The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Iceland’s Christmas table is far more than cookies and hot chocolate. On this three-hour walk, you taste smoked lamb, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, laufabrauð, and other seasonal dishes while your guide explains the customs behind them. The food is paired with Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and mulled wine, so you get a proper introduction to Icelandic holiday eating.

I like the way the tour combines several small food stops with a walk through central Reykjavik. I also like the local storytelling, which includes Christmas tales that can turn strange or even frightening. The main concern is value: at $173 per person, you are paying for the guide, drinks, several tastings, and the convenience of having the evening organized. Some portions may be modest, and a few advertised items can be unavailable.

Key points to know before booking

• Smoked lamb and festive meats: Expect classic Christmas flavors, including smoked lamb, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, and smoked fish.
• A walking meal in central Reykjavik: The route includes several short walks between food stops, with no transport needed.
• English-speaking local guides: Guides such as Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar have led recent departures, each bringing a personal style to the stories.
• Christmas drinks included: You may taste Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine, with hot cocoa available instead of the mulled wine on request.
• The Little Christmas Store: The tour ends with seasonal decorations, handmade items, and a locally inspired gift.
• Christmas Day needs extra care: The market or store portion may be closed on December 25, and some food items may be substituted.

Starting at Hlöllabátar in central Reykjavik

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, and the covered area with benches and tables gives you a practical place to wait out of the weather.

Arrive five minutes early. You should look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. This detail matters in a city center where several walking tours can gather near the same square.

The tour begins on foot, so wear warm layers and weatherproof shoes. Reykjavik weather can change quickly, and the route includes several outdoor stretches. The walks are short, but cold wind and wet pavement can make three hours feel longer than the map suggests.

The opening walk takes about ten minutes. That is enough time to get acquainted with the guide and the group without spending half the tour on formal introductions. Recent guides have included Palli, also called Paul or Pauly, and Einar. Palli has been praised for his Viking-like presence, storytelling, group photos, and friendly way of handling restaurant arrangements. Einar has also been singled out for explaining Icelandic traditions and handling an allergy carefully.

The first tastes: Christmas food with local context

Your first food stop in Reykjavik lasts about 30 minutes. The point is not simply to fill a plate. Your guide explains what makes the dish seasonal and how it fits into Icelandic Christmas customs.

Smoked lamb is one of the key flavors. It has a firm texture and a strong, smoky taste that can surprise anyone expecting mild roast meat. This is a good early sample because it gives you a clear sense of how Icelandic holiday food often favors preservation, smoke, and bold seasoning.

You may also encounter laufabrauð, or leaf bread. This thin, buttery bread is cut into intricate patterns before it is fried until crisp. It is one of the most distinctive foods on the route because the decoration is part of the tradition, not just a garnish.

Laufabrauð is easy to underestimate. It looks delicate, but the crisp texture and buttery flavor make it a satisfying partner for smoked meats. If this item matters to you, confirm its availability before booking, particularly for a December 25 departure. One recent departure did not include it.

Hamborgarhrygg, gravlax, and the second stop

After another ten-minute walk, the next 30-minute food stop adds more range to the meal. Special glazed Hamborgarhrygg is a Christmas ham preparation with a sweet glaze. It gives the tasting a familiar holiday anchor, even if the seasoning and preparation feel distinctly Icelandic.

Gravlax brings a cooler, cleaner flavor to the table. The cured salmon is usually more delicate than smoked lamb, so it helps break up the heavier meat courses. Smoked salmon has also been a favorite part of the tasting for some people, especially if you enjoy fish more than strongly flavored meats.

You may also taste pickled herring. Its tangy, sharp character is not for everyone, but it is an important part of the spread. I appreciate that the tour does not soften Icelandic food into a safe collection of familiar dishes. You get a chance to try the real holiday flavors, including the ones that may challenge your palate.

The timing helps here. Thirty minutes at a stop allows you to eat, ask questions, and listen without feeling hurried. It also prevents the meal from becoming one long sitting. You move through the city between courses, which makes the food feel connected to Reykjavik rather than isolated inside a restaurant.

Reindeer paté and Iceland’s less familiar flavors

A third ten-minute walk brings you to another 30-minute regional food stop. This is where the tasting can become more adventurous, with reindeer paté among the items listed for the Christmas menu.

Reindeer has a distinctive place in Icelandic food culture, and paté gives you a gentler introduction than a large serving of game meat might. The flavor can still be noticeable, but the spreadable texture makes it easy to try in a small portion.

This stop is also a useful reminder that the tour is not built around one signature dish. You are trying a collection of foods that cover smoked, cured, pickled, glazed, and fried preparations. The variety is the main culinary reward.

The portion sizes are worth keeping in mind. One person found a sample at one stop extremely small and felt the overall food value did not match the price. That does not mean you will go hungry, since the tour describes itself as all-inclusive and substantial, but the experience is still a tasting walk rather than three full restaurant meals.

Fifteen minutes of tasting before the final food stop

A short five-minute walk leads to a 15-minute tasting stop. This shorter visit keeps the route moving and adds another chance to sample a local specialty without turning the evening into a drawn-out dinner.

The exact serving at each stop can vary. Food tours depend on restaurant schedules, stock, and seasonal supply, so it is sensible to treat the menu as a guide rather than a guarantee. The advertised list includes smoked lamb, laufabrauð, Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring, but one recent Christmas departure did not receive the leaf bread or mulled wine.

That detail is important when you compare the tour with a normal restaurant meal. You are paying for variety and guidance, not for a fixed tasting menu with every item measured in advance. If one particular dish is the reason you want to book, ask about it before you commit.

Christmas drinks: Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg

The drinks add a strong seasonal touch. Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, while malt and appelsín is a popular non-alcoholic holiday drink. The latter gives you a sweet, fizzy option with a clear place in Icelandic Christmas culture.

Jólaglögg is the warm choice. The mulled wine brings spice and heat, which is welcome during a winter walk through Reykjavik. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, or simply want something softer, hot cocoa can replace the Jólaglögg when requested.

I like having both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices built into the food route. Still, do not assume every drink will appear exactly as described. A past departure lacked the mulled wine, so confirm the current offering if that drink is central to your plans.

Stories that make the food memorable

The guide’s storytelling is one of the best reasons to choose this experience over eating the same foods on your own. Between stops, you hear about the history and meaning of the dishes, along with Icelandic Christmas stories that can be funny, odd, or occasionally terrifying.

These stories give the meal a sense of place. Smoked meat and cured fish can be found in many northern countries, but the way Icelanders connect them to Christmas traditions is what makes the food worth seeking out in Reykjavik.

The guide also helps with the practical side of the evening. Palli has been praised for keeping the restaurant visits organized and taking group photos among the Christmas decorations. That can be useful in December, when the short daylight hours and winter weather make a planned route more appealing than wandering from place to place.

The quality of the guide matters here. Recent departures have had Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar, so the tone may differ from one date to another. The core route and food remain the focus, but the stories, jokes, and pacing will depend on who leads your group.

The Little Christmas Store and the final gift

The route includes a visit to the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur. This is a charming finish, especially if you want a small souvenir that connects to Iceland’s holiday season.

You can browse festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items. The tour also includes a locally inspired gift, giving you something to take home without having to search for a suitable keepsake after the meal.

Do not treat the store as a major Christmas market. It is a smaller shopping stop, and it may not operate on every date. One December 25 departure took place when the Christmas market was closed, which disappointed someone who had booked mainly for that part of the experience.

That is a simple issue to avoid. If the store or seasonal shopping is your top reason for booking, check its holiday opening status first. The food and walking tour can still have value, but the retail portion should not be your only reason to pay the full price.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is an expensive food walk. Reykjavik is costly, and the price covers an expert guide, several food stops, drinks, the store visit, and a gift. You also avoid the work of finding open restaurants during the Christmas period.

The value is strongest if you want a social evening with plenty of explanation. You are not just buying bites. You are buying a planned route, access to several seasonal dishes, help ordering and moving between stops, and a guide who can explain customs as you eat.

The value is weaker if you measure the cost by the amount of food alone. Some servings may be small, and the tour does not provide a full meal at every stop. A person who wants the lowest cost per calorie may find it hard to justify.

I would book this as a special Christmas activity, not as a budget dinner replacement. It makes most sense early in your Reykjavik stay, when you are still learning where to eat and want a guided introduction to Icelandic food. If you already have restaurant reservations and mainly want one or two specific dishes, spending $173 on a tasting walk may feel excessive.

Dietary needs and what to tell the guide

Dietary restrictions and allergies can be accommodated, but you must provide the information when booking. Do not wait until the meeting point. A recent departure handled an allergy successfully because it had been reported in advance.

The menu includes fish, meat, dairy, and alcoholic drinks, so clear communication is especially important. Ask what substitutions are possible for your diet, and confirm whether the alternative will still allow you to sample several different Christmas specialties.

The tour is conducted in English. If that suits you, the guide can explain the dishes and stories without a language barrier. The group size is not fixed in the supplied details, although one past departure had ten people, which suggests you may be walking with a manageable small group rather than a huge crowd.

Who will enjoy this Christmas walk?

I would recommend it to you if you like trying several local foods in one evening and enjoy stories as much as eating. It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want a clear introduction to Icelandic holiday customs without planning several restaurant stops themselves.

It suits couples, families with older children, and solo visitors who prefer a shared activity. The mix of walking and sitting keeps the evening varied, while the guide gives the group a social focus.

You should think twice if you dislike fish, smoked flavors, pickled foods, game, or rich holiday dishes. You should also be cautious if you need every advertised item to appear exactly as written, or if you expect large portions at each stop.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing. The ten-minute walks are easy on paper, but Icelandic winter conditions can be wet, windy, and cold. Comfortable footwear will make the food and stories easier to enjoy.

Booking details that affect your plans

The tour lasts three hours, with starting times shown according to availability. It begins outside Hlöllabátar, not inside CenterHotel Plaza. The hotel is a landmark for finding the meeting area, but the guide meets you outdoors.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful when your winter plans are still shifting.

The experience is all-inclusive for the listed food and drinks, and you should not need to buy extra tastings during the route. Still, bring a payment card if you plan to shop at the Little Christmas Store beyond the included gift.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to Icelandic Christmas food, enjoy local stories, and value convenience more than the cheapest possible meal. The strongest parts are the range of dishes, the festive drinks, the walk through decorated central Reykjavik, and guides such as Palli and Einar who add personality to the evening.

Skip it if $173 feels too high for tasting portions, or if the Little Christmas Store and mulled wine are the main attractions for you. Check those details before booking, especially for December 25.

For most people, this works best as a festive cultural evening rather than a simple dinner. Go with an open mind, tell the company about dietary needs early, dress for the weather, and expect some substitutions. If that sounds like your kind of night, the tour offers a friendly and flavorful way to meet Iceland’s Christmas table.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour meet?

The tour meets outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, with benches, tables, and a covered ceiling nearby.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours. It includes several food stops in Reykjavik and short walks between them.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour is conducted in English.

What food can I expect to taste?

The listed Christmas specialties include smoked lamb, laufabrauð leaf bread, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring. Exact items can vary.

Which drinks are included?

The listed drinks are Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine. Hot cocoa can replace the Jólaglögg if requested.

Can dietary restrictions and allergies be accommodated?

The company can try to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you must provide the information when booking.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.