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

Reykjavik’s oldest streets come with an unseen population: elves in rocks, trolls wary of churches, guardian spirits near Parliament, and a ghostly deacon haunting an old cemetery. This 90-minute folklore walk gives you a playful way to meet that cast while seeing central Reykjavik on foot.

I like two things here. First, the route reaches places you might pass without a second glance, including the city’s old cemeteries and the lake of Tjörnin. Second, the guides make the stories personal and theatrical. Mathias is praised for his humor, Bo for his lively style, and Stefán for his memorable troll and elf voices. The tour can also include songs, local tips, photographs, and a small keepsake.

The main consideration is that this is a walking and storytelling experience, not a major attraction with elaborate sets or guaranteed supernatural sightings. Some guides lean more toward folklore, while others add history and personal stories. The meeting point can also be tricky to find, so arrive early with a map open.

Key points to know before booking

• Old cemeteries anchor the walk: Visit the oldest graveyard in Iceland, dating to around the year 900, and Hólavallagarður, associated with the Deacon of Dark River.
• The route covers central Reykjavik: You walk from Ingólfur Square past a church, playground, cemeteries, Tjörnin lake, City Hall, and Parliament.
• Storytelling is the main attraction: Expect humor, spooky tales, songs from some guides, and dramatic voices rather than a formal lecture.
• It works well as an opening activity: The walk helps you learn the layout of central Reykjavik and get your bearings early in a trip.
• Weather matters: The experience takes place outdoors in all conditions, with a poor-weather cancellation provision, so bring suitable clothing.
• The value depends on your interests: At $55.63, it is a fair choice for a personable folklore tour, but less appealing if you want a standard sightseeing walk.

A different way to meet Reykjavik

Icelandic folklore is not tucked away in a museum. It appears in stories about rocks, churches, cemeteries, lakes, and ordinary city streets. This tour uses those places as a stage, helping you see central Reykjavik through old beliefs and local tales.

You will not spend the whole time discussing dates and architecture. The guide may explain a little history, but the heart of the experience is the story: who lives in the rocks, why trolls dislike churches, where a famous ghost is said to linger, and what may be hiding beneath the surface of Tjörnin.

That makes this a good match for you if you enjoy culture with a little humor and a slightly spooky edge. It is less suitable if you want a serious architectural tour or a detailed account of every landmark along the route.

The tour is offered in English and lasts about an hour and a half. You make your own way to the start, walk between the stops, and finish close to the beginning. No hotel transportation is included.

Starting at Ingólfur Square

The meeting point is at Hlöllabátar on Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavik. You are asked to arrive five minutes before the scheduled start. That sounds simple, but one person found the square difficult to locate without Google Maps, so do not leave this until the last minute.

The opening stop is brief. You meet the guide and group, then begin the journey through Iceland’s mythical creatures. The experience is led by a professional guide, but the tone is live entertainment rather than a memorized audio tour.

The personality of the guide matters a great deal here. Guides named Mathias, Bo, Stefán, Steingrímur, Magnus, Dúi, and others have led tours at different times. Mathias is often described as funny and charismatic. Dúi has used songs and a strong singing voice. Stefán has entertained groups with distinct troll and elf voices. Since guides vary, your experience may have a different balance of humor, history, music, and folklore.

The old graveyard and the Sheriff Skúli Magnússon

The first substantial stop is connected with Skúli Magnússon, the sheriff often linked with early Reykjavik. The cemetery here dates from around the year 900 and is presented as the oldest graveyard in Iceland.

This is where the tour shifts from a simple city walk to something older and more atmospheric. You are not only hearing about elves and ghosts. You are standing in a place tied to centuries of Icelandic life, death, belief, and memory.

The stop lasts about ten minutes. That is enough for a story and an explanation, but not enough for a long cemetery visit. If you want time to study old graves or explore the site in detail, you may find this portion rushed. One useful suggestion is to note the location and return later if the cemetery is open and you have spare time.

A playground, a church, and Icelandic trolls

The walk continues through central Reykjavik, including a local playground and the Cathedral of Christ the King. The playground may sound like an odd folklore stop, but that is part of the charm. Icelandic tales are not limited to grand monuments. They can be attached to rocks, familiar public places, and the stories people tell children.

At the cathedral, you hear why Icelandic trolls are said to dislike churches. This is one of the tour’s more playful moments. The church provides a clear contrast between Christian tradition and older supernatural beliefs, and the guide uses that contrast for humor.

The stop is short, around five minutes. Do not expect a full church visit or an extended discussion of religious architecture. The cathedral works here as a setting for the story, not as the main attraction.

One point deserves care. A single account described feeling ridiculed for Christian faith during the tour. That is not the general picture presented by the available feedback, which more often describes the experience as funny and engaging, but it is a reminder that the humor may touch on religion and local beliefs. If you prefer a strictly neutral tone around faith, keep that in mind before booking.

Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River

The second cemetery, Hólavallagarður, is one of the most anticipated stops. It is Reykjavik’s second-oldest cemetery and is linked with the Deacon of Dark River, often described as Iceland’s most famous ghost.

This is where the walk earns its ghost-tour label. The guide tells the story in the cemetery itself, using the setting, the graves, and the darkness of the tale to create atmosphere. You may hear about the deacon’s appearance, behavior, or connection with the place, depending on the guide’s version and style.

The planned stop is about fifteen minutes, longer than the earlier cemetery visit. That gives the guide time to build the story instead of rushing through it. Still, this is not a horror attraction. The mood is spooky but usually mixed with jokes, cultural context, and theatrical storytelling.

Families can enjoy this section, but the folklore can sometimes be gory. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult, as required, and parents may want to judge their child’s tolerance for ghost stories and darker legends.

Tjörnin lake and the possibility of a water monster

At Tjörnin, Reykjavik’s central lake, the subject turns from cemetery ghosts to Icelandic monsters. The stop lasts about ten minutes, giving you a chance to look across the water while hearing stories of strange creatures connected with Icelandic lakes and nature.

This is a nice change of mood. After the enclosed cemetery atmosphere, the lake opens the view and gives the walk a more playful setting. You may see swans and ducks around the water, although the tour does not promise a monster sighting, naturally.

The appeal is not proof of a creature. It is the way folklore changes your view of an ordinary city feature. After hearing the story, a quiet lake no longer feels like just a photo stop.

City Hall and the map of Iceland

The route passes Reykjavik City Hall. Sometimes the guide brings the group to the large map of Iceland inside or near City Hall, using it to point out places associated with trolls and other creatures.

This part adds useful geographical context. Icelandic folklore is tied to the country beyond Reykjavik, so the map helps connect city stories with distant regions, lava fields, rocks, and remote communities.

Because the description says the map is visited sometimes, you should not treat it as guaranteed on every departure. The stop itself is around ten minutes, and the group may simply walk by City Hall if access or timing prevents a visit.

For me, this is one of the better reasons to take the tour early in your stay. You hear names and places that may appear again during a Golden Circle drive, a coastal trip, or another excursion. The stories give those locations a little more character.

Alþingishúsið and Icelandic guardian spirits

Near Alþingishúsið, the Icelandic Parliament building, the guide introduces guardian spirits. The setting is fitting. Parliament represents Iceland’s public life and national identity, while the stories point toward older ideas about protection, place, and unseen forces.

This is a short stop of about five minutes. You will not tour the Parliament building. Instead, you hear the folklore connected with Icelandic identity and the spirits believed to guard the country.

The contrast between government buildings and supernatural tradition is part of the fun. Iceland is modern, highly organized, and firmly connected to the wider world, yet old stories still have a place in everyday conversation and culture.

Ending at Austurvöllur Square

The walk finishes at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building. This is close to the start at Ingólfur Square, but it is not the exact same point. You can easily continue into central Reykjavik for food, a café, or another evening activity.

The route is compact enough to fit into a busy sightseeing day. Some groups finish in roughly ninety minutes, while one account described a tour running longer than expected. Allow a little extra time if you have a dinner reservation or another booking immediately afterward.

A few guides have added local advice at the end. Some groups have also received photographs by text message and a small magnet. These extras are not the main reason to book, and the photographs may carry large company logos, but they can be a pleasant memento.

How much walking and what to wear

You spend the entire tour on your feet. The walk is not described as strenuous, and most people can participate, but standing and walking for ninety minutes can be tiring for some people. Wear comfortable shoes and leave room in your schedule for a slower pace.

Reykjavik weather can change quickly. The experience is listed as operating in all weather conditions, and the booking terms also allow cancellation because of poor weather. Those two details mean you should prepare to walk outside in rain, wind, or cold, while also understanding that severe conditions may lead to a new date or refund.

Bring a waterproof outer layer rather than relying on an umbrella. The tour includes cemeteries, open squares, and the lake, where wind can make conditions feel colder.

The activity is near public transportation, but there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. Plan to reach the central meeting point on your own.

Is $55.63 a fair price?

At $55.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to walk around Reykjavik. You can see the lake, Parliament, City Hall, and several central streets for free. The price pays for the guide’s storytelling, live performance, local interpretation, and the structure of moving between places with a clear theme.

I consider it fair value if you want more than a standard history walk. You are paying for an experience shaped by personality. A strong guide can make the old cemetery, a rock, or a church memorable in a way that a list of facts cannot.

The value is weaker if you mainly want landmark information, interior visits, or a guaranteed small group. The listed maximum group size is 999, which is unusually high, even though some departures have been private or nearly private. Group size can change the experience, so do not assume you will receive one-on-one attention.

The tour is booked, on average, 43 days in advance. That suggests you should reserve ahead during a busy Iceland trip, especially if your schedule is tight. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor-weather or minimum-participant cancellations offer a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this walk most?

I would choose this tour for:

• First-time visitors who want to get their bearings in central Reykjavik
• Families with older children who enjoy ghosts, monsters, and imaginative stories
• Couples looking for a gentle evening activity with a spooky flavor
• Anyone curious about elves, trolls, guardian spirits, and Icelandic superstition
• People who prefer a guide with humor, songs, and personality
• Visitors who have already seen the main sights and want a different angle

I would think twice if you dislike walking in poor weather, want a strict history lesson, or prefer not to hear stories with gruesome details. I would also avoid scheduling an important reservation directly after the tour.

The experience works especially well as your first booked activity in Iceland. You see familiar city landmarks while learning a few cultural ideas that can make the rest of your trip more fun.

Should you book it?

Book this walk if you want Reykjavik with a little mystery, comedy, and local color. The old cemeteries, the Deacon of Dark River, Tjörnin’s possible monster, and the guardian spirits near Parliament give the route a clear identity.

I would not book it for architecture alone or for a carefully paced cemetery study. The quality depends heavily on the guide, and the balance between folklore, history, and personal storytelling may vary. Still, the 4.7 rating from 702 reviews and 94 percent recommendation rate fit the experience described here: a popular, personable introduction to the city that gives you stories to carry beyond the walk.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik folklore walking tour start?

The tour starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled start.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk ends at Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Parliament building. This is close to the starting area but not the exact same point.

How long does the tour last?

The planned duration is about one hour and thirty minutes. Allow extra time in case the guide runs slightly longer.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

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

What places do you visit?

The route includes an old graveyard dating to around the year 900, the Cathedral of Christ the King, Hólavallagarður cemetery, Tjörnin lake, Reykjavik City Hall, Alþingishúsið, and Austurvöllur Square.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The stories include ghosts, trolls, monsters, and at times darker or gory folklore, so parents should decide if the content suits their children.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The activity is described as operating in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately. The cancellation terms also state that poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full 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 experience are not accepted or refunded.