Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas story is wonderfully strange: 13 mischievous Yule Lads, their child-eating troll mother Grýla, and a ferocious Christmas Cat all share the season with skating rinks, bookshops, lights, and market stalls. This two-hour walk turns downtown into a storybook, with folklore that feels far more distinctive than a standard Christmas lights tour. I especially like the route’s mix of local legends and real city stops, plus the chance to look for Yule Lad figures along the way. The main drawback is that the tour runs only in December, and Iceland’s winter weather can make two hours outside feel long without proper layers.

I also like the finish at Hallgrímskirkja, reached along Skólavörðustígur, because the route gradually moves from small festive squares and shops to one of Reykjavik’s most recognizable buildings. Guide Bjornvain earned particular praise for being funny, friendly, and well informed, though the tour is in English and the $74 price is easier to justify if you enjoy stories, shopping stops, and seasonal atmosphere rather than simply looking at lights.

Key points to know before you book

• Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads take center stage, along with Grýla and the Christmas Cat.
• The two-hour route is entirely on foot, from the downtown meeting point to Hallgrímskirkja.
• You visit real Christmas spots, including Ingólfstorg, Austurvöllur, Laugavegur, and Litla Jólabúðin.
• A bookshop stop adds a useful cultural detail, since Christmas book giving is an important Icelandic tradition.
• The tour may include tastes of seasonal food and drinks, with some surprises along the way.
• Private groups are available, and discounts may be offered at selected shops, stalls, and restaurants.

Why Reykjavik’s Christmas folklore is worth your time

Many Christmas walks give you a string of decorated streets and a few pleasant stories. This one has a much stranger and more memorable center. Iceland does not rely on a single Santa Claus. Instead, the country has 13 Yule Lads, each connected with mischievous behavior and seasonal folklore.

You will hear about their mother, Grýla, a troll who eats naughty children, and the Christmas Cat, a creature with a particularly frightening reputation. That mix of humor and menace gives the walk its character. The stories are family-friendly in presentation, but some younger children may find the troll and cat tales a little intense.

Your guide brings these traditions to life while you move through central Reykjavik. That matters because the walk is not only about seeing pretty lights. You are learning why certain decorations, figures, foods, and books appear at Christmas in Iceland.

The guide on the walk is English-speaking, and Bjornvain received especially warm praise for a funny and friendly approach. Guide quality matters here. The streets and shop windows can be enjoyed alone, but the folklore is the part you cannot easily pick up by wandering around with a map.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar beside Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling provide a practical place to wait if the weather is poor.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That is more useful than it may sound in a crowded downtown square, especially during the busy Christmas season.

The listed starting location is Hlöllabátar, while the first sightseeing stop is Ingólfstorg. In practical terms, you should arrive at the sandwich shop meeting point and be ready to walk almost immediately. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to central Reykjavik.

The walk ends at Hallgrímskirkja, not back at the meeting point. I like this one-way design because you finish near a major landmark and can continue exploring the city from there. You should still account for the return walk to your hotel or any evening plans.

Ingólfstorg: skating, lights, and market stalls

The first real stop is Ingólfstorg, where you spend about 15 minutes taking in the Christmas setting. Expect an ice skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls. It is a good opening scene because you get the public, cheerful side of the season before moving into the more unusual folklore.

The square also gives you a chance to take photographs and get your bearings in downtown Reykjavik. Market stalls can be useful for seeing seasonal goods at close range, though the tour does not promise a long period for shopping. If you want to buy presents, treat this as an introduction rather than a dedicated market visit.

This is one point where timing matters. Fifteen minutes is enough for a guided look and some photographs, but not enough to inspect every stall at leisure. I would save serious shopping for the later stops or return to the square on your own.

Austurstræti and Austurvöllur’s Oslo Christmas Tree

The route continues through Austurstræti, with about 20 minutes for a guided visit and some shopping. This section keeps the walk grounded in everyday downtown Reykjavik. You are not simply moving from one decorated display to another. You are passing through a main city street where festive browsing is part of the seasonal mood.

The tour then takes you to Austurvöllur Square to see the famous Oslo Christmas Tree. The tree is one of the route’s key visual markers and gives you a good place for photographs. Your guide also helps you look for Icelandic Yule Lads hiding around the city center.

That search adds a simple game for families and gives children a reason to pay attention between stories. Adults may appreciate it for another reason: it turns an ordinary walk through central streets into a hunt for details. Keep your eyes open rather than assuming the guide will point out every figure immediately.

Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street

The walk reaches Laugavegur, described as Reykjavik’s main shopping street, for around 20 minutes of sightseeing, photographs, and guided commentary. This is a useful stop if you want to combine Christmas atmosphere with a look at the city’s shopping heart.

You may find seasonal window displays and Christmas-related items along the route, but this is still a guided walk rather than a shopping expedition. The time is short, so I would note stores you want to revisit after the tour instead of trying to make purchases while keeping up with the group.

Laugavegur also helps break up the folklore. After hearing about trolls, Yule Lads, and the Christmas Cat, you get a more ordinary view of how Reykjavik prepares for the holiday. That balance keeps the tour from feeling like a series of legends detached from the city around you.

Litla Jólabúðin and Iceland’s love of Christmas books

Litla Jólabúðin, the little Christmas store, receives roughly 30 minutes. It is the longest scheduled stop and one of the most useful for anyone interested in seasonal shopping. You can look at Christmas-related goods and enjoy one of the tour’s promised surprises.

Before or around this part of the route, the group makes a short visit to a bookshop to see Icelandic Christmas books. The book stop is a fine cultural touch. Icelanders have a strong love of books, especially at Christmas, and seeing the books in a real shop gives that tradition more meaning than hearing a quick explanation in the street.

I would not book this walk expecting a full shopping session. The visit is guided, and the schedule continues onward. Still, the bookshop and Litla Jólabúðin make the tour more useful than a simple lights circuit if you want ideas for gifts or a sense of local holiday habits.

Discounts may be available at a couple of Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants. The exact discounts are not specified, so I would treat them as a welcome extra rather than build the value calculation around them.

Skólavörðustígur and the finish at Hallgrímskirkja

The final stretch follows Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja. This section takes about 30 minutes and includes a photo stop, guided sightseeing, and a look at selected stores selling Christmas-related items.

The uphill walk gives the ending a clear sense of direction. Instead of circling back through streets you have already seen, you finish at Hallgrímskirkja, one of Reykjavik’s most recognizable sights. The church provides a strong final photograph and a natural place to continue your evening.

Because the tour ends outside rather than inside the church, do not expect an interior visit unless you arrange that separately. The supplied details describe a photo stop and sightseeing at Hallgrímskirkja, not a church tour.

The route’s last half hour may be the least comfortable part in bad weather. You are walking uphill, and winter wind or rain can change your mood quickly. Wear layers, protect your hands, and choose shoes that can handle wet streets. This is not optional advice in Reykjavik in December.

What the two-hour format gives you

Two hours is a sensible length for a winter walking tour. You get enough time for several neighborhoods, stories, and shopping stops without committing an entire cold-weather afternoon. The schedule divides the walk into short sections, with the longest stop at Litla Jólabúðin and the final Hallgrímskirkja section.

The pace should suit most people who are comfortable walking through central Reykjavik. Still, the activity includes several stops rather than one long stationary presentation, so you should be prepared to keep moving. The route is not a bus tour, and hotel transportation is not included.

A two-hour format also means the guide has to choose what to explain. You will receive a focused introduction to Christmas traditions, not an exhaustive account of Icelandic folklore. I see that as a strength for a short holiday visit. You get the main characters, the key places, and enough context to notice more when you explore alone later.

Is $74 a fair price?

At $74 per person, this is not a cheap way to see Christmas lights. You can walk through central Reykjavik on your own for free, visit the squares independently, and browse the shops without paying for a guide.

The value comes from the interpretation. You are paying for a live English-speaking guide, a planned route, local Christmas stories, the Yule Lad search, and access to a few seasonal stops. If Bjornvain’s friendly, humorous style is typical of the guiding team, the storytelling is the main reason to choose this tour over an independent walk.

The price makes the most sense for you if:

• You have limited time in Reykjavik and want a ready-made holiday walk.
• You enjoy folklore as much as photographs.
• You are visiting with children who will enjoy searching for Yule Lads.
• You want to combine Christmas shopping with local traditions.
• You prefer a guide who can explain what you are seeing.

The price is harder to justify if your only goal is to see decorated streets or visit the Christmas markets. In that case, an independent walk may offer better value. You also need to remember that food, drinks, purchases, and hotel transportation are not included, although the tour may include samples of Christmassy food or drinks.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik Christmas walk?

This is a good match for families, first-time visitors, and anyone visiting Reykjavik specifically in December. The stories give children something to follow, while the bookshop, markets, and shopping streets give adults plenty to notice.

It also suits people who like a guide to provide context without taking up an entire day. You can finish at Hallgrímskirkja and still have time for dinner, more shopping, or a separate visit to places that caught your attention.

You should think twice if you dislike cold-weather walking, have very limited mobility, or want a private, highly flexible schedule. The tour is outdoors, the route is on foot, and the timing is set. A private group option is available if you want a more personal arrangement, but the supplied details do not specify the extra cost or exact group size.

Practical tips for making the walk more comfortable

Dress in layers. That is the single most useful instruction for this tour. December conditions can shift, and you will feel better if you can adjust your clothing as you move between sheltered shops and exposed streets.

Wear weather-appropriate shoes and bring enough protection for rain, wind, or cold. You will spend the full two hours outdoors apart from short visits to shops and a bookshop.

Arrive at Hlöllabátar rather than going directly to Ingólfstorg. Look for the light blue Your Friend in Reykjavik jacket, and use the covered seating near the meeting point if you arrive early.

Bring a phone or camera for the tree, market, decorations, Yule Lad figures, Litla Jólabúðin, and Hallgrímskirkja. If you plan to shop, leave room in your schedule to return to stores after the guided portion, since each stop has a set time.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times because the two-hour activity does not operate year-round. It runs only in December.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavik’s holiday season explained through its oddest and most memorable characters. The 13 Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat give this walk a personality that a standard lights tour cannot match.

I would especially recommend it for a December first visit, a family outing, or a short stay when you want a structured introduction to downtown. The strongest parts are the folklore, the guide-led search for Yule Lads, the bookshop connection, and the finish at Hallgrímskirkja.

Skip it if you mainly want unhurried shopping or a free stroll through decorated streets. At $74, the tour needs to earn its price through storytelling and local insight. For the right audience, especially with a warm and engaging guide such as Bjornvain, that is exactly where the value lies.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to the right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling provide a waiting area.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk finishes at Hallgrímskirkja after following Skólavörðustígur.

How long does the walking tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. You should check the available starting times when booking.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What should I bring?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing and wear layers. The activity takes place largely outdoors during December.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must reach the downtown meeting point yourself.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available, allowing you to keep your plans flexible.