Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Beer tells Iceland’s story one glass at a time. This 2.5-hour walk links three central Reykjavik bars with ten Icelandic craft beer samples, local drinking customs, and a useful introduction to the city. I like the small-group feel and the chance to try beers rarely found outside Iceland. The main drawback is that three bar stops and ten drinks can feel like a lot, especially if you are not used to tasting beer quickly.

I also like the value. Alcohol is expensive in Iceland, so a $112 tour that includes every sample can make sense for serious beer fans. The guide adds plenty of color, from Viking-era brewing to Iceland’s 74-year beer ban, but the experience is for adults only: you must be at least 20 and bring a passport or ID card.

Key points to know before you book

• Ten Icelandic beers in three Reykjavik bars: The route includes Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa.
• A real Icelandic drinking story: You hear how beer was banned for 74 years and how modern microbreweries brought it back.
• A choice beyond beer: You can choose five schnaps and spirit samples instead of the ten-beer tasting.
• A useful first-night activity: The guide can point you toward places to eat, drink, and continue your evening.
• Central meeting point: Meet by the two stone pillars in Ingólfur Square, not at either of Reykjavik’s nearby statues.
• Good value for Iceland: All drinks are included, which matters in a country where bar prices add up fast.

Why this Reykjavik beer tour is worth your evening

Reykjavik is easy to walk, but it helps to have a reason to wander. This tour gives you one: a short guided route through the city center with a drink waiting at each stop.

The appeal is not only the beer. You get a quick introduction to Icelandic alcohol laws, local habits, and the country’s surprisingly short modern beer story. Iceland has plentiful freshwater and a growing microbrewery scene, yet beer was illegal for 74 years. That odd chapter gives the tour a memorable backbone.

I like this kind of activity early in a trip. You learn what local beer styles you prefer, find bars you might return to, and can ask the guide where to eat afterward. Several guides, including Kristjan, Arnar, Astor, Aster, and Ástþór, have been praised for being funny, friendly, and good at drawing a small group into the conversation.

This is not a formal lecture with a few sips at the end. It is a social walk with a lot of tasting. You may spend as much time discussing Icelandic culture, Reykjavik, and your plans as you do discussing hops and malt.

Finding Ingólfur Square without a wrong turn

Your guide meets you in Ingólfur Square, in central Reykjavik, beside two stone pillars more than three meters high. The meeting point is in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6, near the start of Austurstræti.

This detail matters because Reykjavik has more than one prominent statue connected with Icelandic history. Do not head for the statue of Ingólfur Arnarsson or the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur. Those are not the meeting points.

If you walk down Laugavegur, the main shopping street, keep going straight until you reach the square. Icelandic street names can be tricky, so I would use Google Maps and arrive at least five minutes early. Once the group has started walking, it may be hard for the guide to find a late arrival.

Look for a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That is the usual guide clothing.

The opening walk through Reykjavik’s center

The short stop at Ingólfur Square lasts about ten minutes. It helps you get your bearings before the drinking begins, and it gives the guide a chance to explain a little about the city and Icelandic life.

The walk is casual rather than strenuous. You move between bars in the center, so there is no transport to arrange and no hotel pickup to wait for. Wear layers, though. Even a short stroll can feel cold when you are moving between warm bars and open streets.

This opening section also sets the tone. The guide is not simply carrying you from one pub to another. The best part of the experience is the conversation, and the square gives everyone a natural place to meet, introduce themselves, and settle into the group.

Stop one: Skúli Craft Bar and the first beer flight

The first major stop is Skúli Craft Bar, where you spend about an hour. This is the tour’s main craft beer introduction and may include a beer that is not available on the wider market yet.

You can expect a selection of Icelandic beers rather than one large serving. That is the right format for a tasting tour. Small samples let you compare different flavors without committing to a full glass of something you may not enjoy.

Skúli is also listed for beer and whiskey tasting, so this is the point where the tour can appeal to people who want more than beer. If you choose the spirits option, you receive five different schnaps and spirit samples instead of ten beers. Ask your guide about the current choices, since the exact lineup can change.

The first stop is where the tour’s local detail starts to matter. Iceland’s beer revival, freshwater, microbreweries, and older drinking traditions give each sample a little context. You are not only hearing generic beer facts. You are learning why beer has such an unusual place in Icelandic culture.

One practical point: the tour does not include food. If you need a full meal, eat beforehand or plan to do so afterward. A few samples are not a substitute for dinner.

Stop two: Session Craft Bar and the middle tasting

The second bar is Session Craft Bar, with roughly 45 minutes devoted to beer. By this stage, you should have a better sense of what you like, and the guide may help you compare lighter, sweeter, darker, or more assertive choices.

This stop keeps the evening moving. You are not planted in one bar for the entire tour, and the walk between venues gives you a short break from drinking. It also lets you see a little more of central Reykjavik without turning the experience into a long city tour.

The atmosphere can depend on the night and the size of the group. Some departures may feel intimate, while others may be more social. Small groups are a strong feature here because you can ask direct questions and chat with the guide without competing with a large crowd.

If someone in your party is not a devoted beer drinker, this is worth considering. One guide helped a non-beer drinker find lighter or sweeter options that she enjoyed. That kind of flexibility is more useful than a fixed tasting menu that assumes everyone likes the same thing.

Stop three: Ölstofa and the strongest finish

The final listed bar is Ölstofa, where you spend another 45 minutes. This is also where the tour may move into schnaps and spirits, including Iceland’s famous Black Death, known locally as Brennivín.

The final stop can be the evening’s best atmosphere. One departure found the first two bars only average but loved the last venue. That is a useful reminder to keep expectations balanced. The appeal comes from the full route and the guide, not from assuming every bar will be your favorite.

Ölstofa gives the tour a natural place to wind down. You can compare your favorite beers, ask for late-night suggestions, or get advice about food and other places to go. The guide is especially useful at this point because you have already explained your tastes and can ask for a more personal recommendation.

The route information also lists two possible drop-off locations, Ölstofa and Bastarður Brew Pub. The activity details say the experience ends back at the meeting point, so confirm the exact end point when you book or ask the guide at the start. Either way, the tour remains in central Reykjavik rather than finishing far outside town.

Ten beers or five spirits?

The standard beer option includes ten Icelandic craft beer samples. Most are described as beers you can find only in Iceland, and the selection may include a new microbrewery beer not yet on the market.

That makes this a strong choice for anyone curious about Iceland’s current brewing scene. You get variety, local products, and enough samples to find a beer you might order again during the rest of your stay.

The alternative is five schnaps and spirit samples. This suits you if beer is not your thing or if you want to try Icelandic spirits. It is not a smaller or lesser version of the experience, but it is a different tasting format.

The exact brands and pours are not specified, so do not book expecting a fixed list. The value lies in the number of samples and the guide’s explanation, not in a guaranteed bottle-by-bottle menu.

What $112 really gets you

At $112 per person, this is not a cheap night out. Iceland is expensive, and bar drinks can quickly push up the cost of an evening. Since all ten beer samples or five spirit samples are included, the price can be reasonable if you would otherwise buy several drinks at Reykjavik bars.

You are also paying for a guide, three venues, local stories, and a ready-made evening plan. I would not choose it simply as the cheapest way to drink. I would choose it if you want an introduction to Icelandic beer and prefer having someone explain the culture rather than ordering at random.

The price works best for people who will taste most of what is served. If you only want one beer, or you do not usually enjoy sampling several styles, the value drops. Pregnant people and anyone under 20 should not book, and the tour does not allow infants or children inside the bars.

The social side: more than a pub crawl

The small-group setup is one of the tour’s best features. You have time to talk with the guide and with the other people in the group, rather than being lost in a crowd.

That social quality can shape the whole evening. One especially small departure became an informal conversation about Icelandic culture because the group had plenty of time to ask questions. Another group continued spending time together after the tasting ended.

Still, you should know what kind of night this is. It is lively and entertaining, but not necessarily a late-night party crawl. The purpose is tasting, conversation, and a guided introduction to Reykjavik’s bar scene. If you want loud clubs and a night that runs until the early morning, use the guide’s recommendations after the tour.

How to prepare for the 2.5-hour route

Eat something before you arrive. Food is not included, and ten samples can feel stronger than expected when taken over two and a half hours.

Wear warm layers and comfortable shoes. The route is a walking tour, and Icelandic weather can change quickly. You do not need special equipment, but you do need to be comfortable outside between bars.

Bring a passport or ID card. Iceland’s legal drinking age is 20, and the tour only accepts people who meet that age requirement. The age rule is strict because people younger than 20 are not allowed inside the bars used for this experience.

Arrive five minutes early at the stone pillars in Ingólfur Square. Do not rely on finding the group after it has left. A phone with a map app is a sensible help, especially if you are unfamiliar with Icelandic street names.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and you can reserve while paying later. A private group is also available if you want the tasting to stay within your own party.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to:

• Craft beer fans who want Icelandic beers that may not be available at home
• First-time Reykjavik visitors who want a relaxed city orientation
• Couples and friends looking for an easy first-night plan
• People who enjoy local stories as much as the drinks
• Beer drinkers who want a spirits option available
• Solo visitors who like meeting a small group

I would think twice if you dislike walking, do not drink alcohol, want a full meal included, or prefer to choose every bar yourself. The tour is also not suitable during pregnancy or for anyone under 20.

The guide makes a major difference. Names connected with especially strong departures include Kristjan, Arnar, Astor, Aster, and Ástþór. You cannot request that every time, but the consistently warm feedback about the guides suggests that the human side of the tour is a major part of its appeal.

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want ten local beer samples, three central bars, and a friendly guide to explain Iceland’s unusual drinking story. The 4.9 rating from 52 reviews fits the experience described here: the beer selection, guide personalities, small groups, and amount of included alcohol receive the strongest praise.

I would book it near the start of your Reykjavik stay, preferably on an evening when you still want advice about food and nightlife. Eat first, dress warmly, arrive early, and treat the samples as a tasting rather than a race.

Skip it if the $112 price feels high for an alcohol-focused activity or if you want a quiet evening with one carefully chosen drink. For curious drinkers, though, the combination of local beer, spirits, city stories, and practical evening advice makes this one of the more useful ways to begin a Reykjavik visit.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour start?

The guide meets you at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, beside the two stone pillars more than three meters high. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

How many bars do you visit?

The route visits three bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa.

How many drinks are included?

The beer option includes ten craft beer samples. You can choose five schnaps and spirit samples instead.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, so plan to eat before or after the tour.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old. People under 20 are not allowed on the tour because of Iceland’s bar-entry and alcohol rules.

Do I need identification?

Yes. Bring a passport or ID card.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You meet the guide at Ingólfur Square.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live guided tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.