Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland
4.8
489 Ratings
Reykjavík
Discover the enchanting world of Icelandic folklore on a walking tour through Reykjavik. Encounter elves, trolls, ghosts, and learn about Icelandic magic and storytelling traditions.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Your Friend In Reykjavik - Meet and greet and start our journey with the Mythical Creatures of Iceland.
- Skúli Magnússon Sheriff - Our first stop is the oldest graveyard in Iceland which dates back from around 900.
- Playground - Here we visit some Elves
- Cathedral of Christ the King - The Trolls of Iceland really don’t like the Church
- Hólavallakirkjugarður - At the 2nd oldest cemetery in Reykjavik, we visit the most famous ghost of Iceland. The Deacon of Dark River.
- Tjörnin - By the Reykjavik lake we hear stories about Icelandic monsters
- Reykjavik City Hall - We walk by the Reykjavik City Hall and sometimes we even visit the great map of Iceland discussing locations of Trolls and other creatures.
- Alþingishúsið - Here we visit the Icelandic Guardian spirits
- Austurvollur Square - Our final destination of the Icelandic Mythical Walk.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Live entertainment
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Embark on an enchanting stroll through Reykjavik’s oldest district, stepping into the world of Elves and Trolls in Iceland. To discover a unique aspect of Icelandic culture, join us for a visit to the city center’s elfstone and a ghostly stroll through two of Reykjavik’s most ancient burial grounds.
We’ll share eerie tales of well-known phantoms like the Deacon of Dark River, extraordinary Icelandic beasts, the 13 Yule Lads or Icelandic Santas known as Jólasveinar, and Grýla, their infamous child-eating troll mother.
You will also be introduced to the art of Icelandic sorcery (specifically, how to rouse the undead).
With the long, dark winter nights in Iceland, storytelling has always been a fundamental source of amusement. Remarkably, approximately one in every ten Icelanders publishes a book in their lifetime, a testament to our deep-rooted love for weaving tales. Trust us, this spirited walk adorned with a plethora of stories will not disappoint.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please be at Ingolfur Square 5 minutes before the starting time
Location
Ingólfur Square
Austurstræti
Your Guide will meet up with you at Ingolfur Square in the center of Reykjavik by the two stone pillars
(They are over 3 meters high)
The square on Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/wmKoKvB8YZfC3p8C7
Our expert local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(489 Ratings)
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111adriennep
Apr 15, 2024
Very Interesting & Great Guide - This tour was excellent, & Einar, our guide, was so animated & personable, he brought each story to life. Iceland has such interesting folk history & the stories of Gryla the troll & the Yule Lads & Yule Cat, as well as the ghost story he told in the cemetery were so enjoyable. Einar even brought a very personal touch to the tour, pointing out graves of his own relatives & their artistic contributions to Iceland. We had an excellent time & highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennabj8512lq
Apr 9, 2024
Elves, Zombies, Necropants and More in Iceland's Capital City - Had the best evening attending Your Friend in Reykjavik's "Reykjavik Folklore Tour." Our knowledgeable guide shared tales of Icelandic magic, Norse mythology and elven customs while taking us through some of the oldest parts of the city. This tour is a must-do for fans of the strange and unusual looking to learn something new in the world's northernmost capital.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shubhangini_s
Apr 5, 2024
Must do- for the brilliant guide (Parde) - Absolutely must do! I often get bored in walking tours- but Parde(hope I spelt that right) was a wonderful guide! He was theatrical and engaging- and I loved how he told the stories; stories which in itself were very interesting. You could see he was very passionate about what he does and it was a tremendously enjoyable tour. Both my mother and I enjoyed this- and it’s good for all ages.I cannot recommend this enough! It’s brilliant! Very specific to the guide though…
Review provided by Viator
T6438fkjaneth
Apr 3, 2024
Best $ spent. Ask for Bo! - My daughter and I had a terrific time on this tour with Bo. This walking tour was the highlight of our trip! Lots of stories and fun to be had..the time flew by.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vzw_g
Mar 29, 2024
Enchanting - Perdo (hope I spell it right) is a very funny enchanting man and a born storyteller, behind the surface he's a walking encyclopedia when it comes to knowledge about history, fun facts and folklore, I really enjoyed it!
@ Perdo: maybe you didn't make it as an actor, but you're surely one of the best storytellers I met so far, don't waste that gift too soon ;)
Review provided by Viator
Heather
Mar 25, 2024
Folklore galore! - Stephan I was our guide and was phenomenal. He is charismatic and his enthusiasm is contagious. We learned a great deal about Norse mythology as well as Icelandic folklore and history. We had explored some of the nation prior to our walking tour and could envision the trolls along the countryside we had driven in days prior. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in understanding the legends of old Iceland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Drnorth
Mar 24, 2024
A Delightful Tour - I took this tour while traveling solo in Reykjavik. It was delightful. An excellent and personable guide (I forget his name), a bit of history and cultural insight, and, of course, excellent stories and elves and trolls and monsters. A lot of fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heathersq5740zy
Mar 24, 2024
Great guide. Interesting tour. - Stephan I was a wonderful guide. Told us endearing stories with song and action. And a twinkle in his eye. Made us smile! A must for those with an interest in Folklore.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
704terryt
Apr 13, 2024
Learn about folklore - The tour gives you highlights of the Icelandic folklore while exploring parts of the downtown area. The tour guide could have interacted more with the group to bring the stories to life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_l
Mar 22, 2024
Too cold but good stories. - Loved going to the cemetery and all of the specific ghost and elf stories. It was very cold and a wintery mix. Wish that we had a few indoor stops to listen to the stories instead on standing in the cold though. Would have been great in the Summer.
Review provided by Viator
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