

Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

The longest stop is at Hólavallagarður, Reykjavík’s second-oldest cemetery. You spend about 15 minutes here, hearing about the Deacon of Dark River, described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

This is the atmospheric heart of the route. Cemeteries naturally slow the pace, and the combination of old graves, evening light, wind, and a local ghost story can make the stop feel more vivid than a typical city landmark.

The guide’s delivery matters most here. A good storyteller can build suspense without turning the stop into a cheap scare show. You might hear details about the ghost, the cemetery, and the way Icelandic stories treat the boundary between the living and the dead.

Still, 15 minutes is not enough for a detailed cemetery tour. If you want to inspect older graves or learn about individual people buried there, this walk may leave you wanting more. The purpose is folklore and atmosphere, not a full cemetery study.

Families should know that some Icelandic tales are gory. The experience is generally presented as fun and entertaining, but the stories are not always gentle.

Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s pond of monsters

The route continues to Tjörnin, the pond beside Reykjavík City Hall. The stop lasts about ten minutes and focuses on Icelandic monsters.

The pond gives the walk a welcome change of mood. After the graveyard, you get open water, birds, and a broad view across one of central Reykjavík’s familiar public spaces. The contrast between a peaceful pond and stories of creatures makes the stop work well.

You may also see swans and ducks around the water. The tour is not a wildlife outing, but the setting offers a pleasant pause and a chance to look around rather than stare only at the guide.

This section shows why the walk is useful for first-time visitors. You get a basic sense of how central Reykjavík fits together, and places you might otherwise pass quickly gain a story attached to them. Later, when you walk past Tjörnin on your own, you will remember more than just the view.

City Hall and the map of Iceland

The group walks by Reykjavík City Hall for roughly ten minutes. At times, the guide visits the large map of Iceland inside or near the building and uses it to discuss locations associated with trolls and other creatures.

That map can make the folklore feel less confined to Reykjavík. Icelandic stories are tied to particular rocks, mountains, lava fields, coastlines, and stretches of countryside. Seeing those places on a map helps you understand how geography shapes the tales.

The City Hall stop is also a practical orientation point. It places you close to the pond, Parliament, and other central sights. If you are still learning the layout of Reykjavík, this part of the route can help you plan the rest of your time.

The exact map visit is not guaranteed every time, since the description says it happens sometimes. Expect the guide to discuss the area, but do not book the walk solely for access to the map.

Alþingishúsið and Icelandic guardian spirits

Near Alþingishúsið, the Icelandic Parliament building, the guide turns to guardian spirits. The stop is short, around five minutes, but it adds another layer to the folklore.

Guardian spirits are different from the comic image of a troll or the frightening image of a ghost. They connect stories to protection, identity, and the idea that places or communities may have their own unseen defenders.

The Parliament setting is a fitting place for this topic. You are standing near one of Iceland’s major civic buildings while hearing about forces that belong to an older, less official world.

The stop is brief, so I would not expect a full explanation of Icelandic government or Parliament. Think of it as a final folklore chapter before the walk ends.

Finishing at Austurvöllur Square

The tour ends at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building and close to where you began. The final stop takes about five minutes.

This ending is convenient. You are still in central Reykjavík, with restaurants, cafés, shops, and public transportation nearby. It also means you do not lose time getting back to your accommodation.

Some guides offer small gifts such as magnets, and one guide sent group photographs by text afterward. These extras are not listed as guaranteed inclusions, so enjoy them if they happen but do not count on them when comparing prices.

Austurvöllur is a good place to continue your evening. You can pair the walk with dinner, a drink, or a visit to another central sight. The route does not leave you stranded on the edge of town.

How the guides shape the experience

The biggest variable is the person leading the group. The tour promises a professional guide and live entertainment, but storytelling is personal by nature.

Mathias has been praised for humor, energy, and a mix of folklore, architecture, and city history. Bo has been described as friendly and engaging, while Stefán has used distinctive troll and elf voices. Dúi and Steingrímur have brought songs into the walk, which can make the experience feel more like a small live performance.

That variety is a strength if you enjoy a relaxed, human tour. It is also a weakness if you want a tightly scripted presentation. One account described a guide as scattered, with too much personal narrative and not enough folklore. Another person hoped for more direct discussion of elves.

I would book this tour if you enjoy a guide with personality. If you want a precise academic treatment of Icelandic mythology, look for a more specialized lecture or museum program.

Walking conditions, weather, and timing

The advertised duration is about one hour and 30 minutes. Several parts of the route involve standing while the guide tells a story, followed by more walking to the next stop.

You will spend the whole experience on your feet. The route is in central Reykjavík, but that does not make it suitable for everyone. Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably, and bring a waterproof outer layer even if the forecast looks mild.

The experience is described as operating in all weather conditions, with a separate policy stating that poor weather may cause cancellation. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund. Icelandic weather can change quickly, so dress for wind and rain rather than relying on a dry forecast.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The published maximum is 999 people, which is an unusually high administrative limit and does not tell you the actual size of a particular departure. Group size can affect how easily you hear the guide, so arrive early and stay close when the group moves.

Is $55.63 a fair price?

At $55.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to walk around Reykjavík. You are not paying for entry to attractions, transport, food, or hotel pickup. The included value is the guide, the prepared route, and the live storytelling.

I think the price is fair if you want a structured introduction to Reykjavík and Icelandic folklore. In 90 minutes, you visit several parts of the center and hear stories you would be unlikely to find by simply following a sightseeing map.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a standard historical city walk. Several stops are brief, and the folklore content can vary with the guide. You may also prefer exploring independently if you are comfortable using a map and reading about the city on your own.

The walk makes the most sense early in your stay. It helps you get your bearings, introduces you to central landmarks, and gives you story hooks for later exploration. It also works well on a day when you want something lighter than a full-day excursion outside Reykjavík.

Who should book this walk?

I would recommend it to families with older children, couples who enjoy spooky stories, and first-time visitors who want a playful introduction to the city. It is also a good choice if you have already seen Reykjavík’s main buildings and want a different reason to revisit them.

You should be comfortable with folklore that can turn dark or gory. You should also enjoy a guide who may sing, use voices, tell jokes, or add personal commentary.

I would be cautious if you have limited mobility, dislike standing outdoors, or want detailed information at every stop. The tour is short, but it is still an outdoor walking experience in Icelandic weather.

Should you book the Reykjavík folklore walk?

Book it if you want stories tied to real streets and places, rather than another formal list of landmarks. The cemetery, Tjörnin pond, old city center, and Parliament area give the tour a clear shape, while the guides add humor and local character.

Skip it if you need a tightly controlled script, a deep study of elf lore, or a long visit at each cemetery. The experience can be excellent with a strong storyteller and merely adequate with a scattered one.

For most people, I see it as a pleasant first or second activity in Reykjavík. The price buys a lively introduction, not a complete education in Icelandic mythology. Go with sensible expectations, wear rain gear, and let the guide turn a normal city walk into something a little stranger.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavík folklore walking tour start?

It starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland, in central Reykjavík.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building. This is close to the starting area.

How long does the walk last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What folklore does the tour cover?

The guide discusses Icelandic elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits.

Which cemeteries are included?

The route includes Iceland’s oldest graveyard, dating from around the year 900, and Hólavallagarður, described as Reykjavík’s second-oldest cemetery.

Will I hear about a famous Icelandic ghost?

Yes. At Hólavallagarður, the guide discusses the Deacon of Dark River, described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to the central Reykjavík meeting point, and hotel drop-off is not included.

Should I bring special clothing?

Yes. The tour operates outdoors and you should dress appropriately for the weather. Comfortable walking shoes and waterproof clothing are sensible choices.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.