Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Elves, Trolls, Ghosts & Icelandic Legends

If you like a city walk with a bit of mystery, the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour is a clever way to experience Iceland’s capital beyond the usual landmarks. Instead of just pointing out buildings and dates, this tour brings Reykjavik to life through stories of elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, Icelandic magic, the 13 Icelandic Santa figures and darker local legends.

It is a short tour, but it sounds like one with personality. You walk through central Reykjavik, stop at graveyards, churches, the city pond and Parliament-area squares, while a local storyteller connects the streets around you with Iceland’s old beliefs and strange tales. For travellers who enjoy folklore, ghost stories, cultural quirks and atmospheric city walks, this is one of the more interesting things to do in Reykjavik.

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Quick Facts

Why This Reykjavik Folklore Tour Is Worth Considering

Reykjavik is compact, walkable and full of quiet corners that become much more interesting when someone tells you the stories behind them. This tour is not just about seeing streets and squares. It is about hearing the legends, fears and odd beliefs that have shaped Icelandic storytelling over generations.

Iceland is famous for its landscapes, but its folklore is just as distinctive. Elves, trolls, hidden people, ghosts, sea monsters and magical traditions are not just tourist gimmicks. They are part of the way stories have been told in a country shaped by lava fields, long winters, isolation, storms and dramatic natural forces.

This walking tour works because it keeps that folklore close to the city. You do not need to drive into the wilderness to feel the atmosphere. The stories are told while walking through central Reykjavik, past graveyards, churches, ponds and Parliament-area landmarks that already have a slightly moody northern feel.

What You Can Expect

Starting at Ingólfstorg Square

The tour starts outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. Trip.com notes that CenterHotel Plaza is to the right and that the meeting area has benches, tables and a covered ceiling, which makes it a practical place to wait if the weather is cold or wet.

The guide is usually easy to spot, with Trip.com noting that local guides often wear a light blue jacket with “Your Friend in Reykjavik” on the back. As with any meeting-point tour, arrive early rather than rushing at the last minute.

Víkurkirkjugarður and Icelandic Zombie Lore

The first stop listed is Víkurkirkjugarður, described in the Trip.com itinerary as the oldest graveyard in Iceland. This is where the tone of the walk shifts quickly from ordinary city stroll to folklore storytelling.

The itinerary says this is where guests learn how to raise an Icelandic zombie. That tells you a lot about the style of the experience. It is not a dry history lecture. It is designed to be entertaining, strange and memorable, using Reykjavik’s old burial places as a setting for darker folklore.

Hidden People, Monsters and Reykjavik Streets

As the walk continues through central Reykjavik, the stories move into Iceland’s hidden people and monsters. Icelandic hidden people are often connected with rocks, lava fields, hills and wild places, but this tour brings those tales into the urban setting.

That is part of the appeal. Reykjavik looks modern and calm, but the stories add another layer. A normal street corner can suddenly feel different when you hear how Icelandic imagination has filled the landscape with beings just out of sight.

Landakotskirkja and Troll Stories

The tour also visits Landakotskirkja, the Catholic church in Reykjavik, where the itinerary says the guide talks about Icelandic trolls. Churches and trolls may sound like an unusual pairing, but that contrast is exactly what makes folklore walks interesting.

Trolls in Icelandic stories often feel tied to mountains, rocks and danger. Hearing those tales while standing in the city gives the tour a mix of architecture, religion and myth rather than just a simple ghost-walk format.

Hólavallakirkjugarður Cemetery

Another listed stop is Hólavallakirkjugarður, described by Trip.com as Reykjavik’s second-oldest graveyard, dating back to 1838. This is likely to be one of the most atmospheric parts of the walk.

Old cemeteries are perfect settings for folklore because they bring together memory, history, death, superstition and storytelling. If you enjoy the mood of older cities, this stop should give the tour some genuine character.

Reykjavik Pond and Aquatic Monsters

The Reykjavik Pond, or Tjörnin, adds a different kind of story. Trip.com notes that the tour uses this stop to talk about Icelandic aquatic monsters. That is a good reminder that Icelandic folklore is not only about elves and trolls. It also includes creatures connected with water, coastlines, darkness and the unknown.

Even in central Reykjavik, the pond has a distinctive feel. Birds, water, weather and city buildings all sit close together, making it an easy place to pause and imagine older stories being attached to the landscape.

Parliament Garden, Strange Magic and Austurvöllur Square

The tour also visits the Parliament Garden, where the itinerary mentions strange Icelandic magic. It then ends by Austurvöllur Square near the Icelandic Parliament, with stories about Icelandic guardian spirits and more local legends.

This ending works well because Austurvöllur is central, easy to continue from, and close to restaurants, cafés and other city sights. After the tour, you can keep exploring Reykjavik on your own without needing transport.

What Makes This Tour Feel Different

The best thing about this tour is that it gives Reykjavik a different mood. Many visitors use the city as a base for the Golden Circle, waterfalls, glaciers, lagoons and northern lights tours. Those are all worthwhile, but they can make Reykjavik itself feel like a stopover rather than a destination.

A folklore walk changes that. It makes the city streets part of the experience. You learn why Iceland’s stories are strange, dark, funny and sometimes unsettling. You also get a more local-feeling introduction to the culture than you would from simply walking around with a map.

Who This Tour Suits

This tour is a strong fit for travellers who like stories more than statistics. It suits folklore fans, ghost-tour lovers, culture travellers, solo visitors, couples and families with older children or teenagers. It is also a good choice if you have already done the main day trips and want something different in Reykjavik itself.

The two-hour length is practical. It is long enough to feel worthwhile but short enough to fit around dinner, museum visits, shopping or other tours. Because it is a walking tour, it is also a good way to get oriented in the city centre.

Who Might Not Need It

If you only want classic sightseeing, major landmarks and photo stops, this may not be your ideal Reykjavik tour. It is more about storytelling and atmosphere than ticking off famous attractions.

It may also be less suitable for very young children if they are easily bored by walking or unsettled by ghost and graveyard stories. For older children and teenagers who enjoy myths and spooky tales, it could work well.

Practical Tips Before You Book

• Arrive early: The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorg 1, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars.
• Look for the guide: Trip.com notes that guides usually wear a light blue jacket with “Your Friend in Reykjavik” on the back.
• Dress for Icelandic weather: Even a short walk can feel cold, windy or wet in Reykjavik. Bring layers, a waterproof jacket and warm shoes.
• Wear comfortable footwear: The route includes city streets, graveyard areas and outdoor stops.
• Check daylight and season: Winter tours may feel darker and more atmospheric, while summer tours may have long daylight hours.
• Do not expect a food tour: This is a folklore walking tour, not a meal-based experience.
• Check the cancellation policy: Trip.com showed free cancellation by 00:00 one day before use, but always confirm the current terms before booking.
• Stay central afterwards: The tour ends near Austurvöllur Square, which is a convenient area for cafés, restaurants and further sightseeing.

Is the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour Good Value?

For travellers who enjoy storytelling, yes. The value is not in entry tickets or transport. It is in the guide, the stories and the way the tour makes Reykjavik feel more alive.

If you are only comparing it with walking around for free, you may wonder whether you need it. But the point of this tour is not just the route. It is the commentary: elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, Icelandic magic, guardian spirits and the strange darker side of Reykjavik’s history.

For a relatively short city experience, it can be a good way to add something different to an Iceland itinerary, especially if your trip is otherwise focused on landscapes and long coach tours.

My Honest Take

This is the type of Reykjavik experience I would recommend to someone who wants the city to feel less like a base and more like a place with its own stories. Iceland’s scenery is dramatic, but the folklore helps explain how people have imagined and interpreted that landscape for centuries.

I like that the route uses ordinary city places — graveyards, churches, the pond, Parliament-area gardens and squares — and turns them into story locations. It feels more personal than a standard landmark walk and more culturally specific than a generic ghost tour.

If you enjoy strange stories, old beliefs and a slightly spooky walk through a northern capital, this is a compelling way to spend two hours in Reykjavik.

View the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour on Trip.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour?

It is a guided walking tour in central Reykjavik focused on Icelandic folklore, including elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, Icelandic magic, the 13 Icelandic Santa figures and local legends.

How long does the tour take?

Trip.com lists the tour duration as approximately 2 hours.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars, at Ingólfstorg 1 in Reykjavik.

Where does the tour end?

The itinerary says the tour ends by Austurvöllur Square near the Icelandic Parliament.

What language is the tour in?

Trip.com lists English as the service language, selected through the package options.

What stories are included?

The tour highlights stories about elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, the 13 Icelandic Santa figures, Icelandic magic, aquatic monsters and local darker legends.

Does the tour visit graveyards?

Yes. The Trip.com itinerary mentions Víkurkirkjugarður and Hólavallakirkjugarður, including folklore stories connected with graveyard settings.

Is this tour suitable for children?

It may suit older children and teenagers who enjoy myths, monsters and spooky stories. Very young children may find the walking and darker themes less suitable.

What should I wear?

Wear warm layers, comfortable walking shoes and a waterproof jacket. Reykjavik weather can be windy, cold or wet even on a short walking tour.

Can I cancel the booking?

Trip.com showed free cancellation by 00:00 one day before the date of use at the time of checking. Always confirm the live cancellation policy before booking.

Final Verdict

The Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour is a memorable choice if you want to understand Iceland through stories rather than just scenery. In two hours, it turns central Reykjavik into a stage for elves, trolls, ghosts, monsters, magic and strange local legends. For travellers who enjoy culture with a darker, more atmospheric edge, this is a fun and worthwhile addition to a Reykjavik itinerary.