Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas story is not built around one kindly Santa. It has 13 mischievous Yule Lads, their child-eating troll mother Grýla, and a ferocious Christmas Cat. This two-hour walk brings those strange old tales to life among market stalls, lights, shop windows, and snowy streets.

I like the way the tour pairs folklore with real city sights, especially the Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvöllur and the small Christmas shop on Laugavegur. I also like the bookshop stop, since Iceland’s Christmas book tradition gives the walk a local flavor beyond decorations and shopping.

The main drawback is timing: this experience runs only in December, and Reykjavik weather can be cold, wet, and windy. At $74 per person, it makes the most sense if you want stories, guidance, and seasonal stops rather than simply a short walk through the lights.

Key points to know before you go

• Thirteen Yule Lads: Learn how Iceland’s 13 unusual Santa figures differ from the single Santa familiar in many countries.
• A troll who eats naughty children: Grýla and the Christmas Cat give the tour a darker, wonderfully Icelandic edge.
• A compact downtown route: Walk from Ingólfstorg through Austurstræti and Laugavegur to Hallgrímskirkja.
• A bookshop and Christmas store: See Icelandic Christmas books and visit Litla Jólabúðin, the city’s little Christmas shop.
• A guide-led experience: English-speaking guides, including Bjornvain, add stories, humor, and seasonal surprises.
• A December-only outing: Wear layers and weather-ready clothing, since the entire experience takes place outdoors.

Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour: What this experience is really about

This is not a sightseeing tour with a thin layer of holiday decoration. The point is to understand how Iceland turns Christmas into a mix of family customs, food, books, folklore, shopping, and slightly alarming monsters.

You meet in central Reykjavik outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square. Look for the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, and the covered seating area gives you a practical place to wait. Your Friend in Reykjavik guides usually wear a light blue jacket marked with the company name on the back.

The tour is conducted in English and lasts about two hours. It is a walking route, so you do not need to arrange transport between stops. You finish at Hallgrímskirkja, near the top of Skólavörðustígur, rather than returning to the starting point.

That finish matters. You end near one of Reykjavik’s most recognizable buildings, with shops and cafés along the route back toward the center. If you are planning dinner afterward, keep in mind that the walk ends at a different place from where it begins.

Ingólfstorg and the first Christmas lights

The first stop is Ingólfstorg, one of the central squares in downtown Reykjavik. Here you can see the ice skating rink, seasonal decorations, and Christmas market stalls.

This is a good opening because it gets you into the setting before the folklore begins. You have actual lights and market activity around you while the guide explains what makes an Icelandic Christmas different. The square also gives you a chance to take photos without rushing straight into the longer walking section.

The market stalls are part of the seasonal atmosphere, but this is not presented as a large European Christmas market with rows of grand wooden chalets. Expect a more compact city-center stop. Its value is the combination of lights, decorations, and local context.

The guide may also introduce Christmas food and drinks associated with Iceland. A small sample may be offered during the walk, though you should not treat this as a full food tour. The focus remains on stories and sightseeing.

Austurstræti and the Oslo Christmas Tree

From Ingólfstorg, the route continues through Austurstræti, with about 20 minutes set aside for visiting, guided commentary, and shopping.

The highlight here is Austurvöllur Square and its famous Oslo Christmas Tree. The tree is a long-running symbol of the Christmas season in Reykjavik, and seeing it in person gives the tour a clear connection to the city’s public traditions. The square also provides an open setting for photographs and seasonal decoration.

This section is useful if you are new to Reykjavik because the guide can help you connect the central squares and streets instead of seeing them as isolated photo stops. You are walking through the heart of downtown, where Christmas lights are part of the regular city scene rather than something separated from everyday life.

Do not expect every stop to be a formal attraction with an entrance hall or exhibit. Much of the experience happens on public streets and squares. That keeps the tour simple and authentic, but it also means the quality of the moment depends partly on weather and how busy the streets are.

Finding the Yule Lads around downtown

The Yule Lads are the heart of the tour. Iceland has 13 of them, each with a distinct personality and name. They are not all charming gift-bringers. Some are pranksters, and their stories reflect an older Christmas tradition with more mischief than polish.

The guide helps you look for representations of the Yule Lads around central Reykjavik. This gives younger children something concrete to spot, while adults get the larger story behind the figures. It is one of the better reasons to take the tour with a guide instead of simply strolling through the lights on your own.

The stories also introduce Grýla, the Yule Lads’ troll mother. She is said to eat naughty children, which makes her a far less cuddly Christmas character than the figures found in many holiday displays. Then comes the Christmas Cat, a ferocious creature tied to Icelandic Christmas folklore.

That darker edge is part of the fun. If you want a polished, universally sweet Christmas experience, this may surprise you. If you enjoy old folk tales with odd details and a little menace, you will likely find the Icelandic version much more memorable.

A bookshop stop and Iceland’s Christmas reading habit

A short visit to a bookshop adds welcome variety to the walk. You can see Icelandic Christmas books and hear about the importance of reading during the holiday season.

This is a small stop, but it gives the tour a stronger local identity. Lights and market stalls could belong to many northern cities. The book tradition feels more specific to Iceland and helps explain why books are closely linked with Christmas there.

You should not expect a long literary talk or an extended shopping session. The visit is brief, and the overall route keeps moving. Still, it breaks up the outdoor walking and gives you a warmer indoor moment.

I especially like this part for families and anyone who wants more than photographs. It shows how Christmas is experienced at home, not just displayed in public. If you are buying gifts, the stop may also point you toward Icelandic Christmas titles and other seasonal items.

Laugavegur and Litla Jólabúðin

The route then reaches Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. There is time for a photo stop, guided commentary, and a look at the shops.

Laugavegur works well in the middle of the route because it changes the mood. You move from public squares to storefronts, window displays, and the city’s main shopping corridor. The Christmas lights are still part of the experience, but you also get a sense of how the holiday season appears in ordinary downtown life.

The featured shop is Litla Jólabúðin, or the little Christmas store. You have about 30 minutes here, making it one of the longer stops on the walk. It is a useful pause if you want seasonal gifts or simply enjoy small, highly themed shops.

The store visit will appeal most to people who like ornaments, holiday decorations, and local souvenirs. It is less important if you are trying to cover as many major sights as possible. Since the tour already includes several shopping-related stops, keep your priorities in mind before booking.

Discounts at selected Christmas shops, market stalls, and restaurants are included as an extra benefit. The exact savings and participating businesses are not specified, so consider them a bonus rather than a reason to assume you will recover the tour price through purchases.

The climb to Hallgrímskirkja

The final section takes you up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja. The street is known for its shops and view toward the church, and the tour includes selected stops for Christmas-related items along the way.

Hallgrímskirkja is a fitting place to finish. The church is one of Reykjavik’s defining sights, and its tall facade gives the end of the walk a clear visual marker. You have time for a photo stop and guided sightseeing before the tour ends.

The route is not described as a difficult hike, but it is still a city walk with an uphill section. In icy or wet conditions, good footwear matters. You will be outside for most of the two hours, so warm layers are more important than dressing up for the holiday theme.

Finishing here also gives you flexibility. You can continue exploring the surrounding shops, walk back toward Laugavegur, or arrange your next activity from the church area. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you make your own way to the meeting point and onward after the tour.

What the $74 price gets you

At $74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Reykjavik’s Christmas lights. You can walk through downtown independently for free, visit the public squares on your own, and look at shop windows without a guide.

The fee pays for more than movement between locations. You are buying two hours of organized storytelling, local folklore, a planned route, seasonal stops, and a guide who can explain the meaning behind what you are seeing. If you would otherwise wander without knowing who Grýla or the Yule Lads are, the added context has real value.

The price also makes more sense for a first visit, a family group, or anyone who enjoys guided experiences. A previous booking praised Bjornvain for being friendly, funny, and well prepared, with particular appreciation for the Yule Lad stories and small extras along the way. That gives you a useful sense of the tone to expect from a strong guide: informal, warm, and story-focused rather than stiff.

For a private group, the value depends on how many people share the cost and how much you value a more personal outing. The private option is available, but the supplied details do not state its separate price or exact format.

Who should book this December walk?

I would choose this tour if you are in Reykjavik during December and want the city’s Christmas customs explained by a local guide. It suits families especially well because children can look for Yule Lad figures while adults enjoy the folklore and shopping stops.

It also works for couples and solo visitors who prefer a planned route. The walk gives you a simple orientation through downtown and ends at Hallgrímskirkja, one of the city’s major landmarks.

You may want to skip it if your main goal is a fast photo tour, a serious food experience, or a broad survey of Reykjavik’s museums. You should also think twice if cold weather will keep you from enjoying an outdoor walk. The tour runs only in December, and the conditions can change quickly, so layers are essential.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour and the option to reserve now and pay later make booking less risky. Still, your best preparation is practical: check the forecast, wear weather-appropriate clothing, and bring shoes suitable for wet or icy streets.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Icelandic Christmas folklore, not just pretty lights. The Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat give the experience a character you will not get from a standard holiday stroll.

The tour is also a good choice if you want a compact downtown route with a guide, a bookshop visit, a Christmas store, market stalls, and a finish at Hallgrímskirkja. At $74, it is fair value for that mix, though less attractive if you are happy exploring independently.

For a December visit, I would consider it a worthwhile seasonal add-on, particularly for families and first-time visitors. Dress warmly, leave room for an uphill walk, and expect folklore with teeth.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour start?

The tour starts 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, Reykjavik’s well-known church.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $74 per person.

Does the tour operate all year?

No. This Christmas walking tour operates only in December.

What Christmas traditions are covered?

The tour covers Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads, their mother Grýla, the Christmas Cat, seasonal foods and drinks, Christmas books, and local holiday customs.

Is the tour suitable for families?

Yes. It is described as family-friendly, with stories, folklore, Christmas displays, and Yule Lad figures to look for around downtown.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You make your own way to the meeting point.

What should I wear?

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and layers. The experience takes place on foot outdoors, including the walk up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja.

Can I book a private group?

Yes. A private group option is available, though the provided details do not give its separate price.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.