Christmas in Reykjavik feels like a story you can walk through, not just decorations you pass by. This 2-hour walking tour blends holiday lights with Icelandic folklore, including the 13 Santas and the darker characters that pop up in Christmas tales.

I really like that the route is short but packed, so you get a real sense of how Iceland celebrates in December. The bookstore stop is a smart break from winter wind, and it also explains why Icelanders treat books as a big part of the season. The one drawback to keep in mind is pacing, because the tour can include time set aside for hot chocolate at the end.

What Makes This Tour Worth Your December Time

The guide support matters here. On this tour, guides like Robyn keep the stories clear and friendly, so the folklore lands, not just the sights. If you prefer a strict shopping crawl with zero pauses, you may find the final portion less focused on your own browsing and more focused on seasonal food.

Key Highlights You Will Actually Feel

• The Icelandic 13 Santas plus their mother, with stories that explain the holiday characters in context
• Ingólfur Square Christmas market and ice rink area, so you see real December Reykjavik energy
• A stop for Icelandic Christmas books, where you can spot the local love of reading during the season
• Downtown scavenger-style spotting of Yule lads, including hidden Santa characters around the city center
• Discounts at select Christmas stores and restaurants, which can help stretch your holiday budget

Christmas Walking Tour, Reykjavik Style

Reykjavik’s December streets are made for walking. Long nights mean early lights, short distances mean frequent “wait, look at that” moments, and the air stays crisp enough that the cold feels like part of the plan instead of a problem.

This tour is built around Icelandic Christmas folklore, not just holiday shopping. You’ll hear stories about the 13 Santas of Iceland, their mother, and darker legends like Troll Grýla, who’s often described as eating naughty children. You also end with the ferocious Christmas Cat, so the tour doesn’t shy away from the myth side of the holidays.

The format is simple: you follow a guided route through central Reykjavik’s festive landmarks, then you get small detours that connect what you see to the stories behind it. If you like learning the “why” behind traditions while you walk, this tour fits nicely.

Start Where Reykjavik’s Downtown Feels Real: Austurstræti

You meet at Fógetagarðurinn for the Christmas walking tour through downtown Reykjavik, but the practical meeting point detail is even clearer: meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1.

When you arrive, gather facing Ingólfstorg, by the two tall stone seat-pillars (each over two meters high). You’ll see Center Hotel Plaza to your right, and there are benches, tables, and a covered ceiling area in front of Hlöllabátar, which helps on cold, wet December days.

The guide is easy to spot. They usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back, so you don’t have to guess who’s “the guide.” The tour runs with live English language support, and it is wheelchair accessible, which is helpful for families or anyone moving slower in winter.

Ingólfur Square: Ice Skating, Market Stalls, and the First Christmas Vibes

The tour’s first major stop is Ingólfur Square. This is where you’ll see the ice skating rink area and holiday decorations, plus Christmas market stalls set up in one of Reykjavik’s central public spaces.

Why this stop matters: it’s not a “look from across the street” moment. You get a real sense of the season’s everyday rhythm, the kind of place locals and visitors pass through, pause, and share small holiday snacks at. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything right away, seeing the market setup helps you understand what the tour is really doing. It’s showing you a working holiday scene, not just a photo backdrop.

This is also a good time to plan your clothing. December weather can swing from cold to colder, and your time outside is limited by the tour being only 2 hours. Wear warm layers and comfortable walking shoes, because the tour is designed for moving, not lingering for long.

The Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvollur

Next, you move to Austurvollur, where you can see the famous Oslo Christmas Tree. It’s one of those landmarks that gives Reykjavik a shared Nordic holiday feel, and it works well in the route because it’s close enough to keep the walking tight, but still distinct enough to feel like a separate stop.

The tour’s focus here is visual plus story. You’re not just looking at a tree, you’re learning how Iceland’s holiday traditions mix local characters, seasonal rituals, and a wider Scandinavian Christmas atmosphere.

Also, this is one of the times you may be encouraged to watch for Yulelads or Santa-style characters hiding around the city center. That kind of “spot it as you go” activity is a great way to keep young kids engaged, and it also makes adults look twice at shopfronts and small street details.

Icelandic Christmas Lore: 13 Santas, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat

The folklore is the heart of the tour, and it shows up continuously as you walk between stops. You’ll hear about the 13 Santas, plus their mother, which is an especially Icelandic touch. It frames Christmas as a whole cast of characters, not a single gift-bringer.

Then the stories get darker. Troll Grýla is brought up as a figure who’s connected to punishing or consuming naughty children in traditional tales. It sounds intense, but in a tour context it’s delivered like folklore, with explanations that help you understand why these stories survived and how people talk about them during the season.

Finally, you end with the ferocious Christmas Cat. This part is fun because it signals that Icelandic Christmas stories can be playful and scary at the same time. If you’re the kind of person who wants your holiday experience to feel local, this is where you’ll feel it most.

One practical note: folklore tours are only as good as the pace and clarity of the guide. The best moments happen when you can hear the story fully without getting rushed along. A guide like Robyn, mentioned as friendly and well informed, is the exact vibe you want in cold weather.

A Quick Bookstore Visit That Becomes a Real Christmas Moment

At some point you make a short stop in a book store. This is one of the most distinctive parts of the tour.

You’ll see unique Icelandic Christmas books, and you’ll learn about the Icelandic love of books, especially around Christmas time. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, this stop gives you a warm break and a window into how the season works beyond lights and candy.

Why it’s valuable: it adds depth to what you’re seeing. A walking tour can sometimes feel like a list of sights, but a bookstore detour turns the experience into a cultural snapshot. It also helps you slow down for a minute, which matters because winter walking in Reykjavik can make you rush.

This is also where you can pick up a small souvenir that feels genuinely Icelandic. Christmas books make sense here because they connect to tradition, language, and the way stories are shared in daily life.

Downtown Shopping on Laugavegur and a Little Christmas Store

After the bookstore, the tour heads toward Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. Here, you’ll check out the one and only little Christmas store, plus select Christmas related shops along the route.

If you like shopping, this segment offers a more focused break than a random street walk. You’re not wandering and hoping you find something worth your time. You’re following a route designed to point you to seasonal items and to keep you connected to the tour’s theme.

What makes this section especially practical is the discounts. The tour includes discounts at a couple of Christmas stores, stalls, and even restaurants. The exact places can vary, but the idea is consistent: you get a chance to save money while you shop or snack in the areas you’re already walking through.

That can be a big part of the tour’s value, especially since you’re paying $66 per person for a short guided experience. If you buy a small souvenir, a snack, or a warm drink, those discounts can soften the overall cost.

Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja: The Walk Comes Home

The final stretch takes you up Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja church, where the tour ends. This is a nice ending because it mixes holiday shopping window peeks with a sense of moving uphill toward something iconic.

Along the way, expect select store stops for Christmas related things. This isn’t meant to be a full shopping hour, but it’s enough to give you the feeling that you saw both the decorations and the season’s merchandise.

Hallgrímskirkja is a strong finish because it’s recognizable, and it helps you orient yourself afterward. Once the tour ends, you can decide how you want to continue your evening, whether that means another stop for food or just heading out to catch the city lights.

Price and Value: Is $66 for Two Hours Too Much?

At $66 per person for 2 hours, the price is not bargain-basement, but it’s also not out of line for a guided holiday experience in the center of Reykjavik. What you’re paying for is storytelling plus a structured route through multiple festive landmarks in winter weather.

Here’s how I’d judge value, based on how the tour is built:

• You get guided folklore tied to what you’re seeing, including the 13 Santas, their mother, Troll Grýla, and the Christmas Cat.
• You get multiple real December settings in one go, including market stalls and an ice rink area at Ingólfur Square and the Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvollur.
• You get a warm cultural detour to a book store, which you’d probably skip if you were only trying to hit major sights.
• You get discounts at select Christmas stores and restaurants, which can reduce what you spend on top of the tour fee.

The tour can feel pricier if you’re the type who wants lots of time inside shops or wants a long meal. But if you want a compact, themed route that teaches you while you walk, you should feel like the price earns its place.

One more thing: it’s only available in December, so if you’re in Reykjavik during the season, this kind of themed tour is a good way to make your trip feel specifically winter Icelandic.

What to Know Before You Go (So the Tour Feels Easy)

Dress for cold walking. You’ll be outside, and December in Reykjavik can be sharp. Warm layers and comfortable shoes matter more than fancy outfits.

Plan your expectations around the “seasonal extras” part. There may be Christmassy food and drinks, and a hot chocolate stop can take up time. One concern raised around timing is that the last stretch can include more time for hot chocolate than for additional sightseeing.

Still, if you like holiday traditions that include warm drinks and the social rhythm of markets, that’s not a problem. It just means you should go in ready for a bit of “sit, sip, and listen” at the end.

Also, this is family-friendly. That doesn’t mean it is only for kids. It means the stories are delivered in a way that works for a range of ages, including the slightly scary folklore characters.

Finally, smoking is not allowed. That’s standard for many tours, but it matters if you’re planning breaks and wondering what’s permitted.

Who This Tour Is Best For

This is a great fit if:

• You want Icelandic Christmas folklore explained in a practical, story-based way, not just a list of traditions.
• You like walking through city centers and picking up seasonal details along the way.
• You have kids or you want a route that keeps the mood playful, including spotting characters around downtown.
• You appreciate cultural detours like the bookstore stop, where you learn something that feels Icelandic beyond Christmas itself.

It may be less ideal if:

• You want long shopping time with minimal guidance.
• You get frustrated if warm drink breaks take time away from last-minute browsing.
• You only care about one or two landmarks and don’t want the cast of seasonal characters explained.

Should You Book This Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour?

Book it if you want Reykjavik Christmas in one tight package: market stalls, an ice skating area, a major Nordic landmark tree, a bookstore stop, and folklore about the 13 Santas, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat, all with a live English guide.

Skip it if your perfect December day is mostly self-guided shopping and you would rather spend the two hours inside stores than outside listening to stories. Also, if hot chocolate breaks are a deal breaker for you, factor that into your expectations.

If you’re visiting in December and you want your holiday day to feel specifically Icelandic, this tour is a very reasonable way to spend 2 hours in the heart of Reykjavik.