Reykjavik: Christmas Walking Tour with Icelandic Traditions

Iceland’s Christmas story is wonderfully odd. Instead of one Santa, you get 13 Yule Lads, their troll mother Grýla, and a Christmas Cat said to eat people who do not receive new clothes. This two-hour walk turns those darkly funny tales into a lively introduction to Reykjavik in December.

I like the route’s mix of folklore and real city life. You’ll see the ice rink and market stalls, browse Icelandic Christmas books, and walk from the old center up to Hallgrímskirkja. I also like the practical discounts at selected Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants. The main caution is that the pace and balance can vary: one departure reportedly spent the final 45 minutes over hot chocolate, which may feel too long if you want more sightseeing.

Key points at a glance

• Meet by Ingólfstorg: Find the guide outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1, facing the square.
• Meet all 13 Yule Lads: Learn the names, habits, and family story behind Iceland’s unusual Santas.
• See Reykjavik at its most festive: The route includes the ice rink, Christmas stalls, decorations, and the famous Oslo Christmas Tree.
• Stop for Icelandic books: A short bookshop visit shows how strongly reading is tied to Christmas in Iceland.
• Finish at Hallgrímskirkja: Walk up Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur before ending beside Reykjavik’s best-known church.
• Plan for winter weather: The tour runs only in December, so warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes matter.

Why Iceland Has Thirteen Santas

The heart of this tour is Iceland’s Yule Lad tradition. These are not simply thirteen copies of the same cheerful Santa. Each has a name and a particular bad habit, and each arrives on a different night before Christmas.

Your guide brings these characters into the streets of Reykjavik, where you may spot small Yule Lad figures hiding around the city center. That gives children something to search for and gives adults a better sense of how Icelandic folklore works. The stories are playful, but they also have a rougher edge than the polished Christmas tales common in many countries.

The Yule Lads are linked to Grýla, their mother, a troll who eats naughty children. Then there is the Christmas Cat, a ferocious creature with an appetite for people who do not receive new clothes for Christmas. The cat story may sound alarming, especially to young children, but it is part of the fun. Icelandic Christmas folklore mixes humor, warning, family tradition, and a little menace.

I like this focus because it gives you something you cannot get from a general city walk. You are not just looking at lights and shop windows. You are learning why Christmas in Iceland has its own cast of characters and its own tone.

Starting at Ingólfstorg in the Old Center

The official meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1. Face Ingólfstorg, the square with two tall stone seat-pillars, and keep Center Hotel Plaza on your right. The waiting area has benches, tables, and a covered ceiling, which is useful in Reykjavik’s December wind or wet weather.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik written on the back. The tour is conducted in English, and guides include local hosts such as Robyn, who led one well-received departure.

This starting point is central and easy to identify once you know to face the square. I would save the meeting-point map before leaving your hotel and arrive with enough time to find the sandwich shop. The published description also refers to Fógetagarðurinn, so use the detailed Austurstræti and Hlöllabátar directions when planning your arrival.

From here, you begin on foot through central Reykjavik. There is no bus transfer or separate transport segment. That keeps the experience simple, but it also means your comfort depends on your clothing and footwear.

Ingólfur Square, Ice Rink, and Christmas Stalls

One early stop is Ingólfur Square, where the holiday setup includes an ice skating rink, decorations, and Christmas market stalls. This is one of the most visual parts of the walk. You get the lights and seasonal atmosphere without leaving the city center.

The market stalls are also where the tour can become more useful than a simple photo walk. Your guide can explain which foods and drinks Icelanders connect with Christmas, and you might sample some along the way. The exact tasting is not guaranteed, so think of it as a possible extra rather than part of the core value.

The tour also offers discounts at selected Christmas stalls and restaurants. If you plan to buy a small decoration, seasonal food, or a drink, these discounts may soften the $66 price. Still, I would not book the walk only for savings. The discounts depend on where you choose to shop, and the main reason to go is the guide’s storytelling and the seasonal route.

The ice rink and stalls may be especially useful for families. Children can look for decorations and Yule Lad figures while adults listen to the folklore. The group does not appear to be built around shopping, so you should expect short stops rather than a long browsing session.

Austurvöllur and the Oslo Christmas Tree

The route continues to Austurvöllur, one of Reykjavik’s central public squares. Here you see the famous Oslo Christmas Tree, a seasonal symbol with a connection to the close relationship between Iceland and Norway.

The tree gives the guide a natural place to discuss Christmas in Iceland beyond the Yule Lads. You see how a modern public celebration, city decorations, and older folklore sit together in the capital. The stop is also a good chance for photographs, although December daylight is limited and conditions can change quickly.

I appreciate that the walk uses public squares rather than treating Christmas as something found only inside shops. You get a sense of how Reykjavik prepares its center for the season. The drawback is that outdoor stops depend on the weather. Bring layers, gloves, and a hat even if the forecast looks mild.

A Reykjavik Bookshop and the Christmas Reading Tradition

A short visit to a book store is one of the tour’s more distinctive features. You’ll see Icelandic Christmas books and hear about the country’s strong love of reading, especially during the holiday season.

This stop adds a cultural layer that many Christmas walks miss. Books are not merely a retail detail here. They help explain how Icelandic families spend Christmas and why the holiday has a strong connection with reading and gift-giving.

You should expect a brief visit, not a full literary tour or extended time to shop. If you enjoy books, it may be one of your favorite stops. If you mainly want outdoor sightseeing, it is still a welcome warm indoor pause, but you may wish it were shorter or longer depending on the group.

The bookshop stop also makes the tour more useful for gift ideas. Icelandic Christmas books offer something more local than standard souvenir goods, though the tour does not promise that any particular title or language will be available.

Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s Main Shopping Street

After the bookshop, the walk heads to Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. This is where seasonal decorations, shops, and everyday city life come together.

The tour includes the one and only little Christmas store along this part of the route. You can look for Christmas-related items and use the available discounts at selected stores. The shop visit is aimed at seasonal browsing rather than a formal demonstration, so keep your expectations realistic.

Laugavegur is a useful stop because it gives you a chance to return later on your own. You will know where the Christmas shop and nearby streets are, and you can come back if you want more time to browse. The guided visit helps you get oriented without spending your whole afternoon searching for seasonal shops.

I would book this tour early in your Reykjavik stay if you want to use the route as a shopping guide. The walk does not promise a complete survey of every store, but it points you toward places connected with Christmas and gives you a feel for the central shopping area.

Skólavörðustígur and the Walk to Hallgrímskirkja

The final section heads up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja. The street is one of the capital’s best-known routes, and the church provides a clear, memorable finish.

Along the way, you take a look at selected shops for Christmas-related items. The walk ends at Hallgrímskirkja rather than returning to the original meeting point. That matters when you plan your evening. You can visit the church area, continue sightseeing, or walk back toward the center, but you should not expect a guided return.

Ending here gives the route a sense of direction. You begin among old central streets and public squares, then finish at one of Reykjavik’s major landmarks. The walk is not a grand architecture tour, so the church is primarily a landmark and endpoint in this experience.

The uphill route may affect your comfort, especially in December conditions. Wear shoes with good support and dress for cold weather. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but anyone who needs particular assistance should confirm that the full route and current conditions suit them before booking.

What the Two Hours Feel Like

Two hours is enough time to hear the main stories, see several decorated areas, visit a bookshop, and walk between the central stops without turning the outing into an all-day commitment. I see this as a good length for a first afternoon or evening in Reykjavik.

The experience is more about interpretation than intensive sightseeing. You are moving through the city while the guide explains traditions, rather than stopping at one major attraction for a long visit. That format works well if you like local stories and want a gentle introduction to the center.

The main question is how much time your particular group spends at each stop. A reported departure devoted about 45 minutes to hot chocolate near the end. Some people will enjoy that warm social pause, especially in December. If you want the maximum number of sights in two hours, that amount of drink time may feel excessive.

Food and drink sampling is possible, but it is not described as a fixed tasting menu. I would eat something before the tour if you need a full meal, then treat any seasonal samples as an added pleasure.

Is $66 a Fair Price?

At $66 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see central Reykjavik. You can walk past the squares, decorations, and shopping streets on your own. The price makes more sense if you want the stories explained by a local guide and prefer a planned route during a short December visit.

You are paying for a live English-speaking guide, the two-hour structure, the folklore, the market and bookshop visits, and access to discounts at selected places. The discounts may add value if you shop or stop for food, but I would treat them as a bonus rather than a guarantee that the tour will pay for itself.

The strongest value is cultural. A self-guided walk can show you the lights, but it will not easily explain Grýla, the thirteen Yule Lads, the Christmas Cat, Icelandic Christmas books, and local seasonal food traditions in one compact outing.

The price is easier to justify for families and first-time visitors who want a clear introduction. Independent sightseers who already know Reykjavik, or people mainly seeking a shopping trip, may find the cost harder to defend.

Who Will Enjoy This Christmas Walk?

I would recommend it most to:

• Families looking for a story-led activity in central Reykjavik
• First-time visitors who want local Christmas customs explained
• People who enjoy folklore with a strange and slightly spooky edge
• Visitors who like books, small shops, seasonal food, and city walks
• Anyone with only a short December stay who wants several festive areas covered

It is also suitable for individual visitors, not just families. The guide-led format gives solo visitors a structured way to see the center and hear stories without arranging their own route.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is a long food tasting, extensive shopping time, or a detailed church tour. Those are not the focus. The walk gives you a sample of each, with the Yule Lad stories at the center.

Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes. Smoking is not allowed. The tour is available only in December, and a private version can be arranged in any language if the standard English group is not what you need.

My Booking Call

Book this tour if you want Reykjavik’s Christmas season explained through local folklore rather than simply photographed. The thirteen Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat give the walk a memorable identity, while the market, bookshop, Laugavegur, and Hallgrímskirkja provide enough variety to keep the route moving.

I would skip it if you want a tightly timed sightseeing sprint or a guaranteed food tasting. For most people, the best reason to book is the guide. A good guide, such as Robyn, can turn strange old stories into a clear picture of how Iceland celebrates Christmas today.

FAQ

When is the Christmas walking tour available?

The tour is available only in December.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The standard tour is conducted in English by a live guide. A private version is available in any language.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1 in Reykjavik. Face Ingólfstorg and the two tall stone seat-pillars, with Center Hotel Plaza to your right.

How will I identify the guide?

The local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik written on the back.

What places are included on the route?

The route includes Ingólfur Square, the ice skating rink, Christmas market stalls, Austurvöllur and the Oslo Christmas Tree, a book store, Laugavegur, Skólavörðustígur, and Hallgrímskirkja.

Will I taste Icelandic Christmas food or drinks?

You might sample Christmassy Icelandic food or drinks during the walk, but tastings are not presented as a guaranteed fixed menu.

Is the tour suitable for families?

Yes. The tour is described as suitable for families and for people interested in Icelandic culture and traditions.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes for the outdoor route.