The Thirteen Yule Lads of Reykjavík
Iceland's own Yule Lads, and the tree from Oslo on Austurvöllur.
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Iceland has thirteen Yule Lads of its own, the jólasveinar, sons of the troll woman Grýla. The first comes to town on the night before 12 December, and then one more arrives each night until Christmas Eve, each with his own vice, like Skyrgámur, who steals skyr. During this time one of them visits the National Museum every day, in old Icelandic clothes. In the middle of town stands the Oslo tree: Oslo has given Reykjavík a Christmas tree for decades, and today it is cut in Heiðmörk outside the city. The walk goes from the museum to Austurvöllur, up the shopping street Laugavegur and on to Hallgrímskirkja.
The stops
- 1
National Museum of Iceland
Every day from 12 December until Christmas one of the Yule Lads pays a visit, and the museum tells the story of all thirteen.
- 2
Austurvöllur
The square in front of the parliament and the cathedral, where the Oslo tree stands every Christmas.
- 3
Laugavegur
The main shopping street, decorated for Christmas. On Þorláksmessa, 23 December, the whole town strolls here.
- 4
Hallgrímskirkja
The great church on the hill, with a view over the city from the tower.
About the trip
- Where
- Reykjavík
- Getting around
- On foot
- Time
- 1 h 46 min
- Distance
- 2.1 km
- Stops
- 4
- Season
- November–January
- Themes
- History, Family
Practical
- Start
- The National Museum of Iceland, by bus to Háskóli Íslands. The airport bus stops at BSÍ nearby.
- Finish
- Hallgrímskirkja, at the top of Skólavörðustígur.
- Toilets
- In the museum, in Hallgrímskirkja and in cafés along Laugavegur.
- Accessibility
- Flat from the museum to Austurvöllur, then a steady climb up to the church. Ice and wind in December, and the sun is only up for a few hours.