The Reykjavik Christmas market scene is a cluster of small markets in the old town rather than one big square of stalls. In 2026 the season is expected to start on Saturday 28 November around Austurvöllur, the square in front of the Parliament, and run until 23 December, with most stalls open at weekends and every day in the last week before Christmas.
Most organisers hadn’t published their 2026 dates when we checked, so the dates here follow last year’s schedule and each market’s usual pattern. Below you’ll find where the markets are, what to eat, how to get around in the dark, and where to leave your bags.
Reykjavik Christmas Market 2026 at a Glance
| Market | Location | Expected 2026 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austurvöllur Christmas market | Austurvöllur, in front of the Parliament | From Sat 28 Nov; weekends, then daily 18–23 Dec | Not yet published |
| Jólakvosin | Ingólfstorg and the old town (Kvosin) | Late Nov through Dec | Not yet published |
| Hjartatorg Christmas market | Courtyard between Laugavegur and Hverfisgata | December weekends, then the days before Christmas | Not yet published |
| Jólaskógur (Christmas Forest) | Tjarnarsalurinn, City Hall | From early Dec | 2025 hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–18:00 |
| Elliðavatnsbær market | Heiðmörk forest, 15–20 min by car | From Sat 28 Nov; Advent weekends | 12:00–17:00 |
Austurvöllur and the Old Town
Austurvöllur is the centre of the season. The big Christmas tree on the square is lit at the start of Advent, usually at a free afternoon event where some of the Yule Lads come to visit, and wooden stalls selling food, gifts and hot drinks set up around it. Expect it to be busiest on weekend afternoons and in the final days before Christmas.
A two-minute walk away, Jólakvosin spreads stalls around Ingólfstorg and the streets of Kvosin, the oldest part of the city. Further up, the Hjartatorg courtyard between Laugavegur and Hverfisgata hosts a smaller weekend market. When the wind picks up, Jólaskógur inside City Hall is a good indoor option by the Tjörnin pond.
All of this sits within a 10-minute walk, so you can easily see every Reykjavik Christmas market stall in town in an afternoon. Visit Reykjavík posts the December programme as it’s confirmed.
Markets Just Outside the Centre
Elliðavatnsbær, a farmhouse in Heiðmörk forest about 15 to 20 minutes’ drive from downtown, holds a market on Advent weekends from midday to 17:00. Árbær Open Air Museum stages an old-fashioned Icelandic Christmas on two Sundays in December, expected to be 6 and 13 December 2026, and you need a museum ticket.
The best-known market in the region is the Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður, 20 minutes away on bus number 1. It opens on Friday evenings and weekend afternoons in Advent, plus 23 December. Our guide to Christmas markets around Iceland covers it, along with Akureyri in the north.
Food and Drink at the Reykjavik Christmas Market
Stalls at the Reykjavik Christmas market sell hot drinks and snacks you can carry while you walk. Try these:
- Hot chocolate, which Icelanders drink a lot of in December
- Jólaglögg, spiced mulled wine
- Kleinur, twisted Icelandic doughnuts
- Laufabrauð, the patterned, fried “leaf bread” that families make before Christmas
For a proper meal, many downtown restaurants serve Christmas menus with smoked lamb (hangikjöt). Prices are in Icelandic króna (ISK) and cards are accepted almost everywhere, so you don’t need cash. Iceland is expensive, so expect to pay more for a coffee or a snack than in most of Europe.
Getting There and Getting Around
The Flybus from Keflavík Airport reaches Reykjavik in about 45 minutes. Downtown is compact and walkable, from Hallgrímskirkja down Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur to Austurvöllur. Around the winter solstice there are only about four to five hours of daylight, and the pavements are often icy, so wear shoes with good grip and dress for wind and rain as well as cold.
The 13 Yule Lads arrive in town one by one from the night of 12 December, the last on Christmas Eve, and you’ll see them on posters, in shop windows and sometimes at the markets.
Luggage Storage Near the Reykjavik Christmas Market
Flights to Iceland often land early in the morning, long before hotel check-in, and many people spend their last day in town before an evening flight. Radical Storage has partner locations in downtown Reykjavik, so you can find luggage storage near Austurvöllur and walk the markets without your suitcase.
Booking takes a minute online. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5. There are 16.5K+ locations in 2.3K+ cities if your trip continues.
Reykjavik Christmas Market FAQ
The season is expected to start on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Austurvöllur and run until 23 December. Official 2026 dates had not been published when we checked.
The main stalls are on Austurvöllur, in front of the Parliament, with more around Ingólfstorg (Jólakvosin), in the Hjartatorg courtyard off Laugavegur and inside City Hall.
Mostly at weekends during Advent. Austurvöllur is expected to open daily from 18 to 23 December, and Jólaskógur at City Hall opens daily.
Yes, if you are in town on an Advent weekend or on 23 December. It is about 20 minutes from downtown on bus number 1.
Radical Storage has partner locations in downtown Reykjavik near Austurvöllur. Book online, drop your bags and collect them later. Each bag is protected up to €10,000 and cancellation is free.