Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Reykjavik’s Christmas table is the star here. Over three hours, you sample smoked lamb, crisp laufabrauð, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, and the sweet malt and appelsín drink while your guide explains why these foods matter at Christmas. I like the mix of serious tasting and easy city walking, plus the stop at the Little Christmas Store, where you receive a locally inspired gift. I also like that guides such as Palli bring stories and humor to the meal, rather than simply handing you plates.

The main drawback is the $173 price, which is high for a three-hour walking tour. The value depends on how much you care about guided context, several tastings, drinks, and a festive Reykjavik setting. This is not a suitable tour for vegans or vegetarians, and you should dress for cold, wet weather.

Key points at a glance

• Christmas food with real Icelandic character: Taste smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.
• Three festive drinks included: Try Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and warm Jólaglögg mulled wine.
• A walking tour under Reykjavik’s holiday lights: The city decorations are part of the setting, not just a backdrop.
• Stories behind every bite: Your English-speaking guide explains the customs and meaning linked to each dish.
• Little Christmas Store visit: Browse seasonal decorations and crafts, then take home a local gift.
• Good flexibility for many visitors: The tour is wheelchair accessible, private groups are available, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead.

Why Icelandic Christmas food makes this tour different

Many food tours focus on fashionable restaurants or ordinary local snacks. This one centers on Christmas, when Icelandic food traditions become especially specific. You are not simply tasting generic Nordic fare. You are sampling dishes associated with family meals, holiday gatherings, and the country’s winter customs.

That makes the tour useful early in a Reykjavik stay. You get an introduction to flavors you may see again in shops, restaurants, and Christmas markets. Just as important, the guide gives each item a place in Icelandic culture. The food makes more sense when you know why it appears at Christmas and how it is usually served.

I like this format because the tasting list covers several types of food. There are smoked and cured items, sweet bread, seafood, pâté, and a glazed main dish. The range gives you a better feel for Icelandic tastes than a single large meal would.

You should also know that these flavors can be bold. Smoked lamb has a firm, pronounced taste. Pickled herring is tangy, and reindeer paté is not an everyday sample for most visitors. If you prefer mild food or avoid meat and fish, this may not be your best use of three hours.

Starting near Ingólfstorg Square

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you somewhere comfortable to wait, which is useful in winter when you do not want to stand exposed on a street corner.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The operator provides an English-speaking local guide, and Palli is one of the hosts associated with this tour. His approach combines food information with entertainment, so the walk should feel social rather than like a lecture.

Give yourself enough time to find the square. Central Reykjavik is easy to walk, but the first meeting point can still be harder to spot if you arrive in darkness or bad weather. Checking the map link before leaving your hotel is sensible.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You make your own way to the center and return there after the tour. That keeps the route simple, but it means you should plan your transport separately, especially if you are staying outside central Reykjavik.

Smoked lamb and the crisp leaf bread

The tasting begins with classic Christmas flavors, including smoked lamb and laufabrauð. Smoked lamb is one of the more recognizable Icelandic holiday foods, with a strong, savory taste that rewards small bites. It is the kind of dish where the guide’s explanation adds value, since the method and occasion matter as much as the meat itself.

Laufabrauð is a pleasing contrast. The name means leaf bread, and the thin bread is cut with intricate patterns before it is fried until crisp. It is buttery, delicate, and much lighter in texture than the smoked lamb.

The contrast between the two samples is one of the tour’s better choices. One is smoky and substantial, while the other is crisp and decorative. You get a sense of how Icelandic Christmas food can be both practical and festive.

Do not expect every stop to function as a full meal. The tour includes food tastings and drinks, but portions are not described as a replacement for lunch or dinner. If you have a large appetite, you may want a meal before or after, depending on the tour start time.

Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, and cured fish

The next group of samples shows the wider range of a Christmas table. Special glazed Hamborgarhrygg brings a sweet, savory note. It is a festive pork dish and offers a different style of main course from the smoked lamb.

Reindeer paté is the most distinctive item for many people. It gives you a chance to taste an ingredient strongly linked with northern food culture, presented in a form that is easy to sample. The paté also breaks up the texture of the meal, adding something smooth and spreadable to a lineup that includes crisp bread and firm meat.

Gravlax brings a gentler, cured fish flavor, while pickled herring adds acidity and a sharper edge. These samples are useful for comparison. You can move from sweet glaze to earthy paté, then to cool cured fish and tangy herring.

I would approach this part with an open mind, but not pretend every dish will suit everyone. If you already know that you dislike cured or pickled food, the menu may feel challenging. If you enjoy trying regional dishes, this is where the tour earns some of its value.

The operator asks you to report dietary restrictions or allergies when booking. That is important, not a formality. The tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, and the available information does not promise that every ingredient can be replaced. Ask ahead rather than hoping for changes on the day.

Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and warm Jólaglögg

The drinks make the tour feel like a Christmas event rather than a series of food samples. Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, while malt and appelsín is a much-loved non-alcoholic combination. The latter balances malted sweetness with the bright taste of orange soda.

You also try Jólaglögg, a warm mulled wine flavored for the season. It is particularly welcome during a winter walk, though the tour operates in all weather, so do not count on a drink replacing proper cold-weather clothing.

Including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options is a practical touch. You can taste a local holiday custom even if you do not drink alcohol. The drinks also help you understand the Icelandic Christmas table as a social occasion, not just a collection of recipes.

The tour details do not state how many servings you receive or whether the alcohol-free options can replace every alcoholic drink. If that matters to you, ask the operator before booking. The listed drink selection does provide a clear sense of the holiday range.

Reykjavik lights and the Little Christmas Store

Food is the main reason to book, but the city walk gives the tour its seasonal mood. You move through Reykjavik streets decorated with Christmas lights and holiday displays. The walk makes the experience more than an indoor tasting, though it also exposes you to Iceland’s winter weather.

The Little Christmas Store is a natural final stop. You can browse festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items, then receive a locally inspired gift. That small takeaway gives the tour a physical reminder beyond photographs and a full stomach.

I like the store visit because it connects food with the wider Christmas culture of Reykjavik. It also gives you a chance to look at local design and decorations without committing to a long shopping stop.

Keep expectations sensible. This is described as a visit to a charming Christmas store, not a major shopping excursion or a workshop. The gift is locally inspired, but the exact item is not specified. You should see it as a pleasant extra, not the reason to pay for the tour.

How much value do you get for $173?

At $173 per person, this is a premium food walk. The price includes a local guide, the food tastings, drinks, the Christmas Store visit, and a gift. It does not include hotel transport, so your own arrival and departure costs are separate.

The strongest value comes from the explanation. If you ordered similar dishes without context, you would taste smoked lamb, herring, or laufabrauð, but you might not understand their place in Christmas celebrations. A good guide turns the food into a cultural lesson with a meal attached.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want to eat as much as possible. Three hours gives you time for several samples and conversation, but the experience is not presented as a large buffet. One earlier booking found the price high even while considering the tour very good overall, which is a fair warning.

I would compare it with the cost of a good Reykjavik dinner, then ask what you want from the outing. A restaurant gives you more control over portions and menu choices. This tour gives you a guided route, multiple traditional items, festive drinks, stories, decorations, and a small gift.

Private groups are available, which may make the price more useful for families or friends who want a tailored outing. The supplied information does not give private-group pricing, so request that before deciding.

Timing, clothing, and access

The tour lasts three hours, with starting times dependent on availability. Christmas lights are best appreciated after dark, but the exact departure time is not provided. Check the available times carefully if you want the most atmospheric version of the walk.

Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. The tour runs in all weather, and Reykjavik winter conditions can change quickly. A waterproof outer layer, warm socks, and shoes with a solid grip are sensible choices, even though those specific items are not required by the operator.

Smoking is not allowed during the activity. The tour is wheelchair accessible, which is useful for visitors who need step-free access, though the route includes outdoor walking and weather exposure. If you have specific mobility concerns, ask about the route when booking.

The tour is conducted in English. The guide’s role matters here because much of the value comes from conversation and cultural explanation. If you want a private group, that option is available.

Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Christmas schedule is still shifting.

Who should book this Reykjavik food walk?

I would recommend it most strongly to you if you enjoy tasting foods with a story attached. It suits first-time visitors who want an organized introduction to Icelandic holiday customs, couples looking for a seasonal evening, and small groups who like walking, talking, and trying unfamiliar dishes.

It is also a good pick if you want an English-speaking guide who adds personality. Palli was singled out for being entertaining and informative, and that combination is important on a food walk. The guide needs to keep the route lively while explaining unfamiliar dishes, and this tour is built around that balance.

You should think twice if you are vegetarian, vegan, highly selective about seafood, or looking for a cheap way to fill up. The menu centers on meat, fish, and traditional flavors, while the cost is closer to a special occasion outing than a casual snack tour.

I would also avoid booking it without warm clothes. Christmas lights sound inviting, but the tour is outside in Icelandic weather. The covered meeting point is comfortable, yet the walk itself requires proper preparation.

Should you book the Christmas Food Tour?

Book this tour if you want Icelandic Christmas traditions explained bite by bite, not just a standard city walk with a few snacks. The combination of smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, cured fish, three holiday drinks, lights, and the Little Christmas Store gives the three hours a clear seasonal focus.

Skip it if the $173 cost feels too high for tasting portions, or if your diet rules out meat and fish. For everyone else, I see the value in the guide, the range of foods, and the chance to try Christmas specialties you might not confidently order alone. It is best treated as a cultural food outing with a festive walk, not simply dinner.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

The tour lasts three hours.

What food is included?

You can taste smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

Which drinks are included?

The listed drinks are Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine.

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No. The activity is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Where does the tour meet?

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

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes. The tour operates in all weather, so dress appropriately for cold or wet conditions.