Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas traditions are stranger and more entertaining than a quick look at lights and market stalls suggests. This two-hour walk brings you face to face with the Christmas Cat, the 13 Yule Lads, Icelandic book and music customs, and the mix of Christianity and Norse mythology behind the season.

I like the route’s variety: you move from decorated squares to a bookshop, an ornament store, a record shop, and finally Hallgrímskirkja. I also like the personal touch from guides such as Stefan, Ester, Einar, and Barti, who have added language lessons, music, candy, hot chocolate, and family stories. The main drawback is timing: on New Year’s Eve, the markets and other stops were closed, leaving one group with a much thinner tour than advertised.

Key points to know before you book

• The Christmas Cat gives the tour its best story: Icelandic folklore adds a spooky edge to the usual holiday tales.
• You finish at Hallgrímskirkja: The church provides a useful setting for discussing Christianity and Norse mythology.
• The walk includes real shopping stops: Penninn Eymundsson, Litla Jólabúðin, and 12 Tónar offer books, ornaments, music, and possible gifts.
• Guides shape the experience: Stefan has taught Icelandic phrases, Einar has added songs, and other guides have offered candy, hot chocolate, and treats.
• The tour costs $75.70 per person: That is fair if you value local storytelling and a compact introduction to central Reykjavik, but less attractive if you mainly want market shopping.
• Check the date carefully: Holiday attractions may close on special dates, especially New Year’s Eve.

What this Reykjavik Christmas walk actually offers

This is not a long sightseeing tour with a string of major interiors. It is a short, guided walk through central Reykjavik, built around the customs and stories of Christmas in Iceland.

You meet outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1, facing Ingólfstorg and its two tall stone seat-pillars. Center Hotel Plaza is on your right. The covered area, benches, and tables make this a practical meeting spot, especially when the weather is cold. Look for a guide in a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik.

The route ends at Hallgrímskirkja, so you cross a good portion of central Reykjavik rather than circling one small square. That makes the walk useful on your first day in town. You get a basic sense of the center while learning why Christmas in Iceland includes books, music, folklore, food, and family rituals.

The tour is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, lasts about two hours, and can include up to 99 people. That maximum is large, so ask how many people are booked when you arrive if a small-group feel matters to you. The listed price is $75.70 per person, and tips are not included.

Ingólfstorg starts the tour with lights and ice

Your first proper stop is Ingólfstorg, the square beside the meeting point. At Christmas, this is where you see the skating rink, decorations, and market stalls.

The stop is short, about 10 minutes, but it gets you into the holiday mood quickly. Your guide can explain what you are seeing rather than leaving you to inspect the lights on your own. If the stalls are open, this is also your first chance to browse for a small gift.

The date matters here. A New Year’s Eve departure ran into a serious problem because the markets were closed, and the group was told at the start that much of the advertised experience could not take place. If festive stalls are your main reason for booking, confirm that they will be operating on your chosen date.

Austurvöllur brings in the traditional tree

The walk continues to Austurvöllur Square, home to the traditional Oslo Christmas tree. This is a good place to hear how trees and decorations fit into Icelandic homes during the season.

The tree itself is not a major attraction that will occupy your whole morning. Its value comes from the explanation around it. A guide can connect a familiar European Christmas symbol with Icelandic custom, giving you a better sense of how the holiday is celebrated locally.

The square also helps break up the shopping stops that follow. You are not simply being led from one store to another. The route alternates between public places, folklore, retail, and landmarks.

Penninn Eymundsson explains Iceland’s book habit

At Penninn Eymundsson, the tour turns to one of Iceland’s most distinctive Christmas customs: books are important holiday gifts.

You will see Icelandic Christmas books and hear why a bookshop belongs on a seasonal walk. This stop is especially useful if you want a souvenir that feels connected to daily life rather than a standard tourist trinket. You might find something to take home even if you cannot read Icelandic, though the tour does not promise a specific purchase or a discount.

Allow yourself a little browsing time, but remember that the formal stop lasts about 10 minutes. The walk is designed to introduce you to the custom, not give you a long shopping session.

Lækjartorg introduces the Christmas Cat

At Lækjartorg, the subject changes from books to one of Iceland’s most memorable pieces of folklore: the fierce Christmas Cat.

This is one of the tour’s strongest storytelling moments. The Christmas Cat is not a cuddly mascot. Its tale has a sharper edge, and it helps explain why Icelandic Christmas folklore can feel both playful and unsettling.

The stop lasts only about five minutes, but it gives you a story to watch for in shop windows and holiday displays around town. The tour also connects this folklore to the 13 Yule Lads, which makes the strange figures you see in Reykjavik shops easier to understand.

If you are visiting with children, the story may be fun, but the tour is not designed solely for very young kids. One family found it better suited to teenagers and young adults than little ones.

Litla Jólabúðin is the practical gift stop

Litla Jólabúðin, or the Little Christmas Store, is open year-round. The guide takes you in to look at Icelandic ornaments and Christmas gifts.

This is the clearest shopping opportunity on the route. You can browse for something seasonal without having to search the city on your own. Still, the stop is short, and the tour does not include purchases, so treat it as an introduction rather than a dedicated shopping excursion.

I like this part because it links the stories to physical objects. After hearing about Icelandic Christmas customs, you can see how those ideas appear in ornaments and souvenirs. If you plan to buy gifts, keep your budget separate from the tour price.

12 Tónar adds Icelandic music and a warm pause

The next stop is 12 Tónar, a much-loved downtown music shop. Icelandic Christmas music draws from several countries, and the guide uses the store to explain that musical mix.

This stop can vary depending on your guide. Einar has given the tour a musical focus, including singing around the Christmas tree, a hymn connected to his grandmother, and more Icelandic Christmas music at the record shop. Some departures have also included drinks and cookies here.

Another group enjoyed hot chocolate and treats during the walk, while others described the drink break as well timed for getting out of the cold. These extras appear to depend on the guide and the day, so do not treat them as guaranteed inclusions. Still, the stop is valuable even without refreshments because it gives the tour a stronger local character than a simple city walk.

Music lovers may get more from this part than shoppers. If you want to remember Iceland through sound as well as pictures, ask your guide about the artists and songs you hear.

Hallgrímskirkja provides a thoughtful finish

The walk ends at Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik’s famous church on Hallgrímstorg 1. You do not need to arrange transport back to the starting point because the tour finishes here.

The final discussion covers the place of Christianity and Norse mythology in Icelandic Christmas. That pairing is one of the most useful ideas in the tour. Christmas is not presented as a single imported tradition, but as a holiday shaped by different layers of Icelandic culture.

Hallgrímskirkja also gives you a strong final landmark and a clear point from which to continue exploring. The tour does not state that entry into the church is included, so plan on an exterior discussion unless your guide tells you otherwise.

Several guides have added something personal at this point. Einar has shared a family connection through a hymn, and one guide sent pictures taken at the Christmas Cat, 12 Tónar, and Hallgrímskirkja after the walk. Those touches are not promised, but they show how much the guide can shape the afternoon.

The guides are the heart of the experience

The tour includes one expert local guide, and the strongest praise centers on the people leading the walk. Ester has been described as funny, warm, and able to make the group feel like family. Stefan has taught Icelandic phrases, answered questions, and added small surprises while explaining history and holiday customs.

Barti has used a Christmas sweater and Santa hat while discussing folklore and the Yule Lads. Einar has created a music-focused version with songs, candy, a hymn, and drinks at the record shop. Another departure included two guides in training, giving the group extra chances to ask about Iceland.

This variety is a plus, but it also means your experience will not be identical from one departure to the next. The core route remains the same, while the storytelling style, refreshments, music, and extra touches may change.

The overall score is 4.6 from 18 ratings, with many top ratings focused on friendly guides and clear explanations. One poor experience concerned the date and closed attractions rather than the guide’s personality. That distinction matters. The guide may do a good job, but cannot replace a closed market.

Is $75.70 good value?

At $75.70, this is not a cheap way to take a walk around Reykjavik. You can visit the squares and see Hallgrímskirkja without paying for a tour.

You are paying for interpretation. The value comes from learning why the Christmas Cat matters, how books fit the season, what the Yule Lads represent, and how music, Christianity, and Norse mythology meet in Icelandic holiday life. You also get a local route, a guide in English, and possible treats or drinks.

I think the price works best for a first visit, a short stay, or anyone who wants context rather than just decorations. It works less well if you already know central Reykjavik, dislike group walks, or mainly want time to shop.

The tour requires at least a minimum number of participants, and the maximum can reach 99. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, so keep an eye on the local time listed for the tour.

What to wear and how to prepare

You will be outdoors for much of the two hours, moving between squares and shops. Wear warm clothing and shoes suited to walking in winter conditions. The covered meeting area helps at the start, but it should not be treated as a heated waiting room.

Arrive at Hlöllabátar with the square and stone pillars in view. The meeting instructions are precise, which helps in a busy downtown area. A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Bring room in your schedule for browsing, but do not expect a full shopping trip. The route includes shops, yet each stop is brief. If you hear about a book, ornament, or record you want, you may need to return later.

Who should book this Christmas tour?

I would choose this walk if you want a friendly introduction to Reykjavik during the holiday season, especially on your first afternoon in town. It suits couples, families with teenagers, young adults, and music or folklore fans.

It is also a good fit if you prefer stories to formal museum displays. The walk gives you a way to understand the Christmas Cat, Yule Lads, books, songs, and decorations as parts of Icelandic life.

I would hesitate if your schedule falls on a date when markets are closed, particularly New Year’s Eve. I would also hesitate if you need a guaranteed hot chocolate, music performance, church entry, or small group. Those details may occur, but they are not listed as fixed inclusions.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Icelandic Christmas customs are your main interest and you want a local guide to connect the stories with real streets, shops, music, and landmarks. The route is short, varied, and easy to fit into a Reykjavik stay.

Before paying, check the date and ask whether the markets and planned stops will be open. On a normal holiday departure, the tour offers good cultural value and a pleasant way to reach Hallgrímskirkja. On a special closing date, you may pay full price for a much more limited walk.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, Austurstræti 1, in Reykjavik. Face Ingólfstorg and the two tall stone seat-pillars, with Center Hotel Plaza to your right.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends at Hallgrímskirkja Church, Hallgrímstorg 1.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What is included in the price?

One expert local guide is included. Tips are not included.

Does the tour include Christmas markets?

The route visits festive market areas when they are operating. Markets may be closed on special dates, including New Year’s Eve, so confirm conditions for your chosen date.

Can I shop during the walk?

Yes. The route includes Penninn Eymundsson, Litla Jólabúðin, and 12 Tónar, where you can browse for books, ornaments, gifts, and music.

Is hot chocolate included?

Hot chocolate, drinks, cookies, and treats have been offered on some departures, but they are not listed as guaranteed inclusions.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted.