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Private Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour

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• Duration 90 Min
• Group Size 12 Person Max
• Meeting Location Ingólfur Square in the center of Reykjavik

Enchanting folklore trips in Reykjavik…

Meet Iceland’s legendary monsters and spirits on this Reykjavik trip inspired by Icelandic folklore. Explore the dark, supernatural secrets of Reykjavik’s history in the company of an expert, local tour guide.

Iceland is called the Land of the Sagas because of our incredible Saga tradition and passion for weaving tall tales.

On this private Reykjavik tour, you’ll be introducted to our nation’s fascinating folklore, getting the chance to hear many interesting sagas involving the ‘ Elves of Iceland ’ (known in Iceland as ‘the hidden people’) and other creatures, like the trolls whose existence is shrouded in mystery.

We will also tell you about ghosts, like the Deacon of the Dark River, monsters unique to Iceland, and the entertaining tale of the 13 Icelandic Santas or Yulelads, their wicked mother Grýla, and the monstrous Christmas Cat.

This is the private version of our Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour . It’s great if you prefer a smaller, intimate tour, and rest assured, we will always customize the tour for your group.

This is your private tour, and we tailor it to your needs and preferences. If you prefer, we can ramp up all-things-scary, giving you the creepiest possible private tour of Reykjavik, or turn our focus to tales suitable for a younger audience!

You can even choose the start and finish times.

What's Included

• You control the starting time
• Stroller and Wheelchair friendly
• Expert fun loving local guides
• Some of the stories can be scary for little children
• Available in English, Spanish, French, German and more languages.
• Visit an Elfstone in downtown Reykjavik
• Hear the ghost story called the Deacon of Dark River
• Learn about Icelandic magic
• The 13 Santas of Iceland
• Tolkien’s connection to Iceland
• Norse Mythology

An Icelandic history tour to haunt your dreams…

Iceland’s winters are long and dark, so storytelling has been our primary source of entertainment for generations. Storytelling is woven into the fabric of our culture. This passion for stories might explain why Icelanders love books and have the highest literacy rate in the world (it’s said that 1 in 10 Icelanders write a book in their lifetime).

J.R.R. Tolkien was heavily influenced by Norse mythology and the Icelandic Sagas when he wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit so we will explain some of the fun similarities between Middle Earth and Iceland!

Join us for a tour of Reykjavik quite unlike any other in the city!

And if you want to continue exploring aspects of Iceland’s culture, why not join us for our Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour , where you’ll try many of the country’s most famous dishes!

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Reykjavik Folklore Tours

Magical 1.5 Hour Folklore Walking Tour of Reykjavik with Tales of Trolls, Elves & Hidden People

Description

Explore the depths of Icelandic mythology with this amazing folklore walking tour around Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík, and get a real insight into the lives of the legendary trolls, elves and hidden people that are said to inhabit this land. 

This is a great tour opportunity for all those with an interest in Norse Mythology and the Sagas, as well as those travellers looking to gain an understanding and history of some of the city’s major cultural attractions. 

During this tour, you will learn all about the 13 Yule Lads (the Icelandic version of Santa Clause), as well as listen to numerous tales of the hidden people and their antics, how they have influenced Icelandic culture, storytelling and the psyche of the people. 

On top of that, you will learn the differentiations between trolls and elves, and will come to a great understanding of how such fantasy authors as J.R.R. Tolkien found inspiration in this strange and mysterious land. Game of Thrones fans will also love how close they feel to the dark and haunting land of Westeros. 

You will also gain a deeper insight into why Icelanders are such a literary people. Delving into some of the ancient Sagas, you will come to understand how these legendary stories still permeate throughout Icelandic culture, kept alive in the fabric of their society. Did you know that one in ten Icelanders will write and publish a book in their lifetime? 

During this tour, you will visit some of the city’s most iconic attractions. You will first pay a visit to two of Reykjavík’s oldest graveyards, visit “the Elfstone”, the Catholic Cathedral, Tjörnin (the downtown pond) and finally, Parliament House. 

So don’t waste anymore time pondering! Make sure to secure your place on this brilliant and insightful folklore walking tour in Reykjavík today. Check availability by choosing a date. 

Attractions

What to bring

Good to know.

Please wear layers as the windchill factor can come into play in a walk like this.

Some of the stories can be scary for little children

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Walk with a Viking – Reykjavik Walking Tour

No booking fee, best price guarantee, free cancellation, secure payments, fully licensed local tour operators, information.

No minimum age

• Reykjavik City
• Hallgrimskirkja Church
• Harpan Concert Hall
• Reykjavik Old Harbor
• Tjörnin Pond
• The Parliament Building
• Hidden Local Spots
• Tips on eats & drinks

On this Tour we will:

• Admire Hallgrimskirkja Church.
• Look at the magnificent architecture of Harpa Concert Hall . 
• Explore the birdlife at Reykjavik Pond . 
• See the Reykjavik City Council house and the Parliament house . 
• Peek down at the first Viking house in Iceland. 
• Visit an Elf home and talk about the Elves of Iceland. 
• See the oldest house in Reykjavik City Center. 
• See the one and only Icelandic Hot Dog stand and get to know its history. 
• Walk down to Reykjavik Harbor . 
• Walk by Arnarhóll hill . This is where Icelanders come together to celebrate on big occasions. 
• Stoll up the main shopping street of Iceland – Laugavegur . 
• Visit the oldest graveyard in Iceland.
• Visit Austurvöllur where Icelanders come together when the sun shines. 

Taking a guided walking tour is a good opportunity to enhance your knowledge about a particular area and helps you plan your trip better. We recommend that you join a Reykjavik walking tour on the first day of your trip to get to know the area a bit better.

The guide on the walking tour has in-depth knowledge about the city of Reykjavik and will guide you around and tell you some interesting stories about the capital city of Iceland. This family friendly tour will bring the history of Iceland to life with exciting stories and Icelandic mythology. 

The tour will give you the opportunity to explore the rich Icelandic heritage, its vibrant culture, and natural beauty while gathering a bounty of information from your guide.

A city walking tour in Reykjavik is the best way to explore the key sightseeing spots, discover the hidden secrets, make new friends, get to know about the local street foods, and much more. Our walk with a Viking tour is a family-friendly tour that reveals the history of Iceland along with the exciting stories narrated by your guide. This tour is operated in small groups, maximum 12 persons per tour. The tour is stroller and wheelchair friendly.

Your walking tour guide will meet you at Ingólfstorg (Ingolfur Square). You need to reach the spot 5 minutes before the starting time. This tour will introduce you to the city of Reykjavik and help you make the most of your stay in Iceland.  Your expert city guide will provide live tour commentary in English narrating the history of the area and Icelandic mythology as you slowly walk by. We have even included a small lesson on the Icelandic language so while enjoying your tour with a Viking tour guide you also get to talk a little in the local language. This 2-hour walk is for people of all ages and we will cover around 4km. Since it is an outdoor tour and Iceland’s weather is very unpredictable, you need to dress according to the weather.

On this Reykjavik Walking tour you will get to discover some of the top attractions in the city, such as HArpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik Harbour, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Reykjavik Pond and the Parliament building. We will even teach you how to pronounce Hallgrimskirkja.

We will also share some hidden, local spots with you that our local friends like to visit. This includes a visit to an Elf home and some other locations that you would probably miss if you didn’t know what to look for.

We really want you to feel the unique and friendly atmosphere of our small city. Not just the popular tourist attractions, but also some of our favorite locations as locals. We will also have a small lesson on the Icelandic language so you will not only be walking like a Viking after the tour, you will also talk like one.

In the end we will share with you our favorite places to eat and drink, and tell you about some happy hours and offers that we know about.

• Local City Guide
• Tour of Reykjavik
• Secret locations in Reykjavik
• Our local tips and tricks

Do you have a question?

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REYKJAVIK WALKING TOUR

Price from kr 5,480 approx € 36

Explore Iceland’s old city center, learn about Viking history of Reykjavik and catch up on current afairs with an local guide.

STARTING POINT

Meet on location

Guiding language

Guided language.

Explore Iceland’s old city center, learn about Viking history of Reykjavik and catch up on current affairs with a local guide.

Reykjavik Walking Tour

EXPLORE REYKJAVIK'S QUAINT OLD CITY CENTRE WITH A LOCAL GUIDE

The tour begins punctually at the icon of Reykjavik, Hallgrímskirkja church where you will find your guide just outside by the statue of Leifur Eiríksson. Guests are encouraged to check in with the guide 5-10 minutes before the tour starts. The tour will not go up the bell tower and therefore we recommend early arrivals to take the elevator ahead of the tour start. Please note the opening hours of the church and entry fees are found on www.hallgrimskirkja.is

We will begin our trip at the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja Church at the top of the downtown hill. This is the most popular landmark in the city and for good

Afterward, we visit the beautiful sculpture park of Einar Jónsson and learn all about Norse mythology before strolling through the quaint streets of the Þingholt neighborhood towards the City Pond . We feed the ducks, geese, and swans found on the northern end of the pond. Great fun for kids and grown-ups alike and a common activity for local families on weekends. 

Continuing across the pond and into the City Hall we view the super-sized topographical map of Iceland and your guide will explain a little bit about Iceland’s fascinating geology and volcanic history. Our tour then threads the heart of the city, taking in the parliament, our modest but beautiful cathedral, and the site of the first Viking homesteads in the city, before visiting the busy  Old Harbor. 

Strolling along the north shore from the harbor we visit the impressive Harpa Concert Hall .

• Hallgrímskirkja Church
• City Hall and the Pond
• The Old Harbor

Harpa Concert Hall

• Einar Jónsson Sculpture Garden

Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja looks over Reykjavík as the most recognizable building standing above all the rest. Its stepped concrete facade is a reminder of the Icelandic landscape and the church’s interior minimalist with a grand organ. The church is named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, a 17th-century clergyman and author of a famous series of Hymns of the Passion.

Harpa is a concert hall and conference center in Reykjavík, Iceland. Harpa was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in cooperation with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

Þingholt is the center of Reykjavík and one of the oldest and most iconic neighborhoods in the city. It gets its name from the street of Þingholtsstræti, where a small townhouse stood from the year 1765-1771. Today it is known for its colorful corrugated iron houses.

Reykjavik Old Harbor

The old harbor was built between the years of 1913-1917 and is becoming a popular hangout with many restaurants and cafes. The beautifully designed Harpa Concert Hall remains in the view with a backdrop of Mount Esja across the water.

Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum

Einar Jónsson, was a famous Icelandic sculptor, born in 1874 in Galtafell. In 1909, after living abroad for almost 20 years, he made an arrangement with the parliament to provide him with a home and studio in Reykjavík, which still stands today.

Reykjavík Cathedra is a cathedral church in Reykjavík, Iceland, the seat of the Bishop of Iceland and mother church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland, as well as the parish church of the old city center.

Important information

Meeting point for the tour: The statue of Leifur Eiríksson in front of Hallgrímkirkja Church. Please be there no later then 10 minutes before your departure time. 

Prices: Children 0-15 years old: FREE 

• The tour is available all year round (depending on weather and conditions). 
• There is no age limit but children under 6 years old might find this tour a little long to walk so make arrangements (stroller etc), or be prepared to carry them for part of the way. 
• Bring with you: Dress according to the weather. In Iceland, it is always wise to dress in warm, waterproof clothes. Weather changes can be sudden so expect the unexpected. Bring a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good outdoor shoes are recommended. 
• Duration: Approx. 2 - 2.5 hours. Total length of tour: 3-5 km

What’s included

• Expertly guided Reykjavík walking tour
• Small group experience 

Friendly cancellation & refund policy

Full refund if cancelled due to weather. Cancellation fee can be witheld if cancelled with short notice.

• 1 day notice: 100% charge

Check availability

Date of travel, we accept these major credit cards..

• No booking fees or any hidden cost.
• Instant booking directly from supplier.
• Best price guarantee!

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