Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

A Reykjavik Christmas walk that feels personal. This tour uses holiday squares and classic downtown shops to explain Icelandic Christmas traditions, with your guide calling out the details you might miss on your own. I especially love the hands-on vibe, since you can stop for gift browsing while learning the stories behind what people hang up at home.

One possible drawback: on certain dates, market stalls and shops can have different opening hours than you might expect, so you may see less of the outdoor market feel than the description suggests. If you go during a day with unusual closures, I recommend going in with flexible expectations.

Key highlights

• A short 2-hour route that packs multiple Christmas-themed stops into a manageable walk
• Guide-led storytelling that connects Christmas decor and folklore to how Iceland celebrates
• Prime downtown locations like Ingólfstorg and Hallgrímskirkja at easy walking distance
• Shopping with meaning, from an Icelandic book store to a year-round ornament shop
• Folklore moments, including the famously fierce Christmas cat
• Music stop at 12 Tonar, where Icelandic holiday sound gets explained and experienced

Why this Reykjavik Christmas walk feels like more than sightseeing

If you only do the big-photo spots in Reykjavik, Christmas can feel like decoration rather than culture. This walk is designed to do the opposite. You cover the central sights while your guide ties them to Icelandic customs, the mix of Christianity and older Norse ideas, and the everyday places where people pick up holiday gifts.

I like that the tour stays compact, so you still get a relaxed feel even when the weather is cold. And because it leans into small shops and local landmarks, it feels more like a local stroll than a checklist.

There is also a strong “you can do this right now” value. At about 2 hours, you get a guided orientation to downtown Reykjavik plus a theme you can follow up on later, whether you want books, ornaments, or more Christmas folklore.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar: easy start and a good chance to stay comfortable

You start outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1. The meeting instructions are very specific for a reason. You gather facing Ingólfstorg and the two tall stone seat-pillars (each over two meters high). If you’re oriented by a familiar landmark, you’re in good shape. Center Hotel Plaza should be to your right.

This matters more than you’d think on a winter walk. The area in front of Hlöllabátar has benches, tables, and a covered overhead ceiling. So even if you arrive a few minutes early, you’re not stuck standing out in the cold with nowhere to wait.

Your guide is easy to spot too. Guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik printed on the back. In past runs, guides have included people like Ester E., Stefán, Einar, and Barti, and the consistent message from those experiences is that they bring energy, humor, and real context to the stops.

Practical tip: wear layers you can move in. You’ll be outside at multiple points and inside at others, so the best strategy is layer control, not a single bulky coat.

Ingólfstorg and Austurvollur Square: ice rink lights and the tree story

The walk heads to Ingólfstorg, where you’ll take in the ice skating rink, holiday decorations, and Christmas market stalls. Even if you don’t skate, this stop gives you the emotional tone of a Reykjavik Christmas: bright lights, seasonal crowds (even if they’re not huge), and a square that feels made for lingering.

What makes this stop valuable is the guide’s framing. Instead of just pointing at lights, you get talk about the holiday setting and the parts that connect to Icelandic winter traditions. It’s also a good “photo and reset” stop, because the square is open and you can quickly reorient yourself for the next leg of the walk.

Next is Austurvollur Square, where you see the traditional Oslo Christmas tree. Iceland has its own Christmas identity, but it also borrows and adapts ideas from other places. Your guide discusses the tradition of Christmas trees and what that looks like in Icelandic homes.

This pairing, rink square then tree square, is smart. You see both the festive public side and the home tradition side in a short time, so the meaning sticks.

One caution: like any Christmas market atmosphere, the exact “market table” experience can vary. If you’re visiting on a day when outdoor markets close early, you may still enjoy the landmarks and explanations, but the stall scene might be quieter.

Penninn Eymundsson and Litla Jolabudin: gifts, books, and ornaments that say Iceland

If you love Christmas shopping but hate the chaos of it, this part is your sweet spot. Two of the best theme stops are Penninn Eymundsson, a major book store, and Litla Jolabudin, a smaller Christmas shop that’s open year-round.

At Penninn Eymundsson, you’ll learn that books are a big part of Icelandic Christmas traditions. This is one of those details that changes how you shop. Instead of grabbing whatever souvenir is easiest to find, you start looking for Iceland-specific holiday titles, stories, or seasonal reads that actually match what people do for the holidays.

Then you move to Litla Jolabudin, where ornaments and Christmas decor are front and center. Because it is open year-round, it feels less like a last-minute grab and more like a place you could browse anytime. That’s great if you want a calmer shopping moment during your tour, and it gives you a chance to compare what you see with what you later spot around the city.

I also appreciate that these stops are not just sales. Your guide ties the shopping to tradition, so you’re not standing there guessing why a decoration exists or what a particular Christmas product is connected to.

If you want value from the $75.70 price, this is where you can turn the tour into purchases you actually want. Plan a small budget for one or two gifts, not a big spree, and you’ll feel in control instead of rushed.

Lækjartorg’s Christmas cat and the 12 Tonar music shop

Two of the most memorable stops are also two of the most Iceland-specific: Lækjartorg for folklore, and 12 Tonar for Christmas music.

At Lækjartorg A, you’ll hear about the ferocious Christmas cat, a figure that shows up in Icelandic Christmas folklore. This isn’t just a fun name. It helps you interpret what you see in shops and seasonal displays. Once you understand why the cat is part of the story, the holiday decor around Reykjavik feels less random.

Then comes 12 Tonar, the downtown music store. Your guide explains that Icelandic Christmas music borrows from different countries. That theme matters because it helps you hear Iceland’s holiday sound as a mix, not an isolated tradition. If you’re a music lover, this is the stop where the tour can go from “nice walk” to “I want to remember songs I heard today.”

Even better, in at least one past experience described with this route, the guide provided a more musical take, including singing around the Christmas tree. If that style fits your taste, keep an open mind during the square portion, because the energy can carry forward.

Practical tip: if you’re buying music-related gifts, do it when you’re there. You will likely not have time to return later and still keep your trip relaxed.

Ending at Hallgrímskirkja: where Christianity and Norse ideas meet

The tour ends at Hallgrímskirkja. This is a natural finale because the church is a major Reykjavik landmark, and the guide uses it to talk about the role Christianity and Norse mythology at Christmas.

That combination is important. Icelandic Christmas culture is not only one story. It’s layered. Some of what you see in ornaments and folklore connects to older winter traditions, while the church and its season explain the Christian side. Putting the two together is a great way to leave with more than photos.

If you’re trying to remember one thing from the walk, it might be this. The tour’s structure is basically a bridge: from public seasonal atmosphere, to home traditions, to folklore characters, to faith and myth.

Also, because you finish at Hallgrímskirkja, you end in a place that’s easy to continue exploring on foot or by transit. You’ll know you’ve returned to a central hub.

Price and value, plus a heads-up about market hours

The price is $75.70 per person for about 2 hours. On paper, that can seem like a lot for a short walk, but the value comes from what’s included: an expert local guide and a route that connects multiple stops with explanations, not just sightseeing.

This is the kind of tour where the guide makes the difference. When guides hit the right tone, you leave with stories you can reuse while walking the city later. In the experiences shared with this tour, guides like Ester E., Stefán, Einar, and Barti were praised for humor, friendliness, and sharing lots of context around holiday traditions. That kind of guide work is what you’re paying for.

One more value note: it includes a mobile ticket and the tour is offered in English. It also has a maximum group size of 99. That’s not tiny, but it’s still small enough that most people can hear explanations at the outdoor stops.

Heads-up on disappointment risk: there is at least one cautionary account about what happens when outdoor market expectations don’t match what is open on the day you go. So if your dates include a holiday closure day, don’t assume every promised outdoor market stall will be operating. You’ll still get the landmarks and the guide’s storytelling, but your time spent on shopping and markets may be shorter.

Should you book this Reykjavik Christmas walking tour

I think you should book if you want a Christmas themed intro to Icelandic culture that mixes landmarks with the stories behind the decor. It’s especially worth it if you like folklore and would enjoy a tour that ends at a major Reykjavik church while connecting old and new ideas.

You might skip it if your goal is purely outdoor market shopping and you’re visiting on a date when markets could be closed or limited. In that case, you could still enjoy the downtown sights, but you may not get the exact market-heavy experience you hoped for.

If you do book, I recommend choosing a day with normal opening hours if that’s possible. And since this tour is often booked around 67 days in advance, planning early is a smart move.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas walking tour?

It lasts about 2 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $75.70 per person.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Where do you meet for the tour?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti 1 in Reykjavík, gathering facing Ingólfstorg and the two tall stone seat-pillars.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends by Hallgrímskirkja Church at Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes an expert fun loving guide.

Are tips included?

No, tips are not included.

Is there a group size limit?

Yes. This tour has a maximum of 99 travelers.

Is the tour suitable for most people, and are service animals allowed?

The tour states that most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.