Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

Iceland does Christmas differently. Instead of one Santa, you get 13 Yule Lads, a troll mother named Grýla who eats naughty children, and a giant Christmas Cat with a taste for people who do not receive new clothes. This walking tour turns those strange, funny stories into the main event as you follow Reykjavik’s lit streets from the harbor-side center to Hallgrímskirkja.

I like the way the walk mixes local folklore with real city stops, including the Oslo Christmas Tree, downtown market stalls, a bookshop, and Little Christmas Store. I also like the small extras, such as possible tastings and discounts at selected Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants. The main thing to consider is the weather: two hours outdoors in December can feel long without proper layers, gloves, and sturdy shoes.

Key details about the Reykjavik Christmas walk

• Meet by Ingólfstorg: Start outside Hlöllabátar, near the square and the two tall stone pillars.
• Follow Iceland’s unusual Christmas family: Learn about the 13 Yule Lads, Grýla, and the ferocious Christmas Cat.
• See several festive corners: The route includes Ingólfstorg, Austurstræti, Laugavegur, Little Christmas Store, and Hallgrímskirkja.
• Expect a guide-led story walk: The tour is in English and lasts about two hours.
• Plan for December weather: Wear layers and clothing suited to cold, wind, or rain.
• Finish at Hallgrímskirkja: The final stretch follows Skólavörðustígur toward Reykjavik’s best-known church.

Why Icelandic Christmas folklore makes this walk different

Many Christmas walks rely on pretty lights and familiar holiday songs. This one has a stranger, more entertaining center. Iceland’s Christmas traditions include 13 Yule Lads, each arriving on a different night before Christmas. Their mother is Grýla, a troll with a frightening appetite, and the Christmas Cat is said to punish people who do not receive new clothes.

That gives your guide plenty to work with. You are not simply being led from one decorated street to another. You are hearing why Icelandic Christmas customs can seem playful, eerie, and a little wild compared with the standard Santa story.

The tour is family-friendly, but adults should enjoy it too. The tales give children something to watch for, while adults get a useful introduction to Icelandic folklore and seasonal customs. The guide may also point out Yule Lad figures hidden around central Reykjavik, which gives you a small scavenger hunt during the walk.

Guide Bjornvain received particular praise for being friendly, funny, and well informed. That matters here because the appeal depends heavily on storytelling. A good guide can make a short stop feel like part of a larger Icelandic tradition rather than a quick photo opportunity.

Starting at Ingólfstorg among lights and market stalls

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you somewhere reasonably comfortable to wait.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. This is useful in a busy central area, especially if several groups are gathering at the same time.

The first stop is Ingólfstorg, where you can see the ice-skating rink, seasonal decorations, and Christmas market stalls. This is a good opening because it places you directly into Reykjavik’s December mood. You have festive lights, small stands, and a public square before the storytelling moves toward Icelandic customs.

Do not expect a large European Christmas market on the scale of Vienna, Strasbourg, or Nuremberg. Reykjavik’s market experience is smaller and more local in feel. The value is not a huge number of stalls. It is the setting, the lights, and the chance to understand how Christmas appears in Iceland’s capital.

The tour allows about 15 minutes at Ingólfstorg. That is enough time to look around and hear the first stories without turning the stop into a long shopping session.

Austurstræti and the Oslo Christmas Tree

From Ingólfstorg, the walk continues through Austurstræti, one of the central streets in the route. This portion includes guided sightseeing and time for shopping, lasting about 20 minutes.

A key sight is the Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvöllur Square. Norway has sent this tree to Reykjavik for many years, and it is one of the city’s best-known seasonal sights. The tree gives the tour a useful point of connection between Iceland and its Nordic neighbors.

Austurvöllur is also a practical place to pause because it is an open city square rather than just another shop-lined street. You can take photographs, look at the decorations, and listen to the guide explain the local Christmas mood.

At this point, you are likely to notice the basic rhythm of the tour: a short walk, a story, a seasonal sight, and time to look around. It is not a hurried march through a list of attractions. Still, the route is active, so you should be comfortable walking for two hours and standing outside in December.

Laugavegur brings shopping and city life

The route then reaches Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. The scheduled stop lasts about 20 minutes and includes a photo stop, sightseeing, and guided commentary.

Laugavegur gives you a different view of Christmas in the capital. Ingólfstorg and Austurvöllur provide squares and public decorations, while Laugavegur brings you into the commercial heart of downtown. Storefronts, lights, and seasonal displays become part of the walk.

This is not a dedicated shopping excursion, so you should not expect long browsing time in every store. Instead, the guide helps you notice Christmas-related details and explains how the season fits into everyday Reykjavik.

The route also includes a short visit to a bookshop. This is one of the more distinctive stops because books matter greatly in Icelandic Christmas culture. You can see Icelandic Christmas books and learn about the country’s strong habit of giving books during the holiday season.

For visitors who want more than photographs, the bookshop stop adds useful cultural context. It shows that Christmas is not only about lights, gifts, and food. Reading and books are part of the season too.

Little Christmas Store gives the tour its playful stop

The walk includes about 30 minutes at Litla Jólabúðin, or Little Christmas Store. This is the longest individual stop, and it combines a photo opportunity, a visit, and shopping.

The shop offers a focused Christmas setting rather than a general souvenir stop. You can look for Icelandic holiday items, seasonal decorations, and gifts tied to the country’s traditions. The tour description also promises some fun surprises along the way, though the exact details may vary.

This is a useful place to buy a small present or simply see how Iceland presents its Christmas style. If you prefer a tour with no shopping at all, this stop may feel longer than necessary. If you like browsing unusual seasonal goods, the extra time is welcome.

Discounts at some Christmas stores, market stalls, and restaurants are included as a bonus. The details of the discounts are not specified, so I would treat them as a pleasant extra rather than a reason to book the tour by themselves.

The guide may also introduce you to Christmassy Icelandic food and drinks during the walk, with possible samples. Since the exact tasting is not guaranteed in the supplied details, come expecting the explanation first and any sample as a bonus.

The final climb to Hallgrímskirkja

The last stretch follows Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik’s striking church on the hill above the center. The route ends at the church after about 30 minutes of photographs, sightseeing, and guided commentary.

This is a satisfying finish because the walk moves from small seasonal details toward one of the city’s biggest visual landmarks. The church is easy to recognize, and its position gives the final stop a sense of arrival.

The tour does not include hotel pickup or transportation back to your accommodation. That is not a serious problem for anyone staying in central Reykjavik, but you should plan your next move from Hallgrímskirkja rather than from the starting square. The end point is different from the meeting point.

The final section may also include selected stores along Skólavörðustígur for Christmas-related items. This keeps the walk tied to the seasonal theme right through the finish instead of ending abruptly at the church.

What $74 means for the value

At $74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Reykjavik’s Christmas lights. You can walk through the center on your own for free, visit public squares, and look at the decorated streets without paying an admission fee.

The price makes more sense if you want interpretation. You are paying for two hours with a live English-speaking guide, a planned route, Icelandic folklore, seasonal history, and help finding the less obvious Christmas details. The Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat are much easier to appreciate when someone explains who they are and how they fit together.

The walk also saves you from planning a route between several downtown stops. You begin near Ingólfstorg, pass through Austurstræti and Laugavegur, visit the bookshop and Little Christmas Store, and finish at Hallgrímskirkja.

Value depends on your interests. If you mainly want photographs of Christmas lights, a self-guided evening walk may serve you better. If you want stories, folklore, and cultural context, the fee is easier to justify. Private groups are also available, which may suit families or small parties wanting a more personal pace.

December weather is part of the decision

The advice to dress in layers is not a formality. Reykjavik in December can be cold and wet, and the tour spends much of its two hours outdoors. Wear weather-appropriate clothing, including a warm outer layer, and choose shoes suitable for walking on winter streets.

You should also think about daylight and timing. The exact starting times vary, so check availability when booking. Since the tour operates only in December, you are specifically choosing a seasonal experience rather than a general Reykjavik city walk.

The route includes indoor moments at a bookshop and Little Christmas Store, but these should not be treated as a warm indoor tour. Most of the experience takes place on the streets and squares of central Reykjavik.

Bad weather could affect your enjoyment more than the route itself. On a clear, cold evening, the lights and stories should work well together. In rain or strong wind, the same two hours will require more patience and better clothing.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik Christmas tour

I would recommend this walk to families who want a Christmas activity with stories rather than a formal museum visit. Children can look for Yule Lads and react to the Christmas Cat and Grýla, while adults get a taste of Icelandic folklore.

It also suits first-time visitors who want an easy introduction to central Reykjavik during December. The route covers several useful areas without requiring public transportation, and the ending at Hallgrímskirkja leaves you near one of the city’s major sights.

Book it if you enjoy local customs, small shops, seasonal food, and a guide who can bring odd old tales to life. The tour is a weaker match if you dislike shopping stops, need an indoor activity, or want a broad historical tour of Reykjavik rather than a Christmas-focused one.

The 4.6 rating from 18 recorded ratings suggests a strong overall response, but the number is still fairly small. The clearest praise centers on the fun, friendly guide style, the unusual Yule Lad stories, and the extra touches along the route. Those are the parts I would use to judge the experience, not the promise of a large market or major sightseeing admission.

Should you book the Christmas Walking Tour?

Book this tour if you will be in Reykjavik in December and want to understand why Icelandic Christmas is much stranger than a standard Santa story. The 13 Yule Lads, troll Grýla, and Christmas Cat give the walk a clear identity, while the markets, bookshop, Laugavegur, and Hallgrímskirkja keep it tied to the city.

I would be less inclined to book it for the lights alone. You can see many of those on your own. Pay for the tour if the storytelling, cultural details, possible tastings, and friendly guide make the difference for you. Wear layers, arrive at Hlöllabátar with time to find the light blue jacket, and plan to continue your evening from Hallgrímskirkja.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the 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 church after continuing up Skólavörðustígur.

How long does the Christmas walking tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability for your chosen date.

What language is the tour in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

What Christmas traditions are explained?

You learn about Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads, their mother Grýla, the Christmas Cat, local Christmas food and drinks, and Iceland’s tradition of giving books at Christmas.

Does the tour visit Christmas markets?

Yes. The route includes the Christmas market stalls and seasonal decorations at Ingólfstorg, along with other festive areas in central Reykjavik.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You meet the guide in central Reykjavik and finish at Hallgrímskirkja.

What should you bring?

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and dress in layers. The tour takes place outdoors in Reykjavik during December.