Reykjavik turns folklore into footpaths in December. This Reykjavik Christmas walking tour brings Iceland’s Yule stories to life as you stroll lit streets and hear about the 13 Santas, their mother, and the ferocious Christmas Cat. I also really like the way the route mixes “story stops” with real holiday sights, so the magic feels grounded in what’s actually happening in town.

The other thing I love: the tour is led by a local guide who can keep the tone warm and fun, with at least one guide named Robyn called out as especially friendly and well informed. One caution though: the tour includes Christmassy food and drinks, and there may be a longer hot chocolate stretch for anyone who prefers quicker tastings.

Key highlights at a glance

• 13 Santas, their mother, and Christmas Cat: Icelandic folklore you can remember, not just hear.
• Troll Grýla and the naughty-kid story: darker yule tales told in a family-friendly way.
• Ingólfur Square Christmas sights: an ice skating rink vibe plus decorations and market stalls.
• Oslo Christmas Tree stop: a famous downtown photo point with time to look around.
• Book store visit: a quick stop that shows how much Icelanders love books at Christmas.
• Discounts during the walk: savings at select Christmas stores, stalls, and even restaurants.

Downtown Reykjavik, Christmas mode: how the tour feels in 2 hours

This tour is built for December timing. In just 2 hours, you get a compact “greatest hits” walk through central Reykjavik, with folklore layered on top. That matters because Reykjavik winter can be windy and dark. A tight route keeps you from overdoing it, and it also helps you stay present for the stories instead of just surviving the weather.

You’ll be moving at a walking pace with multiple stops, so it doesn’t feel like a speed-walk. It’s more like a guided holiday stroll where the guide points out details you might miss on your own: hidden Yule lads around the city center, festive store windows, and the specific Christmas characters that Iceland has kept in the mix for generations.

Family-friendly doesn’t mean baby-simple here. The tales include Troll Grýla, who eats naughty children, plus the Christmas Cat. The key is how the guide frames it—spooky enough to feel like folklore, but handled in a way that still works for kids.

Finding your guide at Hlöllabátar by Ingólfstorg

Your meeting point is very specific, and I like that. You meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1. You should gather facing Ingólfstorg, in front of the square area with benches and tables, including a covered ceiling for waiting.

Two tall stone seat-pillars (over two meters high) are your landmark, and Center Hotel Plaza is to your right. The guides are easy to spot too: they usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back, and the tour runs in English.

If you arrive a few minutes early, you’ll have less stress. Winter streets are slick, and it’s smart to get your bearings before the group starts moving.

Fógetagarðurinn to Ingólfur Square: ice rink energy and Christmas market stalls

Once you start, you’re in the heart of Reykjavik’s festive rhythm. One of the first big visual hits is Ingólfur Square, where you can see an ice skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls.

This stop is valuable because it shows the difference between “Christmas as a concept” and Christmas as a street-level activity. You’ll feel it: people skating, vendors setting up, decorations changing the look of the square. It also gives your guide an easy way to switch from characters and stories to what Icelanders do during the season.

Practical tip: keep your eyes open for small themed details. The tour encourages you to spot unique Icelandic Yule lads or Santa-like figures hidden around the city center. When a guide tells you what to look for, you’ll notice them much more than you would on your own.

Austurvollur and the Oslo Christmas Tree: a famous photo stop with story fuel

Next you move to Austurvollur to see the famous Oslo Christmas Tree. This is one of those classic “everybody knows it, but not everybody stops to look” points. The tour’s strength is that you don’t just take a photo and keep walking. The guide weaves in the bigger Icelandic Christmas cast while you’re standing in a place that’s already visually Christmas-coded.

This is also where the walking stays satisfying. You’re still outside, still moving through lit streets, but you’re not just passing by storefronts. You have a reason to slow down—both for photos and for the storytelling beats around Icelandic yule folklore.

If you like the idea of a tour that gives you a mental map of the city center, this is a good turning point. After this, you start shifting toward the shopping streets where you can see the season in retail form.

The Yule lads hunt and the Christmas Cat finale setup

One of the tour’s fun challenges is finding characters hiding around town—specifically the unique Icelandic Yule lads / Santa figures. Icelandic Christmas folklore is full of named characters, and the tour helps you keep them straight by focusing attention where it counts: in what you’re seeing right now.

Then there’s the arc toward the end of the story set: the guide brings you through the key characters and ends with the ferocious Christmas Cat. That pacing matters. It turns the final phase of the walk into a payoff, not just a transfer from one street to another.

If you’re traveling with kids, this story sequence is a decent match for how kids remember. They don’t just track time; they track characters and moments. A guided route helps you hit several “remember this” scenes in one go.

A quick detour into an Icelandic Christmas book store

You’ll make a short visit to a book store. It’s not a long literature lecture, and that’s the point. This stop shows how Icelanders bring books into the holiday season, which feels very “of the culture” rather than imported decoration.

Why I think this stop is worth it: it adds variety. After ice rink visuals, market stalls, and street folklore, the book store is calm and indoor—an easy mental reset. You also get a chance to browse unique Icelandic Christmas books that you likely wouldn’t see elsewhere.

If you like souvenirs with a real story attached, books are often the best choice. Even if you only flip through, you’ll come away with a clearer sense of what Icelandic Christmas looks like beyond Santa costumes.

Laugavegur’s holiday shopping street and the little Christmas store

After the book store, you head to Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. This is where the tour turns practical: you’re not just learning about Christmas; you’re walking past the places that sell Christmas things.

The tour includes a look at the one and only little Christmas store on this street. It’s also the portion where discounts can help justify the price if you plan to buy something. The tour includes discounts at a couple of Christmas stores, stalls, and even restaurants, so you might be able to use the savings right away rather than treating the tour like a purely cultural experience.

A smart approach here: don’t buy the first cute thing you see. Instead, check the shop options the guide highlights, then compare your impulse item with what the discount applies to. You’ll feel more in control of your spending.

Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja: the walk closes with style

The last stretch takes you up Skólavörðustígur, toward Hallgrímskirkja. This part matters because it’s where your Christmas walk turns into a Reykjavik walk—curving streets, classic downtown views, and the church area giving you a recognizable end point.

Along the way, the tour suggests peeking at select stores for Christmas-related things. Even if you’re not buying, it keeps the walk from feeling repetitive. You keep spotting themed windows and seasonal displays, and your guide can connect what you see to the stories you heard earlier.

The tour ends at Hallgrímskirkja, a helpful finish because it’s a landmark you can navigate around after the walk.

Price and value: what $66 buys you in real terms

At $66 per person for a 2-hour guided walk, you’re paying for a few things that add up fast in Reykjavik winter: a knowledgeable local guide in English, a structured route through several holiday hotspots, and built-in cultural context (the 13 Santas, Troll Grýla, and Christmas Cat stories).

Then there are the tangible add-ons that boost value:

• A stop at a Christmas market area plus market-stall time
• A book store visit (often a rare culture stop in short city tours)
• Discounts at selected Christmas stores and restaurants

So it isn’t just “stories while you walk.” It’s stories plus access, pacing, and savings. If you were going to browse Laugavegur anyway, see Ingólfur Square anyway, and end up at a landmark like Hallgrímskirkja anyway, the guided format helps you compress multiple things into one smooth morning or afternoon block.

Who this tour is best for (and who should skip it)

This tour is a strong fit if you:

• Want Icelandic Christmas folklore explained in a way that’s family-friendly
• Like walking routes that show multiple seasonal city sights without long transit
• Enjoy culture that feels local, not just themed retail

It may be less ideal if you:

• Prefer a tour with minimal food and drink stops
• Hate when the schedule spends a longer chunk on hot chocolate-type downtime

That caution comes from real feedback where someone wished they’d seen more instead of a long hot chocolate stretch. So if you’re not a hot drink person, just plan your expectations.

The guides: warmth, storytelling, and small touches that matter

The tour is led by local English-speaking guides, and guide quality is clearly part of the appeal. One review specifically praised Robyn as top-notch, describing her as friendly and well informed, and even noting that more food and snacks were offered after the tour.

That lines up with what you should look for in a winter walking tour: the guide should keep energy steady, not let the group drift into cold silence. When the guide does their job, you’ll feel like you learned something and also enjoyed the season visually.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour?

Yes, I’d book it if you’re in Reykjavik in December and want a compact, story-driven way to experience Christmas in the capital. The route is sensible for winter, the stops cover a mix of folklore + real holiday sights + a book store, and the discounts can make it feel more practical than a pure “ticket to listen.”

I would skip it only if your priority is a mostly shopping or mostly food experience. The tour’s core is the folklore and the guided walk. The food/drink sampling is included, but it’s not the main event.

If your travel style is: learn a little, see a lot, walk smart, and keep winter from draining your energy, this one fits.

FAQ

Is this Reykjavik Christmas walking tour only available in December?

Yes. The tour is only available in December.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 2 hours.

What language is the guided tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where do we meet for the tour?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1 in Reykjavík, facing Ingólfstorg, near the two tall stone seat-pillars. Guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back.

What stops are included during the walk?

You’ll see the ice skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls at Ingólfur Square, visit the Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvollur, make a short stop at a book store, walk through Laugavegur with a look at a Christmas shop, then head up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja where the tour ends.

What’s included in the price?

Included are a guided walking tour, stories and folklore about Icelandic Christmas traditions, a visit to a Christmas market and book store, and discounts at select Christmas stores and restaurants.

Is it wheelchair accessible, and is smoking allowed?

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible. Smoking is not allowed.