There’s something extra eerie—and oddly cozy—about learning Reykjavik legends while you’re walking the streets. This is a 1.5-hour folklore walk focused on elves, trolls, ghosts, and Icelandic superstitions, told by professional guides in central Reykjavík.

I like that the tour mixes story with place: you’ll see real landmarks tied to the legends (including cemeteries going back to around 900), then end near Austurvöllur Square. I also like how the guides bring the material to life—Ester, Bo, Mathias, and Stefan are just a few of the names behind the memorable voice-work and humor. The main drawback is simple: it’s still a walking tour, and some people find the time on your feet a bit much, so comfortable shoes matter.

A quick myth-to-map snapshot

You’ll get a good hit of Icelandic folklore without needing to be a scholar, and the route is designed so you learn while your eyes stay busy: graveyards, a cathedral where trolls don’t like the church, and Tjörnin’s monster stories. If spooky stories get to you, note that the tone can be pretty dark, with at least one review calling out gore.

Key things I’d bet you’ll care about

• Oldest graveyard stops you where the legends feel real, dating from around the year 900
• Trolls and church drama at Christ the King adds a myth-vs-authority edge
• Deacon of Dark River is the big ghost thread at Hólavallagarður
• Tjörnin water stories give you a legend break by the lake
• Guides use voices and sometimes song, like guides who tell stories through singing
• You finish at Austurvollur Square, close to where you’ll keep sightseeing

Why this walk feels different from a normal city tour

Reykjavík is compact, but it can still feel like you’re skimming the surface: a church here, a street there, then you’re done. This tour flips the script. You don’t just look at buildings—you learn what people used to believe about them, and why those beliefs stuck around.

What makes it work for first-time visitors is the rhythm. You start in the oldest part of town, then you move through spots that naturally lend themselves to stories: burial grounds, religious sites, a pond/lake area tied to creatures, and public buildings where Iceland’s “invisible” world is treated as part of everyday culture.

And the best part? The guides don’t treat it like a lecture. Multiple reviews mention guides with strong performance energy—Stefan’s elf and troll voices, Dúi’s singing, and Steingrímur telling folklore through song. Even if you don’t buy every legend as literal, you still get the fun of how folklore shapes the way Icelanders talk, build, and remember.

Getting oriented: start at Ingólfstorgi and finish near Alþingishúsið

The tour starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1 (central Reykjavík) and ends at Austurvollur Square, near Alþingishúsið and the Parliament area (Austurvöllur). You’ll want to arrive about 5 minutes early so you’re not rushing with your group.

Logistics are straightforward: it’s about 1 hour 30 minutes, and there’s no hotel pickup. Since it’s weather-dependent in practice (it says it operates in all weather conditions, but also mentions cancellations due to poor weather), plan for wind and cold. Bring layers you can handle while walking. If you’re traveling in a group, this tour’s end point is handy because it drops you into an area that’s easy to keep exploring.

The only practical “gotcha” I’d watch for: one review mentioned the meeting location was hard to find without using Google Maps. So use your phone, or ask your accommodation for the easiest walking route to Ingólfstorgi.

Stop 1 at Your Friend in Reykjavik: start with mythical creatures, not facts

Your first step is a meet-and-greet at the starting point, labeled Your Friend in Reykjavik. This matters more than it sounds. A folklore walk goes best when everyone in the group is on the same page—ready for playful spookiness, not just dates and architectural trivia.

This is where the tone gets set. If your guide is the type to perform (and many seem to be), this early minute can feel like the warm-up before the good stories.

Stop 2: the oldest graveyard (around the year 900) and why cemeteries matter

The first big “this is real” moment is at the oldest graveyard in Iceland, dating from around 900. Even if you’re not into spooky tourism, burial grounds in Iceland carry weight. They’re where the past becomes physical.

Expect to hear stories connected to how people understood spirits, luck, and the thin line between the living world and what came before. This stop also sets up the rest of the walk, because the tour keeps returning to the theme that Iceland’s folklore isn’t just bedtime entertainment—it’s how people explained uncertainty, death, and what they couldn’t control.

One thing to keep in mind: a review said they’d hoped for more time at the cemetery, since it’s so old. So if you’re the kind of traveler who wants to linger and read gravestones slowly, you may feel slightly rushed.

Stop 3: Cathedral of Christ the King—trolls and church don’t get along

Next is the Cathedral of Christ the King. The tour leans into a very Icelandic conflict: trolls of the myths really don’t like the church. That simple “myth logic” is fun, because it gives you a reason to look at a religious building through a folklore lens instead of only an architectural one.

Expect your guide to connect the story to why these myths persisted. In Iceland, folklore often served as a way to talk about power—who has it, who fears it, and what happens when invisible forces push back.

Stop 4: Hólavallagarður and the Deacon of Dark River ghost story

Hólavallagarður is a highlight. This is the second oldest cemetery in Reykjavík, and it’s known as the favored haunt of the Deacon of Dark River—the tour’s most famous ghost thread.

This is where you’ll probably feel the spooky tone most strongly. Cemeteries create a natural mood, and your guide’s storytelling style decides whether it lands as playful, eerie, or both.

A detail that sticks with me from the stories people shared: one review described a friendly cat wearing a quirky wreath-like collar that followed through the cemetery, and the guide linked that behavior to the legend’s logic. Whether you interpret that as real folklore magic or just an animal being an animal, it shows the point of the walk: the experience is meant to feel theatrical and alive.

If you’re traveling with kids, this stop can be a big win. One family review said their kids were fascinated by the cemetery storytelling.

Stop 5: Tjörnin lake—the place for monsters, swans, and spooky water talk

After the cemetery, the route shifts to Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s lake/pond area. That change of scenery is smart. It breaks up the intensity of ghost and graveyard stories with open water and a calmer pace.

Here you’ll hear tales about Icelandic monsters. Tjörnin also happens to be the kind of place where you might see swans and ducks, which makes the legend talk feel more grounded—like the creatures are part of the same everyday world as birds and weather.

It’s a good stop for photos and a short mental reset before you get into more city-center lore again.

Stop 6: Reykjavik City Hall—sometimes a big map of Iceland

Next you walk by Reykjavík City Hall. One review noted that sometimes you may even visit a large map of Iceland, using it to discuss creature locations and myth geography.

This is more useful than it might sound. Folklore can feel vague until you see how it’s tied to places—rocks, lava fields, regions, and routes. When a guide points out where legends are said to occur, you start noticing Iceland differently after the walk.

Stop 7: Alþingishúsið and Icelandic guardian spirits

At Alþingishúsið (near the Parliament building area), the tour turns toward Icelandic guardian spirits. This part gives the folklore a civic angle. Instead of just ghosts lingering in cemeteries, you get the idea that unseen beings are part of how the country thinks about protection and identity.

Expect a quick, focused storytelling stop—your guide should tie the myth theme back into what you’ve already learned, so the invisible world feels consistent instead of random.

Stop 8: Austurvollur Square—finish near the action

The tour ends at Austurvollur Square, near where the walk started but now closer to the Parliament area. This is a convenient finish because you’re dropped into a zone where it’s easy to keep moving: coffee, dinner, and more sightseeing.

Also, this is where a little “wrap-up” energy can happen. One review mentioned a special gift at the end, and another highlighted that Ester shared good local tips after the tour. You may not get something extra every time, but the wrap-up tends to include helpful pointers.

Price and value: what $55.63 buys you in real terms

At about $55.63 per person for roughly 90 minutes, you’re paying for three things:

1. A professional guide who can turn folklore into an experience, not a list of names
2. Multiple meaningful stops across central Reykjavík, including an ancient graveyard and famous ghost territory
3. Live entertainment elements, which often show up as performance-style storytelling and, in some cases, singing/voice acting

You also don’t have to budget for entry fees at each stop—your tour details show admission ticket free at multiple points—so the main cost is the guide and the time.

Is it good value? For the right traveler, yes. If you want atmosphere, humor, and story “with locations,” this is a strong deal. If you prefer quiet, museum-like explanations with lots of reading time, you might feel the walk is a bit fast, especially in the cemetery sections.

Who this tour suits best (and who should think twice)

This works best for:

• First-time visitors who want a quick orientation to central Reykjavík with a twist
• People who like spooky stories but still want them grounded in real places
• Families (guided spooky can be kid-friendly depending on your comfort level with darker tales)
• Travelers who enjoy guided performance—voices and song have a noticeable presence in the experience

Be cautious if:

• You dislike dark or gory storytelling. One review explicitly mentioned gore in the stories.
• You have limited mobility or hate long stretches on your feet. The tour runs about 90 minutes and some people said the walking time was a lot.
• You’re sensitive about religion. One low rating mentioned feeling ridiculed for Christian faith during the outing. It’s not something you should ignore—if this is a concern, you’ll want to check that you’re comfortable with a myth-and-church framing.

What to bring so you enjoy it (instead of just surviving it)

This is an “all weather” walk, and Iceland weather can change fast. Bring:

• Warm layers you can adjust
• Comfy walking shoes (you’ll be on your feet the whole time)
• A charged phone for finding the starting point and navigating afterward
• If you’re prone to cold, gloves and a hat help more than you’d think

If you’re planning photos, keep your phone accessible. The walking route and the cemetery setting often create quick photo moments that are worth grabbing without stopping the whole group.

Should you book the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavík to feel alive with elves, trolls, ghosts, and guardian spirits, and you enjoy stories that blend humor with a little true spooky air. The route through old graveyards and Tjörnin-style monster legends is exactly the kind of “Iceland” experience that changes how you see the city after the tour.

Skip it (or at least rethink) if you want a slow, quiet history walk, or if you’re strongly uncomfortable with dark storytelling themes. For many travelers, though, this is one of the most fun ways to understand why folklore still matters in Reykjavík—and why the city’s myths don’t stay trapped in books.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour?

It runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

It starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík. It ends at Jón Sigurðsson, Austurvöllur (Austurvollur Square), 101 Reykjavík, near the Parliament building area.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is admission included for the places you visit?

The details provided show admission ticket free for the stops listed on the tour.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, but the cancellation policy also notes it can be canceled due to poor weather, with an alternative date or a full refund offered.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid isn’t refunded.