Water‐soluble and air‐stable gold nanoparticles stabilized by a xyloside‐based ligand containing a pyridine ring‐functionalized 1,2,3‐triazole backbone were prepared in the presence of a reducing agent. During their preparation, UV‐vis and NMR spectroscopic techniques were used to study the interaction between the xyloside ligand and Au(III) ions. These AuNPs were characterized by UV‐vis spectroscopy, TEM and DLS and showed a small size (average diameter<10 nm determined by TEM). Their catalytic activity was tested in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) to 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP) in water.