The majority of Icelanders believe in, or at least refuse to the deny the existence of elves, trolls, and other hidden beings. Cut off from the rest of the world for centuries, Icelanders developed a rich storytelling tradition and stories about elves and hidden people are still part of their heritage today. We spent most of our time independently exploring Iceland, but when we did venture out with a guide, stories of Iceland elves and trolls were shared to explain many of Iceland’s otherworldly formations. Because we love this quirky side of Iceland, we’re sharing a few of the amusing tales of Iceland elves and trolls we’ve been told.
Huldufólk: The Hidden People
Huldufólk are elves or hidden people in Icelandic folklore and Icelanders believe they are everywhere. People often even build álfhól (tiny wooden elf houses) in their gardens for elves to live in. Iceland road builders take elves very seriously and since they live in rock outcroppings, consult with an elf expert before routing a new road or highway through rock piles that may be elf habitats. We spotted a field strewn with large rocks and at least ten colorful wooden álfhól
Reynisdrangar stick up out of the Atlantic like spindly fingers and are said to be trolls turned to stone while attempting to drag a ship out of the sea
Vík’s Ship-dragging Trolls
Just offshore from the black sand beach in Vík, the balsalt rock formations, Reynisdrangar, stick up out of the Atlantic like fingers. As the folklore goes, these spindly rock formations are actually trolls frozen in time.
You see, trolls are night dwellers. They were trying to drag three ships ashore when they were caught in the sunlight and turned to stone.
Do you see the faces in the rock?
The Partying Trolls of Dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir, located in Myvatn in the north of Iceland, literally translates to “Dark Cities”. As we explored Dimmuborgir with our guide, Ólafur, he pointed at the rock formations.
“Do you see the troll faces?”
A long time ago, a couple of trolls that were living in the area decided to have a big party during the dark period and invite trolls from all around Iceland. The trolls partied so much and for so long, that they forgot the sun would shine again. It is said that the unusual lava pillars are really trolls that turned to stone when the sun came up.
Gunnuhver Hot Springs is the largest mud pot in Iceland
Grumpy Guðrún, the Poltergeist
This one is actually the story of a very grumpy, mean old ghost who had to be trapped for eternity lest she continue to terrorize the people of the Reykjanes Peninsula. You see, Guðrún Önundardóttir was a real woman who rented from a rich farmer. When she didn’t pay her rent one day, the farmer evicted her with her sole possession: a cooking pot.
Guðrún was furious and vowed to kill him. She was actually so enraged, that she just dropped dead on the spot. She was carried in her coffin to the cemetery to be buried, but the men carrying the coffin realized it became increasingly lighter as they trudged on.
Apparently Guðrún made good on her threat, because the farmer was found dead with broken bones the very next day. And she continued to terrorize the people of the Reykjanes Peninsula until a priest named Eiríkur set a trap, and she stumbled over in to a geyser with her cooking pot in hand.
The Gunnuhver Hot Springs, named for Guðrún, are the largest bubbling mud pot in Iceland. Some say if you watch very closely through the steam, you can sometimes see Guðrún trying to stop herself from falling in.
Skessan is a friendly ogress snoring soundly in her rocking chair
Skessan’s giant bed
Skessan
The Giantess, an ogress from the mountains, moved into the Black Cave at the marina in Gróf. Skessan, as she’s called, is a friendly troll that we visited, though she’s sound asleep snoring in a rocking chair in her kitchen.
As the tale goes, a little girl named Siggi was sent out to the mountains to play while her mother prepared a surprise sixth birthday for her. Siggi found a giant shoe, which of course belongs to a troll. She wasn’t afraid of the troll, though, and they became fast friends. The Mayor was so impressed with the troll’s friendliness, he built a home for her in the cave in 2008 and she’s resided there ever since.
Sauðhúsvöllur
Elf house or just a shed? Sauðhúsvöllur was built in 1948 by the farmer living on the farm tucked back from the road and the purpose was to shelter milk cans in it. Since the road conditions can vary greatly, the milk truck couldn’t be counted on to deliver at a certain time. Instead, the milk truck would place the milk cans in the shed and the farmer could retrieve them later. But maybe elves took shelter here too? In Iceland, that’s probably the case!
The Elf School
If you’re keen to learn more about Iceland’s elves, hidden people and trolls, then you might like attending the Elf School – or Álfaskólinn in Icelandic. It’s located in Reykjavik and you can take a 3-4 hour course, complete with a 70-page text book that is yours to take home, to learn about this folklore. We’ve not personally taken the class, but students rave that it’s an afternoon they never forget on their trip to Iceland. Considering this is a country with take-your-breath-away beauty and unforgettable adventures, that’s the highest of compliments.
Ali says
Very odd. Not sure I can really get on board with believing in elves, but it does make for entertaining stories!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The tales of elves and trolls started thousands of years ago with the Vikings. It’s said they invented them to double the population! I wish I had a picture; there is even an elf crossing sign on one stretch of road where a large number of elves are believed to live.
jade says
When we were in Iceland, we heard many stories of elves and trolls. I actually hope they do exist- wouldn’t that be fun!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It would be fun, Jade! I love looking for the elf houses when out and exploring.
Kate says
I love this!! I can’t wait to go to Iceland and hear all of these folkloric tales (and look for elves myself)!
Kate
Jennifer Dombrowski says
There is even an Elf Academy near Reykjavik. You can attend on Fridays and they’ll tell you all the best places to find elves in Iceland.
Jesse Greenwood says
Do you know the name of the Academy or how to contact them?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Yes, it’s called The Elfschool and their website is: http://www.theelfschool.com/
Andi says
I swear I saw an elf when I was there!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You just may have, Andi! Surely people didn’t make all those odd piles of rocks lying about.
Noel says
I love to wander around Iceland, experience the life there and hear these stories from the folks out there.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We agree, Noel! Iceland is one of our favorite countries.
Amanda says
I LOVED this quirky side of Iceland. I never tired of hearing stories of elves and trolls all over the country!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I agree, Amanda! I bet Icelanders would make great bloggers because they are such fantastic storytellers. 😉
Andrea says
It’s hard not to believe when so many people do! They are popular here in Norway too
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I had no idea about the trolls and elves in Norway! That makes sense though since many of Iceland’s early settlers came from what is now Norway.
City Gal on the go says
I loved Iceland, but didn't get to see any of this – so cool!
Jennifer says
It's such a unique part of the Icelandic culture! I love trying to spot the elf houses!
Sofie says
I love tales of elves and trolls, but I can’t say I’m a true believer…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
To me, believing in elves and trolls feels childlike. But in a good way! Sometimes I just miss our childhood naivety of believing in Santa, flying reindeer, elves, trolls, witches…
Andrew says
That is pretty cool that they have kept their older beliefs in some form. In Ireland, there were a bunch of places that I could see easily why the idea of fairies came into being. In some places it really did feel otherworldly.
Wonder if the trolls and the Irish fae are related somehow.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We haven’t been to Ireland yet, but it sounds like I’ll be equally as enchanted by the fairy stories there as I was by the elf and troll tales in Iceland!
LadyLittlefoot says
This is awesome and interesting and even more reason to visit Iceland!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely love this quirky side of Iceland! Had the timing worked out for us to be in Reykjavik on a Friday, I totally would have attended Elf School!
Cole says
Haha cute. Hopefully we spot some trolls on our journey in April!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’ll have to let us know if you do spot some, Cole! Enjoy Iceland. It’s one of our very favorite countries.
Deb says
What a fun post. I love that there is the troll legend in Iceland and hey, you never know, they could exist and be hiding somewhere waiting to pounce. I’m game for anything and when we go to Iceland, I’m going to keep an eye out and try to spot me a troll 😉
Sean McManus says
We’ve just returned to Guernsey from Iceland. We loved the elf stones and the troll stories. In Guernsey we have our own hidden people, Les Pouques. They must be closely related to their Icelandic cousins because they are deemed responsible for remarkably similar happenings. Check out Pouques Guensey.
The Bro says
That was the best story
Wendy Gnau says
Jennifer and Tim, Thank you for sharing many of the Icelandic folklore regarding elves, trolls and other hidden people. We leave tomorrow for Iceland. Will be staying Fossatun for part of our stay. The owner is a storyteller. He has a couple of books and TV series regarding trolls and created a troll trail on his property (which is located next to troll waterfall).
We’ve been to Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the UK, and have loved hearing stories of faeries, elves, tomtars, trolls, gnomes, etc. We have even brought some back home w/ us. My mom collects faeries and my dad gnomes, so guessing my interest is due to my family.
Know I will be purchasing yet more folklore items while in Iceland. Can’t wait.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hope you’re having a great trip, Wendy! Iceland is definitely the place for tales of elves, trolls and the like.
Awesome Grayson says
I don’t think this trolls are scary. I think they are just friendly I am going to see then in June.
Carol Smith says
I wish I’d known about Elf Academy on my two visits to amazing Iceland. Top of the list for the next trip. Many thanks Jennifer.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Just reason to return for a third trip, Carol!
Carol says
Absolutely! I’m saving up.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’re always itching to go back too!
Alex castaneda says
Thank you all for sharing your opinion about this exciting stories I would say I think it is possible for me to believe you can feel this kind of beings but kinda tough to see them, I think Iceland is the perfect place to find peace and feel yourself alive. I´m going next year hopefully on April but I don´t know anyone in there would you give me any advice about hotels or places to visit?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Alex,
Sure, all of our hotel recommendations are here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/where-to-stay-in-iceland/ and we’ve also got a detailed itinerary you can follow with things to do here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
sarah says
That story is amazing i cannot wait to go toniceland in october.
Richard Clapp says
I do believe there are elves in Iceland. In 1975, touring with a British group, we passed an area in SE Iceland where you had to build a little cairn in a field, especially if you were passing by for the first time. Our British guide said we couldn’t stop, we had to keep a schedule.. In 24 hours, unusual things happened – The Icelandic bus driver sprained a knee playing pickup soccer in a local town, where we stopped for the night == I sprained my back helping to unload the cookstove– a happily married couple had a big argument, and the wife made the driver stop, and she ran off into a field for 10 or 15 minutes (maybe she built a cairn)’ My traveling friend had to go to the bathroom, but didn.t make it. All of this could have been avoided if we had respected the elves wishes to build a cairn.
Cougar Brenneman says
Almost every indigenous or traditional culture in the world recognizes earth spirits. I believe that those spirits are kept strong by interaction with the people. This is why more people will experience elves in Iceland than in Chicago or London.
I’m writing a novel that takes place in Iceland, though I have never been there. A tiny part of my research — and I literally have spent many hundreds of hours doing research, so this part was literally a tiny part — required me to go into trance to ask an elf by the name of Álfur for some elf magic — which he apparently happily supplied. I now use this technique daily. I lead groups which meet by Skype or Zoom weekly, and one of the meditations we use is the technique from Álfur.
I used to live near a woods where there was a large boulder, 6 feet in height, here in BC. When I lived there, I used to go out for walks and talk to Álfur, who I had invested with that boulder. You can argue that all of this came from my imagination. If you argue that, I won’t argue with you — because I have no culture or facts to argue against such a conclusion.
Nonetheless, I believe that the elf magic that I received in trance is a valid technique. I’ll probably explain how to do it in an appendix attached to my book or simply use the appendix for the URL where it is explained.