Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas story is wonderfully odd. Behind the lights, markets, and pretty tree is a cast of 13 mischievous Yule Lads, their child-eating troll mother Grýla, and a ferocious Christmas Cat. I like that this tour treats Icelandic Christmas as folklore, not just shopping. I also like the gentle pace, with time for a bookshop, festive stalls, and small stores along the way.

The main thing to consider is the weather. You’ll be outside for two hours in December, and the tour does not include hotel pickup. Dress in layers, wear weather-ready shoes, and come prepared for cold, wind, or rain.

Key points at a glance

• Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads: Learn why Iceland has a whole family of Christmas characters instead of one Santa.
• Ingólfstorg’s holiday scene: See the ice skating rink, decorations, and Christmas market stalls near the starting point.
• The Oslo Christmas Tree: Visit Austurvöllur Square and its famous seasonal tree.
• A book-loving Christmas tradition: Stop at a bookshop and learn why new books are such a popular Icelandic Christmas gift.
• Little Christmas Store: Spend time at Litla Jólabúðin, a cheerful stop for seasonal goods and photos.
• A walk uphill to Hallgrímskirkja: Finish on Skólavörðustígur beside Reykjavik’s best-known church.

Why Reykjavik folklore makes this Christmas walk special

Many city Christmas tours offer lights, market stalls, and a little shopping. This one adds a stranger and more memorable layer: Icelandic folklore. The 13 Yule Lads are not identical copies of Santa. Each has a name, a habit, and a particular kind of mischief.

You’ll also hear about Grýla, their troll mother, who is said to eat naughty children. Then there is the Christmas Cat, a creature far less cuddly than its seasonal reputation might suggest. These tales give the walk a local character that a standard lights tour cannot provide.

I like the way this makes the city feel connected to its old stories. You are not simply moving from one decorated square to another. You are looking for Yule Lads hiding around the center and hearing how Icelanders understand the Christmas season.

The tone is family-friendly, but adults should enjoy it too. The stories have enough darkness and humor to keep the experience from feeling like a children’s activity. If you want a quiet history lecture, this may not be your best choice. If you like folklore told with a wink, it fits well.

Meeting outside Hlöllabátar in the old center

The walk begins outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait.

The meeting details matter in winter. Reykjavik’s center is easy to walk around, but the tour does not include hotel pickup and drop-off. Allow a little extra time to find the square, especially if you are arriving after dark or carrying heavy winter clothing.

Your Friend in Reykjavik guides usually wear a light blue jacket marked with the company name on the back. That makes the guide easier to spot among the shops and Christmas decorations. The tour is offered in English, and a private group option is available if you prefer a more personal outing.

Ingólfstorg and the first Christmas lights

The first proper stop is Ingólfstorg, where you’ll see an ice skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls. This is a good opening scene because it gives you the visual side of Reykjavik’s December celebrations before the guide turns to stories and traditions.

The scheduled time here is about 15 minutes. That is enough to look around, take photographs, and get your bearings, but not enough for a long shopping session. Think of the market as part of the walking experience rather than a dedicated buying stop.

The square also helps set the pace. You are not being rushed from one attraction to another. The tour combines short visits, storytelling, and time to notice the city center as it looks during the holiday season.

If you are bringing children, the skating rink and decorations may be an early highlight. If you are mainly interested in food or gifts, you may wish you had more free time at the stalls. The guide’s role is to connect the scene to local Christmas customs, not to give you an open-ended market visit.

Austurstræti and the Oslo Christmas Tree

From the square, the route continues through Austurstræti, with roughly 20 minutes set aside for a guided visit and some shopping. This part of the walk brings you through central streets where seasonal decorations, shops, and city life come together.

The route then takes you to Austurvöllur Square to see the Oslo Christmas Tree. The tree is one of Reykjavik’s best-known Christmas sights, and it gives the tour a clear seasonal landmark. It also offers a useful pause between the market atmosphere and the more folklore-focused parts of the walk.

Austurvöllur is a place where you can take in the decorations without needing a long explanation. Your guide may point out the tree and surrounding details, then use the setting to discuss Icelandic Christmas customs. Keep your camera ready, but remember that December daylight is limited and weather can affect photographs.

This is one reason the tour works best after dark or in the evening, when the lights are doing their job. The exact start time varies, so you need to check availability when booking.

Laugavegur and Reykjavik’s Christmas shopping

Next comes Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. The route includes a photo stop, a guided visit, and time to look at shops, with about 20 minutes allocated here.

Laugavegur gives you a different view of the holiday season. The markets offer a concentrated burst of Christmas activity, while the shopping street shows how seasonal decorations fit into everyday Reykjavik. You can browse as you walk, but the tour remains a guided outing rather than a free shopping trip.

I like this part because it keeps the experience grounded in the city. You are not being taken only to prepared displays. You are walking through a real central street and seeing the places where people shop, eat, and pass through during December.

The route is also practical for anyone planning later shopping. Your guide can help point out Christmas-related places, and the tour includes discounts at selected Christmas stores, stalls, and restaurants. The exact businesses and discounts are not specified, so treat them as a useful extra rather than the main reason to book.

Litla Jólabúðin, the Little Christmas Store

Litla Jólabúðin, or Little Christmas Store, receives about 30 minutes. That makes it the longest single stop on the route and gives you a better chance to browse than at the market stalls.

This is a photo stop, visit, and shopping opportunity. The store provides the kind of small-scale seasonal setting that suits this tour: decorations, Christmas goods, and a chance to look for a present or souvenir without committing your whole afternoon.

The guide also promises a few fun surprises along the way. Since the details are not given in advance, you should expect the occasional extra rather than a specific included tasting or gift. The tour says you may sample Christmassy Icelandic food and drinks, but sampling is not listed as a guaranteed inclusion, so do not book it as a food tour.

For many people, this will be the most useful shopping stop. You have enough time to look around, take photographs, and ask your guide about Christmas-related items. Still, the tour is not built for serious shopping. If you need time to compare many gifts, return later on your own.

Books, Christmas gifts, and Icelandic reading

A short visit to a bookshop adds one of the most interesting cultural details on the route. Iceland has a strong love of books, and Christmas is closely linked with giving and reading them.

This stop is brief, but its value is not measured by shopping time. It explains a seasonal habit that you might otherwise miss while looking at lights. You get a glimpse of how Christmas works inside Icelandic homes, not only in public squares.

I especially like this addition because it avoids making the tour all about decorations. A bookstore can tell you something about local life in a way a display cannot. You may find unique Icelandic Christmas books, though the tour does not specify titles or guarantee that any particular book will be available in English.

If you want to buy a book, ask your guide for help with the selection. If you do not read Icelandic, the stop can still be worthwhile for the story behind the tradition.

Skólavörðustígur and the finish at Hallgrímskirkja

The final stretch goes up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja. The route includes a photo stop, guided sightseeing, and a look at selected stores along the way. About 30 minutes is planned for this final section.

The uphill walk gives the tour a satisfying finish, but it is also the part where sensible footwear matters most. Snow, ice, rain, or wet pavement can make even a modest slope less pleasant. Wear shoes with a reliable grip, and do not rely on fashion boots with smooth soles.

Hallgrímskirkja is an impressive endpoint, especially when lit against the December darkness. You finish beside the church rather than returning to the starting point, so plan your evening from there. The one-way route is useful if you want to continue exploring Reykjavik’s upper center after the walk.

This is also a good place for photographs. The church gives the tour a strong final image, and the surrounding street has more seasonal stores and decorations to inspect. The tour does not include entry into the church, so consider the finish an exterior visit unless your own plans include going inside later.

The guide makes the difference

The guide is central to this experience because much of the value comes from storytelling. The tour is not built around admission tickets or long visits inside attractions. It depends on a guide who can make the Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat entertaining and clear.

Bjornvain is one guide specifically praised for being friendly, funny, and well prepared. That combination suits the subject. Icelandic folklore can sound strange when reduced to a list of names, but a good storyteller gives each character a role and keeps the walk moving.

The company identifies its guides with light blue jackets, which is helpful at the meeting point. Group size is not specified, so you should check the booking details if that matters to you. A private group is available for people who want a more tailored format.

The tour also includes some food and drink discussion, with possible sampling. Since the details can vary, think of this as a pleasant bonus to the stories, not a full tasting experience.

Is $74 a fair price for two hours?

At $74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Reykjavik’s Christmas lights. You can walk through the center independently and visit public squares without paying an admission fee.

The value comes from the guide and the structure. In two hours, you get a ready-made route linking Ingólfstorg, Austurvöllur, Austurstræti, Laugavegur, Litla Jólabúðin, and Hallgrímskirkja. You also get the local stories that are easy to miss when you explore alone.

The discounts at selected Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants may add practical value, but the savings depend on what you buy. I would book this tour for the folklore, local context, and easy evening route. I would not book it mainly to save money on shopping.

The price makes more sense for a first visit, a short stay, or a family that wants someone else to organize the evening. Independent walkers who enjoy reading up beforehand may find the cost harder to justify.

Who should book this Christmas walk?

I think the tour suits you best if you want a short, guided introduction to Reykjavik during December. It is particularly useful for families, first-time visitors, and anyone who enjoys folklore more than formal museum displays.

Book it if you like:

• Seasonal lights with local stories
• A gentle city walk rather than a bus excursion
• Small shops and markets
• Icelandic Christmas customs
• A guide who can add humor and personality
• Finishing near Hallgrímskirkja and continuing on foot

You may want to skip it if you dislike cold-weather walking, need hotel transport, or want a dedicated food tour. It also may not suit anyone hoping for a long, unhurried shopping session.

The two-hour length is a strength for a busy December schedule. You can fit it around dinner or another evening plan, though you should leave room for the walk to the meeting point and your onward route from Hallgrímskirkja.

Practical advice for a warmer, better evening

Dress for Icelandic winter, not for the temperature you hope to get. Layers are specifically recommended, and they let you adjust as you move between windy streets, shops, and covered waiting areas.

Wear shoes suited to wet or slippery surfaces. You will be walking through central streets and uphill toward Hallgrímskirkja, and the tour does not provide transportation.

The starting point is outside Hlöllabátar, not at Hallgrímskirkja. The finish is at Hallgrímskirkja, so save the church, nearby shops, or a return walk to the center for after the tour.

The tour runs only in December. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible. Check the available starting times before booking because they vary.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavik’s festive season explained through its own odd, funny, and sometimes frightening stories. The combination of Yule Lads, Grýla, the Christmas Cat, markets, books, and the Oslo Christmas Tree gives you more than a simple lights walk.

At $74, the tour asks you to pay for interpretation rather than access to major paid sights. That is a fair exchange if you value local storytelling and a well-planned route. If you only want to see decorations, explore downtown on your own instead.

For a December visit, I would choose this tour early in the trip. It helps you understand the city’s Christmas customs, points out places you may want to revisit, and ends at one of Reykjavik’s most recognizable buildings. Just bring layers, keep your expectations focused on stories rather than shopping, and let the Icelandic Christmas creatures do the heavy lifting.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to the right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling provide a waiting area.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk finishes at Hallgrímskirkja church after traveling up Skólavörðustígur.

How long does the walking tour last?

The tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live guided tour is offered in English.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $74 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point.

What should I wear?

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and dress in layers. Comfortable shoes suitable for a winter city walk are also a practical choice.

Does the tour run all year?

No. This Christmas walking tour operates only in December.

Can I book a private group?

Yes. A private group option is available.