Reykjavik: Cat Walking Tour & Coffee House with Pastry

Two hours following Reykjavik's cats through downtown, from settlement myths to a sculpture garden

You walk downtown Reykjavik for two hours following the routes and stories of the city's street cats, starting at the settlement monument and ending at a sculpture garden. Midway, you stop at the Cat Coffeehouse to drink coffee or hot cocoa with Icelandic pastry while petting the cats there. Your guide covers cat mythology, the history of cats in Iceland, and points out the famous downtown cats if they're around. The whole tour is wheelchair accessible and suits any fitness level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cat-themed walking tour in Reykjavik

• Meet at Ingólfur Square pillars
• Admire Reykjavik pond and birdlife
• Pass by Hallgrímskirkja Church
• Stop for hot drink and pastry
• Pet cats at Cat Coffeehouse
• Visit Sculpture Garden of Einar Jonsson

What’s included

Your tour includes guided commentary about cat history and mythology in Iceland, coffee or hot cocoa, an Icelandic pastry at the Reykjavik Cat Coffeehouse where you'll sit with the cats, and the walk through downtown Reykjavik ending at the Einar Jonsson sculpture garden.

Times

• Every day 11:00 14:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 15 4 private ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts. 4 with pickup ›

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (16 and older) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (under 7): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Pets welcome Public transport nearby

Operated by Your Friend In Reykjavik

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

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The experience

What if the best way to understand a city wasn't through its buildings, but through the eyes of the animals that live in it? That's the premise of this Reykjavik cat walking tour, and it sounds stranger than it is. You start at the two stone pillars in Ingólfur Square, the monument marking where Iceland's settlement began, and your guide walks you through the actual history of how cats arrived here and what they meant to the people who brought them. It's two hours total, and the pace is easy enough that you're not rushing between stops.

The route takes you past Reykjavik Pond, where you pause to watch the birds and imagine what a cat would make of that scene, then you head toward Hallgrímskirkja Church and the Einar Jonsson sculpture garden. Along the way, your guide points out the real cats that live downtown: Baktus, Jónsi, and Ofelia are the famous ones, though spotting them depends on the day and the weather. You're not hunting them. They're just part of the landscape you're learning to see differently. The walk winds through the actual streets where these cats move, so you get a sense of downtown Reykjavik that most visitors miss.

Halfway through, you stop at the Reykjavik Cat Coffeehouse, where you sit with actual cats while you drink coffee or hot cocoa and eat an Icelandic pastry. It's the kind of break that feels less like a tourist checkbox and more like you've ducked into a local spot, because you have. The cats here are used to people, but they're not performing. They're just living their lives while you're there. Your guide stays with you, so the conversation about Icelandic cat mythology and folklore doesn't stop just because you're sitting down.

The whole thing ends at the sculpture garden, which is quiet and worth lingering in. If you're booking this, know that it's genuinely designed for people who like cats and want to understand Reykjavik through a lens most tours don't offer. It's not a gimmick tour dressed up as something else. The cat history is real, the walking is real, and the coffeehouse is a real place locals use. Book directly with the operator to confirm your start time at Ingólfur Square.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Reykjavik cat walking tour?

Two hours, starting at Ingólfur Square and ending at the Einar Jonsson sculpture garden near Hallgrímskirkja.

What's included in the tour?

Guided commentary throughout, plus coffee or hot cocoa and an Icelandic pastry at the Reykjavik Cat Coffeehouse.

Will we definitely see the famous cats like Baktus and Jónsi?

The guide points out where these cats live and their usual spots, but sightings depend on the day and weather. They're not guaranteed, but the walk covers their territory.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces along the route are wheelchair accessible, and the Cat Coffeehouse is also accessible.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the tour.

What if I'm allergic to cats?

The tour is not recommended for people with cat allergies, especially since you'll be at the Cat Coffeehouse where cats are present.

Where do we meet?

At the two stone pillars at Ingólfur Square, which marks the settlement monument of Iceland.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's designed for all physical fitness levels. The pace is steady but not strenuous.