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

Icelandic folklore gets wonderfully strange at the Reykjavík Folklore Walking Tour. In about 90 minutes, you walk through the city’s oldest quarter while hearing about elves who live in rocks, trolls who dislike churches, ghosts who haunt cemeteries, and monsters said to lurk in the lake. It is part history walk, part ghost story, and part theatrical performance.

I like the route’s focus on places you might otherwise pass without a second glance, especially the old cemeteries and Tjörnin lake. I also like the guides’ personal style. Mathias is funny and animated, Bo is warm and engaging, and Dúi and Steingrímur have added music and singing to their storytelling. The main drawback is that the quality depends on your guide. One visitor found the storytelling scattered and wanted more about elves, while another felt uncomfortable with a joke about Christian faith.

Key points at a glance

• Old Reykjavík setting: Walk through the oldest part of the city, ending at Austurvöllur beside the Parliament building.
• Folklore with real atmosphere: Hear tales at cemeteries, a church, the lake, City Hall, and historic public squares.
• Several memorable guides: Mathias, Bo, Stefán, Magnus, Dúi, and Steingrímur have all been praised for humor, voices, singing, and storytelling.
• A manageable 90-minute route: The walk is short enough to fit into a busy Reykjavík day, though you remain on your feet throughout.
• Useful first-day activity: The route helps you get your bearings while introducing Icelandic beliefs and local landmarks.
• Weather matters: The walk operates in all weather, so bring proper outdoor clothing. Cancellation terms allow a refund in some poor-weather situations.

Why Icelandic folklore makes a good first walk

Icelandic folklore is not presented here as a dry list of old dates. It is tied to rocks, churches, graveyards, public buildings, and ordinary streets. That gives the walk a playful way into Icelandic culture.

You will hear about the hidden people, often called elves in English, along with trolls, ghosts, monsters, and protective spirits. The stories can be funny, spooky, or grisly. One person described the tales as atmospheric but gory, which is a useful warning if you are bringing young children or prefer gentle folklore.

I enjoy this kind of introduction because it changes how you look at the city. A rock is no longer just a rock. A cemetery becomes a setting for a famous ghost story. A church becomes part of a tale about creatures that dislike Christianity.

The guides add much of the personality. Mathias has been praised for humor and lively delivery. Bo has been described as joyful and entertaining. Stefán has used different voices for trolls and elves, while Dúi has sung parts of the stories. Steingrímur has also brought music into the walk. Your exact guide is not guaranteed, so expect the format to be consistent while the delivery may vary.

Starting at Ingólfur Square

You meet at Hlöllabátar, at Ingólfstorgi 1 in central Reykjavík. The meeting point is close to Ingólfur Square, and you should arrive about five minutes early.

This is one place where I would not rely on casually wandering around. One visitor had trouble finding the meeting point without Google Maps. Use the map location before leaving your hotel, and allow a few extra minutes if you are unfamiliar with central Reykjavík.

The opening meet-and-greet takes about five minutes. Then the guide introduces the theme of Iceland’s mythical creatures and sets off with the group. Hotel pickup is not included, so you make your own way to the square.

The route finishes at Austurvöllur, close to the starting area but not at the exact same point. This is helpful for continuing your day. You are beside the Parliament building and within central Reykjavík, with no need for a return transfer.

The oldest graveyard and the story of Skúli Magnússon

The first major stop is associated with Skúli Magnússon, the sheriff often linked with Reykjavík’s early development. Here you visit what is described as Iceland’s oldest graveyard, dating from around the year 900.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. That is enough time for a story and a look around, but not enough for a detailed examination of old graves. If cemetery history is your main interest, keep your expectations in check. One visitor wished for more time to see the older headstones.

Still, this is an effective early stop. The age of the site gives the folklore a physical anchor. You are not simply hearing about Icelandic beliefs in a modern café or on a bus. You are standing in an old burial place while the guide connects the setting to tales of the dead and the unseen.

The route also shows how the tour differs from a standard city walk. You still learn about Reykjavík, but the guide reaches the city through stories rather than a long chain of dates and architectural facts.

Christ the King Cathedral and the trolls who dislike churches

The walk continues to the Cathedral of Christ the King, locally known as Landakotskirkja. The stop is brief, about five minutes, and centers on the idea that Icelandic trolls do not care for churches.

This is a quick storytelling pause rather than a formal church visit. The attraction is the contrast between a Christian building and older Icelandic beliefs about supernatural beings. The tale gives the guide room for humor and theatrical voices.

The church also adds architectural variety to the route. You are not spending the whole 90 minutes in graveyards and dark stories. The walk moves through streets, past buildings, and into different parts of old Reykjavík.

If you expect a full explanation of the cathedral’s interior or religious history, this stop may feel too short. The point is folklore, not a church tour.

Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

At Hólavallagarður, Reykjavík’s second-oldest cemetery, the mood becomes more openly spooky. This is where you hear about the Deacon of Dark River, described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

The cemetery stop lasts about fifteen minutes, making it the longest pause on the route. That extra time matters. The guide can build the story, explain why the place is associated with the ghost, and let you take in the setting instead of rushing straight to the next landmark.

I find this likely to be the strongest part of the tour for anyone who enjoys ghost stories. The old cemetery gives the tale a natural sense of place, and the walk takes place in a real working urban setting rather than a staged attraction.

The atmosphere will change with the season and weather. Reykjavík can be wet, windy, or cold, and the experience runs in all weather. Wear waterproof layers and shoes suitable for walking on uneven outdoor surfaces. The tour is only about 90 minutes, but standing still in cold weather can feel longer than walking.

Families can take part, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Since some stories are described as gory, parents should decide how much spooky material their children are comfortable hearing.

Tjörnin lake and Icelandic monsters

From the cemetery, the route goes to Tjörnin, the lake in central Reykjavík. Here the guide tells stories about Icelandic monsters, and you may get the chance to look for a water creature.

Tjörnin is a pleasant change of scene after the cemetery. The water, birds, and open space soften the mood, even as the stories turn toward monsters. One family particularly enjoyed walking beside the lake and seeing swans and ducks during the outing.

Do not book this as a wildlife tour. The possible monster sighting is part of the folklore and fun, not a promise of seeing an actual creature. The stop lasts about ten minutes, which gives you time to enjoy the setting and hear the story without turning the walk into a long nature break.

This section also shows why the tour works well early in a Reykjavík visit. You learn the location of Tjörnin and the surrounding central streets while hearing something more memorable than a standard orientation talk.

City Hall, the map of Iceland, and guardian spirits

The route passes Reykjavík City Hall for about ten minutes. Sometimes the guide visits the large map of Iceland inside or by the building, using it to discuss where trolls and other creatures are said to live.

The map adds useful geographic context. Icelandic folklore is tied to remote mountains, lava fields, rocks, and stretches of countryside. Seeing the country laid out while hearing about those places helps you understand that these tales are connected to the whole island, not just Reykjavík.

The stop may vary slightly because the description says the map is visited sometimes. Treat that part as a possibility rather than a guaranteed feature. The walk itself still passes City Hall.

You then continue toward Alþingishúsið, the Parliament building. Here the subject shifts to Icelandic guardian spirits. This is a short five-minute stop, but it brings the tour back to the connection between folklore and national identity.

The final stop is Austurvöllur, the public square in front of Parliament. The scheduled time is about five minutes. Your guide wraps up the mythical walk here, leaving you near cafés, shops, and other central sights.

What the guide can add to the experience

The guide is not just there to point out buildings. The best moments depend on delivery: timing, humor, voices, songs, and the ability to connect a strange tale to the place where you are standing.

Mathias has been singled out for his comedy, animated manner, and ability to mix folklore with local history and architecture. Bo has been praised for making the walk cheerful and easy to follow. Stefán has used distinctive troll and elf voices, while Dúi and Steingrímur have brought song into the stories.

You may also receive photographs afterward by text message. This has been a welcome extra for some participants, though the images may carry a large tour-company logo. Small magnets have also been given out on some walks, so the experience can include a modest souvenir.

The experience is not always perfectly polished. One account described a guide as scattered, with too much personal narrative and not enough folklore. Another wanted stronger focus on elf legends. I would book this for its lively storytelling rather than for a precise academic lecture.

The religious tone is another consideration. Most of the church material appears to be playful folklore, but one person felt that a joke ridiculed their Christian faith. If you are sensitive about religious humor, you may want to mention that to the guide at the start.

Is $55.63 a fair price for 90 minutes?

At $55.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to walk around Reykjavík. You are paying for a professional guide and live entertainment, not for admission to museums or historic buildings. The stops themselves are public places, so the value comes from interpretation and performance.

I think the price is reasonable if you want a themed introduction to Reykjavík and prefer a small walking experience to a bus excursion. It combines orientation, local stories, and a bit of theater in one route. It can also help you decide which central places you want to revisit on your own.

The value is weaker if you mainly want detailed history, extended cemetery time, or a serious study of Icelandic elf traditions. The tour covers many stops in a short period, with most pauses lasting between five and fifteen minutes.

The group limit is listed as up to 999 people, which tells you not to assume a small private walk. On quieter dates, the group may be tiny. One couple ended up with what felt like a personal tour because only two people had booked. That is possible, but not guaranteed.

Who should book this Reykjavík walk?

I would choose this tour for:

• First-time visitors who want to get their bearings in central Reykjavík.
• Families with older children who enjoy ghosts, monsters, and strange stories.
• Couples looking for an evening activity with a playful mood.
• Anyone who has already seen the major sights and wants a different angle.
• Visitors who like local legends, dark history, and live storytelling.
• People who enjoy walking tours but do not want a formal lecture.

I would think twice if you have difficulty standing or walking for 90 minutes. The route is not described as strenuous, but you remain on your feet and move between several outdoor locations.

Bring a waterproof jacket, warm layers, and comfortable shoes. The tour operates in all weather conditions, although the cancellation terms say a poor-weather cancellation may lead to another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason may result in another date, another experience, or a refund.

Should you book the Icelandic Folklore Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavík to feel a little stranger and more personal. The combination of old cemeteries, Tjörnin lake, Parliament Square, and stories of elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits makes a memorable first look at the city.

I especially like it as an opening activity because it helps you learn the street layout without making orientation the whole point. Just understand that the guide’s personality shapes the experience, some stories can be gory, and the folklore may receive more attention than formal history.

For a fair-minded choice, book this at $55.63 if live storytelling and local atmosphere matter more to you than museum admissions or a tightly scripted lecture. If that sounds right, it is a fun way to begin Reykjavík.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík folklore walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, near Ingólfur Square. You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled start.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk ends at Austurvöllur public square, in front of or near the Parliament building, Alþingishúsið. This is close to the starting area.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Does the tour run in bad weather?

The activity operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately. If the provider cancels because of poor weather, you may be offered another date or a full refund.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.