Reykjavik: The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour

Save room for Iceland after dark. The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour turns central Reykjavik into a two-hour tasting route, linking bakeries, candy shops, an ice cream parlor, and local food stops. I like the way it connects ordinary city life with Icelandic treats, rather than treating dessert as a stand-alone tasting event.

I especially like the small group of no more than 12 people and the chance to sample several styles of Icelandic sweets in one outing. Guides such as Matthias and Oli have helped make the tour friendly and informative, with useful food and drink tips along the way. The main drawback is that the exact pastries, candies, and flavors change with the season, day, and tour time, so you cannot count on every named item being available.

What makes this sweet walk worth your time

• Kleina and snúður offer a taste of everyday Icelandic baking, not just souvenir candy.
• Baka Baka adds more than pastry, with possible cocoa and even dried fish samples.
• Licorice appears in several forms, including chocolate combinations, but non-licorice options are available.
• Ísbúðin litla Valdís brings Icelandic ice cream into the picture, with flavors that may include licorice or skyr.
• The route covers central Reykjavik on foot, from Ingólfur Square along Laugavegur and back.
• Your guide doubles as a food adviser, offering suggestions for places to eat and drink after the tour.

Starting at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik

The tour begins at Ingólfur Square, a handy meeting place near the center of town. Look for the two stone pillars, each more than three meters high, in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6. The square is also near the beginning of Austurstræti.

This detail matters because Reykjavik has several statues and squares that can confuse first-time visitors. Do not head to the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson or the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur. Those are different locations.

I would arrive at least five minutes early. The guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back, which makes the meeting easier. Use Google Maps if you need it, since Icelandic street names are not always easy to place when you are walking around unfamiliar blocks.

Ingólfur Square also gives the guide a useful place to explain the route. You begin with a short guided look around the square, then move into the tasting stops. Since the entire activity ends back here, it is easy to pair with other central Reykjavik plans.

Baka Baka brings pastry and cocoa into focus

The first main tasting stop is Baka Baka, where you spend about 25 minutes sampling food. A bakery visit is a smart opening because it introduces the baked treats Icelanders eat in ordinary daily life.

You might try kleina, a deep-fried pastry with a shape somewhat like a twisted doughnut. You may also find snúður, an Icelandic cinnamon roll, or a Danish-style pastry. The exact selection depends on the day and time, but the aim is to show you more than one kind of sweet dough.

Your guide explains how these pastries are made and gives some background on their place in Icelandic food culture. That makes this stop more useful than simply walking into a bakery and pointing at something behind the glass. You get a little context with each bite.

Baka Baka may also offer cocoa, and one tasting included what was described as amazing cocoa. Dried fish has also appeared during the experience, which is a useful reminder that the tour is about Icelandic food culture more broadly, not only sugar. Do not expect every tour to include the same extra sample, but keep an open mind if a savory item appears.

The main practical point is pace. Twenty-five minutes is enough time to taste and listen without turning the bakery stop into a full meal. If you arrive very hungry, you may want a proper breakfast or lunch elsewhere, since these are tasting portions rather than a replacement for a meal.

Walking Laugavegur between sweet stops

After the bakery, the route continues along Laugavegur for about 20 minutes of guided sightseeing. This is Reykjavik’s main shopping street, so the walk gives you a look at the central commercial area while your guide keeps the focus on food.

This section helps break up the tastings. Two hours of standing in shops and eating sugar could feel repetitive, but the walk gives your palate and your feet a short reset. It also gives you a chance to ask about restaurants, cafés, and drinks in town.

I would pay attention during this part if you have just arrived in Reykjavik. A solo visitor can get a quick sense of the center, and the guide’s recommendations may help you choose where to eat later. One strong feature of the tour is that the advice is tied to places you can actually visit during the rest of your stay.

The walk is outdoors, so Icelandic weather matters. Bring clothing suited to the conditions, even if the forecast looks calm at breakfast. A warm layer and weather protection are sensible choices for any walking tour in Reykjavik.

Loo.koo.mas adds a candy-shop stop

The next stop is Loo.koo.mas, with around 15 minutes set aside for shopping. This is where the tour shifts from bakery treats to the wider world of Icelandic candy.

Icelandic sweets often combine chocolate and licorice, a pairing that may surprise you if you are used to milder candy flavors. The tour introduces this taste gradually, with the guide explaining what makes Icelandic versions different. Icelandic licorice is described as sweet and mild, so you do not have to expect the harsh, medicinal flavor some people associate with licorice.

Possible examples include Draumur, an iconic Icelandic chocolate bar, and Þristur, a chocolate and licorice combination. Availability can change, so these are possibilities rather than guaranteed samples. If you already know you dislike licorice, tell the guide. Other options are available, and you may find the chocolate combination more appealing than expected.

The 15-minute stop is long enough to browse and taste without encouraging an oversized candy haul. Still, it can tempt you into buying extra sweets for later. If you want Icelandic candy as a gift, this is one of the more useful parts of the route because you can ask the guide what locals actually enjoy.

Ísbúðin litla Valdís provides the cold course

The ice cream stop at Ísbúðin litla Valdís lasts about 20 minutes. It adds a different texture and temperature to the tour, which is welcome after pastries and chocolate.

You can choose from several flavors, including options that may be especially Icelandic, such as licorice or skyr. Skyr is a traditional Icelandic dairy product, and a skyr-based ice cream gives you another way to encounter it without committing to a full bowl of the plain food.

I like this stop because it keeps the experience from becoming one long parade of baked goods. The ice cream provides variety, and you have some choice over what you taste. That said, cold desserts may be less appealing in poor weather, particularly if you are already chilled from the walk.

The stop is also a good fit for families and for anyone who prefers familiar sweets. Even if licorice chocolate sounds too adventurous, ice cream gives you a safer option. The tour is not built around forcing every person to enjoy the same strong flavor.

Taste of Iceland finishes with nammi

The final tasting stop is Taste of Iceland, where you spend about 20 minutes with more sweets and candy. Icelanders use the word nammi for candy, and this stop gives the term a practical introduction.

You may encounter more chocolate, licorice, and regional candy combinations. Draumur and Þristur may appear, but the selection can change with the season and timing. The guide helps explain what you are eating, which is useful when packaging and names are unfamiliar.

This last stop also gives you time to compare flavors. You might decide that mild licorice works better with chocolate than on its own, or that a pastry was your favorite part of the afternoon. That comparison is one of the best reasons to take a tasting tour rather than buy one candy bar at random.

Because this is the final stop, watch your energy level. The experience includes plenty of samples, but it is still a walking activity. If you are planning a major hike or long sightseeing day afterward, the sugar may give you a short boost, but the tour should not be treated as serious athletic fuel.

What you really get for $90

At $90 per person, this is not a cheap way to buy a few sweets. You are paying for several samples, a two-hour guided route, local food explanations, and advice about Reykjavik places to eat and drink.

The value improves if you are new to Icelandic food and would otherwise spend time guessing in bakeries and candy shops. You get a range of tastes in one outing: pastry, cocoa, chocolate, licorice, ice cream, and candy. The small group also gives the guide room to answer questions and adjust the conversation.

The value is weaker if you only want a full meal, large portions, or unlimited tasting. The samples are meant to introduce flavors rather than fill you up. You should also remember that the exact stops and products can vary, so the price does not guarantee every named pastry or candy.

I think the tour makes the most sense early in your Reykjavik stay. You can use the guide’s restaurant and café suggestions afterward, and you will recognize local treats when you see them elsewhere. It also works as a lighter activity between major excursions, especially if you want two hours indoors and outdoors without booking a long day trip.

Group size, access, and practical comfort

The maximum group size is 12 people. That is small enough to keep the guide nearby in shops and bakeries, though the group still needs to move at the pace of the route.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and it takes place in central Reykjavik. Since the route is a walking tour with outdoor sections, you should still dress for the weather and make sure you are comfortable spending time on city streets.

English is the tour language, and a live guide leads the experience. The tour lasts two hours, with starting times shown when you check availability. It returns to Ingólfur Square, so you do not need to arrange transport back to your hotel or find a second meeting point.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans depend on weather or changing excursion times.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik tasting walk

I would recommend it most strongly to people who enjoy trying local food in small portions. It suits solo visitors particularly well because the group setting offers an easy way to get oriented in the city. The friendly guides, including Matthias and Oli, have made the activity feel social without turning it into a loud party.

Families may also like the mix of pastries, ice cream, chocolate, and candy. The variety means children do not have to enjoy licorice to have a good time. Adults who want culinary context, rather than just a sugar rush, will get more from the explanations at each stop.

You may want to skip it if you have strict dietary needs that make bakery, chocolate, ice cream, and candy sampling difficult. The provided details do not list specific allergy or dietary alternatives, so ask before booking if that affects your decision.

It is also less suitable if you want a serious history tour, a full meal, or a quiet private tasting. This is a casual, social walk built around accessible treats and local tips.

Should you book the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

Book it if you want an easy introduction to Icelandic pastries and candy, especially early in your Reykjavik visit. The strongest reasons are the small group, the range of samples, and the guide’s practical advice about eating and drinking around town.

Go with realistic expectations. You are buying a guided tasting, not a meal, and seasonal changes mean your exact treats may differ. If you dislike licorice, you can still enjoy the pastries, cocoa, ice cream, and other candy options, but tell your guide at the start.

For $90, I see the best value in the combination of food and orientation. You taste kleina, snúður, chocolate, ice cream, and nammi while learning how these treats fit into everyday Reykjavik. That makes this a good choice for curious eaters who want a pleasant two-hour introduction to the city, with just enough local flavor to guide the rest of their stay.

FAQ

Where does the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour start?

It starts at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, by the two stone pillars that are more than three meters high. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at Ingólfur Square, the same place where it begins.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts two hours. Starting times are shown when you check availability.

What food is included?

Samples can include Icelandic pastries, sweets, chocolate, ice cream, and other candy. Possible items include kleina, snúður, Draumur, Þristur, licorice, and skyr ice cream, though the selection changes with the season, day, and tour time.

Is licorice required?

No. Other options are available if you do not like licorice. The guide may also help you try chocolate and licorice together, since Icelandic licorice is described as sweet and mild.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.