Reykjavik: Icelandic Food Tour

Icelandic food is not all fermented shark and dried fish. This three-hour Reykjavik food tour gives you the full range, from comforting lamb soup and a well-made hot dog to cod, sweets, salty licorice, and a tiny piece of shark for the brave. The food comes with stories about Icelandic life, old customs, and the city streets you walk between stops.

I like the way this tour combines at least ten tastings with a useful introduction to central Reykjavik. I also like the small group limit of 12, which gives you room to ask questions and makes the experience feel more personal. Guides such as Stefan, Einar, Paul, and Magnus are known for mixing food knowledge with humor, history, family stories, and even the occasional song.

The main thing to consider is the price: $148 per person is a serious outlay for a three-hour meal. It can be good value if you want several tastings, a walking orientation, and a guide in one package, but it may feel expensive if you are mainly looking for a single filling dinner.

Key points at a glance

• Ten or more Icelandic tastings: Try soups, fish, hot dogs, sweets, fermented shark, and other local favorites.
• A walking introduction to Reykjavik: The route includes short sightseeing sections through the old city center.
• Small groups of up to 12: This makes it easier to hear the guide and discuss food or local life.
• The shark comes with instructions: Your guide explains how to eat the small piece and may pair it with Brennivin.
• A strong first-day activity: You get food, city orientation, restaurant suggestions, and tips for the rest of your stay.
• Dietary needs can be discussed: Vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, and allergy requests can be accommodated, though much traditional Icelandic food contains meat, fish, or dairy.

What this Reykjavik food tour is really about

This is not simply a meal broken into several courses. It is a guided walk through Icelandic food culture, with stops at local restaurants and brief sightseeing sections in between.

That distinction matters in Reykjavik. Icelandic cooking grew from a place with a short growing season, a cold climate, and a long dependence on fishing, sheep, dairy, and preserved food. The tour lets you taste both sides of that story: familiar modern dishes and older foods that were built around making supplies last.

You should expect to eat a substantial amount. The tastings are not described as token samples, and several people finished the tour feeling very full. I would avoid booking a large lunch immediately before it.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 407 bookings, and the strongest pattern is clear: the guides make a major difference. Stefan is often praised for humor and theatrical storytelling, Einar for local and family stories, Paul for energy and city knowledge, and Magnus for explaining the place of food in Icelandic culture. Your guide may be someone else, but the format depends heavily on having a lively local host.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar in the old center

The tour begins outside Hlöllabátar, a sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square. Look for the two tall stone pillars, with CenterHotel Plaza to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a practical place to wait if the weather turns wet or windy.

Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That is useful in a busy square, especially if you arrive early and need to identify the group.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You need to make your own way to the meeting point, but the central location is also one of the tour’s benefits. Afterward, you are already close to restaurants, shops, and the main sights of central Reykjavik.

Bring clothing suited to the weather. The walk is not a long expedition, but Icelandic conditions can change quickly, and standing outside between stops is less pleasant without a waterproof layer and warm clothing.

First tastings: Icelandic comfort food and local staples

The first restaurant stop lasts about an hour, making it the longest food portion early in the tour. The exact dishes can vary, but the tastings described for this experience include fish soup, lamb soup, cod, and other traditional items.

Lamb soup is one of the reliable highlights. It is warming, hearty, and easier for most people to enjoy than the more unusual items later on. If you arrive in Reykjavik on a cool day, this may be the dish that makes the tour feel like a good decision.

The fish dishes give you a different view of Icelandic food. Fish is central to the country’s cooking, and tasting it in a local restaurant helps you understand why seafood appears so often on Icelandic menus. The point is not to eat one giant plate of food, but to compare several flavors and preparations in a short span.

Your guide explains what you are eating and why it matters. That is where the tour gains value over simply ordering a traditional dish on your own. You can ask about ingredients, food customs, and how Icelanders think about dishes that may look unfamiliar to you.

The first stop also sets the pace. You sit, eat, and listen, then return to the streets for a short guided walk. Since the itinerary includes sightseeing in central Reykjavik, the guide can point out parts of the city while you move toward the next stop.

Walking Reykjavik between the restaurants

The walking sections last about 20 minutes and 15 minutes. They are short, but they help turn the meal into a city tour rather than a string of restaurant visits.

This is especially useful if you schedule the experience near the start of your stay. You get your bearings in the old center, learn where the food stops are, and can ask for suggestions for later meals. Several guides also offer practical tips about food, drinks, and things to do during the rest of your time in Reykjavik.

Do not expect a full sightseeing tour of every major attraction. The focus remains food, and the walking sections connect the stops. Still, the mix works well because the pauses prevent the experience from becoming a long seated meal.

The tour is best suited to people who enjoy conversation and stories. Guides may discuss Icelandic history, geography, current events, family backgrounds, legends, and local habits. Einar has even been known to sing, while one evening included a folkloric song about trolls. That kind of personal touch cannot be guaranteed, but it shows why your guide matters so much.

The famous hot dog and modern Icelandic eating

A Reykjavik food tour would feel incomplete without a hot dog. This experience includes a particularly Icelandic version, and it is one of the more accessible tastings for anyone who is nervous about traditional foods.

The hot dog gives you a break from soup, fish, and preserved specialties. It is quick, casual, and tied to modern Icelandic street food. You may already have heard about Reykjavik’s hot dog culture, but tasting one as part of a local food walk gives it useful context.

The tour also includes sweets and candy. Salty licorice is a good example of a flavor that can surprise visitors. Your guide may explain how to approach it, just as the guide explains the best way to eat the fermented shark.

The dessert portion has drawn one practical criticism: it may feel smaller than the other servings. That is worth keeping in mind if you expect a large final sweet course. The overall amount of food, however, is generally more than enough, so this is not a dessert-focused tour.

Fermented shark: the brave little bite

Fermented shark is the tour’s famous test of courage. You receive a small piece, not a full serving, which is sensible. It lets you try one of Iceland’s best-known traditional foods without committing to a plate of it.

The flavor and smell can be intense, but the guide does not simply put it in front of you and walk away. Einar, Stefan, and other guides have explained how to eat it, and the usual approach includes washing it down with Brennivin, Iceland’s local spirit. Alcohol is optional, and the final drink can instead be beer, soda, coffee, or tea.

This is the part where I would urge you to be open-minded. You do not need to love fermented shark. The value comes from understanding why it exists and trying it in a setting where someone can explain the tradition. It is a small bite, but it often becomes the story you remember from the evening.

The minimum drinking age in Iceland is 20. If you do not drink, or if you are under that age, choose one of the nonalcoholic options available at the final stop.

The final restaurant and drink

The last stop lasts about an hour and includes food plus a drink. Beer is one option, but you can also choose soda, coffee, tea, or a shot of Brennivin if you are at least 20.

This final stop gives the group time to settle in and talk. By this point, you have tried a broad mix of Icelandic food and walked through the center, so the conversation often shifts to restaurants and plans for the rest of your visit.

Water is included at all stops. That sounds minor, but it is helpful after salty foods, especially licorice, cured items, or fermented shark. You do not need to budget for water along the route.

The final meal also explains why this tour can replace dinner for many people. The food is served at several places, and portions can be generous. I would plan on eating lightly beforehand and leaving room for the full sequence.

How the $148 price measures up

At $148 per person, this is not a bargain meal. Iceland is expensive, and a multi-stop food experience costs more than buying one hot dog, soup, or fish dish on your own.

The price makes more sense if you value the guide as much as the food. You are paying for at least ten tastings, several restaurant visits, water, a final drink, a three-hour walking route, and a local guide who explains the food and city. You also avoid the guesswork of choosing unfamiliar dishes by yourself.

I would book it if you want a structured introduction to Icelandic cuisine and would otherwise spend your first evening trying to work out where to eat. I would skip it if you are on a tight budget, dislike group meals, or want one quiet restaurant dinner rather than a moving food sampler.

The small group limit of 12 helps protect the value. A group this size is still social, but it should be easier to hear the guide and ask questions than on a large coach-style outing. Private groups are also available if you want a more tailored format.

Dietary restrictions and who should think twice

Dietary restrictions and allergies should be shared before or at the start of the tour. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free needs can be accommodated, and one vegetarian participant had something to eat at every location.

Still, you should keep your expectations realistic. Traditional Icelandic food often relies on meat, fish, and dairy. The tour can provide alternatives, but it may not offer the same range of classic dishes to someone with several restrictions.

This tour suits you best if:

• You want to try local food without ordering full portions of unfamiliar dishes.
• You enjoy learning about history and culture while eating.
• You want a central Reykjavik orientation early in your stay.
• You like guides with personality, humor, and stories.
• You are willing to try at least a small bite of something unusual.

It may not suit you if you use a wheelchair, since the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also less appealing if you want a strictly scheduled sightseeing tour with no room for conversation.

Timing, languages, and booking flexibility

The activity lasts three hours, with starting times depending on availability. English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian tours are offered.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is useful in Iceland, where weather and changing road plans can affect your schedule. It lets you hold a place without paying at once.

I would schedule this near the beginning of your Reykjavik stay, ideally on the first or second evening. You get an early look at the center and useful food advice before making later restaurant choices. If you book it late in your visit, check the stops first so you do not repeat places you have already visited.

Should you book the Reykjavik Icelandic Food Tour?

Yes, if you want more than a meal. This is a strong introduction to Icelandic flavors, especially for a first visit. Lamb soup, fish, hot dogs, candy, licorice, fermented shark, and a final drink give you a broad sample in three hours, while the walking portions help you understand central Reykjavik.

The main caution is cost. At $148, you should want the stories, the city walk, and the local guidance as much as the food. If that combination appeals to you, the tour offers a practical and entertaining start to your Iceland visit. Come hungry, dress for the weather, tell the guide about dietary needs, and do not let the shark scare you off.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Icelandic Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours, including food tastings, short walks, and sightseeing in central Reykjavik.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $148 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to the right.

How many food items will I try?

The tour includes at least ten traditional Icelandic food items.

Is fermented shark included?

Yes. You receive a small piece of fermented shark as one of the tastings.

Is a drink included?

A drink is included at the final stop. Options include beer, soda, coffee, tea, or a shot of Brennivin for those aged 20 or older. Water is included at all stops.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. You need to travel to and from the meeting point yourself.

Can vegetarian or gluten-free diets be accommodated?

Yes. Dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free needs, can be accommodated. Traditional Icelandic food often contains meat, fish, or dairy.

What languages are available?

Live guides are available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users.