Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

Reykjavík’s beer story has an unusual twist: beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. This evening walk connects that past to the city’s present-day craft scene, with tastings at three bars and a guide to tie the stops together.

I like two things in particular: the small group, capped at 12, leaves room for questions and conversation, and the stops are paired with local history and practical tips for finding your way around downtown. The main consideration is the price, $131.87 per person, so this makes most sense if you want a guided tasting and social evening, not just a single drink.

• Three bar stops: The route goes from Skúli Craft Bar to Session Craft Bar and Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar.
• More than beer: You can sample Icelandic craft beers, with snaps offered as an alternative at some stops.
• A useful first-night orientation: The walk helps you get your bearings and comes with local suggestions for bars, restaurants, and things to see.
• A small-group format: The tour allows up to 12 people, with at least two required for a departure.
• A history lesson with your pint: Guides discuss Iceland’s alcohol past, including the long beer ban.
• An evening start: Meet at 6 pm, with the tour lasting about two to two and a half hours.

Three bars, one unusual Icelandic beer story

This is a guided tasting walk through central Reykjavík, not a lecture in a taproom. You meet at Hlöllabátar by Ingólfstorg Square, then head to three bars where the drinks give the guide an easy way to talk about Icelandic alcohol history, local beer, and the city around you.

That combination is the tour’s real appeal. You get to try a range of Icelandic drinks, but the evening is also a gentle introduction to downtown. If Reykjavík is new to you, it can be handy to learn where the bars are, ask what else is worth seeing, and leave with a few local recommendations.

The tour is listed at about two hours to two and a half hours. Its three tasting stops are planned for roughly 45 to 50 minutes each, with a short meeting and walk at the start. The pace gives you time to settle in at each bar rather than race from one to the next.

Meet at Ingólfstorg and start with a local guide

The meeting point is Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavík. Be there five minutes before the 6 pm start. The tour ends at Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar, so you finish in a bar rather than return to the starting point.

Your guide is more than a drinks server. The best fit for this tour is someone who enjoys conversation and stories as much as tasting. Guides named by past participants include Bo, also known as Sveinbjörn, Stefán, Chris, Óli, Matthias, Helgi, Arnar, and Olaf. The guide you meet depends on the date, so a particular name is not guaranteed.

The small-group cap of 12 helps make it easier to ask questions or chat with the rest of the group. The mood can be social, and solo visitors may find it a simple way to meet people while exploring the city. But a small group does not mean every departure will feel the same. Your guide shapes much of the experience, and a few people have found that the history and commentary can be thinner than expected.

Skúli Craft Bar: beer, snaps, and the long road to legal beer

The first tasting stop is Skúli Craft Bar, where the group spends about 45 minutes. The plan is to try a selection of Icelandic craft beers, or snaps if that suits you better, while the guide explains the funny and sometimes surprising history of alcohol in Iceland.

The beer ban is the headline. Beer was prohibited in Iceland for 74 years, a detail that gives the country’s modern craft scene a distinctive backstory. Rather than treating a tasting as a string of samples, the guide can connect the drinks to a wider conversation about changing rules and drinking culture.

The exact selection may vary. Think of this stop as an introduction to Icelandic beer rather than a promise of a particular style or brand. If you do not usually drink beer, the snaps option is worth asking about. The experience includes alcoholic beverages, but the information does not specify a non-alcoholic alternative.

Session Craft Bar: a longer flight and room for questions

At Session Craft Bar, the second stop, you spend about 50 minutes. The planned tasting is four Icelandic beers, or a couple of Icelandic snaps. This is the longest stop, and the guide uses it to share more about the local craft beer and booze scene, along with tips and stories.

A longer pause makes sense here. It gives you time to compare the drinks instead of swallowing a sample and moving on, and it leaves room to ask the guide what else to order or where to go later. Some tours have included a chance to choose from a selection or pour your own beer, but that detail is not guaranteed on every departure.

Guides have also been described as adding humor, bits of Icelandic culture, and useful local pointers. You might hear a toast or pick up a playful Icelandic phrase. The mix depends on your guide, so go ready to join the conversation rather than expect a formal tasting class.

Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar: a final beer with a story

The route finishes at Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar, where you spend about 45 minutes. The planned tasting centers on a distinctive, award-winning Icelandic beer that the guide discusses in its historical context. This is the stop most clearly tied to the tour’s unusual story about the 74-year beer ban.

Ending here is useful for another reason: the tour wraps up at the bar rather than taking you back across town. You can ask the guide for more suggestions before you leave, then decide whether to stay nearby or continue your evening. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The itinerary names three bars, though some participants have described visits to four pubs. Since the route is subject to change, I would plan around the three listed stops rather than count on an extra one. The point is to sample several places and styles, not to tick off a fixed number of pours.

What the price buys you

At $131.87 per person, this is not a cheap way to get a beer. It is a guided, multi-stop tasting with drinks included, plus a local guide and a city-center walk. The value depends on whether you want that context and company. If you only want a pint, you can spend less by choosing a bar yourself.

The tasting plan is substantial: a selection at Skúli, four beers or a couple of snaps at Session, and a featured beer at Ölstofa. Some accounts describe around nine beers across a tour, but the listed itinerary does not promise a fixed total. Treat the price as payment for a guided tasting experience, not a guaranteed number of drinks.

The guide’s local recommendations add practical value, especially early in a Reykjavík stay. A few people have used the tour to find bars and restaurants for later, while solo visitors have found it an easy way to get oriented and meet others. If you’re already familiar with the city and its beer scene, you may get less from that part.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 166 reviews, and 96% of participants recommend it. Those figures are encouraging, but the experience is not immune to variation. A small number of people have found the guide short on background or the bar choices disappointing. Since the guide is central to the evening, it’s sensible to book for the mix of tastings and social time, rather than expect a detailed beer seminar every time.

Practical details for your evening

The tour starts at 6 pm and operates in all weather, so dress for the Reykjavík conditions and the walk between bars. Public transportation is nearby, but you need to make your own way to the meeting point. The group needs at least two participants to run; if that minimum is not met, the operator offers another date or a full refund.

You must be at least 20 to drink on this tour. A mobile ticket is offered, and the tour is in English. Most people can participate, but the route involves walking between downtown bars, so comfortable clothing and weather-ready layers are sensible.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund. If the tour is called off because the minimum group size is not reached, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Who should book this Reykjavík beer walk

I’d choose this tour if you enjoy trying local drinks, like hearing the story behind what’s in your glass, and want an easy way to get oriented in central Reykjavík. It also suits solo visitors and small groups who prefer a shared activity to planning a bar crawl on their own.

It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet, private tasting, a fixed set of beer brands, or a guaranteed drink count. And if you do not drink alcohol, the tour’s core activity may not be a match, since the included beverages are alcoholic.

Book it as a sociable introduction to Icelandic beer culture, with a useful city walk built in. Go in curious, arrive on time, and ask your guide for recommendations before the final stop ends. If your main aim is simply to have a drink, save the fee and choose a bar yourself.

FAQ

How much does the Reykjavík Beer & Booze Tour cost?

The listed price is $131.87 per person. Beverages and a local guide are included.

How long is the tour?

It lasts about two hours to two and a half hours.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 6 pm. Arrive at the meeting point five minutes early.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, in Reykjavík, and ends at Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar.

How many bars does the tour visit?

The planned route includes three bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes alcoholic beverages. The tastings feature Icelandic craft beers, with snaps available as an alternative at some stops.

What is the minimum drinking age?

You must be at least 20 years old to join the drinking experience.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants. At least two people are required for a departure.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded.