Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour – Icelandic Traditional Food

Reykjavík’s traditional foods tell a practical story of island life: seafood from the harbor, warming lamb soup, and fermented shark that asks you to be brave for a bite. This small-group walking tour brings those tastes together with local stories, so you get more than a meal-by-meal checklist.

I like the variety of stops, from an old harbor soup counter to the original hot dog stand, and the small group cap of 12, which gives you room to ask questions. One consideration: at $152.37, the price is a splurge, and a few tasters may feel less exciting if you have already sampled Icelandic staples elsewhere.

Quick take: the flavors and details

• The harbor starts with shellfish soup, a warming first taste of Icelandic seafood.
• The hot dog stop reaches back to 1937, at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, Reykjavík’s original stand.
• Fermented shark makes an appearance, alongside other Icelandic delicacies and a drink at the final stop.
• Kolaportið Market is a weekend extra, open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.
• The guide adds context as you walk, with stories about food, Icelandic life and local history.
• Come hungry and dress for the weather, since the tour lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours and runs in all conditions.

A walk through Reykjavík, served one taste at a time

This is a food tour first and a city walk second. You move between central Reykjavík eateries on foot, stopping for tastings while your guide explains what you are eating and why it belongs in Icelandic food culture. You will also hear about local life and history along the way, but this is not a full city sightseeing tour.

The route is designed to give you a broad introduction in one outing. Depending on the foods served at your stops, you may encounter seafood soup, lamb, smoked fish, goose, cod, Icelandic sweets and the famously challenging fermented shark. The exact mix can vary, so think of the experience as a guided sampling rather than a fixed, full meal at every venue.

The tour runs for roughly two and a half to three hours, with a group of no more than 12. That size helps keep the walk social without making it hard to hear the guide. Several guides lead the experience, including people named Einar, Paul, Bo, Stefan, Robyn, Palli and Magnús. Guests especially value guides who mix food explanations with personal stories, folklore, sagas and tips for where to eat later.

Ingólfstorg: meet in the city center

The tour begins at Ingólfstorg, also called Ingolfur Square, at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1. Arrive five minutes early so the group can set off on time. The tour ends back at its starting point, so you do not need to arrange a ride back from a different part of town.

The meeting point is near public transportation, but take care to check the exact address and instructions before leaving. Some people have found the start a little tricky to locate. A quick map check before the tour is a sensible way to avoid beginning your evening in a search for the group.

Seabaron: a first taste of Icelandic seafood

The first food stop is Seabaron, down by the old Reykjavík harbor. Here, you begin with Icelandic shellfish soup. Some guides and menus may describe this as langoustine or lobster soup, but the central idea is the same: a warm seafood starter that introduces the island’s close ties to the sea.

This is a useful first stop because it sets a clear baseline for the rest of the tour. Seafood is a natural part of eating in Reykjavík, and a soup tasting gives you a chance to try it without committing to a full restaurant meal. The stop lasts about 25 minutes.

Keep in mind that this is a tasting format. The food may be a highlight, but the tour is not built around long restaurant visits or staff demonstrations. Your guide is the main source of explanation, rather than a chef presenting each dish.

Kolaportið: a weekend look at local food

On Saturday and Sunday, when the market is open from 11 am to 5 pm, the route may include Kolaportið inside the Reykjavík Flea Market. The group spends about 30 minutes walking through a small food market and looking at traditional Icelandic products.

This stop adds a different texture to the tour. Instead of sitting down to a prepared dish, you get a quick look at foods and snacks that may be less familiar than soup or hot dogs. It can help you connect the tastings with the ingredients and products people buy locally.

The market is not part of every tour. If you book on a weekday, or outside its opening hours, expect the experience to proceed without this stop. Do not plan your whole decision around Kolaportið unless your tour time falls on a weekend during its stated hours.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: Reykjavík’s original hot dog

No Reykjavík food outing would feel complete without the Icelandic lamb hot dog. At Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, the group stops at the original stand, which dates to 1937. The visit lasts about 15 minutes.

This is an easy, familiar way into Icelandic food traditions. The hot dog is less challenging than fermented shark, but it gives you a taste of a much-loved local staple in the place associated with its long-running history. Several people single out the hot dog as one of their favorite bites.

It is also a quick counterpoint to the sit-down tastings. You are not spending the whole afternoon in restaurants; the tour mixes short street-food stops with longer meals and sampling sessions. If you have already tried the stand on your own, the context and company may still be worthwhile, though the food itself may not feel new.

Icelandic Street Food: lamb soup and warming comfort

At Icelandic Street Food, the group has about 40 minutes to try lamb soup and other traditional foods. Lamb soup is often described as Iceland in a bowl, and it makes sense as a substantial stop on a walking tour in changeable weather.

The tour offers a chance to taste this familiar home-style dish without ordering a full bowl at a restaurant on your own. Exact portions and accompanying foods can vary. Some people find the servings generous, while others describe them as modest, so it is wise to arrive hungry but not expect a multi-course dinner.

Food preferences differ, too. Some people love the soup, while others have found better versions elsewhere or felt that the bread did not add much. That is a fair reason to keep expectations grounded: the tour is about sampling a range of Icelandic food and learning its context, not declaring one definitive bowl of soup.

Taste Of Iceland: local sweets and unusual snacks

A short stop at Taste Of Iceland gives you about 10 minutes to look at Icelandic delicacies, snacks and candy. It is a compact visit, but it adds a useful contrast after the soups and savory dishes.

The selection can include less familiar treats. Chocolate-covered licorice, for example, has appeared on the tour, and it is a good reminder that Icelandic food culture is not all lamb and seafood. You may find something you want to bring home, though this short stop is not a long shopping break.

If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, tell the operator in advance. The tour tries to accommodate them, and some groups have had good results, but it is best to be specific rather than assume every tasting can be changed.

Dass Reykjavík: delicacies, shark and a final drink

The final stop is Dass Reykjavík, near Hallgrímskirkja. The group spends about 45 minutes trying several Icelandic delicacies, with fermented shark, or hákarl, as the memorable challenge. You also finish with a choice of an alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink.

Hákarl is known for its strong taste and smell. You do not need to pretend it is an everyday favorite. Treat the bite as a chance to understand a food with a distinct place in Icelandic tradition, and decide for yourself whether you like it. The tour’s broader range of foods means this is one unusual taste among several, rather than the whole point of the outing.

The listed drink recommendations include Icelandic beer and Black Death, an Icelandic schnapps. The exact choices offered can differ, and some people have been offered a narrower selection such as soda, beer or moonshine. If a particular drink matters to you, ask what is available when you arrive.

The final venue also gives the group a chance to wind down together after the walk. It is a sociable ending, but drink is not the same as an open bar, and the experience includes a tasting rather than a full evening of drinking.

What the price buys, and what it does not

At $152.37 per person, this is not a cheap snack crawl. The cost includes the food tastings, water at all stops, a professional guide, taxes and fees, and an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink at the end. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The value comes from trying several foods and venues in one outing, while getting explanations and local recommendations along the way. You avoid paying for a full meal at each restaurant, and you can use the guide’s suggestions to choose where to return later. Some people have gone back to a favorite stop on their own, which is one of the more practical benefits of a guided food walk.

The trade-off is that you are paying for access, variety and interpretation, not just the food on the plate. If you have already eaten your way around Iceland, or mainly want hidden restaurants and chef-led explanations at every venue, the selection may feel too familiar or too mainstream. The restaurants do not always explain the dishes themselves, so the guide carries much of the cultural detail.

The tour has a 4.8 rating and is recommended by 95 percent of participants. That is a strong record, but your enjoyment still depends on what you want from a food tour. The most consistently praised elements are the guides’ warmth and storytelling, the range of tastes, and the chance to try foods you might not order alone.

Practical details before you go

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. It runs in all weather, so bring clothing suited to Reykjavík’s changing conditions. You will be outside as you walk between stops, and a comfortable pace matters more than dressing for a fancy dinner.

The tour is suitable for most people, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary needs before the tour, since they do try to accommodate them. No hotel transport is provided, but the start is near public transportation.

Booking roughly 47 days ahead is typical, so reserve early if you have a fixed date or want a particular time. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and if the minimum number of participants is not met, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book this Reykjavík food tour?

Book it if you want an easy, social introduction to Icelandic food, especially if the guide’s stories matter as much to you as the tastings. The mix of harbor seafood, lamb soup, an old-school hot dog, local sweets and hákarl gives you a useful cross-section in a single evening, with a small group and a guide to explain what you are trying.

Skip it if you are seeking a strictly off-the-beaten-path restaurant crawl, detailed cooking demonstrations, or the lowest-cost way to eat in Reykjavík. The stops include well-known places, the food portions can vary, and the final drink selection may not match every expectation. For a first visit, though, I like the format: you get a taste of local food, a little cultural context, and a short list of places worth revisiting on your own.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, at Ingólfur Square, and ends back at the meeting point.

Is Kolaportið Market included on every tour?

No. The market stop is available when the tour runs during its opening hours, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

What food is included?

The stops include Icelandic shellfish soup, a lamb hot dog, lamb soup, local delicacies and snacks, and fermented shark. The exact selection may vary.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water is included at all stops, and the tour ends with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink.

Can the tour accommodate food allergies?

The operator tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. Contact them in advance with your needs.