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

Reykjavík’s folklore is not locked away in a museum. It lives in old graveyards, curious rocks, churchyards, the city pond, and stories about invisible neighbors. This 90-minute walking tour takes you through the oldest part of town while guides such as Mathias, Bo, Stefán, and Dúi bring elves, trolls, ghosts, and guardian spirits into the picture.

I like the route for two good reasons. First, it gives you a fast, entertaining look at Reykjavík beyond the usual postcard sights. Second, the guides add personality through humor, songs, dramatic voices, and local tips. The main caution is that this is a walking tour on foot, and the quality can depend on your guide’s storytelling style. One guide received criticism for wandering off topic, while another visitor wanted more detail about elves.

The route begins near Ingólfur Square and ends close by at Austurvöllur, so it fits neatly into a day of sightseeing. You’ll pass through cemeteries and hear some grisly tales, so families should consider whether younger children enjoy spooky material. At $55.63 per person, the price is reasonable if you value local stories and a personable guide more than formal landmark access.

Key points at a glance

• Oldest graveyard in Iceland: Begin with a cemetery dating to around the year 900.
• The Deacon of Dark River: Hear about Iceland’s best-known ghost in Hólavallagarður cemetery.
• Tjörnin’s monsters: Stop beside Reykjavík’s central pond for stories of creatures said to live in the water.
• Storytelling with personality: Guides may use songs, jokes, dramatic voices, and personal local knowledge.
• A useful first-day walk: The route helps you get your bearings in central Reykjavík without feeling like a standard history lecture.
• Weather matters: The tour runs outdoors, so wear waterproof layers and comfortable shoes.

Folklore before facts in central Reykjavík

Many city walks give you dates, buildings, and the names of important people. This one takes a different path. You still see churches, public buildings, a cemetery, and a historic square, but the guide’s main task is to explain how Icelanders have understood the unseen world.

That makes the tour a good match for you if ordinary sightseeing feels a little flat. The stories give familiar places a second layer. A rock becomes a possible elf home. A cemetery becomes the setting for a famous ghost story. A quiet pond becomes a place to discuss monsters.

The tone is usually playful rather than solemn. Guides have been praised for comic timing, singing, funny voices for trolls and elves, and a knack for making the walk feel like a shared performance. Mathias is especially often singled out for humor and strong storytelling, while Bo, Stefán, Magnus, Steingrímur, Dúi, and Ester have also led memorable walks.

The experience is not a formal theatrical show, though. You are walking through city streets with a group, stopping for short talks. Some guides may add personal stories or local history. That can make the walk warmer and more human, but it can also feel less focused if you prefer a tightly scripted presentation.

Starting at Ingólfur Square

You meet at Hlöllabátar on Ingólfur Square, at Ingólfstorgi 1. Arrive five minutes before the start. The meeting point is in central Reykjavík and close to public transportation, but one visitor found the square difficult to locate without a map app, so check the location before setting out.

The guide introduces the theme and sets off with the group. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, and you make your own way to the start. Since the walk finishes near the beginning, you can easily continue to dinner, shopping, or another central sight afterward.

The first few minutes are simply a welcome and an introduction to Iceland’s mythical creatures. This is a useful setup because the tour is not only about ghosts. It covers elves, trolls, monsters, guardian spirits, and the old ways people explained unusual rocks, dangerous places, and strange events.

The graveyard dating to around the year 900

The first substantial stop is associated with Skúli Magnússon Sheriff and the oldest graveyard in Iceland. It dates from around the year 900, giving the tour an immediate sense of age.

This is one of the most valuable stops for understanding Iceland’s past. The point is not just to look at gravestones. You begin to see how landscape, memory, belief, and storytelling overlap in Icelandic culture. The cemetery gives the guide a serious setting before the stories turn toward trolls and ghosts.

You should not expect a long cemetery visit. The scheduled stop is about ten minutes, and one person wished there had been more time to look at older graves. If you have a special interest in burial grounds or early Icelandic history, the brief stop may feel too short. For most people, it works as a striking introduction rather than a detailed cemetery tour.

Christ the King Cathedral and the trouble with trolls

The route continues to the Cathedral of Christ the King, where the guide explains why Icelandic trolls are said to dislike churches. This stop lasts only about five minutes, so expect a compact story and a quick look at the setting rather than an interior tour.

The contrast is the fun part. A church represents order, faith, and human society. Troll stories belong to the wilder world of mountains, rocks, darkness, and forces that do not fit neatly into everyday life. The guide uses the cathedral to show how Christian beliefs and older folk traditions have existed side by side in Icelandic storytelling.

One important note: the tour includes religious sites, but it is not a religious tour. The guide may discuss churches as part of folklore and city history. If you are sensitive to jokes about faith, keep in mind that one person felt uncomfortable with comments about Christianity. Most visitors seem to enjoy the humor, but the subject can be personal.

Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

The second-oldest cemetery in Reykjavík is Hólavallagarður, also called Hólavallakirkjugarður in the tour description. Here you hear about the Deacon of Dark River, described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

This is likely the most atmospheric stop. Cemeteries naturally suit ghost stories, and the guide has room to build suspense among old graves and trees. The scheduled visit lasts about fifteen minutes, making it one of the longer stops on the route.

The story can be spooky and, at times, grisly. Icelandic folklore is not always gentle. You may hear about death, haunting, and strange encounters rather than cheerful fairy tales. That is part of the appeal, but it means the tour is not ideal for anyone seeking a purely lighthearted walk.

Families can still enjoy it, especially older children who like ghost stories. Children must be accompanied by an adult. If your group includes younger children, decide in advance how comfortable they are with cemetery tales and darker folklore.

Tjörnin pond and Icelandic monsters

The walk then reaches Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s central pond. Here the subject shifts from ghosts to monsters said to inhabit the water. Ducks and swans may be nearby, creating a funny contrast with the darker stories.

This stop shows why the tour works best when you care about the setting as much as the legend. Tjörnin is not treated as just a pleasant patch of water. The guide gives it a sense of mystery, asking you to imagine what may be beneath the surface.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. You get time to hear the tale and take in the surroundings, but it is not a wildlife outing or a long break. Keep your attention on the guide, since the stories are the main event.

City Hall and the map of Iceland

Near Reykjavík City Hall, the guide may stop by the large map of Iceland. This is a useful point for putting the stories into place. You may discuss where trolls and other creatures are associated with different parts of the country.

For someone spending only a few days in Iceland, this is a helpful bridge between Reykjavík and the wider country. You get a sense that folklore is not limited to the capital. Stories belong to mountains, lava fields, coastlines, farms, and remote valleys across the island.

The map stop is listed at about ten minutes, though the exact content can vary. Some guides may use it more than others. A guide who enjoys geography and local history can make this part especially useful. A less focused guide may move quickly or add unrelated personal stories.

Parliament Square and guardian spirits

At Alþingishúsið, the Icelandic Parliament building, the tour turns to guardian spirits. This is a fitting location because the building represents the country’s public life, while the folklore points toward older ideas about protection and place.

The stop is brief, about five minutes. You will not receive a full parliamentary history lesson, and you do not enter the building as part of the tour. Instead, the guide uses the setting to discuss Icelandic protective figures and the way legend can sit alongside modern government.

The walk ends at Austurvöllur, the public square in front of Parliament. From here, you are close to the original meeting area, as well as the center of Reykjavík. The ending is practical: you can continue on foot without arranging transport.

How the guides shape the experience

The guide matters a great deal here. The route is fixed, but the delivery can change the mood from a forgettable walk to a genuinely entertaining hour and a half.

Mathias has been praised for being funny, animated, and easy to listen to. Stefán has used distinctive troll and elf voices. Dúi has mixed colorful tales with singing, while Steingrímur has also used song during the walk. Ester has been noted for adding useful local tips at the end.

This variety is a strength. You are not getting a dry lecture. The best guides combine folklore with bits of Reykjavík history, architecture, and everyday Icelandic culture. They also make room for questions, which can be especially useful if this is your first activity in the city.

The weakness is the same thing in reverse. A guide who adds too much personal narrative or jumps between subjects can make the tour feel scattered. If you want a carefully structured academic presentation, this may not be the right choice. If you enjoy a guide with character, the informal style will probably suit you.

Is $55.63 a fair price?

At $55.63, this is not the cheapest way to walk around Reykjavík. You can explore the city center on your own for nothing, and several of the stops are public places without admission fees.

The value comes from the guide, not from entry tickets. You are paying for ninety minutes of stories, performance, cultural context, and a planned route through places you might otherwise pass without noticing. The tour also helps you get your bearings early in your visit.

I consider it fair value if you enjoy folklore, ghost stories, and local personalities. It is less appealing if you mainly want detailed architecture, museum access, or a long historical lecture. The tour includes live entertainment and a professional guide, but no food, drinks, hotel transport, or attraction admissions.

Some guides have taken photographs during the walk and sent them later by text message. Small gifts such as magnets have also been given, though these extras should not be treated as guaranteed parts of the booking. One person liked the photos but disliked the large company logos placed on them.

Practical advice for the walk

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes several stops and keeps you on your feet for about an hour and a half. One person found it more walking than expected, so this is not a sit-down storytelling session.

Dress for Reykjavík’s changeable weather. The experience takes place outdoors and is described as operating in all weather conditions, while the cancellation terms also allow the provider to cancel in poor weather. Bring a waterproof outer layer and warm clothing, rather than relying on a mild forecast.

You can bring children, but they must stay with an adult. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. The route is near public transportation, but hotel pickup is not included.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. If the provider cancels because of weather or because too few people have booked, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who should book this Reykjavík walk?

I would choose this tour for a first or second day in Reykjavík, especially if you want a light introduction to the city with a strong local flavor. It gives you a route through older neighborhoods, cemeteries, public squares, and the pond without asking you to spend half a day on your feet.

It suits families with older children, couples who like spooky stories, and anyone who wants something more imaginative than a standard city history walk. It can also work well on a rainy day, provided you are dressed properly and enjoy an atmospheric setting.

I would skip it if you dislike folklore, religious jokes, cemetery stories, or guides who add personal color. You should also choose another activity if your main goal is a detailed study of Icelandic archaeology, architecture, or church interiors.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want stories with a sense of place. The best moments come when the guide connects a cemetery, rock, church, or pond to an old belief and makes you look at Reykjavík differently.

The tour is not perfectly uniform because the guide’s style shapes the experience. Still, the route is well chosen, the duration is manageable, and the price is reasonable for a live storytelling walk. For a first look at Reykjavík’s elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits, I would put it on the short list.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavík folklore walking tour?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, near Ingólfur Square.

Where does the tour end?

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

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What places are included on the route?

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

Will I hear about elves, trolls, and ghosts?

Yes. The tour covers Icelandic elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, and guardian spirits.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Should I arrive early?

Yes. You should be at Ingólfur Square five minutes before the scheduled start time.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The activity information says it operates in all weather conditions and advises you to dress appropriately. The cancellation terms also state that the provider may cancel because of poor weather and offer another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.