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

Icelandic folklore is not tucked away in a museum. On this 90-minute walk, it appears in old graveyards, a city pond, a church, a rock, and the stories attached to Reykjavík’s streets. The route gives you a playful look at the unseen people and creatures that still form part of Icelandic culture.

I like the way this tour combines folklore with city orientation, making it a useful first activity in Reykjavík. I also like the changing tone: one guide may tell a comic troll story, another may sing an old tale, and another may give the ghost stories a properly eerie edge. The main drawback is that the quality depends heavily on the guide. Most guides receive strong praise, but one experience was described as scattered and less focused on folklore.

Key points to know before you book

• The route covers Reykjavík’s oldest center: You walk from Ingólfur Square through old cemeteries, Tjörnin lake, City Hall, Parliament, and Austurvöllur.
• The stories are the main attraction: Expect elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, rocks, and guardian spirits rather than a standard facts-and-dates city tour.
• The Deacon of Dark River is the spooky highlight: Hólavallagarður cemetery is linked to Iceland’s most famous ghost.
• The guides bring different talents: Mathias is praised for humor, Bo for warmth, Stefán for character voices, and Dúi and Steingrímur for storytelling through song.
• It is easy to fit into a Reykjavík stay: The walk lasts about 90 minutes, starts and ends in the city center, and requires no admission fees at the stops.
• Dress for Icelandic weather: You walk outdoors in all conditions, though poor weather can lead to cancellation and a choice of another date or a refund.

Why folklore makes a good first walk in Reykjavík

A conventional city tour explains streets, buildings, and dates. This one asks a different question: what does Iceland imagine living alongside people? That change in angle makes familiar places feel less ordinary.

You still see real Reykjavík landmarks, but the guide uses them as stages for tales about hidden people, shape-shifting elves, dangerous trolls, restless dead, and creatures in the water. You may also hear stories about rocks, since Icelandic folklore often gives natural features a human or supernatural role.

I like this approach because it gives you a quick feel for local storytelling. You are not simply collecting names and construction dates. You are learning why a church, cemetery, pond, or patch of stone can carry meaning.

The walk also helps you get your bearings. It finishes near where it begins, close to Austurvöllur and the Parliament building, so you can easily continue into central Reykjavík afterward. Several visitors used it as their first activity in Iceland for exactly this reason.

Starting at Ingólfur Square

Meet at Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavík. You should arrive at least five minutes before the starting time. The meeting area can be difficult to spot without a map, so I recommend checking the location before leaving your hotel rather than trying to find it at the last moment.

The opening minutes are a meet-and-greet with your guide and group. This is where the personality of the guide begins to matter. Mathias has been praised for being funny and animated, while Bo has been described as warm and entertaining. Stefán is known for giving trolls and elves distinctive voices, and Dúi has impressed people with his singing.

That variety is worth keeping in mind. You are booking a storytelling walk rather than a lecture delivered in exactly the same way every time. One guide may lean into comedy. Another may focus more on cultural background, songs, or spooky atmosphere.

The oldest graveyard and Skúli Magnússon

The first substantial stop is connected with Skúli Magnússon, the sheriff often linked with early Reykjavík. The graveyard here dates to around the year 900, making it the oldest cemetery in Iceland according to the tour description.

This is a striking early stop because it establishes the age of the stories. You are not hearing folklore in an abstract setting. You are standing among places tied to generations of Icelandic life and death.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. If you want time to look closely at older graves, keep your expectations in check. One person wished for more time here, especially to examine the oldest markers. The guide’s focus is on storytelling, not a detailed cemetery study.

Still, the cemetery gives the tour a useful sense of place. It shows how a short walk through Reykjavík can move quickly from modern cafés and streets into much older ground.

Cathedral of Christ the King and the trolls

The tour then pauses by the Cathedral of Christ the King, also known as Landakotskirkja. The subject here is the uneasy relationship between Icelandic trolls and the church.

This is a short stop, about five minutes, so expect a compact story rather than a full architectural visit. The cathedral itself is part of the setting, but you are not given an interior tour or a formal religious history lesson.

The folklore angle is more playful. Icelandic tales often place Christian symbols and older supernatural beliefs in tension. That contrast gives the guide room for humor, and it helps explain how different layers of Icelandic culture appear together in the same small area.

One caution is worth noting. A single complaint described the guide as making fun of Christian faith. That is not the general picture presented by the available feedback, but if you prefer a strictly neutral treatment of religion, this tour’s playful style may not suit you perfectly.

Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

Hólavallagarður is the second-oldest cemetery in Reykjavík and one of the most atmospheric stops on the route. The featured figure is the Deacon of Dark River, presented as Iceland’s best-known ghost.

You spend about fifteen minutes here, longer than at most other stops. That gives the guide time to build the mood and explain why this ghost became so famous. The setting does much of the work. A cemetery, old graves, and Icelandic ghost lore make a natural combination, especially in dim or rainy weather.

This is also where the tour can feel most like a ghost walk. The stories may include grim or graphic elements. If you enjoy traditional tales with a little gore, you will probably appreciate the atmosphere. If you want gentle family folklore only, ask yourself how comfortable your group is with darker material.

Families can still enjoy the walk. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and one family described the experience as especially engaging for their children. A friendly cat even followed one group through the cemetery, though that was an incidental moment and not part of the scheduled tour.

Tjörnin lake and Icelandic monsters

The walk continues to Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s central lake. Here, the subject shifts from the dead to monsters associated with water.

The stop lasts around ten minutes. You may see swans and ducks on the lake, but the purpose is not wildlife viewing. The guide uses Tjörnin as a setting for Icelandic monster stories and local beliefs about what might live beneath or around the water.

This change of scenery keeps the tour from feeling like a string of cemetery tales. The lake opens up the route and gives you a chance to look across the water while listening. It is also a pleasant contrast to the enclosed feel of the graveyards.

I like this part because it connects folklore with ordinary city life. Tjörnin is not presented as a remote wilderness. It is right in Reykjavík, beside civic buildings and walking paths. The story suggests that the supernatural can exist in places people pass every day.

City Hall and the map of Iceland

From the lake, you walk by Reykjavík City Hall. Sometimes the guide takes the group inside to look at the large map of Iceland and discuss where trolls and other creatures are said to live.

Because the indoor visit is described as something that happens sometimes, you should not treat it as guaranteed. The outdoor stop remains part of the route, but access to the map may vary.

This section is useful because it broadens the tour beyond Reykjavík. You begin with local streets and cemeteries, then connect those tales to places across Iceland. The guide may explain how particular creatures are linked with rocks, lava fields, or other natural features.

The map also helps you place folklore geographically. If you are touring the Golden Circle, the south coast, or another part of Iceland afterward, these stories can give you an extra way to look at the terrain.

Alþingishúsið and the guardian spirits

The route then reaches Alþingishúsið, the Parliament building, where the topic turns to Icelandic guardian spirits. This is a short stop of about five minutes.

The Parliament area gives the tour a civic finish. You are no longer hearing only about graveyards and monsters. You are also hearing about the protective figures tied to Iceland and its people.

As with several stops, the value comes from the contrast between the real building and the imaginative story attached to it. The Parliament building represents the country’s public life. The guardian spirits represent a less visible layer of national identity.

This is a good example of what the walk does best. It places folklore beside ordinary institutions without asking you to choose between history and legend. You can learn about Reykjavík as a modern capital while hearing stories that reach back much further.

Finishing at Austurvöllur Square

The tour ends at Austurvöllur, directly in front of the Parliament building. You finish close to the starting point, so you will not need a taxi or long walk to get back to central Reykjavík.

Austurvöllur is a practical ending place. You can continue sightseeing, find food, or return to your accommodation from here. The final stop is brief, about five minutes, but it gives the walk a clear endpoint.

Some guides add a small gift, such as a magnet, and some take photos that are later sent by text message. These extras are not listed as guaranteed inclusions, so consider them a pleasant possibility rather than something to book the tour for.

How good is the storytelling?

The strongest praise centers on the guides. Mathias is repeatedly described as funny, charismatic, and full of energy. Bo is praised for making the route feel joyful. Stefán uses troll and elf voices, while Dúi and Steingrímur bring songs into their storytelling.

That matters here more than it would on a standard sightseeing route. The stops are interesting, but the guide is what turns a graveyard or lake into a story. A strong storyteller can make a short pause feel memorable. A less organized guide may wander into personal stories or unrelated history.

One person found the guide scattered and felt the tour ran longer than expected. Another hoped for more discussion of elves. These comments point to the main risk: the content and pacing can vary from one guide to another.

The overall score is 4.7 from 702 ratings, and 94 percent of people recommend the experience. Those figures suggest a strong likelihood of a good outing, but they do not remove the normal uncertainty of a personality-led tour.

Price, timing, and practical value

The price is $55.63 per person for about 90 minutes. There are no admission charges at the stops, and the fee covers the professional guide and live entertainment.

I see the value mainly in the combination of three things: a central walking route, local folklore, and a guide who adds humor or performance. You are not paying for entry to a major attraction. You are paying for interpretation and atmosphere.

For a first day in Reykjavík, that can be worthwhile. You see several central areas, learn where key buildings and squares are, and finish with a better sense of the city center. If you already know Reykjavík well and want only a detailed historical tour, this may feel too light and story-driven.

The walk takes place in all weather conditions, so bring waterproof layers and shoes that can handle wet pavement. At the same time, the operator says poor weather can lead to cancellation, with a different date or full refund offered. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded.

Children need to be with an adult. Service animals are allowed, the route is near public transportation, and most people can take part. The advertised maximum group size is extremely high, so the actual feel of your departure may depend on how many people book that time.

Who should book this Reykjavík folklore walk?

I would choose this tour if you enjoy myths, ghost stories, local customs, and guides who perform as they talk. It is particularly useful for families with older children, couples looking for something different from a standard city tour, and first-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to central Reykjavík.

It also suits you if you like learning through stories rather than a long list of dates. The walk adds color to places you might otherwise pass without stopping.

I would think twice if you want a tightly scripted historical tour, detailed cemetery research, or guaranteed time inside City Hall. I would also be cautious if dark folklore or jokes about religion are not your style.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a short, entertaining introduction to Reykjavík with a strong local flavor. The route is manageable, the price is reasonable for a guided 90-minute experience, and the best guides make the city feel full of strange possibilities.

Book it early in your stay so the route helps you get oriented. Arrive five minutes early at Ingólfur Square, dress for wind and rain, and treat the guide’s style as part of the experience. You are booking a folklore performance on city streets, not a formal history seminar. With the right expectations, it is a fun way to meet Reykjavík’s elves, trolls, ghosts, and guardian spirits.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík Folklore Walking Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour begin?

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

Where does the tour finish?

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

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive at Ingólfur Square at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What places does the route visit?

The route includes the oldest graveyard in Iceland, the Cathedral of Christ the King, Hólavallagarður cemetery, Tjörnin lake, Reykjavík City Hall, Alþingishúsið, and Austurvöllur Square.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children can take part, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately. If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund.

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.

What is the cancellation policy?

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