diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/__init__.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/__init__.py
index 95ceaa539f..fcb1465c68 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import re
 import uuid
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
-from collections.abc import Callable
+from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import (
@@ -607,42 +607,42 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
         """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List tables under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of table identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist.
         """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List namespaces from the given namespace. If not given, list top-level namespaces from the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: a List of namespace identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of namespace identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist.
         """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List views under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of view identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist.
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/bigquery_metastore.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/bigquery_metastore.py
index 938ac6992f..c9c46a6d1c 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/bigquery_metastore.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/bigquery_metastore.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 from google.api_core.exceptions import NotFound
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Namespace {namespace} does not exist.") from e
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         database_name = self.identifier_to_database(namespace)
         iceberg_tables: list[Identifier] = []
         try:
@@ -264,10 +265,10 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
                 iceberg_tables.append((database_name, bq_table_list_item.table_id))
         except NotFound:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Namespace (dataset) '{database_name}' not found.") from None
-        return iceberg_tables
+        return iter(iceberg_tables)
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         # Since this catalog only supports one-level namespaces, it always returns an empty list unless
         # passed an empty namespace to list all namespaces within the catalog.
         if namespace:
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
 
         # List top-level datasets
         datasets_iterator = self.client.list_datasets()
-        return [(dataset.dataset_id,) for dataset in datasets_iterator]
+        return iter([(dataset.dataset_id,) for dataset in datasets_iterator])
 
     @override
     def register_table(self, identifier: str | Identifier, metadata_location: str, overwrite: bool = False) -> Table:
@@ -314,7 +315,7 @@ def register_table(self, identifier: str | Identifier, metadata_location: str, o
         return self.load_table(identifier=identifier)
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/dynamodb.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/dynamodb.py
index 74c0be6c9a..0a07c51771 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/dynamodb.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/dynamodb.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #  specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #  under the License.
 import uuid
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from time import time
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
@@ -396,8 +397,11 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
         database_name = self.identifier_to_database(namespace, NoSuchNamespaceError)
         table_identifiers = self.list_tables(namespace=database_name)
 
-        if len(table_identifiers) > 0:
+        try:
+            next(table_identifiers)
             raise NamespaceNotEmptyError(f"Database {database_name} is not empty")
+        except StopIteration:
+            pass
 
         try:
             self._delete_dynamo_item(
@@ -409,14 +413,14 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Database does not exist: {database_name}") from e
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List Iceberg tables under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of table identifiers.
         """
         database_name = self.identifier_to_database(namespace, NoSuchNamespaceError)
 
@@ -451,20 +455,20 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
 
                 table_identifiers.append(self.identifier_to_tuple(identifier_col))
 
-        return table_identifiers
+        return iter(table_identifiers)
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List top-level namespaces from the catalog.
 
         We do not support hierarchical namespace.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: a List of namespace identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of namespace identifiers.
         """
         # Hierarchical namespace is not supported. Return an empty list
         if namespace:
-            return []
+            return iter([])
 
         paginator = self.dynamodb.get_paginator("query")
 
@@ -494,7 +498,7 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
                 namespace_col = _dict[DYNAMODB_COL_NAMESPACE]
                 database_identifiers.append(self.identifier_to_tuple(namespace_col))
 
-        return database_identifiers
+        return iter(database_identifiers)
 
     @override
     def load_namespace_properties(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Properties:
@@ -565,7 +569,7 @@ def create_view(
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/glue.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/glue.py
index 12b36efc5c..e06716d82d 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/glue.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/glue.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 
 import logging
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
     Any,
@@ -860,14 +861,14 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
         self.glue.delete_database(Name=database_name)
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List Iceberg tables under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of table identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist, or the identifier is invalid.
@@ -889,18 +890,18 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
 
         except self.glue.exceptions.EntityNotFoundException as e:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Database does not exist: {database_name}") from e
-        return [(database_name, table["Name"]) for table in table_list if self.__is_iceberg_table(table)]
+        return iter([(database_name, table["Name"]) for table in table_list if self.__is_iceberg_table(table)])
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List namespaces from the given namespace. If not given, list top-level namespaces from the catalog.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: a List of namespace identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of namespace identifiers.
         """
         # Hierarchical namespace is not supported. Return an empty list
         if namespace:
-            return []
+            return iter([])
 
         database_list: list[DatabaseTypeDef] = []
         next_token: str | None = None
@@ -912,7 +913,7 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
             if not next_token:
                 break
 
-        return [self.identifier_to_tuple(database["Name"]) for database in database_list]
+        return iter([self.identifier_to_tuple(database["Name"]) for database in database_list])
 
     @override
     def load_namespace_properties(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Properties:
@@ -982,7 +983,7 @@ def create_view(
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/hive.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/hive.py
index 181f9d4661..4e34426c5a 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/hive.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/hive.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import logging
 import socket
 import time
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from types import TracebackType
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
@@ -479,7 +480,7 @@ def register_table(self, identifier: str | Identifier, metadata_location: str, o
         return self._convert_hive_into_iceberg(hive_table)
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
@@ -760,7 +761,7 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Database does not exists: {database_name}") from e
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List Iceberg tables under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         When the database doesn't exist, it will just return an empty list.
@@ -769,34 +770,36 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
             namespace: Database to list.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of table identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist, or the identifier is invalid.
         """
         database_name = self.identifier_to_database(namespace, NoSuchNamespaceError)
         with self._client as open_client:
-            return [
-                (database_name, table.tableName)
-                for table in open_client.get_table_objects_by_name(
-                    dbname=database_name, tbl_names=open_client.get_all_tables(db_name=database_name)
-                )
-                if table.parameters.get(TABLE_TYPE, "").lower() == ICEBERG
-            ]
+            return iter(
+                [
+                    (database_name, table.tableName)
+                    for table in open_client.get_table_objects_by_name(
+                        dbname=database_name, tbl_names=open_client.get_all_tables(db_name=database_name)
+                    )
+                    if table.parameters.get(TABLE_TYPE, "").lower() == ICEBERG
+                ]
+            )
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List namespaces from the given namespace. If not given, list top-level namespaces from the catalog.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: a List of namespace identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of namespace identifiers.
         """
         # Hierarchical namespace is not supported. Return an empty list
         if namespace:
-            return []
+            return iter([])
 
         with self._client as open_client:
-            return list(map(self.identifier_to_tuple, open_client.get_all_databases()))
+            return iter(list(map(self.identifier_to_tuple, open_client.get_all_databases())))
 
     @override
     def load_namespace_properties(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Properties:
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/noop.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/noop.py
index aeb3c72843..f1afae7a67 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/noop.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/noop.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #  under the License.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
 )
@@ -124,11 +125,11 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ def update_namespace_properties(
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
index d085c6fd87..8b42e775b3 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from collections import deque
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
@@ -1037,8 +1038,16 @@ def register_table(self, identifier: str | Identifier, metadata_location: str, o
         return self._response_to_table(self.identifier_to_tuple(identifier), table_response)
 
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
+    def _fetch_tables_page(self, url: str, params: dict[str, str]) -> ListTablesResponse:
+        response = self._session.get(url, params=params)
+        try:
+            response.raise_for_status()
+        except HTTPError as exc:
+            _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
+        return ListTablesResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
+
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         self._check_endpoint(Capability.V1_LIST_TABLES)
         namespace_tuple = self._check_valid_namespace_identifier(namespace)
         namespace_concat = self._encode_namespace_path(namespace_tuple)
@@ -1051,27 +1060,18 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
                 raise ValueError(f"{PAGE_SIZE} must be a positive integer")
             params["pageSize"] = str(page_size)
 
-        tables: list[Identifier] = []
         page_token: str | None = None
 
         while True:
             if page_token:
                 params["pageToken"] = page_token
-            response = self._session.get(url, params=params)
-            try:
-                response.raise_for_status()
-            except HTTPError as exc:
-                _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
-
-            parsed = ListTablesResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
-            tables.extend([(*table.namespace, table.name) for table in parsed.identifiers])
+            parsed = self._fetch_tables_page(url, params)
+            yield from [(*table.namespace, table.name) for table in parsed.identifiers]
 
             if not parsed.next_page_token:
                 break
             page_token = parsed.next_page_token
 
-        return tables
-
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
     @override
     def load_table(self, identifier: str | Identifier) -> Table:
@@ -1150,10 +1150,18 @@ def _remove_catalog_name_from_table_request_identifier(self, table_request: Comm
         return table_request
 
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
+    def _fetch_views_page(self, url: str, params: dict[str, str]) -> ListViewsResponse:
+        response = self._session.get(url, params=params)
+        try:
+            response.raise_for_status()
+        except HTTPError as exc:
+            _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
+        return ListViewsResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
+
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         if Capability.V1_LIST_VIEWS not in self._supported_endpoints:
-            return []
+            return
         namespace_tuple = self._check_valid_namespace_identifier(namespace)
         namespace_concat = self._encode_namespace_path(namespace_tuple)
         url = self.url(Endpoints.list_views, namespace=namespace_concat)
@@ -1165,28 +1173,18 @@ def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
                 raise ValueError(f"{PAGE_SIZE} must be a positive integer")
             params["pageSize"] = str(page_size)
 
-        views: list[Identifier] = []
         page_token: str | None = None
 
         while True:
             if page_token:
                 params["pageToken"] = page_token
-
-            response = self._session.get(url, params=params)
-            try:
-                response.raise_for_status()
-            except HTTPError as exc:
-                _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
-
-            parsed = ListViewsResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
-            views.extend([(*view.namespace, view.name) for view in parsed.identifiers])
+            parsed = self._fetch_views_page(url, params)
+            yield from [(*view.namespace, view.name) for view in parsed.identifiers]
 
             if not parsed.next_page_token:
                 break
             page_token = parsed.next_page_token
 
-        return views
-
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
     @override
     def load_view(self, identifier: str | Identifier) -> View:
@@ -1275,8 +1273,16 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError, 409: NamespaceNotEmptyError})
 
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
+    def _fetch_namespaces_page(self, params: dict[str, str]) -> ListNamespaceResponse:
+        response = self._session.get(self.url(Endpoints.list_namespaces), params=params)
+        try:
+            response.raise_for_status()
+        except HTTPError as exc:
+            _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
+        return ListNamespaceResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
+
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         self._check_endpoint(Capability.V1_LIST_NAMESPACES)
         namespace_tuple = self.identifier_to_tuple(namespace)
 
@@ -1287,7 +1293,6 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
                 raise ValueError(f"{PAGE_SIZE} must be a positive integer")
             params["pageSize"] = str(page_size)
 
-        namespaces: list[Identifier] = []
         page_token: str | None = None
 
         while True:
@@ -1295,22 +1300,13 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
                 params["parent"] = self._encode_namespace_path(namespace_tuple)
             if page_token:
                 params["pageToken"] = page_token
-            response = self._session.get(self.url(Endpoints.list_namespaces), params=params)
-
-            try:
-                response.raise_for_status()
-            except HTTPError as exc:
-                _handle_non_200_response(exc, {404: NoSuchNamespaceError})
-
-            parsed = ListNamespaceResponse.model_validate_json(response.text)
-            namespaces.extend(parsed.namespaces)
+            parsed = self._fetch_namespaces_page(params)
+            yield from parsed.namespaces
 
             if not parsed.next_page_token:
                 break
             page_token = parsed.next_page_token
 
-        return namespaces
-
     @retry(**_RETRY_ARGS)
     @override
     def load_namespace_properties(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Properties:
diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/sql.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/sql.py
index 87446bd58b..0112dcb677 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/sql.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/sql.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
 )
@@ -586,8 +587,12 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             raise NoSuchNamespaceError(f"Namespace does not exist: {namespace}")
 
         namespace_str = Catalog.namespace_to_string(namespace)
-        if tables := self.list_tables(namespace):
-            raise NamespaceNotEmptyError(f"Namespace {namespace_str} is not empty. {len(tables)} tables exist.")
+        tables_iter = self.list_tables(namespace)
+        try:
+            next(tables_iter)
+            raise NamespaceNotEmptyError(f"Namespace {namespace_str} is not empty.")
+        except StopIteration:
+            pass
 
         with Session(self.engine) as session:
             session.execute(
@@ -599,14 +604,14 @@ def drop_namespace(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> None:
             session.commit()
 
     @override
-    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List tables under the given namespace in the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: list of table identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of table identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist.
@@ -618,17 +623,17 @@ def list_tables(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
         stmt = select(IcebergTables).where(IcebergTables.catalog_name == self.name, IcebergTables.table_namespace == namespace)
         with Session(self.engine) as session:
             result = session.scalars(stmt)
-            return [(Catalog.identifier_to_tuple(table.table_namespace) + (table.table_name,)) for table in result]
+            return iter([(Catalog.identifier_to_tuple(table.table_namespace) + (table.table_name,)) for table in result])
 
     @override
-    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         """List namespaces from the given namespace. If not given, list top-level namespaces from the catalog.
 
         Args:
             namespace (str | Identifier): Namespace identifier to search.
 
         Returns:
-            List[Identifier]: a List of namespace identifiers.
+            Iterator[Identifier]: an iterator of namespace identifiers.
 
         Raises:
             NoSuchNamespaceError: If a namespace with the given name does not exist.
@@ -660,7 +665,7 @@ def list_namespaces(self, namespace: str | Identifier = ()) -> list[Identifier]:
                 }
             )
 
-            return namespaces
+            return iter(namespaces)
 
     @override
     def load_namespace_properties(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Properties:
@@ -755,7 +760,7 @@ def create_view(
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
-    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> list[Identifier]:
+    def list_views(self, namespace: str | Identifier) -> Iterator[Identifier]:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @override
diff --git a/pyiceberg/cli/console.py b/pyiceberg/cli/console.py
index 3feed9fb21..a151e09d44 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/cli/console.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/cli/console.py
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 # pylint: disable=broad-except,redefined-builtin,redefined-outer-name
+import itertools
 import logging
-from collections.abc import Callable
+from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
 from functools import wraps
 from typing import (
     Any,
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 from pyiceberg.io import WAREHOUSE
 from pyiceberg.table import TableProperties
 from pyiceberg.table.refs import SnapshotRef, SnapshotRefType
+from pyiceberg.typedef import Identifier
 from pyiceberg.utils.properties import property_as_int
 
 
@@ -130,14 +132,19 @@ def _catalog_and_output(ctx: Context) -> tuple[Catalog, Output]:
 def list(ctx: Context, parent: str | None) -> None:  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
     """List tables or namespaces."""
     catalog, output = _catalog_and_output(ctx)
+    identifiers: Iterator[Identifier]
 
-    identifiers = []
     if parent:
-        # Do we have tables under parent namespace?
-        identifiers = catalog.list_tables(parent)
-    if not identifiers:
-        # List hierarchical namespaces if parent, root namespaces otherwise.
-        identifiers = catalog.list_namespaces(parent or ())
+        # Do we have tables under parent namespace? Peek at first element.
+        tables = catalog.list_tables(parent)
+        try:
+            first = next(tables)
+            identifiers = itertools.chain([first], tables)
+        except StopIteration:
+            # No tables found; list hierarchical namespaces instead.
+            identifiers = catalog.list_namespaces(parent)
+    else:
+        identifiers = catalog.list_namespaces(())
     output.identifiers(identifiers)
 
 
diff --git a/pyiceberg/cli/output.py b/pyiceberg/cli/output.py
index 332221008c..5584bd22a5 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/cli/output.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/cli/output.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # under the License.
 import json
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from collections.abc import Iterable
 from typing import (
     Any,
 )
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class Output(ABC):
     def exception(self, ex: Exception) -> None: ...
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def identifiers(self, identifiers: list[Identifier]) -> None: ...
+    def identifiers(self, identifiers: Iterable[Identifier]) -> None: ...
 
     @abstractmethod
     def describe_table(self, table: Table) -> None: ...
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ def exception(self, ex: Exception) -> None:
         else:
             Console(stderr=True).print(ex)
 
-    def identifiers(self, identifiers: list[Identifier]) -> None:
+    def identifiers(self, identifiers: Iterable[Identifier]) -> None:
         table = self._table
         for identifier in identifiers:
             table.add_row(".".join(identifier))
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ def _out(self, d: Any) -> None:
     def exception(self, ex: Exception) -> None:
         self._out({"type": ex.__class__.__name__, "message": str(ex)})
 
-    def identifiers(self, identifiers: list[Identifier]) -> None:
+    def identifiers(self, identifiers: Iterable[Identifier]) -> None:
         self._out([".".join(identifier) for identifier in identifiers])
 
     def describe_table(self, table: Table) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/catalog/integration_test_dynamodb.py b/tests/catalog/integration_test_dynamodb.py
index 6ae14bca06..87988f9237 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/integration_test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/integration_test_dynamodb.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def test_list_tables(test_catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Schema, databas
     test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
     for table_name in table_list:
         test_catalog.create_table((database_name, table_name), table_schema_nested)
-    identifier_list = test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)
+    identifier_list = list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))
     assert len(identifier_list) == LIST_TEST_NUMBER
     for table_name in table_list:
         assert (database_name, table_name) in identifier_list
@@ -207,10 +207,10 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(test_catalog: Catalog, datab
 def test_list_namespaces(test_catalog: Catalog, database_list: list[str]) -> None:
     for database_name in database_list:
         test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
-    db_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    db_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     for database_name in database_list:
         assert (database_name,) in db_list
-    assert len(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0])) == 0
+    assert len(list(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0]))) == 0
 
 
 def test_drop_namespace(test_catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Schema, table_name: str, database_name: str) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/catalog/integration_test_glue.py b/tests/catalog/integration_test_glue.py
index c429770268..c73035b48e 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/integration_test_glue.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/integration_test_glue.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def test_list_tables(test_catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Schema, databas
     test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
     for table_name in table_list:
         test_catalog.create_table((database_name, table_name), table_schema_nested)
-    identifier_list = test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)
+    identifier_list = list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))
     assert len(identifier_list) == LIST_TEST_NUMBER
     for table_name in table_list:
         assert (database_name, table_name) in identifier_list
@@ -316,10 +316,10 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(test_catalog: Catalog, datab
 def test_list_namespaces(test_catalog: Catalog, database_list: list[str]) -> None:
     for database_name in database_list:
         test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
-    db_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    db_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     for database_name in database_list:
         assert (database_name,) in db_list
-    assert len(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0])) == 0
+    assert len(list(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0]))) == 0
 
 
 def test_drop_namespace(test_catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Schema, database_name: str, table_name: str) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_bigquery_metastore.py b/tests/catalog/test_bigquery_metastore.py
index c8c7584262..bfca9ec081 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_bigquery_metastore.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_bigquery_metastore.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def test_list_tables(mocker: MockFixture, gcp_dataset_name: str) -> None:
     catalog_name = "test_catalog"
     test_catalog = BigQueryMetastoreCatalog(catalog_name, **{"gcp.bigquery.project-id": "my-project"})
 
-    tables = test_catalog.list_tables(gcp_dataset_name)
+    tables = list(test_catalog.list_tables(gcp_dataset_name))
 
     # Assert that all tables returned by client.list_tables are listed
     assert len(tables) == 2
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces(mocker: MockFixture) -> None:
     catalog_name = "test_catalog"
     test_catalog = BigQueryMetastoreCatalog(catalog_name, **{"gcp.bigquery.project-id": "my-project"})
 
-    namespaces = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    namespaces = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(namespaces) == 2
     assert ("dataset1",) in namespaces
     assert ("dataset2",) in namespaces
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_catalog_behaviors.py b/tests/catalog/test_catalog_behaviors.py
index b859e2d541..bf92ef10e6 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_catalog_behaviors.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_catalog_behaviors.py
@@ -517,11 +517,11 @@ def test_list_tables(
     catalog.create_namespace(namespace_2)
     catalog.create_table(test_table_identifier, table_schema_nested)
     catalog.create_table(another_table_identifier, table_schema_nested)
-    identifier_list = catalog.list_tables(namespace_1)
+    identifier_list = list(catalog.list_tables(namespace_1))
     assert len(identifier_list) == 1
     assert test_table_identifier in identifier_list
 
-    identifier_list = catalog.list_tables(namespace_2)
+    identifier_list = list(catalog.list_tables(namespace_2))
     assert len(identifier_list) == 1
     assert another_table_identifier in identifier_list
 
@@ -532,8 +532,8 @@ def test_list_tables_under_a_namespace(catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Sc
     catalog.create_table(test_table_identifier, table_schema_nested)
     new_namespace = ("new", "namespace")
     catalog.create_namespace(new_namespace)
-    all_tables = catalog.list_tables(namespace=namespace)
-    new_namespace_tables = catalog.list_tables(new_namespace)
+    all_tables = list(catalog.list_tables(namespace=namespace))
+    new_namespace_tables = list(catalog.list_tables(new_namespace))
     assert all_tables
     assert test_table_identifier in all_tables
     assert new_namespace_tables == []
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ def test_list_tables_under_a_namespace(catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Sc
 
 def test_list_tables_when_missing_namespace(catalog: Catalog, test_namespace: Identifier) -> None:
     with pytest.raises(NoSuchNamespaceError):
-        catalog.list_tables(test_namespace)
+        list(catalog.list_tables(test_namespace))
 
 
 # Commit table tests
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(catalog: Catalog, test_names
         "location": test_location,
     }
     catalog.create_namespace(namespace=test_namespace, properties=test_properties)
-    loaded_database_list = catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert Catalog.identifier_to_tuple(test_namespace)[:1] in loaded_database_list
     properties = catalog.load_namespace_properties(test_namespace)
     assert properties["comment"] == "this is a test description"
@@ -1088,17 +1088,17 @@ def test_list_namespaces(catalog: Catalog) -> None:
         if not catalog.namespace_exists(namespace):
             catalog.create_namespace(namespace)
 
-    ns_list = catalog.list_namespaces()
+    ns_list = list(catalog.list_namespaces())
     for ns in [("db",), ("db%",), ("db2",)]:
         assert ns in ns_list
 
-    ns_list = catalog.list_namespaces("db")
+    ns_list = list(catalog.list_namespaces("db"))
     assert sorted(ns_list) == [("db", "ns1"), ("db", "ns2")]
 
-    ns_list = catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1")
+    ns_list = list(catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1"))
     assert sorted(ns_list) == [("db", "ns1", "ns2")]
 
-    ns_list = catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1.ns2")
+    ns_list = list(catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1.ns2"))
     assert len(ns_list) == 0
 
 
@@ -1108,14 +1108,14 @@ def test_list_namespaces_fuzzy_match(catalog: Catalog) -> None:
         if not catalog.namespace_exists(namespace):
             catalog.create_namespace(namespace)
 
-    assert catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1") == [("db", "ns1", "ns2")]
+    assert list(catalog.list_namespaces("db.ns1")) == [("db", "ns1", "ns2")]
 
-    assert catalog.list_namespaces("db_.ns1") == [("db_", "ns1", "ns2")]
+    assert list(catalog.list_namespaces("db_.ns1")) == [("db_", "ns1", "ns2")]
 
 
 def test_list_non_existing_namespaces(catalog: Catalog) -> None:
     with pytest.raises(NoSuchNamespaceError):
-        catalog.list_namespaces("does_not_exist")
+        list(catalog.list_namespaces("does_not_exist"))
 
 
 # Update namespace properties tests
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_dynamodb.py b/tests/catalog/test_dynamodb.py
index 5933e7d472..4bfac46b79 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_dynamodb.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def test_list_tables(
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
     for table_name in table_list:
         test_catalog.create_table((database_name, table_name), table_schema_nested)
-    loaded_table_list = test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)
+    loaded_table_list = list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))
     for table_name in table_list:
         assert (database_name, table_name) in loaded_table_list
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces(_bucket_initialize: None, database_list: list[str]) ->
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog")
     for database_name in database_list:
         test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     for database_name in database_list:
         assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
 
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces(_bucket_initialize: None, database_list: list[str]) ->
 def test_create_namespace_no_properties(_bucket_initialize: None, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog")
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     properties = test_catalog.load_namespace_properties(database_name)
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(_bucket_initialize: None, da
     }
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog")
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name, properties=test_properties)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     properties = test_catalog.load_namespace_properties(database_name)
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(_bucket_initialize: None, da
 def test_create_duplicated_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog")
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     with pytest.raises(NamespaceAlreadyExistsError):
@@ -456,11 +456,11 @@ def test_create_duplicated_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, database_name: st
 def test_drop_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog")
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     test_catalog.drop_namespace(database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 0
 
 
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ def test_drop_non_empty_namespace(
     test_catalog = DynamoDbCatalog("test_ddb_catalog", **{"warehouse": f"s3://{BUCKET_NAME}", "s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
     test_catalog.create_table(identifier, table_schema_nested)
-    assert len(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)) == 1
+    assert len(list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))) == 1
     with pytest.raises(NamespaceNotEmptyError):
         test_catalog.drop_namespace(database_name)
 
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_glue.py b/tests/catalog/test_glue.py
index c8da49a87e..b2e1796906 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_glue.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_glue.py
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ def test_list_tables(
 
     for table_name in table_list:
         test_catalog.create_table((database_name, table_name), table_schema_nested)
-    loaded_table_list = test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)
+    loaded_table_list = list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))
 
     assert (database_name, non_iceberg_table_name) not in loaded_table_list
     assert (database_name, non_table_type_table_name) not in loaded_table_list
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url: str, datab
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     for database_name in database_list:
         test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     for database_name in database_list:
         assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
 
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url: str, datab
 def test_create_namespace_no_properties(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url: str, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     properties = test_catalog.load_namespace_properties(database_name)
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(_bucket_initialize: None, mo
     }
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name, properties=test_properties)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     properties = test_catalog.load_namespace_properties(database_name)
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment_and_location(_bucket_initialize: None, mo
 def test_create_duplicated_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url: str, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     with pytest.raises(NamespaceAlreadyExistsError):
@@ -577,11 +577,11 @@ def test_create_duplicated_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url
 def test_drop_namespace(_bucket_initialize: None, moto_endpoint_url: str, database_name: str) -> None:
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 1
     assert (database_name,) in loaded_database_list
     test_catalog.drop_namespace(database_name)
-    loaded_database_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    loaded_database_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     assert len(loaded_database_list) == 0
 
 
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ def test_drop_non_empty_namespace(
     test_catalog = GlueCatalog("glue", **{"s3.endpoint": moto_endpoint_url, "warehouse": f"s3://{BUCKET_NAME}/"})
     test_catalog.create_namespace(namespace=database_name)
     test_catalog.create_table(identifier, table_schema_nested)
-    assert len(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)) == 1
+    assert len(list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))) == 1
     with pytest.raises(NamespaceNotEmptyError):
         test_catalog.drop_namespace(database_name)
 
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_hive.py b/tests/catalog/test_hive.py
index 09bb5ab920..1b2ee7f744 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_hive.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_hive.py
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ def test_list_tables(hive_table: HiveTable) -> None:
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_all_tables.return_value = ["table1", "table2", "table3", "table4"]
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_table_objects_by_name.return_value = [tbl1, tbl2, tbl3, tbl4]
 
-    got_tables = catalog.list_tables("database")
+    got_tables = list(catalog.list_tables("database"))
     assert got_tables == [("database", "table1"), ("database", "table2")]
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_all_tables.assert_called_with(db_name="database")
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_table_objects_by_name.assert_called_with(
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces() -> None:
     catalog._client = MagicMock()
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_all_databases.return_value = ["namespace1", "namespace2"]
 
-    assert catalog.list_namespaces() == [("namespace1",), ("namespace2",)]
+    assert list(catalog.list_namespaces()) == [("namespace1",), ("namespace2",)]
 
     catalog._client.__enter__().get_all_databases.assert_called()
 
diff --git a/tests/catalog/test_rest.py b/tests/catalog/test_rest.py
index 1eb9f26a56..b4e352436c 100644
--- a/tests/catalog/test_rest.py
+++ b/tests/catalog/test_rest.py
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ def test_list_tables_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
+    assert list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace)) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
 
 
 def test_list_tables_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ def test_list_tables_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace))
     assert result == [
         ("examples", "table1"),
         ("examples", "table2"),
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ def test_list_tables_paginated_200_none_next_page_token(rest_mock: Mocker) -> No
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace))
     assert result == [
         ("examples", "table1"),
         ("examples", "table2"),
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ def test_list_tables_page_size(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_tables(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_tables(namespace))
     assert rest_mock.last_request.url == f"{TEST_URI}v1/namespaces/examples/tables?pageSize=100"
 
     assert result == [
@@ -597,9 +597,9 @@ def test_list_tables_200_sigv4(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", **{"uri": TEST_URI, "token": TEST_TOKEN, "rest.sigv4-enabled": "true"}).list_tables(namespace) == [
-        ("examples", "fooshare")
-    ]
+    assert list(
+        RestCatalog("rest", **{"uri": TEST_URI, "token": TEST_TOKEN, "rest.sigv4-enabled": "true"}).list_tables(namespace)
+    ) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
     assert rest_mock.called
 
 
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ def test_list_tables_404(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
     with pytest.raises(NoSuchNamespaceError) as e:
-        RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace)
+        list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_tables(namespace))
     assert "Namespace does not exist" in str(e.value)
 
 
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ def test_list_views_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
+    assert list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace)) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
 
 
 def test_list_views_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ def test_list_views_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace))
     assert result == [
         ("examples", "view1"),
         ("examples", "view2"),
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ def test_list_views_paginated_200_none_next_page_token(rest_mock: Mocker) -> Non
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace))
     assert result == [
         ("examples", "view1"),
         ("examples", "view2"),
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ def test_list_views_page_size(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_views(namespace)
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_views(namespace))
     assert rest_mock.last_request.url == f"{TEST_URI}v1/namespaces/examples/views?pageSize=100"
 
     assert result == [
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ def test_list_views_invalid_page_size(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
     )
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
-        RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "0"}).list_views(namespace)
+        list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "0"}).list_views(namespace))
     assert str(e.value) == "rest-page-size must be a positive integer"
 
 
@@ -885,9 +885,9 @@ def test_list_views_200_sigv4(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", **{"uri": TEST_URI, "token": TEST_TOKEN, "rest.sigv4-enabled": "true"}).list_views(namespace) == [
-        ("examples", "fooshare")
-    ]
+    assert list(
+        RestCatalog("rest", **{"uri": TEST_URI, "token": TEST_TOKEN, "rest.sigv4-enabled": "true"}).list_views(namespace)
+    ) == [("examples", "fooshare")]
     assert rest_mock.called
 
 
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ def test_list_views_404(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
     with pytest.raises(NoSuchNamespaceError) as e:
-        RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace)
+        list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_views(namespace))
     assert "Namespace does not exist" in str(e.value)
 
 
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         status_code=200,
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces() == [
+    assert list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces()) == [
         ("default",),
         ("examples",),
         ("fokko",),
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ def test_list_namespace_with_parent_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         status_code=200,
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
-    assert RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("accounting",)) == [
+    assert list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("accounting",))) == [
         ("accounting", "tax"),
     ]
 
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces()
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces())
     assert result == [
         ("ns1",),
         ("ns2",),
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_with_parent_paginated_200(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("accounting",))
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("accounting",)))
     assert result == [
         ("accounting", "tax"),
         ("accounting", "payroll"),
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_paginated_200_none_next_page_token(rest_mock: Mocker) -
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces()
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces())
     assert result == [
         ("ns1",),
         ("ns2",),
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_page_size(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
         request_headers=TEST_HEADERS,
     )
 
-    result = RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_namespaces()
+    result = list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN, **{PAGE_SIZE: "100"}).list_namespaces())
     assert rest_mock.last_request.url == f"{TEST_URI}v1/namespaces?pageSize=100"
 
     assert result == [
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ def test_list_namespace_with_parent_404(rest_mock: Mocker) -> None:
     )
 
     with pytest.raises(NoSuchNamespaceError):
-        RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("some_namespace",))
+        list(RestCatalog("rest", uri=TEST_URI, token=TEST_TOKEN).list_namespaces(("some_namespace",)))
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_token_expired_success_on_retries(rest_mock: Mocker, sta
     # which results in the token being refreshed twice when the RestCatalog is initialized.
     assert tokens.call_count == 2
 
-    assert catalog.list_namespaces() == [
+    assert list(catalog.list_namespaces()) == [
         ("default",),
         ("examples",),
         ("fokko",),
@@ -1170,7 +1170,7 @@ def test_list_namespaces_token_expired_success_on_retries(rest_mock: Mocker, sta
     assert namespaces.call_count == 2
     assert tokens.call_count == 3
 
-    assert catalog.list_namespaces() == [
+    assert list(catalog.list_namespaces()) == [
         ("default",),
         ("examples",),
         ("fokko",),
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_catalog.py b/tests/integration/test_catalog.py
index 4188ad83db..fa0867770c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_catalog.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def test_list_tables(test_catalog: Catalog, table_schema_nested: Schema, databas
     test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
     for table_name in table_list:
         test_catalog.create_table((database_name, table_name), table_schema_nested)
-    identifier_list = test_catalog.list_tables(database_name)
+    identifier_list = list(test_catalog.list_tables(database_name))
     assert len(identifier_list) == len(table_list)
     for table_name in table_list:
         assert (database_name, table_name) in identifier_list
@@ -463,10 +463,10 @@ def test_create_namespace_with_comment(test_catalog: Catalog, database_name: str
 def test_list_namespaces(test_catalog: Catalog, database_list: list[str]) -> None:
     for database_name in database_list:
         test_catalog.create_namespace(database_name)
-    db_list = test_catalog.list_namespaces()
+    db_list = list(test_catalog.list_namespaces())
     for database_name in database_list:
         assert (database_name,) in db_list
-    assert len(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0])) == 0
+    assert len(list(test_catalog.list_namespaces(list(database_list)[0]))) == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.integration