Reykjavík Cat Walking Tour

The Reykjavík cat walking tour is a relaxed, two-hour walk through downtown, mixing local history and folklore with spotting the city's famously independent cats. It suits anyone who likes a slower, quirkier way to see the centre.

• A guided walk built around Reykjavík's outdoor cats and the stories behind them
• Icelandic folklore and literary history woven into the route
• A hot drink and pastry stop at a local café included
• Finishes at the Einar Jónsson Sculpture Garden, a quiet spot most visitors miss
• A share of the proceeds goes to the Cat Protection Society

Your day, stop by stop

2Literary landmarks and hidden gardenWalk past sites linked to Icelandic writers and a quiet hidden garden.

You walk at an easy pace past sites linked to Icelandic writers and a quiet hidden garden. Your guide points out cats along the way and shares the stories and folklore tied to each stop, on flat streets in the city centre.

Walking · easy, flat streets in the city centre

3Hallgrímskirkja ChurchPass Reykjavík's best-known landmark on the way through town.

Hallgrímskirkja, at 74.5 metres the tallest church in Iceland, stands on Skólavörðuholt hill and dominates the Reykjavík skyline. Architect Guðjón Samúelsson designed the ribbed façade to echo the columnar basalt found around Iceland. Building began in 1945 and finished in 1986. The church is free to enter, and the tower, which has an entry fee, gives the best view over the city.

Time here · a photo stop, not an entry

Read our Hallgrímskirkja guide →

4Café Babalú breakStop for a hot drink and an Icelandic pastry.

A relaxed midway break of about 15 to 20 minutes at Café Babalú, a quirky local café known for its colourful interior, with a hot chocolate or coffee and a pastry included.

Time here · about 15–20 minutesIncluded · hot chocolate or coffee, and a pastry

5Einar Jónsson Sculpture GardenEnd the walk in a quiet garden behind the sculptor's former home.

A small outdoor garden behind the former home of the Icelandic sculptor Einar Jónsson, displaying his works, and a peaceful spot to finish the tour.

About the Reykjavik cat walking tour

Reykjavík's cats are famously free to roam, and this walk uses them as a light-hearted way into the city's history and folklore. You walk at an easy pace through downtown, past literary landmarks and a hidden garden, with your guide pointing out cats along the way and telling the stories connected to each spot.

The route passes Hallgrímskirkja Church and stops for a break at Café Babalú, where a hot drink and Icelandic pastry are included. It finishes at the Einar Jónsson Sculpture Garden, a small, quiet garden behind the sculptor's old home that many visitors never find on their own.

It is an easy, flat walk suitable for most fitness levels, and works in any season since it stays within the city centre. As with any outdoor walk in Iceland, dress for changeable weather, and note that cat sightings cannot be guaranteed since the cats go where they please.

Questions people ask