Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

The best thing about this Reykjavík Christmas walking tour is that it treats Christmas as a piece of Icelandic culture, not just a row of pretty lights. You’ll hear about the thirteen Yule Lads, the fearsome Christmas Cat, old Norse beliefs, Christianity, books, music, and the customs that shape December in Iceland. The folklore gives the city’s decorations and shop windows a real story.

I like the handy route from central Ingólfstorg to Hallgrímskirkja, and I like the stops for Icelandic books, ornaments, music, and local sweets. Guides such as Stefán, Ester, Einar, and Barti have brought their own style to the walk, from language tips and songs to family stories and small surprises. The main caution is timing: on New Year’s Eve, the markets and much of the festive program may be closed, so the tour can differ sharply from what you expect.

Key points to know before you book

• Icelandic folklore is the star: Learn about the thirteen Yule Lads and the Christmas Cat, two traditions that make Icelandic Christmas feel very different from a standard European holiday program.
• The route crosses central Reykjavík: Begin at Ingólfstorg and finish at Hallgrímskirkja, with several indoor shopping and music stops along the way.
• A warm drink can matter: Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, cookies, and local candy have featured during the walk, a welcome break in cold weather.
• The guide makes a big difference: Stefán, Ester, Einar, and Barti have each been praised for humor, stories, music, history, and personal touches.
• It is partly a shopping walk: You’ll visit a bookshop, Christmas store, and record shop, but purchases are optional.
• Check the date carefully: The tour is not a good fit for New Year’s Eve if your main goal is open Christmas markets.

Why Reykjavík’s Christmas story is more interesting than the lights

Reykjavík can look festive at Christmas, but the most memorable part of this walk is not simply seeing decorations. It is learning why certain figures and customs appear again and again in Icelandic homes, stores, and public squares.

The tour gives special attention to the thirteen Yule Lads. These mischievous figures arrive one by one before Christmas, each with a particular habit or trick. You may already see them pictured on cards and souvenirs, but the stories make those images easier to understand.

Then there is the Christmas Cat, a much less cuddly holiday symbol. Icelandic folklore gives the cat a fierce role, and the stop at Lækjartorg provides a chance to hear how this creature fits into older Christmas beliefs. It is a useful reminder that Icelandic holiday traditions are not all candles, cookies, and cheerful elves.

You also hear how Christianity and Norse mythology meet in Icelandic Christmas customs. That mix gives the walk more substance than a simple seasonal sightseeing loop. If you enjoy folklore, local history, and stories that explain what you are seeing, this is the heart of the experience.

Starting under cover at Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1, beside Ingólfstorg. Face the square and look for the two tall stone seat-pillars, each more than two meters high. Center Hotel Plaza is on your right.

This is a practical meeting place in bad weather. Benches, tables, and an overhead cover provide shelter while you wait. Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back, which should make the group easier to spot.

Allow yourself enough time to find the square without rushing. A guide was reported to be fifteen minutes late on one New Year’s Eve outing, a serious wait when temperatures are below freezing. That appears to have been a date-specific problem, but it is still sensible to arrive prepared with a warm coat, hat, and gloves.

The group can include as many as 99 people. That is a fairly high maximum for a walking tour, so the experience may feel more personal with a smaller group and less intimate when demand is high. The route itself is central and easy to follow, but you should expect to spend most of two hours outdoors or moving between shops.

Ingólfstorg and the first taste of Christmas

The first proper stop is Ingólfstorg, where the focus is on the ice-skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls. This is the most obvious festive setting on the route and a good place to get your bearings in downtown Reykjavík.

The square helps connect the modern city with the holiday season. You can look at the public decorations while your guide explains how Christmas is presented in Iceland. When the stalls are open, this is also one of the tour’s better chances to browse seasonal goods.

Do not assume the market will operate every day of the season. The New Year’s Eve problem is important here: the markets were closed on December 31, and the guide had to replace much of the advertised program. If market stalls are your main reason for booking, confirm that your date is suitable before paying.

Austurvöllur and Iceland’s traditional Christmas tree

At Austurvöllur, the tour pauses by the traditional Oslo Christmas tree. This is a useful stop because it adds a civic and national angle to the holiday story.

Your guide discusses the custom of having Christmas trees in Icelandic homes and the meaning of decorations. You get a chance to compare a public tree in the square with the more private traditions of Icelandic families.

The stop is brief, about ten minutes, but it gives the walk a clear theme. You are not simply collecting landmarks. You are learning how Christmas appears in public spaces, shops, homes, music, and stories.

Penninn Eymundsson and the Icelandic Christmas book tradition

The visit to Penninn Eymundsson introduces one of Iceland’s most distinctive Christmas customs: books are a major part of the holiday season. The stop includes a look at Icelandic Christmas books, including titles that may be unfamiliar to readers from abroad.

This is one of the most useful parts of the tour if you want a souvenir with some connection to local life. A book can be easier to pack than a larger craft item, and the shop gives you a chance to see what Icelanders read and give at Christmas.

The stop is also a reminder that shopping here is not forced into the background. You have opportunities to buy books, ornaments, music, and gifts, but you are not required to purchase anything. The guide’s explanation is what gives the shops their value.

Lækjartorg and the Christmas Cat

At Lækjartorg, the subject turns to the Christmas Cat. This creature is one of the sharper edges of Icelandic Christmas folklore, and it gives the tour a touch of dark humor.

The folklore works especially well when you are already seeing holiday displays around town. Instead of treating Icelandic Christmas as a familiar version of the holiday, the guide shows you where local customs take a stranger turn.

This is a short stop, around five minutes, but it can be one of the most memorable. Families with older children and teenagers may appreciate the unusual stories more than very young children. The experience is not presented as a children’s show, and the strongest feedback has come from adults, teenagers, and young adults.

Litla Jólabúðin for ornaments and gifts

Litla Jólabúðin, or the little Christmas store, is open year-round. The group stops to look at Icelandic Christmas ornaments, and you may find a small gift or decoration to take home.

This stop is best viewed as a chance to browse rather than a formal museum visit. You get a practical look at the kind of objects connected with Icelandic Christmas, while the guide can explain what you are seeing.

Shopping stops can be useful early in a trip because you can return later if something catches your eye. On the other hand, if you dislike retail visits, this portion may feel less essential. The tour includes several commercial stops, so it suits people who want culture mixed with browsing.

12 Tónar and Icelandic Christmas music

At 12 Tónar, the focus shifts to music. Icelandic Christmas songs borrow from several countries, and the record shop provides a place to discuss that musical exchange.

This stop has produced some of the tour’s most distinctive moments. Einar, for example, has led a more musical version of the walk, including singing around the Christmas tree, a hymn written by his grandmother, local candy tasting, and Icelandic Christmas music in the record shop.

You should not assume every guide will offer the same musical program. The guide shapes the tone of the walk. Some guides focus more on folklore and history, while others add songs, language lessons, family connections, or small surprises.

A hot drink and cookies have also been served at this point. That pause matters in winter. It gives you time to warm up, listen to music, and talk with the guide instead of hurrying from one outdoor stop to the next.

Ending at Hallgrímskirkja

The route ends at Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík’s striking church on Hallgrímstorg. The final discussion connects Christmas with Christianity and Norse mythology.

Ending here gives the tour a strong visual finish. You move from markets, shops, and public squares to one of Reykjavík’s most recognizable landmarks. The church also suits the subject matter, since it lets the guide discuss the Christian side of Icelandic Christmas alongside older Norse ideas.

The tour ends at the church rather than returning to the starting point. That is useful if you want to continue sightseeing in the area, but you should plan your next step from Hallgrímskirkja. The activity does not include transport back to Ingólfstorg.

Guides have sometimes taken photographs during or after the walk, including pictures at the Christmas Cat, 12 Tónar, and Hallgrímskirkja. This is not a guaranteed feature, but it has been a thoughtful extra on some departures.

How the guides shape the experience

The strongest part of this tour is the guide. Ester has been described as warm, funny, and able to make people feel like family. Stefán has combined history, Christmas customs, Icelandic language tips, and small surprises. Barti has used a festive sweater and Santa hat while explaining the Yule Lads and folklore.

Einar’s version has leaned into music, with songs, a family connection to a hymn, candy tasting, and extra time with Icelandic recordings. These examples show why the same route can feel different from one departure to the next.

The included guide is described as fun-loving and local, but the price does not include tips. If your guide gives you a lively, personal walk, plan to tip separately. The tour is conducted in English.

Is $75.70 a fair price?

At $75.70 per person, this is not a cheap way to see Reykjavík’s center. You are paying for a roughly two-hour guided walk, not admission to a major attraction or a full meal.

The value comes from interpretation. You could walk past Ingólfstorg, Austurvöllur, Lækjartorg, 12 Tónar, and Hallgrímskirkja on your own, but you would miss the links between the places. The guide turns a church, a bookshop, a music store, and a Christmas Cat into parts of one local story.

The price feels easier to justify if you want a structured introduction soon after arriving in Reykjavík. It combines orientation, folklore, seasonal sights, shopping ideas, and a warm drink or treat on some departures. It feels less worthwhile if you only want to photograph the market or if you already know Icelandic Christmas traditions well.

Who should book this Reykjavík Christmas walk?

I would choose this tour for adults, couples, families with teenagers, and young adults who enjoy culture with a little humor. It is also a good fit if you want to understand the Yule Lads, the Christmas Cat, local books, and Icelandic music before shopping for souvenirs.

It may suit you less if you need a fully indoor activity, want a quiet private tour, or are bringing very young children who may not enjoy folklore and shop stops. The walk is short, but winter weather can make two hours feel longer.

You should also check the date with care. A departure on New Year’s Eve may not include open Christmas markets or the full festive program. Since the tour requires a minimum number of participants, the operator may cancel and offer another date or a full refund if that minimum is not met.

Should you book it?

Book this walk if you want the story behind Reykjavík’s Christmas season, not just a quick look at decorations. The route is compact, the ending at Hallgrímskirkja is useful, and the mix of folklore, books, music, shopping, and warm drinks gives you more than a standard city stroll.

I would avoid booking it solely for the markets, especially on December 31. Pick a date when the seasonal stalls are likely to be operating, arrive warmly dressed, and treat the guide as the main reason to go. If you get Stefán, Ester, Einar, or Barti, you may receive a particularly personal version of the route, but the exact guide and style are not guaranteed.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavík Christmas Walking Tour?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1, by Ingólfstorg in Reykjavík. Face the square and look for the two tall stone seat-pillars. Center Hotel Plaza is to your right.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends at Hallgrímskirkja Church, at Hallgrímstorg 1.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Are Christmas markets included on every departure?

No. The tour visits Christmas market stalls at Ingólfstorg, but markets may be closed on certain dates. On New Year’s Eve, the markets and other festive locations were closed, so the route differed from the usual program.

What is included in the price?

An expert local guide is included. Tips are not included. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, cookies, and treats have been part of some guided departures, but they are not listed as a guaranteed inclusion.

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 in advance are not refunded or accepted.