Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

Reykjavík pours its past into a pint. This small-group walking tour links three central bars with Icelandic beers, snaps, and stories about the country’s long struggle with alcohol. I like the easy city-center route and the chance to ask guides such as Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, and Matthias for food and nightlife tips. The main drawback is price: at $131.87, this makes sense only if you value guided tastings and local context.

I also like the social setup. Groups are capped at 12, yet some departures are much smaller, which gives you more time with the guide. Just keep your expectations clear: the exact drinks and guide style can vary, and one poor experience involved a guide who offered too little information and took the group to quiet bars.

Key points at a glance

• Three Reykjavík bars in about two hours: You move between Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, all in the city center.
• Iceland’s 74-year beer ban is part of the story: The tour explains why beer was banned for so long and how that shaped local drinking culture.
• Tastings can be broad and flexible: You may sample several Icelandic beers, with snaps available as an alternative. Some past outings included nine beers, while the advertised plan gives four at Session alone.
• A good first-night orientation: The walking route helps you learn Reykjavík’s center and gives you ideas for bars, restaurants, and later evenings.
• Guide quality matters: Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, Matthias, Arnar, Helgi, and others have drawn praise for humor, local advice, and storytelling, but one critical account reported a weak presentation.
• Small groups make conversation easier: The maximum is 12 people, and the minimum is two, so the mood may range from nearly private to lively and social.

Why Icelandic beer needs a little explanation

Iceland is now well known for craft beer, but beer is a relatively new legal pleasure here. The country’s beer ban lasted 74 years, ending in 1989. That strange fact gives this tour more substance than a simple crawl from one pub to the next.

At the first bar, the guide begins with the history of alcohol in Iceland. You might hear how restrictions shaped local habits, why snaps remains part of the drinking culture, and how modern craft brewing grew after beer returned. The supplied details do not promise a fixed lecture, so the experience depends on how much your guide shares and how actively you ask questions.

That flexibility can work in your favor. If you are curious about Icelandic customs, ask about the beer ban, drinking age, local toasts, and the difference between beer and snaps. One guide, Sveinbjörn, taught the group how to toast in Iceland and added a funny Icelandic phrase for sounding as if you speak the language. These small moments can make the evening easier to remember than a list of brewery names.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square at 6 pm

The tour starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, in Ingólfur Square. You should arrive five minutes early, as the group heads to the first bar soon after the 6 pm start.

This is a useful location for a walking tour because the meeting point is in central Reykjavík and close to public transportation. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan to reach the square on your own and make your own way back from the final bar.

The entire outing lasts about two to two and a half hours. That makes it easy to fit into an evening without giving up a full night in town. You finish at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur, not at the starting point, so note the end location before you book a dinner reservation or arrange transport.

The tour operates in all weather. Reykjavík weather can change quickly, and the route involves walking between bars, so wear a waterproof outer layer and shoes that can handle wet streets. You are drinking, but you are also walking outside, waiting briefly between stops, and keeping pace with a group.

Skúli Craft Bar: start with Icelandic context

The first substantial stop is Skúli Craft Bar, where you spend about 45 minutes. The advertised plan includes a selection of Icelandic craft beers, though snaps may be offered instead or alongside the beer.

This is where the evening sets its tone. A good guide will help you understand what is in your glass while explaining the unusual story of alcohol in Iceland. You do not need to arrive with much beer knowledge. The point is to give you a starting map, both for Icelandic drinks and for Reykjavík’s pub scene.

I like this first stop because it combines tasting with orientation. Rather than being dropped into a random bar, you begin with a guide who can explain what you are trying and why it matters. Several guides have been praised for mixing humor with local facts, and that blend is important here. Too much history can feel like school. Too little leaves you with an expensive drink and no idea what made it special.

The reviews also suggest that guides may adjust selections to the group. Arnar reportedly recommended a flavor to someone who did not think of herself as a beer drinker, and she ended up enjoying it. That is a useful sign for couples or friends with mixed interests, although you should still confirm with the guide if you prefer snaps or have a strong dislike of beer.

Session Craft Bar: the broadest tasting stop

The second stop is Session Craft Bar, where the planned stay is about 50 minutes. Here, you sample four different Icelandic beers, or a couple of Icelandic snaps. This is likely the most tasting-focused part of the evening.

Four beers in one stop can show you a wider range than ordering a single pint at each bar. The exact selection is not specified, so do not expect a fixed menu. In some outings, the overall tasting reached nine beers, and one stop allowed people to choose from several options and pour their own. Those details suggest a hands-on approach may be available, but they should not be treated as guaranteed on every departure.

This is also the point where the guide shares tips about Reykjavík’s craft beer and alcohol scene. The plan acknowledges that the group may be a little tipsy by then, so the mood is meant to become more relaxed and playful. Guides Bo and Sveinbjörn received praise for humor and conversation, while Chris was appreciated for helping a solo participant meet other people and find useful places for later in the trip.

For you, the value here is not just the number of samples. It is the ability to compare drinks while someone explains the local scene. If you are serious about beer, ask which styles are especially Icelandic and which bars you should visit after the tour. If you are not a beer enthusiast, ask for a lighter or more unusual choice. One past tasting included a piña colada beer, showing that the selection may go beyond standard lagers and pale ales.

Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar: finish with something unusual

The final stop is Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, where you spend around 45 minutes. The plan centers on a unique, award-winning Icelandic beer and its story. The provider describes this as one of the best places in Iceland to try something you cannot find elsewhere.

That final stop gives the tour a clear finish. You have already heard about the beer ban, sampled several drinks, and walked through central Reykjavík. Here, the guide can tie those threads together with a distinctive beer and more discussion about the country’s drinking culture.

The bar is on Vegamótastígur, and this is where the tour ends. That is practical if you want to continue your night in central Reykjavík, but it also means you should not assume you will be escorted back to Ingólfur Square. The end point is worth saving in your phone before you set out.

The drink lineup is not fixed in the information provided. If you are hoping for a particular beer, ask the guide at the start. The tour includes alcoholic beverages, but it does not promise specific brands, flavors, or a food pairing at every stop.

The guides shape the whole evening

This experience is less about a rigid script than about the person leading it. The strongest comments focus on guides who are funny, warm, and ready with practical suggestions.

Bo, also identified as Sveinbjörn, received repeated praise for his humor, facts, and ability to keep the group involved. Óli was praised for expertise, friendliness, and a fun self-pour beer stop. Stefán was singled out for storytelling about Icelandic beer, restaurants, and national history. Chris helped a solo participant get oriented and connect with other people. Matthias was praised for explaining Reykjavík’s craft beer culture and recommending places nearby.

Other positive feedback names Arnar and Helgi for personal recommendations and good beer choices. This range of guide names tells you that the company uses several guides, not one fixed host. You may get a lively storyteller, a polished beer specialist, or a quieter guide who responds best when you ask questions.

There is one clear warning. A critical account described a drunk guide, empty backstreet bars, unusual beer, and little useful information. Another three-star account felt the guide gave background only when asked and did not add much beer knowledge. These are isolated against a much larger pattern of praise, but they matter because the guide is central to the price.

My advice is simple: ask questions early. Ask what you will taste, how the beer ban affected Iceland, and which bars locals favor. A responsive guide can turn a standard tasting into a strong introduction to Reykjavík. If the presentation feels thin, speaking up gives the guide a chance to improve it.

What the group size means for you

The maximum group size is 12, and at least two people are needed for a departure. This is small enough for conversation without the formal feel of a large coach group.

Some outings have had only two or three people. That can feel nearly private and gives you more room to ask about food, nightlife, and Icelandic customs. Other departures may fill the 12-person limit, creating a livelier social evening.

The social side is one of the tour’s strongest features. People who arrived alone have used it to meet others and later cross paths around Reykjavík. Groups of friends also seem to fit well, especially if everyone wants a guided night rather than simply ordering drinks on their own.

The tradeoff is that the experience can feel different depending on the group. A quiet three-person evening may suit you if you prefer personal conversation. A full group may be better if you want to meet people from different places and share a few laughs.

Is $131.87 a fair price?

At $131.87 per person, this is not a cheap way to drink in Reykjavík. You are paying for the guide, the organization, the walking route, the tastings, and the chance to visit three bars without planning the sequence yourself.

The value improves if you would otherwise spend time researching pubs, choosing Icelandic beers, and finding your way around after dark. You also get a local introduction to the beer ban, snaps, craft brewing, and city-center nightlife. Several people found the tour useful on their first day because it helped them get oriented and supplied restaurant and bar recommendations for the rest of the trip.

The value is weaker if you already know Reykjavík’s center, prefer to order your own drinks, or want a large quantity of one type of beer. The precise number of tastings can vary, and the information does not promise food, hotel transport, or a fixed beer list.

I would view the price as reasonable for a first evening in town, especially for solo visitors, couples with mixed beer experience, or anyone who wants a social introduction. It is harder to justify for a dedicated beer fan who can visit bars independently and wants detailed brewing information at every stop.

Who should book this Reykjavík evening?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time Reykjavík visitors who want to learn the city center while moving between bars.
• Solo visitors who would like a friendly group setting and local suggestions.
• Couples and friends who want a planned night with drinks and stories.
• Curious drinkers who want to try Icelandic beer or snaps without guessing what to order.
• People who enjoy cultural context, especially the unusual story of Iceland’s beer ban.

I would be more cautious if you do not drink alcohol, dislike walking in poor weather, or expect a formal beer course with fixed pours and detailed brewing notes. The activity is built around alcoholic tastings, and its educational quality depends heavily on the guide.

The minimum drinking age is 20. Most people can take part, but you should be comfortable walking between stops and spending an evening in bars. Since the tour runs in all weather, suitable clothing matters more than you might expect.

Cancellation and booking details worth knowing

You receive confirmation when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 6 pm start time. Cancel inside that 24-hour window and you will not receive a refund.

The company can cancel a departure if at least two people have not booked. In that case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. Since the tour is sometimes booked well ahead, with an average lead time of 57 days, booking early is sensible if this is important to your schedule.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík Beer & Booze Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two to two and a half hours.

What time does the tour start?

It starts at 6 pm. You should arrive at Ingólfur Square five minutes before the start.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur in central Reykjavík.

How many bars does the tour visit?

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

What drinks are included?

Beverages and alcoholic beverages are included. The tastings feature Icelandic craft beers, and snaps may be available as an alternative. The exact drinks can vary.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age for this tour is 20.

How many people can join?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants and requires at least two people for a departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can 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.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a friendly, guided introduction to Reykjavík’s bars, Icelandic beer, and the country’s unusual alcohol story. The three-stop route, small group size, and strong record of funny, helpful guides make it a useful first or second evening activity.

I would book it early, arrive ready with questions, and treat the exact beer list as flexible. If you want a self-directed pub night, the price may feel high. If you want local direction, several tastings, and a better sense of where to go next, this is a practical way to start your Reykjavík stay.