Trolls have long held a special place in Icelandic folklore and storytelling. They are usually described as large human-like beings living in mountains, caves, cliffs, and remote valleys. They are closely connected to Iceland’s dramatic landscape, and many unusual rock formations and place names around the country are said to have been created when trolls were turned to stone by sunlight.
Icelandic trolls are often portrayed as rugged mountain dwellers living simple and isolated lives in caves and rocky ravines. Some are fierce and dangerous creatures, known for stealing livestock or even eating humans, while others are wise, loyal, and helpful to people. Stories especially mention troll women — known as skessur — who could live peacefully alongside humans when treated with respect.
One of Iceland’s most famous troll figures is Grýla, the giant troll woman connected to Icelandic Christmas traditions and the mother of the 13 Yule Lads, living in a area east of Akureyri, in Dimmuborgir by lake Mývatn.
Folklore also tells of trolls kidnapping humans to make them their husbands or wives. In some stories, the captives managed to escape, while in others they remained with the trolls and had children known as half-trolls or hybrids.
Trolls were often believed to dislike Christianity, church bells, and hymns, and many stories describe them fleeing from churches or sacred places. Some trolls, called nátttröll (night trolls), could never face daylight. If sunlight touched them, they would instantly turn into stone. According to folklore, this explains many Icelandic sea stacks, cliffs, and strange rock formations such as Reynisdrangar, Drangey, and Tröllin rock formations in the valley Glerárdalur by Akureyri.
The stories of trolls served many purposes in Icelandic society. They explained the origins of unusual landscapes and place names, taught lessons about morality and respect, and warned people about the dangers of nature and isolation. Through these tales, trolls became an inseparable part of Iceland’s cultural heritage and imagination.
Even today, traces of trolls can be found all across Iceland and also many around Akureyri — not only in stories, but also in place names.
Place Names in Eyjafjörður and Nearby Areas
Tröllaskagi – Trollpeninsula
Tröllafjall
Tröllahyrna
Tröllahryggur
Tröllhylur
Tröllhylshvammur
Tröllaskeið
Tröllaskriður
Tröllaspegill
Trölladalur
Tröllaskál
Tröllhöfði
Grýlusteinn
Skessunef
Skessuhryggur
Skessubjarg
Jötunheimar
Troll Stories from Eyjafjörður and Nearby Valleys
Bryðja og Kvörn
Tröllkona í Skíðadal
Geirufoss: Tröllkonan Geira í Myrkárdal
Tröllkonan í Glerárdal
Skessan í Víkurskarðsmúla
In Fnjóskádal valley several stories of trolls, such as: Blákápa, Loppa, Grákolla, Tröllskessan á Bleiksmýrardal ect.