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

Reykjavík has more ghosts than museums. This 90-minute walk gives you a playful introduction to Icelandic folklore while leading you through the city’s oldest streets, cemeteries, churches, lakefront, and public squares. A professional English-speaking guide supplies the stories, jokes, local history, and occasional theatrical voices.

I like the way the tour combines old Reykjavík landmarks with tales of invisible people, rather than treating folklore as a separate stage show. I also like its compact route, which helps you get your bearings early in a trip. The main drawback is that the experience depends heavily on your guide. Most accounts describe funny, engaging storytelling, but one guide was called scattered, and one serious complaint involved comments about a participant’s Christian faith.

Key points at a glance

• The walk visits a cemetery dating to around AD 900, giving the folklore a genuine historical setting.
• Hólavallagarður is the spooky centerpiece, with stories about the Deacon of Dark River, Iceland’s best-known ghost.
• Tjörnin lake brings monsters into the story, and you may even hear about a creature said to live in its waters.
• Guides add personality through songs, jokes, character voices, and local tips, with Mathias, Stefán, Dúi, Ester, Bo, and Steingrímur receiving especially warm praise.
• The tour ends near Iceland’s Parliament, so you can continue sightseeing, eat nearby, or walk back toward the starting area.
• You pay $55.63 per person for about 90 minutes, which is fair if you value storytelling and a fresh look at central Reykjavík, but less compelling if you want a conventional architecture tour.

Why folklore works so well in Reykjavík

Icelandic folklore is not just a collection of bedtime tales. It reflects how people have explained unusual rocks, dangerous weather, remote farms, restless dead, and the forces of nature. Elves, trolls, ghosts, and guardian spirits fit naturally into a country shaped by volcanoes, darkness, isolation, and sudden changes in the weather.

That makes this walk more than a hunt for imaginary creatures. You see familiar city places through a different lens. A rock may become an elf dwelling. A church may carry a story about unwelcome trolls. A cemetery becomes a setting for a ghost tale rather than simply a quiet patch of ground.

I especially like this approach for a first day in Reykjavík. You get a light history lesson, a short city orientation, and a cultural introduction without sitting in a museum or listening to a long list of dates. The best guides use the folklore to explain Icelandic attitudes and humor, then connect each story to the street or building in front of you.

The tone is usually friendly and theatrical. Stefán has been praised for his troll and elf voices, while Dúi is known for adding songs to his stories. Steingrímur also uses singing as part of the walk. Mathias receives repeated praise for humor, warmth, and lively storytelling. Your guide will vary, so the style may be more dramatic, conversational, or loosely structured from one departure to another.

Starting at Ingólfur Square

You make your own way to Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorg, in central Reykjavík. Arrive about five minutes before the start time. The meeting spot is near public transportation, but it can be a little confusing if you do not have a map open on your phone.

The first few minutes are used for introductions and an explanation of the mythical creatures you will meet along the route. This is a good place to ask your guide about the style of the walk, especially if you want more folklore and less general city history.

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to reach the square independently. Since the route stays in central Reykjavík, it works well alongside other city sights, restaurants, and shops.

Stop one: the graveyard linked with Skúli Magnússon

The first substantial stop is identified with Skúli Magnússon, the sheriff associated with Reykjavík’s early development. The graveyard dates from around the year 900 and is described as the oldest in Iceland.

That date gives the tour a strong opening. You are not merely hearing a ghost story beside a modern building. You are standing in one of the oldest burial places connected with the country’s settlement period. The setting makes it easier to understand why old burial grounds carry so much weight in Icelandic storytelling.

You spend about ten minutes here. That is enough for an introduction and a few stories, but not enough for a close look at every old grave. If you are especially interested in cemetery history, you may wish the stop were longer. I would treat this as a folklore stop with historical value, not as a detailed cemetery tour.

Stop two: Christ the King Cathedral and the trolls

The walk then reaches the Cathedral of Christ the King, where the subject shifts to Icelandic trolls and their dislike of the Church. The stop is short, about five minutes, so expect a story and explanation rather than a full visit inside the building.

This is one of the tour’s strengths: the guide uses architecture as a prompt. You do not need to study the church in detail to appreciate the contrast between formal religious space and older supernatural beliefs. The humor comes from the idea that trolls, with their rough habits and connection to the wild, do not feel comfortable around sacred buildings.

One point deserves care here. The tour’s folklore may playfully question religious ideas, but it should remain respectful toward people who practice their faith. One participant felt ridiculed for being Christian, so if religious sensitivity matters to you, keep in mind that the guide’s humor can shape your experience.

Stop three: Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

Hólavallagarður is the second-oldest cemetery in Reykjavík and the longest stop on the route, at roughly fifteen minutes. This is where the walk’s ghost-story side comes forward, with the Deacon of Dark River presented as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

A cemetery is an ideal place for this material. The atmosphere does some of the work, especially in the evening or under a gray Icelandic sky. You hear about the ghost in the place where the story belongs, rather than in a restaurant or a bus.

Families can enjoy this stop, but the folklore may include grim or gory details. One family described the cemetery as a highlight for their children, especially after a friendly cat followed the group through the grounds. That cat was treated as part of the magical mood, with the guide explaining that elves are known to shapeshift. It was an unexpected bit of street theater, though you should not count on a cat appearing for your tour.

The cemetery also gives you a chance to see an older, quieter side of Reykjavík. Still, the visit is not a formal exploration of graves or memorials. If you want to study inscriptions and burial customs, you may need to return on your own.

Stop four: Tjörnin lake and Icelandic monsters

From the cemetery, the route continues to Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s central lake. Here the stories turn from the dead to monsters, including the possibility of a water creature in the lake.

Tjörnin is a useful change of pace. After dark cemetery tales, the open water and birds create a lighter setting. During the day, you may see swans and ducks, which adds a pleasant city break to the storytelling. The guide connects the lake to Iceland’s wider tradition of creatures living in water and remote natural places.

The lake stop lasts about ten minutes. It is not a wildlife excursion, and the central attraction is the story rather than proof of a monster. That is part of the fun. You are being invited to consider how local legends grow around ordinary places.

Stop five: City Hall and the map of Iceland

The route passes Reykjavík City Hall, where the guide may sometimes show you a large map of Iceland. This part helps place the stories in a national setting.

I like this stop because it can connect Reykjavík folklore with the rest of the country. Icelandic stories are not limited to the capital. Trolls, elves, and other beings are tied to rocks, lava fields, mountains, farms, and coastal areas across the island.

The visit to the map is not guaranteed in exactly the same form every time, so consider it a possible bonus rather than a promised centerpiece. The stop lasts about ten minutes and may include discussion of locations connected with trolls and other creatures.

Stop six: Alþingishúsið and guardian spirits

Near Alþingishúsið, Iceland’s Parliament building, the subject becomes Icelandic guardian spirits. This is a fitting location because the building represents the country’s public life, while guardian spirits belong to older ideas about protection, place, and national identity.

The stop itself is brief, around five minutes. You will not receive a full political history of Parliament. Instead, the guide uses the building and square as a backdrop for stories about the forces believed to protect Iceland.

This is a recurring feature of the walk: famous buildings are not the whole point. You pass places you might already have photographed, then hear a story that changes how you see them.

Finishing at Austurvöllur Square

The tour finishes at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building and close to the starting area. The final stop takes about five minutes.

That ending is practical. You are near central restaurants, cafés, and other Reykjavík sights. You can continue with dinner, walk toward the harbor, or return to your hotel without arranging transportation.

Some guides add a small gift, such as a magnet, and some take group photos that are later sent by text message. These extras are not the main reason to book, but they can make the walk feel personal. If you receive photos, be aware that some may include a large company logo.

The guide makes or breaks the experience

The route is fixed enough to provide structure, but the guide supplies the real entertainment. Names that have received especially warm praise include Mathias, Stefán, Dúi, Steingrímur, Ester, Bo, and Magnus.

Mathias is often described as funny, animated, and good at mixing folklore with city history and architecture. Stefán uses character voices for trolls and elves. Dúi and Steingrímur bring music into the storytelling. Ester has been praised for friendly delivery and useful local suggestions at the end.

That variety is worth considering before you book. This is not an audio guide with identical narration every day. One guide may focus on theatrical storytelling, another on history, and another on personal anecdotes. Most of the feedback is strongly positive, but one person found the guide scattered, too personal, and less focused on folklore than expected.

The tour company also advertises live entertainment. In practice, that can mean songs, voices, jokes, or dramatic delivery. If you want a tightly scripted academic lecture, this is probably not the right walk.

Is $55.63 good value for 90 minutes?

At $55.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to stroll through Reykjavík. You are paying for a live guide, entertainment, local storytelling, and a route that reaches places you might otherwise pass without stopping.

I consider the price fair if you want a social, story-led introduction to the city. The walk lasts about an hour and a half, includes several distinct stops, and combines folklore with enough history to give the city context. It also requires no separate admission fees at the stops.

The value is weaker if you mainly want detailed history, long visits inside buildings, or a serious study of Icelandic mythology. Several stops last only five or ten minutes, and the tour stays outdoors. You are paying for interpretation and atmosphere, not entry to attractions.

The tour is also often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 43 days. That suggests you should reserve early if the walk is important to your plans, especially during a busy visit.

Weather, walking, and family suitability

You will be on your feet for the full route. The walk is not described as difficult, and most people can take part, but a few sections and the overall duration may feel tiring for anyone uncomfortable standing or walking for 90 minutes.

Icelandic weather can change quickly. The experience operates in all weather conditions, so bring suitable outdoor clothing. A waterproof layer, warm clothing, and shoes suited to city walking are sensible choices. The tour may be canceled for poor weather, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Families can enjoy the playful tone, monster stories, and cemetery setting, but some tales may be spooky or gory. You know your child’s tolerance for ghosts better than the guide does.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Cancellation and booking details

You receive confirmation when you book, and the mobile ticket makes arrival simple once you locate Ingólfur Square. The meeting point can be hard to find without a map, so I would arrive early rather than cutting it close.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Reykjavík walk?

I would choose this tour if you want to get your bearings in central Reykjavík while hearing stories that ordinary sightseeing often misses. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors who like group walks, and anyone who prefers local character over a standard list of monuments.

It is especially useful early in your trip. The route introduces the oldest part of the city, Tjörnin, City Hall, Parliament, churches, and cemeteries in one short outing. You can then return to the places that interest you most.

I would skip it if you dislike theatrical guides, ghost stories, or flexible storytelling. I would also choose a more traditional city tour if your main goal is a detailed account of Reykjavík’s architecture and political history.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a lively and slightly spooky way to see Reykjavík. The route is manageable, the setting is atmospheric, and the best guides add humor, songs, character voices, and useful local advice.

Book with realistic expectations. This is a folklore performance wrapped around a city walk, not a formal history seminar. Ask questions, dress for the weather, and arrive early at Ingólfur Square. If you enjoy stories about elves, trolls, ghosts, guardian spirits, and monsters, the $55.63 price offers a memorable introduction to Reykjavík and the beliefs that give its streets extra character.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík Folklore Walking Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What is the price of the tour?

The listed price is $55.63 per person.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Where does the tour end?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You make your own way to the meeting point, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What places are visited?

The route includes an old graveyard dating from around the year 900, Christ the King Cathedral, Hólavallagarður cemetery, Tjörnin lake, Reykjavík City Hall, Alþingishúsið, and Austurvöllur Square.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

The experience operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What is included in the price?

A professional guide and live entertainment are included. Admission tickets to the listed stops are free, and transportation is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.