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

Iceland’s old stories still walk the streets. This 90-minute Reykjavík tour turns a simple city stroll into a lively introduction to elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits, using cemeteries, churches, the city pond, and old government buildings as story settings. You walk through the oldest part of the capital, so the folklore comes with a useful orientation to central Reykjavík.

I like the way the route combines unusual stops with familiar landmarks. The oldest cemetery in Iceland, the haunted Hólavallagarður cemetery, and Tjörnin pond give the walk a clear sense of place. I also like the guides’ personal style. Mathias, Bo, Stefán, Ester, Magnus, Dúi, and others have been praised for humor, songs, character voices, and local tips.

The main caution is that the quality can depend on your guide. Most accounts describe a warm and entertaining storyteller, but one person found the presentation scattered and too personal. The walk also spends about 90 minutes on foot, and Icelandic folklore can turn grim or gory, so this is not a gentle fairy-tale stroll every family will love.

Key points before you book

• The walk begins with Iceland’s oldest graveyard, said to date from around the year 900, giving the folklore a striking historical setting.
• Hólavallagarður introduces the Deacon of Dark River, Reykjavík’s most famous ghost, in the city’s second-oldest cemetery.
• Tjörnin pond supplies the monster stories, with the chance to hear about the water creature said to inhabit the lake.
• The guides are the heart of the experience, with past tours praised for singing, humor, troll and elf voices, and useful Reykjavík advice.
• The route is short but active, lasting about 1 hour 30 minutes and ending near the starting point at Austurvöllur.
• The $55.63 price is fair for a small cultural experience, especially if you want city orientation and storytelling rather than a standard landmark tour.

Why Reykjavík folklore makes a good first walk

A normal city tour points out buildings and dates. This one asks what Icelanders have imagined living among them. That shift gives you a different way to look at Reykjavík, especially if this is your first day in the capital and you want to get your bearings fast.

The stories are tied to real places rather than delivered as a lecture in a room. A rock may become an elf dwelling. A cemetery gate may lead to a tale about a ghost. A quiet pond may acquire a monster. Even if you treat the supernatural as folklore rather than fact, the stories help explain how people have understood Iceland’s difficult weather, volcanic ground, darkness, and remote communities.

The tone is usually playful. Guides have used singing, humor, and theatrical voices to bring the tales to life. Stefán, for example, was praised for his troll and elf voices, while Dúi was singled out for his singing. Mathias has been described as funny, animated, and generous with historical detail.

That personality is important here. This is not a museum tour with carefully scripted displays. It is live entertainment mixed with local culture. One guide may make the same route feel spooky and dramatic, while another may lean more heavily into jokes or personal storytelling.

Finding the start at Ingólfur Square

You make your own way to Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavík. The meeting point is at Ingólfur Square, and you should arrive at least five minutes before the start time.

The square can be harder to spot than a major landmark if you are unfamiliar with Reykjavík. One person had trouble finding the meeting point without a map, so I would open Google Maps before leaving your hotel and allow a few extra minutes. This is especially useful in bad weather, when you will not want to stand outside searching for the correct corner.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. The tour is offered in English, comes with a mobile ticket, and operates in all weather conditions unless the provider cancels because conditions are poor. Wear shoes suited to walking and bring proper rain and wind protection. Reykjavík weather can change quickly, and the route includes cemeteries, public squares, and waterside paths.

The group size is listed as potentially very large, up to 999 people. That figure is a booking limit rather than a promise of a crowd, but it means you should not assume a private or tiny outing. One couple happened to have a nearly private experience when only two people had booked, but that is luck, not a standard feature.

Stop one: the oldest cemetery and Sheriff Skúli Magnússon

The first substantial stop is connected with Skúli Magnússon Sheriff and the oldest graveyard in Iceland. It dates from around the year 900, which immediately gives the walk an older sense of time than Reykjavík’s modern streets might suggest.

You spend about 10 minutes here. That is enough for a story and some context, but not enough for a long inspection of gravestones. If you are interested in old burial places, you may wish the schedule allowed more time to look at older graves. Keep that in mind if you prefer a cemetery tour to a folklore stroll.

The value of this stop is its setting. You are not simply hearing that Iceland has old traditions. You are standing in one of the places that connects present-day Reykjavík with the country’s early past. The guide uses that atmosphere to move from documented history toward stories of the unseen world.

Stop two: Christ the King Cathedral and the Icelandic trolls

The walk continues to the Cathedral of Christ the King, where the guide explains why Icelandic trolls do not like the church. This is a brief stop of about five minutes, so expect a focused tale rather than a full architectural visit.

The church adds a clear visual marker to the route and gives the folklore a playful contrast between religious buildings and creatures of the wild. You will hear a story shaped by Icelandic beliefs and local storytelling, not a formal religious lesson.

This part may require a little sensitivity. One person felt that the guide ridiculed their Christian faith, while the broader feedback describes the tour as humorous and cultural. If religious subjects are important to you, remember that the presentation may use jokes or irreverence. The tour is best suited to people comfortable with folklore that treats churches, ghosts, and supernatural beliefs in a light, sometimes teasing way.

Stop three: Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

Hólavallagarður is the second-oldest cemetery in Reykjavík and one of the strongest stops on the route. You spend about 15 minutes here, hearing about the Deacon of Dark River, described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

This is where the tour’s title earns its keep. A cemetery after dark, or even beneath a gray Icelandic sky, supplies atmosphere without the need for special effects. The guide’s voice and timing do much of the work. Several guides have been praised for making these tales funny, lively, or suitably spooky.

The cemetery also offers a more serious cultural point. Folklore is not only about monsters for children. It carries ideas about morality, death, fear, landscape, and the forces people once believed shaped daily life. The Deacon story gives you a memorable character while showing how ghost stories can preserve local fears and values.

Do not expect a long cemetery visit. The schedule gives you 15 minutes, and the route has several more stops ahead. If you want to study gravestones or family crypts, this will feel brief. One particularly personal tour included a guide’s family crypt, but that should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every outing.

Families can enjoy this stop, though the material is not always soft or cute. Icelandic tales may include death, danger, and gore. Young children must be accompanied by an adult, and parents should decide if that tone fits their children.

Stop four: Tjörnin pond and the water monster

At Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s central pond, the subject changes from ghosts to Icelandic monsters. You spend about 10 minutes by the water, hearing stories about creatures said to live in or around Iceland’s lakes and waterways.

This is one of the more relaxed parts of the walk. Tjörnin gives you an open view, and you may spot swans and ducks as the guide talks. That ordinary city scene pairs nicely with the strange story of a water monster. The contrast is part of the fun: Reykjavík’s familiar public places become settings for old fears and legends.

The stop also breaks up the cemetery visits and gives you a chance to catch your breath. Still, you remain on your feet, and the route does not appear designed as a long rest stop. If you have limited mobility, ask yourself if a 90-minute walk in all weather conditions sounds comfortable before booking.

Stop five: City Hall and the map of Iceland

The group walks by Reykjavík City Hall for about 10 minutes. Sometimes the guide visits the large map of Iceland inside or near City Hall and uses it to explain where trolls and other creatures are said to live.

This is a useful point in the tour because it broadens the story beyond Reykjavík. You begin to see that the capital is only one part of a much larger web of Icelandic tales. Mountains, lava fields, remote valleys, and isolated coastlines all become possible homes for supernatural beings.

The map also helps you connect folklore with geography. After this walk, a place name or region on your Iceland itinerary may carry an extra story. That is one reason I consider the tour a good early-trip activity. It gives you a cultural frame for the rest of your visit without requiring a full day away from the city.

The City Hall stop can vary. The information says the map is visited sometimes, so you should not count on seeing it every time. The basic route still passes the building and continues through central Reykjavík.

Stop six: Alþingishúsið and Iceland’s guardian spirits

Near Alþingishúsið, the Icelandic Parliament building, the guide introduces Icelandic guardian spirits. This is another short stop, about five minutes, but it connects folklore with national identity and the country’s political center.

The location matters. The Parliament building is not just another old structure on the route. It represents Iceland’s public life, while the guardian-spirit stories point to older beliefs about protection, territory, and belonging. The guide uses the setting to show how the supernatural can sit alongside modern government.

You will not receive a full political history of Alþingishúsið. If that is your main interest, choose a standard city or history tour instead. Here, the building is a stage for folklore.

Finishing at Austurvöllur Square

The walk finishes at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building, close to where you started. The end point is practical because you remain in central Reykjavík, with no long transfer back to the meeting point.

This is a useful place to continue your evening, though no food, drinks, or hotel transport are included. One family ended their night with hot chocolate and doughnuts before ice skating, but those activities were their own plans rather than part of the tour.

The tour’s route is compact. You see old burial grounds, churches, the pond, City Hall, Parliament, and parts of the older city without committing half a day. That makes it easy to place before dinner or alongside other central Reykjavík plans.

The guides make or break the experience

The strongest part of this tour is the human delivery. Names that have drawn especially warm praise include Ester, Bo, Steingrímur, Mathias, Stefán, Magnus, Dúi, and Matias. Their styles vary, but the best accounts describe guides who are funny, animated, friendly, and able to mix folklore with history and local advice.

Steingrímur has shared stories through song. Dúi has been praised for his singing voice. Stefán has used distinctive troll and elf voices. Mathias has received repeated praise for humor, charisma, and the ability to make the time pass quickly. Ester was also appreciated for offering local tips at the end.

That variety is part of the charm, but it creates a small risk. One outing felt scattered, with too much personal narrative and information that wandered off topic. Another person hoped for more discussion of elves and felt the guide only did an acceptable job. You should book this as a live storytelling experience, not a tightly standardized academic presentation.

Is $55.63 a fair price?

At $55.63 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to walk around central Reykjavík. You are paying for a professional guide, live entertainment, a themed route, and about 90 minutes of storytelling.

I think the value is good if you want something more focused than a general orientation walk. The route introduces several central sights while adding tales you would be unlikely to hear by simply walking past them. It is also a sensible first activity because it helps you learn the city layout and gives you ideas for places to revisit.

The price feels less attractive if you mainly want architectural facts, cemetery access, or a serious history lesson. You could see several of the exterior landmarks on your own. The value comes from the guide’s performance and the folklore, not from paid admission to monuments.

A small magnet or photographs may sometimes be provided. One person appreciated receiving group pictures by text but disliked the large company logos on them. Treat these as extras, not reasons to book.

Who should book this walk?

I would choose this tour for:

• First-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to central Reykjavík
• Families with older children who enjoy spooky stories
• People interested in folklore, superstition, ghosts, or oral storytelling
• Couples looking for an unusual evening activity
• Anyone who prefers local tales and humor to a standard list of dates
• Visitors with a free 90-minute gap near the city center

I would think twice if you dislike walking, cold or wet weather, cemeteries, religious jokes, or stories involving death and gore. I would also avoid booking it as your only history experience in Reykjavík. The historical material supports the folklore, but it does not replace a full city history tour.

The experience requires a minimum number of participants. If that number is not reached, or if poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Children need an accompanying adult, service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation.

Should you book the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavík to feel stranger, older, and more personal after a short walk. The best guides turn rocks, cemeteries, churches, ponds, and public buildings into story locations, and the mix of humor with Icelandic legend makes this a memorable first look at the capital.

Skip it if you want a precise, fact-heavy tour or cannot comfortably stay on your feet for 90 minutes. The guide matters, and the tone can occasionally wander. For most people who enjoy folklore and a little theatrical storytelling, though, the old cemetery, the Deacon of Dark River, and the possible water monster make $55.63 a reasonable price for a distinctive Reykjavík experience.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, in central Reykjavík. You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled start.

Where does the tour finish?

It finishes at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building. The end point 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.

Can I cancel for a 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 are not accepted, and poor-weather or minimum-participant cancellations may result in another date or a full refund.