Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour – Icelandic Traditional Food

Come hungry, leave with stories. This walking food tour brings you from Reykjavik’s old harbor to Hallgrimskirkja, with stops for shellfish soup, lamb stew, the city’s famous hot dog, local snacks, and fermented shark. I especially like the small groups of no more than 12 and the way guides such as Paul, Bo, Palli, Stefan, Robyn, and Óli connect each dish to Icelandic culture. The main drawback is value: at $152.37 per person, the tour is not cheap, especially if you have already sampled many of these foods elsewhere.

The tour takes about two and a half to three hours. You walk between downtown eateries, so wear good shoes and prepare for Icelandic weather. I also like that water, tastings, taxes, and a final alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink are included. Just keep your expectations realistic: this is primarily a food tour with local stories, not a full Reykjavik sightseeing tour.

Key things to know before you book

• Fermented shark is part of the finale: At Dass Reykjavik, you can try hákarl, one of Iceland’s most famous and challenging foods.
• The original hot dog stand is included: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has served Reykjavik since 1937.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 12 people makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• Weekend timing adds Kolaportið Market: The flea market stop is available only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Bring a real appetite: Tastings can be generous, with soup, lamb dishes, seafood, snacks, and a drink spread over several stops.
• Plan for outdoor walking: The tour operates in all weather, and hotel pickup is not provided.

Starting at Ingólfstorg in central Reykjavik

Meet at Ingólfstorg, also called Ingolfur Square, five minutes before the scheduled start. The stated meeting point is Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, in central Reykjavik. It is near public transportation, but one traveler had trouble finding the exact starting point, so I would allow extra time rather than arriving at the last minute.

The route is built around walking from one eating place to another. That matters because the food is paired with pieces of the city and Icelandic life as you go. Guides have talked about sagas, runes, family traditions, holiday customs, and the way ingredients are prepared. You should enjoy the walk, but do not treat it as a substitute for a dedicated city tour.

The small group format is one of the tour’s best practical features. With up to 12 people, you are more likely to hear a story in a noisy street or get a clear answer about an unfamiliar dish. It also gives the experience a social feel without the crowd control of a large coach outing.

Seafood soup beside the old harbor at Seabaron

The first food stop is Seabaron, down by Reykjavik’s old harbor. Here you receive an Icelandic shellfish soup, described in some experiences as lobster or langoustine soup. It is a sensible opening course because seafood is central to Icelandic cooking, and the harbor setting gives the dish a clear local connection.

This is more than a quick sample of soup. Your guide can explain why seafood matters in Iceland and how it fits into the country’s food traditions. Several people have singled out this course as one of the best bites of the afternoon or evening.

The portion is part of a longer meal, so do not expect a full restaurant bowl at every stop. Still, the tastings can add up quickly. If you plan to eat a large meal immediately afterward, you may want to leave some room in your stomach for the later lamb dishes and snacks.

Kolaportið Market and Iceland’s more unusual foods

If your tour runs during the market’s limited weekend hours, you will visit Kolaportið, the food section of Reykjavik’s flea market. It is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so this stop is not available on every departure.

This is one of the more interesting parts of the route because you can see traditional Icelandic foods in a market setting rather than only receiving prepared dishes in restaurants. The guide helps you identify local foods, including items that might not be obvious to someone seeing them for the first time.

The limitation is simple: weekday tours and departures outside market hours will not include it. Do not book the experience assuming Kolaportið is guaranteed. If the market matters to you, choose a weekend tour within its opening hours and confirm the current schedule when booking.

The lamb hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

No first visit to Reykjavik feels complete without trying an Icelandic hot dog. This tour takes you to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, the original stand dating from 1937.

The hot dog is made with lamb among its ingredients, which gives it a distinctly Icelandic identity. It is also a useful reminder that local food is not always solemn or old-fashioned. Sometimes it is a quick street snack eaten standing up in the city center.

This stop has strong appeal for first-time visitors because it is famous, easy to enjoy, and less intimidating than hákarl. It also provides a change of pace after the soup. You are not sitting through several formal restaurant courses. Instead, you are sampling food in the same sort of casual setting that makes Reykjavik’s eating culture easy to explore.

Lamb soup and traditional dishes at Icelandic Street Food

At Icelandic Street Food, the focus shifts to lamb soup and other classic Icelandic foods. Lamb soup is often described as Iceland in a bowl, and that description tells you what to expect: a hearty, familiar dish tied to the country’s rural food traditions.

You may also try dishes such as lamb stew, smoked salmon, goose, cod, or other traditional foods depending on the current route and availability. The exact selection can change, so do not expect an unchanging menu. That flexibility is useful in a city where restaurants and food offerings can vary.

This stop is often a high point for people who want substantial food rather than novelty alone. Some meals provide generous tastings, while another experience described smaller portions that prevented the tour from becoming too filling. Your appetite should be ready, but you are not necessarily signing up for three full restaurant meals.

One useful point is that the guide provides context while you eat. Óli, Bo, Stefan, and other guides have been praised for explaining ingredients, preparation, and the place of food in Icelandic culture. That background makes the lamb soup more meaningful than simply ordering it from a menu without knowing why it matters.

Icelandic candy and snacks at Taste of Iceland

The visit to Taste of Iceland adds a lighter stop. Here you look at local delicacies, snacks, and candy, including unusual sweets such as chocolate-covered licorice.

Icelandic licorice is a good test of your sense of adventure. The chocolate softens the strong flavor, but it may still surprise you if you are used to mild candy. This is also a handy moment to compare everyday Icelandic treats with the more traditional meat and seafood courses.

The stop is brief, about 10 minutes. Think of it as a tasting and introduction rather than time for a long shopping visit. The guide can point out foods you might want to buy later, though the tour is not designed as a dedicated shopping trip.

Hákarl and a final drink at Dass Reykjavik

The tour finishes at Dass Reykjavik near Hallgrimskirkja church. This is the most adventurous stop, with several Icelandic delicacies and a sample of hákarl, or fermented shark.

Hákarl has a strong reputation, and the reality is not for everyone. You do not need to pretend to love it. Trying a small piece, learning how it is made, and understanding its place in Icelandic food culture is enough. This is a tasting experience, not a bravery contest.

The finale also includes an Icelandic drink, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The advertised options include a special beer or Black Death, the local schnapps often associated with Iceland. One account described the available choices differently, with soda, beer, or moonshine offered instead. If a particular drink matters to you, ask the guide what is available that day.

Ending near Hallgrimskirkja gives you a useful point for continuing your evening. The tour itself ends back at the stated meeting point, but the food route puts you in a central part of Reykjavik. You can use the guide’s suggestions for another meal or return to a restaurant you particularly enjoyed.

What the guides add to the food

The food is the reason to book, but the guides shape the quality of the experience. Paul, a retired fisherman, has shared stories about Icelandic life alongside the dishes. Bo has been praised for explaining how foods are prepared and for suggesting additional places to eat. Palli has offered practical food and sightseeing advice, while Robyn has been described as warm and welcoming.

You should not expect every guide to tell the same stories. That is part of the character of a small local operation. One guide may focus on fishing, another on family customs, and another on sagas or city life.

The strongest part of the commentary is its connection to what you are eating. You learn why lamb, seafood, hot dogs, licorice, and fermented foods appear in Icelandic life. That makes the tour useful early in a visit, when you are still learning what to order on your own.

There is one fair criticism to keep in mind. The restaurants themselves may not explain the dishes in much detail. The guide does most of the talking, so if you want chefs demonstrating preparation or restaurant staff discussing recipes, this may feel less involved than a cooking-focused tour.

Price, portions, and overall value at $152.37

At $152.37, this is a significant food expense. Iceland is costly, and the tour can help you sample several local specialties without paying for a separate full meal at every stop. That is the strongest argument in its favor.

The price includes food tastings, water at all stops, taxes, handling charges, a professional guide, and the final alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. If you ordered seafood soup, lamb soup, a hot dog, several snacks, traditional dishes, and a drink on your own, the total could become substantial.

Still, value depends on what you want. Some people describe the tastings as generous and varied. Others felt the portions were modest or thought the cost was high because several stops were standard downtown eateries rather than unusual local places. If you have already eaten most of the featured foods during a longer Iceland trip, the price may be harder to justify.

I see this as a meal replacement with cultural explanation, not a bargain snack crawl. Book it early in your visit and it can help you decide what deserves a return visit. Book it late, after sampling Icelandic food on your own, and some of the menu may feel familiar.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik food walk

This tour suits you best if you want to try Icelandic classics but do not want to research every restaurant yourself. It is also a good fit if you enjoy learning the story behind food and like meeting people from different countries in a small group.

You should consider it if:

• You are visiting Reykjavik for the first time.
• You want to try hákarl with a guide nearby.
• You enjoy lamb, seafood, soup, street food, and local candy.
• You want practical restaurant suggestions for later meals.
• You prefer walking between stops rather than riding in a vehicle.
• You want a food experience that works in afternoon or evening schedules.

It may not suit you if you want a chef-led cooking class, a market-only tour, or a route built entirely around obscure neighborhood restaurants. One person found the selections too mainstream, and that is a useful warning. The route includes well-known places such as the original hot dog stand and established central eateries.

Dietary restrictions and allergies can be accommodated when possible, but you should explain them during booking and again to the guide. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour runs in all weather, so bring waterproof layers and shoes that handle wet pavement.

Booking and cancellation details that matter

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the tour is offered in English with a mobile ticket. It is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 47 days, so popular departure times may fill early.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the experience is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach Ingólfstorg yourself and return there when the experience ends.

Should you book the Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour?

I would book this tour if you want an efficient introduction to Icelandic food, especially near the start of your stay. The combination of seafood soup, lamb, the 1937 hot dog stand, local sweets, hákarl, and an Icelandic drink gives you a broad first taste in roughly three hours.

I would pause if your main goal is secret restaurants and chef interaction. Several stops are popular central venues, and the guide rather than the restaurant staff provides most of the explanation. At $152.37, you should also arrive hungry and treat the tastings as your main meal.

For first-time visitors who enjoy local stories and are willing to try foods outside their comfort zone, this is a useful and entertaining introduction to Reykjavik’s table. Just choose your timing carefully if you want Kolaportið Market, prepare for the weather, and remember that hákarl is optional in spirit even if it is the tour’s most talked-about bite.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour begin?

It begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavik, at Ingólfstorg. You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled start.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Ingólfstorg.

How long does the food tour last?

It lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes to three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $152.37 per person.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is Kolaportið Market included on every departure?

No. The market stop is included only when the tour runs during the market’s opening hours. Kolaportið is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is food included in the price?

Yes. Food tastings, water at all stops, taxes, fees, handling charges, and a professional guide are included.

Is an alcoholic drink included?

An alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink is included at the final stop. The listed recommendations include a special beer or Black Death schnapps, but the available choices can vary.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.