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

Reykjavik’s myths are usually told in cozy bars or late-night conversations. This tour turns them into a walkable map of the oldest parts of town, with elves, trolls, and ghosts tied to real streets and real landmarks. You’ll even get to hear monster talk near the water.

I like two things a lot here. First, the stop choices are specific, including the oldest graveyard in Iceland (around the year 900) and Hólavallakirkjugarðurt, tied to the famously spooky Deacon of Dark River. Second, the best guides bring the stories to life with performance, including voices for troll and elf characters, and even singing in some cases with guides like Dúi.

The main drawback is also simple: it’s a feet-on-the-pavement tour. If you do not love walking, or if you get stuck with a less focused guide style, the experience can feel longer or less lore-heavy than you hoped.

Key highlights worth caring about

• Oldest Reykjavík sites, plus a graveyard from around 900 that sets the tone fast
• Hólavallakirkjugarðurt cemetery, known for the ghost story of the Deacon of Dark River
• Tjörnin (Reykjavík lake) where you may hear monster talk and watch the water area
• Elves and trolls tied to the Cathedral of Christ the King and local superstition
• Guides with performance styles, including character voices and singing, depending on who you get
• Ends near Austurvöllur Square, convenient for continuing your evening in the city center

A 90-minute walk through Icelandic myths in the center of Reykjavík

This is the kind of tour that works if you want context fast. You start in the oldest downtown zone and move through landmarks that are easy to miss when you are just scanning for photos. The stories are meant to explain how Icelanders think about the invisible, and why certain places carry weight.

It is also a good first or second stop on your trip. In a single hour and a half, you get names, locations, and a sense of place. That makes it easier to understand what you see later on your own, especially if you wander around the center at dusk.

Meet at Ingólfstorgi, then let the guide steer

You make your own way to the meeting point at Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1 in Reykjavík. Aim to arrive about 5 minutes early. You’ll get a mobile ticket, and you will walk the full route with your guide and group.

No hotel pickup or drop-off is included, so plan to start from the downtown area. The tour finishes up near Austurvollur Square at Austurvöllur, close to the Parliament building area, which is a smart place to end if you want to grab a snack or keep exploring on foot.

Language is English, and the tour runs in all weather conditions. That matters in Reykjavík. Wind and rain can change your comfort level more than you expect, so treat this like an outdoor walking session first, myth story second.

Stop-by-stop: elves, trolls, ghosts, and invisible city rules

Here is what the walk feels like, stop by stop, and why each one matters.

Stop 1: Your Friend in Reykjavík at Ingólfstorgi

You start with a meet-and-greet and a quick setup for the theme: mythical creatures of Iceland. This opening matters more than it sounds. It helps you switch from tourist mode to story mode, so the rest of the route lands.

If you are arriving straight from a long flight or a cold transfer, this is also a gentle start. The first stretch is short, and the guide begins setting expectations right away.

Stop 2: Skúli Magnússon Sheriff at the oldest graveyard dating to around 900

Next you head to the oldest graveyard in Iceland, dating from around the year 900. This is not just a spooky photo stop. The site gives the tour a serious backbone, because death and memory are part of Icelandic folklore just like elves and trolls are.

You get an easy history anchor, but in a story-first way. If you like places with atmosphere, this is usually where the tour becomes more than entertainment.

One caution: because it is an outdoor cemetery environment, you will want to behave respectfully. Dress for weather, keep your footing on slick ground, and stay aware if you are traveling with kids.

Stop 3: Cathedral of Christ the King, where trolls and church stories collide

Then you move past the Cathedral of Christ the King. The point here is the cultural friction between institutions and old beliefs. In Icelandic folklore, trolls and other beings often get framed as things that do not play nicely with the church.

This stop also gives you architectural variety without adding extra travel time. You see an important building, then connect it to the mythology theme so it feels like part of the walk, not a random detour.

Stop 4: Hólavallagarður, the second oldest cemetery and the Deacon of Dark River

Hólavallakirkjugarðurt (Hólavallagarður) is the second oldest cemetery in Reykjavík. It is also the haunt tied to Iceland’s most-famous ghost, the Deacon of Dark River.

This is the tour’s peak “ghost” segment. The setting is built for eerie storytelling, and the Deacon of Dark River name makes it easy to remember what you heard. I like this kind of stop because it turns folklore into something grounded in real place, not just a bedtime tale.

If cemeteries are not your thing, this is still worth handling calmly. The story approach is meant to feel respectful, not sensational.

Stop 5: Tjörnin lake, where monster stories may show up

Next comes Tjörnin, the lake area by Reykjavík. This is where the tour shifts from ghosts and grave sites to creatures tied to water and local superstition.

You might also see swans and ducks around the water. Even if you do not catch a specific monster moment, the pause by the lake helps reset your energy before the final run of civic landmarks.

Stop 6: Reykjavik City Hall and the map of Iceland stories

You walk by Reykjavík City Hall. Sometimes the guide discusses locations of trolls and other creatures using a map of Iceland.

This stop is useful if you want to connect local Reykjavik folklore to the wider country. It also gives you a way to track the stories geographically, so they feel less like isolated legends.

Stop 7: Alþingishúsið, Iceland’s guardian spirit stop

Then you head to Alþingishúsið to visit Icelandic guardian spirits. This is one of those stops that broadens your understanding. It shifts the theme from individual ghosts to protective beings tied to the land.

Even if you are not the type who believes in the supernatural, guardian spirit stories are a window into values, fear, and respect that show up in many cultures.

Stop 8: Austurvollur Square, where the walk ends near where you can continue

You finish at Austurvollur Square, close to where you started, but now closer to the Parliament building area. This is a smart ending point. You are not stranded on the edge of town.

If you want to keep the night going, the central location helps you do it without extra transfers.

What makes this tour feel better than a generic folklore stop

The best folklore tours do two things. They give you a story, and they give you a reason the story belongs here. This one does that through place names and real landmarks you can later point to from memory.

The route also balances “creepy” with “cultural.” You get cemeteries and ghost talk, but you also get elves, trolls, and superstition tied to churches and civic buildings. That mix makes the tour feel more like an explanation of how folklore functions in Iceland than a pure haunted walk.

Guide performance is a big part of the payoff. I’ve seen examples of guides using voices for trolls and elves, and some guides even using singing to shape the pacing. When the guide leans into character work, the walk feels faster and more fun, especially if you want something beyond facts and dates.

Price and value: is 55.63 worth it?

At about $55.63 per person for roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, you are paying for three things: a professional guide, live storytelling or entertainment, and a route that hits multiple key locations in central Reykjavík without you having to plan the order.

If you were to do this solo, you could walk between landmarks. But you would not get the “why this place” storytelling that links elves, trolls, and ghosts to specific stops. That narrative glue is what you are buying.

Also, because the tour uses a mobile ticket and keeps you in the downtown zone, the “cost” in time is predictable. You are not losing hours to complicated logistics or transfers.

Where value can dip is if you do not enjoy character storytelling. A few people want more lore density, more time in the cemetery, or less off-topic history. So if your goal is strict mythology and minimal human stories, you may want to go with a lively guide style.

Weather, walking pace, and who this tour suits

The operator says it runs in all weather conditions. That means you should dress like you will be outside the entire time. In Reykjavík, rain is often wind-driven, and cold can sneak in quickly, even if the air is not brutally hot.

Footwear matters. You will be walking around city streets and through areas near cemeteries and lake sides. Bring shoes you trust on wet pavement.

This tour is a strong fit for:

• First-timers who want their bearings in the center fast
• People who like folklore tied to real sites, not just a slideshow
• Families with kids who can handle an outdoor walk and a few spooky moments
• Couples or small groups who want a fun evening activity that still teaches

It can be less ideal if:

• You hate walking long distances in cold or wet weather
• You want a quiet, museum-like tone instead of lively performance
• You are very specific about one creature type, like only elves, and nothing else

Before you go: small prep that improves the whole experience

To get the most out of it, I’d do three things:

• Dress for wind and rain, not just for temperature
• Keep your pace steady and do not rush your guide, especially at cemetery stops
• Bring a little open-mindedness. Even if you do not believe, the stories are a window into local thinking

If you get turned around on your way to the meeting point, use Google Maps and give yourself a buffer. One person noted the meeting location was hard to find without it, even in central Reykjavík. Starting on time helps your guide settle the group and get the vibe right early.

Should you book this Reykjavik folklore walking tour?

Book it if you want a fun, grounded way to learn Icelandic folklore while actually seeing old Reykjavík. The combination of central landmarks, a cemetery dating from around 900, and ghost and monster stories around Tjörnin makes this more than a theme walk.

Skip it or consider a different option if you need a slow pace, minimal walking, or a very serious history lecture. Also, if you only want one narrow type of folklore, this tour spreads its attention across elves, trolls, ghosts, water creatures, and guardian spirit stories.

One practical strategy: treat it as your storytelling primer. After this, you will recognize places better as you wander, and you’ll know what to ask when someone points out an old-looking building or a quiet patch of waterfront.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik folklore walking tour?

It runs about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where do I meet the tour, and where does it end?

You meet at Hlöllabátar Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík. The tour ends near Jón Sigurðsson Austurvöllur at Austurvöllur public square.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a professional guide and live entertainment. You also use a mobile ticket.

Is this tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

It operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately for the outdoors.

Do children need to be accompanied by an adult?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult.