Private Folklore Walking Tour – Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland

Reykjavik’s folklore is not locked away in a museum. It turns up in an elf stone near the Settlement Exhibition, an old cemetery, a city pond, and stories about trolls who disliked the arrival of Christianity. This private walk gives those places a storybook edge without losing sight of Icelandic history and belief.

I like the private format, since you can stop and ask questions instead of keeping pace with a large group. I also like the guide’s storytelling style, which may include acting out parts of the tales, along with the well-paced route for a slower-moving group. The main consideration is the price: at $172.55 per person, it makes the most sense for a small party that values personal attention.

Key points at a glance

• A private 90-minute walk: Only your party takes part, so you can ask questions freely and set the pace within the tour schedule.
• Folklore in real city places: The route connects elves, ghosts, trolls, zombies, and guardian spirits with cemeteries, churches, Parliament, and Lake Tjornin.
• A strong storytelling element: Expect mini sagas, dramatic retellings, and possibly some acting from your guide.
• A useful first-day activity: The central meeting point and gentle walking route can help you get oriented in Reykjavik.
• No admission fees at the stops: The value comes from the guide and interpretation, not paid entry to attractions.
• Check the endpoint: The supplied details name Hallgrimskirkja as the end point, while the final listed stop is Parliament House, so confirm the exact finish when booking.

Reykjavik told through elves, trolls, and ghosts

This is not a standard city walk with a few legends added for decoration. The route uses folklore as a way to explain how Icelanders have understood their surroundings, religion, ancestors, and unseen forces.

You will hear about elves, trolls, ghosts, zombies, aquatic monsters, and guardian spirits. Some stories are playful. Others are tied to old burial grounds or religious change. That mix gives the tour more range than a simple collection of spooky tales.

I especially like the way the route brings stories into ordinary parts of Reykjavik. You are not only listening to a saga in a room. You are looking at a stone, a church, a cemetery, a pond, or a government building while the guide explains the belief connected to it.

The experience is offered in English and lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. The published stop times add up to roughly an hour, with the rest of the time used for walking and transitions. That makes it a compact introduction rather than a long, physically demanding city tour.

Starting beneath the settlement pillars at Ingólfstorg

The walk begins at Ingólfstorg, beside the artwork of two stone pillars. These represent the discovery and settlement of Reykjavik by the first Viking, Ingólfur Arnarson.

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a practical place to wait. Your guide should be wearing a recognizable light blue jacket.

This is a good central starting point. If you are new to Reykjavik, you can get your bearings without hunting for a small side street. I would still use Google Maps, as recommended in the tour details, and arrive a little early so you are not searching for the two pillars at the last moment.

The first stop lasts about five minutes and has no admission charge. It sets up the idea that place and story are closely linked in Iceland. The city is not simply a collection of buildings. Its origin stories are part of the way the guide frames everything that follows.

Old graves and the art of calling up a ghost

The next stop is in front of the Settlement Exhibition, at what is described as Reykjavik’s oldest graveyard. You spend about seven minutes here learning how a zombie or ghost could supposedly be summoned to do your bidding.

This is one of the tour’s darker moments, though the tone can vary with the guide. The subject is not just Halloween-style entertainment. It points toward older ideas about the dead, magic, and the uneasy boundary between the living and the buried.

The stop is brief, which is probably wise. You get the story and its setting without standing in one place for too long. Since the tour is private, this is also a good time to ask about the difference between Icelandic ghost stories and the modern image of a zombie.

The Settlement Exhibition itself is not listed as an included admission. You see the exterior area and cemetery during the walk, so do not assume museum entry is part of the experience.

Finding the elf stone near the Settlement Exhibition

Close to the Settlement Exhibition, the group visits a secret elf stone or elf home. The guide shares stories about Iceland’s elves and explains how people connect these beings with particular places.

This is one of the most distinctive parts of the tour. You are not being taken to a large attraction with a sign explaining the legend. Instead, the interest comes from learning how an unremarkable-looking stone can carry a story.

I like this stop because it asks you to look more closely at the city. Afterward, a stone may not seem like just a stone. The guide can also explain details that are hard to get from a printed city map, and the private format gives you room to ask where folklore ends and local tradition begins.

The stop lasts about seven minutes. That is enough for a focused tale, though anyone wanting a long discussion of Icelandic elf beliefs may find the overall visit short.

Trolls, Catholicism, and the Cathedral of Christ the King

At the Cathedral of Christ the King, Reykjavik’s Catholic cathedral, the guide shifts from spirits in the earth to the effect of religion on Icelandic mythical beings.

The subject here is the relationship between Christianity and older beliefs. You hear that Iceland’s trolls did not care much for the church. That detail gives the stop a humorous edge while introducing a larger question: what happens to old stories when a new religion takes hold?

The cathedral provides a useful change of mood. Rather than moving from one ghost story to another, the tour pauses to connect folklore with religious influence. The stop takes about seven minutes, and no admission fee is listed.

You should think of this as an exterior conversation about religion and myth, not a cathedral tour. The value is in the guide’s explanation and storytelling rather than time spent inside the building.

A haunting pause at Holavallagardur Cemetery

The longest stop is at Holavallagardur Cemetery, with about 20 minutes devoted to ghost stories and the undead. The cemetery is described as beautiful and haunting, which makes it a fitting setting for the tour’s darker tales.

This is likely the most atmospheric part of the walk. A cemetery gives ghost stories a natural setting, and the extra time means the guide can tell more than one short anecdote. You may also have a chance to ask how local ideas about the dead fit into Icelandic storytelling.

The route is not presented as a fast march. One detailed account describes it as well paced for a slower-moving group, and that is useful information if you prefer time to listen, look around, and ask questions.

Still, remember that this is an outdoor walking activity. The tour does not list seating at every stop, and the experience depends on being comfortable spending time outside. The details say most people can participate, but they do not promise a fully step-free route or specify the walking distance.

Lake Tjornin and the creatures beneath the water

Lake Tjornin, the pond in central Reykjavik, brings a lighter and more open setting. The stop lasts about ten minutes, with discussion of possible aquatic monsters and other mythical beings.

This is a clever folklore location because water naturally invites stories. The lake also gives the walk a visual pause after the cemetery. Instead of looking among graves and old stones, you are considering what might be below the surface.

The subject can be playful, but it also shows how folklore grows from familiar surroundings. A pond, a cave, a rock, or a remote stretch of coast can become the home of something unseen. The guide’s job here is to make that connection entertaining without pretending every tale is a historical fact.

You may pass Reykjavik City Hall on the way back. Sometimes the group peeks inside if something interesting is happening. That possibility is not guaranteed, so treat it as a bonus rather than a promised stop.

Parliament House and Iceland’s guardian spirits

The final listed stop is outside Parliament House, or Alþingishúsið. Here the guide discusses Iceland’s guardian spirits and may teach you some Icelandic magic.

This ending shifts the focus from individual ghosts and creatures to spirits connected with Iceland itself. It also brings the tour into the middle of civic Reykjavik, where national government and old stories share the same small city center.

The Parliament stop lasts about ten minutes. It is a fitting place to finish because the tour has moved from settlement and burial grounds through religion and nature to national identity.

There is one practical detail to clarify. The meeting information names Hallgrimskirkja as the end point, while the listed route ends at Parliament House. Those locations are both in central Reykjavik, but they are not the same place. Ask the operator to confirm the exact endpoint before you go, especially if you have dinner, transport, or another booking afterward.

How the private format affects the experience

This is a private tour, so only your party participates. That matters more here than it would on a simple sightseeing loop because folklore often prompts questions.

You can ask for more detail about a ghost story, pause over the meaning of an elf stone, or ask the guide to explain how religion changed local myths. On a larger group walk, the guide would need to keep moving. Here, the conversation can be more personal.

The private setup also works well for mixed-pace groups. One account describes the route as comfortable for a slower-moving party, and the tour’s short stops help keep the walk manageable. You should not mistake that for a private vehicle tour, though. This is still a walking experience through central Reykjavik.

The guide’s presentation style appears to be a major part of the appeal. Expect storytelling rather than a dry lecture. The guide may act out parts of a tale, and the mini saga format gives the stories a lively rhythm.

Price, timing, and who gets the best value

The listed price is $172.55 per person. That is a serious charge for a 90-minute walking tour, especially since the stops do not include paid admissions.

You are paying for exclusivity, a dedicated guide, and a tailored conversation. For a couple, family, or small group that wants a private introduction to Icelandic folklore, the cost may feel reasonable. For one person or a large group comparing per-person prices, it is harder to justify.

The tour is booked, on average, 52 days ahead. That suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if the date matters to you, particularly if you are visiting during a busy period.

Pickup may be available from hotels or accommodations within a specified radius. If you stay outside the downtown area, you are asked to meet at the central Hlöllabátar location instead. Since the radius is not given, contact the operator if pickup affects your plans.

The tour is offered in English and has a mobile ticket. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Confirmation is sent at booking.

What the tour does especially well

The strongest feature is the storytelling connection between ordinary places and old beliefs. A city square becomes a settlement story. A cemetery becomes a setting for the undead. A stone becomes an elf home. A pond becomes a possible lair for an aquatic creature.

The second strength is the guide’s performance. The tour works best when the guide acts out parts of a story and keeps the pace lively. That is why the quality of the individual guide matters so much. The available information names Steina in the operator’s response, but it does not confirm that Steina will lead your tour.

I also like that you are encouraged to ask questions. This is not a fixed audio recording. The private group format gives you a chance to shape the conversation around your interests, from Icelandic religion to local magic.

The main weakness is length. Ninety minutes gives you a pleasant introduction, but not a full study of Icelandic folklore. You will hear a range of subjects, yet each stop receives only a few minutes except Holavallagardur Cemetery.

Practical tips before you book

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes several central Reykjavik stops, and the experience depends on walking between them.

Use Google Maps to locate the start. Look for the two tall stone pillars at Ingólfstorg, outside Hlöllabátar. CenterHotel Plaza should be to your right, and the covered area provides a useful waiting spot.

Arrive ready to listen outdoors. The tour does not list indoor admission as part of the price, and the route includes cemeteries, a lake, streets, and public spaces.

Ask about pickup when booking if you are staying outside central Reykjavik. The operator offers pickup only within a specified radius, and that radius is not provided here.

Confirm the endpoint. The details point to both Parliament House and Hallgrimskirkja. This is easy to resolve in advance and avoids a needless surprise at the end.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the folklore walk?

Book it if you want a private, story-led introduction to Reykjavik and prefer local legends to a standard list of landmarks. It suits couples, families, and small groups who enjoy asking questions and hearing a guide perform the tales.

It is also a good choice early in your stay, when you want a gentle orientation to the city with some unusual context. You will leave with more than directions to the next church or square. You will have stories to attach to stones, graves, water, and public buildings.

Skip it if you want extensive museum time, a long historical lecture, or the lowest-cost way to hear Icelandic legends. At $172.55 per person, the price depends heavily on how much you value a private guide.

For the best match, book after confirming the guide, pickup radius, walking expectations, and final endpoint. If those details suit your plans, this compact tour offers a memorable way to see Reykjavik through the strange, funny, and sometimes unsettling stories that cling to the city.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1 in Reykjavik, beside the two tall stone pillars facing Ingólfstorg Square.

Where does the tour end?

The meeting information names Hallgrimskirkja as the end point, while the final listed stop is Parliament House. Confirm the exact endpoint with the operator before booking.

How long is the tour?

The walking tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Is this a private experience?

Yes. Only your party participates in the tour.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered from hotels or accommodations within a specified radius. If you stay outside the downtown area, you are asked to meet at the central starting point.

What subjects does the guide cover?

The tour covers Icelandic elves, trolls, ghosts, zombies, guardian spirits, aquatic monsters, religion, and Icelandic magic.

Are admission tickets included?

The listed stops show no admission charge. The experience is a walking tour, and admission to the Settlement Exhibition is not listed as included.

Can service animals participate?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.