Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Reykjavik’s beer story is wonderfully odd: beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years, yet today the city has a proud little craft-brewing scene. This 2.5-hour walking tour connects that story with three central bars, ten Icelandic beers, and plenty of time to ask a local guide what to drink next.

I like the tour’s small-group feel and its practical value. You get a quick orientation to central Reykjavik, taste drinks that are mostly unavailable outside Iceland, and can ask guides such as Kristjan, Arnar, Astor, Aster, or Ástþór where to eat or continue your evening. The main consideration is that not every stop has the same atmosphere, and ten samples can be a lot if you are not used to drinking beer.

Key points to know before booking

• Ten Icelandic beers in three bars: Visit Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa for a broad taste of local brewing.
• A choice beyond beer: You can sample five Icelandic schnapps and spirits instead of the beer selection.
• A curious drinking story: Learn why beer was illegal for 74 years and how Iceland’s modern beer culture developed.
• A useful first-night activity: The central route helps you get your bearings and ends with advice about food and nightlife.
• Adults only: You must be at least 20, and you should bring a passport or ID card.
• Good value for Reykjavik: At $112, the price includes ten drinks, which matters in one of Europe’s expensive bar cities.

Why Icelandic beer makes a good introduction to Reykjavik

Iceland is better known for waterfalls, lava fields, and geothermal pools than for beer. Yet the local beer story gives you a neat way into the country’s culture. You hear about Viking drinking traditions, the long period when beer was forbidden, and the return of microbreweries in modern Iceland.

That 74-year ban is the sort of fact you are unlikely to pick up from a standard city walk. It also helps explain why Iceland’s drinking culture feels relatively young compared with that of many European countries. The tour puts that story in a social setting, with a glass in front of you rather than a lecture at a museum.

I like this format because you get both a city walk and a tasting session. The stops are all in central Reykjavik, so you do not spend your evening being driven from place to place. You walk between bars, hear a little about the city, then sit down and compare drinks.

The emphasis is on local beer, not familiar international brands. Most of the ten samples are available only in Iceland, and you might even try a new beer from a small brewery before it reaches the wider market. That makes the tasting more useful than simply ordering ten standard pints.

Meeting your guide at Ingólfur Square

The meeting point is Ingólfur Square, in central Reykjavik, beside two stone pillars more than three meters high. The square sits in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6, near the beginning of Austurstræti.

This detail matters because Reykjavik’s statues and squares can cause confusion. Do not head to the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson or the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur. Those are different locations. If you walk down Laugavegur, keep going straight until you reach the square.

Arrive at least five minutes early. The guides usually wear a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back, which should make the meeting easier. Use a map app if you need one, since Icelandic street names can be tricky to match with their pronunciation.

The meeting information also lists Aðalstræti 7 as the starting location, but the detailed instructions point to Ingólfur Square by the pillars. I would follow the pillar and Center Hotels Plaza directions, and arrive early enough to sort out any confusion before the group leaves.

The short walk through central Reykjavik

The first guided portion includes about ten minutes at Ingólfur Square. This is not a long sightseeing walk, so do not book the tour expecting a full city tour. Instead, think of it as a useful introduction to the center before the drinking begins.

The short walk gives your guide a chance to point out the area and set the scene for the evening. You get a feel for where the main streets meet, then move into the bars. That orientation can be handy later, especially if this is your first night in Reykjavik and you want to return to the center on your own.

The guides also provide the human part of the experience. Names reported for guides include Kristjan, Arnar, Astor, Aster, and Ástþór, though your guide will depend on the date. Arnar is described as friendly, funny, and good at bringing a group into the conversation. Other guides have been praised for mixing beer information with stories about Reykjavik and Icelandic culture.

That personal exchange is one of the tour’s strongest features. You can ask what to eat afterward, where to find more beer, or where to go if the night continues. A standard tasting rarely gives you that kind of immediate local advice.

Skúli Craft Bar: the main tasting stop

Skúli Craft Bar is scheduled for about an hour, making it the longest stop. Here you can expect a substantial beer tasting, with whiskey also listed as part of the visit. It is the place where the range of Icelandic drinks begins to make sense.

Ten samples do not mean ten full-sized pints. The point is comparison. You can notice how different brewing styles taste, find lighter or sweeter options, and decide what deserves a full order later. This is especially helpful if you are not a serious beer drinker.

One useful detail from the tour experience is that guides can adjust the selection to the group. A guest who did not usually enjoy beer was given lighter or sweeter choices and ended up finding drinks she liked. That does not mean every request can be guaranteed, but it shows why a guided tasting can work better than ordering at random.

Skúli is also where you have the best chance of trying something especially unusual, including a new craft beer not yet widely sold. Availability changes, so treat that as a possibility rather than a promise. Still, the focus on Iceland-only beers gives this stop a clear reason to be part of your evening.

The drawback is simple: an hour with multiple samples can feel long if you prefer spirits or are drinking slowly. Tell the guide what you like early. The purpose is to taste, not to prove how much you can consume.

Session Craft Bar: another look at Iceland’s brewing scene

The second bar is Session Craft Bar, with about 45 minutes set aside for beer. By this point, you have already tried a range of samples, so this stop works best as a chance to compare another venue and another part of the local beer scene.

The tour does not present every bar as a major sightseeing attraction. The value comes from the drink selection, the group conversation, and the chance to see where people in Reykjavik meet for local beer. Some parts of the evening may feel more atmospheric than others, and the bars can vary in energy depending on the night.

That variation is worth keeping in mind. This is not a carefully staged show with identical conditions at every stop. It is a social evening in working bars. On a quieter night, you may have more direct time with the guide. On a busier night, the setting may feel more like a normal Reykjavik night out.

The 45-minute timing keeps the route moving. You get enough time to taste and talk without spending the whole evening in one place. I see this as a benefit if you want a sampling tour, not a bar where you settle in for hours.

Ölstofa: the final stop and a possible spirits option

Ölstofa is the final scheduled bar, with another 45 minutes. This is where the alternative schnapps and spirits option becomes especially relevant. Instead of ten beers, the tour can include five different varieties of schnapps and spirits.

The drinks option makes the activity broader than its name suggests. Beer lovers can focus on Icelandic craft beer, while people who prefer stronger drinks can choose the spirits tasting. The information provided does not specify every spirit in advance, so you should ask your guide what is available on your date.

One spirit associated with the experience is Iceland’s infamous Black Death, a local name for a schnapps. The tasting can therefore give you a sample of Iceland’s drinking culture beyond beer, though it is wise to pace yourself. Five spirits may be more demanding than five beers, especially when combined with a full evening out.

The final stop has also been singled out for its atmosphere, with some people finding it the most enjoyable bar of the night. That makes the route finish on a high note for many groups, though your experience will depend on the crowd and timing.

The tour ends back at the meeting point, with Ölstofa and Bastarður Brew Pub listed as drop-off locations. Since the group is already in central Reykjavik, you can continue to dinner or another bar without arranging transport.

Ten drinks for $112: is the price fair?

The cost is $112 per person. That is not a cheap night out, but Icelandic alcohol prices make the calculation different from what you might expect at home.

The price includes ten craft beer samples, or five schnapps and spirits samples. It does not include food, hotel pickup, or hotel drop-off. If you bought ten drinks separately in Reykjavik, the total could add up quickly, especially if you chose craft beer or spirits.

I see the value in three parts:

• You receive a large tasting selection rather than one drink at one bar.
• You get a guide who explains the drinks and Icelandic alcohol culture.
• You avoid spending the first part of your trip guessing which local beers are worth ordering.

The price makes less sense if you only want one or two casual drinks, or if you plan to eat a full dinner during the activity. Food is not included, and the tour is built around sampling rather than a meal.

A clever approach is to schedule the tour early in your Reykjavik stay. You can learn which beers you like, ask for dinner suggestions, and return to a favorite bar later. It also works well on a stopover, since the tour takes only 2.5 hours and stays in the city center.

Group size, pace, and the social side

Small groups are a major reason to choose this activity. You have room to speak with the guide and ask questions about Icelandic culture, not just beer. Several accounts describe very small groups, including evenings where the guide had time to speak directly with each person.

A private group is also available. That may suit friends who want a more personal evening, although the supplied information does not give a separate private-group price. Check the booking details before deciding.

The social tone is casual rather than formal. You walk, sit, taste, and talk. Some groups have continued together after the tasting, which tells you something useful about the format: it can be a good way to meet people if you are traveling alone or as a couple.

Still, group chemistry cannot be guaranteed. If you want a quiet private tasting with precise technical explanations, this may feel too informal. If you want a relaxed night where the guide can switch between beer facts, local stories, and practical advice, it should suit you well.

Who should book this Reykjavik beer tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to adults who enjoy trying local drinks and want a gentle introduction to Reykjavik nightlife. It is also a good match for first-time visitors who want an easy central activity without arranging transport.

You should consider it if you:

• Like craft beer, schnapps, or spirits.
• Want to taste Icelandic drinks that may not be sold at home.
• Prefer a social activity over a formal museum visit.
• Want local suggestions for food and nightlife.
• Are spending only a short time in Reykjavik.
• Enjoy learning the odd stories behind local customs.

It is less suitable if you do not drink, want a substantial meal, or dislike moving between bars. Pregnant women, anyone under 20, and children cannot join. Iceland’s legal drinking age is 20, and the tour does not allow people younger than 20 inside the bars.

Wear layers. Reykjavik can be cool and changeable, and part of the activity takes place outdoors as you walk between stops. Bring a passport or ID card in case your age needs to be checked.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a friendly, efficient way to sample Icelandic beer and get useful advice for the rest of your stay. The strongest reasons are the ten included samples, the small-group conversation, and the unusual story of Iceland’s long beer ban.

I would skip it if you are looking for a full meal, a long sightseeing tour, or a quiet tasting with no nightlife element. For most adults who see Reykjavik as more than a base for day trips, though, this is a sensible first or second-night choice. Arrive early at Ingólfur Square, wear warm layers, pace yourself, and let the guide steer you toward the drinks that fit your taste.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

The activity lasts 2.5 hours.

How many drinks are included?

The beer option includes samples of 10 Icelandic craft beers. The alternative includes five different schnapps and spirits.

Can I choose spirits instead of beer?

Yes. You can choose five varieties of schnapps and spirits instead of the ten-beer tasting.

Where does the tour meet?

Your guide meets you at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, beside the two stone pillars more than three meters high.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

How can I identify the guide?

The local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik written on the back.

Which bars does the tour visit?

The route includes Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included in the tour price.

Is hotel pickup or drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and hotel drop-off are not included.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old to join. Children and infants are not allowed.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, and wear layers suitable for walking outdoors in Iceland.

Is the tour available in languages other than English?

The live tour guide operates in English.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.