Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour – Icelandic Traditional Food

Icelandic food is not shy. This Reykjavík walk moves from shellfish soup and lamb stew to the famous hot dog, licorice candy, and fermented shark. The final bite is usually the most daring, but the stories about family food traditions, fishing, sagas, and daily life may be the part you remember longest.

I like the 12-person limit, which keeps the walk personal and makes it easier to ask questions. I also like the range of stops: this is not one long restaurant meal, but a moving sampler of soup, street food, market fare, sweets, and local specialties. The main drawback is value. At $152.37, the food needs to replace several meals for you, and a few tastings may feel like ordinary downtown street food rather than secret local finds.

Key points to know before booking

• Fermented shark is part of the finale: At Dass Reykjavik, you can try hakarl and finish with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink.
• The original hot dog stand is included: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has served Reykjavík hot dogs since 1937.
• The group is capped at 12: That is a useful size for a walking food tour and guide conversation.
• Weekend daytime tours add Kolaportið Market: The flea market is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Expect about three hours of walking and eating: Wear shoes and clothing suited to changing weather.
• Come hungry, but not ravenous: Portions can be generous, though the total amount varies by stop and menu.

What this Reykjavík food walk is really about

This is a practical introduction to Icelandic eating, not a formal restaurant tasting menu. You walk between central Reykjavík stops while a guide explains what people eat, why certain foods became traditional, and how harsh weather, fishing, farming, and limited supplies shaped the national menu.

The route combines familiar items with foods that may test your nerve. You get soup, lamb, seafood, hot dogs, candy, and snacks before reaching hakarl, the famous fermented shark. That mix gives the tour its appeal. You can enjoy plenty of approachable food even if the shark is not your favorite moment.

The guides bring much of the personality. Paul has been described as a retired fisherman, while Bo, Stefan, Palli, Óli, Magnús, Robyn, Einar, and Pauli are among the guides named by people who took the tour. Their styles differ, but the strongest pattern is clear: the guide is not just handing you food. You can expect stories about Icelandic culture, family traditions, local history, folklore, and even sagas and runes.

Do not book this expecting a full Reykjavík sightseeing tour. You will get useful city facts as you walk, but the food remains the main event.

Starting at Ingólfstorg in central Reykjavík

Meet at Ingólfstorg, at Hlöllabátar, five minutes before the scheduled start. The square is a sensible place to begin because the route quickly heads toward the old harbor and then through central food stops.

The exact meeting instructions deserve attention. One person had difficulty finding the starting point, and another noted that the booking instructions did not perfectly match what happened on the day. I would save the meeting address, arrive early, and keep your phone handy. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the square yourself.

The tour is offered in English and runs in a wide range of time slots. That helps if you are fitting food around a whale-watching trip, museum visit, or late arrival. It is also a useful first-day activity because the guide can point out places to eat later in your stay.

Seabaron and the first taste of Icelandic seafood

The first food stop is Seabaron near Reykjavík’s old harbor. Here you begin with Icelandic shellfish soup, sometimes described in personal accounts as lobster or langoustine soup.

This is a smart opening. Soup gives you a warm start in Reykjavík’s often cool, wet weather, and seafood makes sense beside the harbor. Iceland’s food culture is closely tied to the sea, so this course provides context before the tour moves into lamb, street food, and preserved specialties.

The stop lasts about 25 minutes. That is enough time to eat and hear an explanation without turning the tour into a long sit-down meal. If you are comparing this with a conventional food tour, keep in mind that the restaurants and stalls may not give extended demonstrations about preparation. The guide usually supplies the explanation.

Kolaportið Market on weekend daytime tours

If your tour runs during the day on Saturday or Sunday, the route includes Kolaportið, Reykjavík’s flea market. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so this stop is not part of every departure.

The market adds a useful dose of everyday Iceland. Instead of only eating polished restaurant dishes, you can look at traditional foods and local snacks in a more casual setting. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, and the guide helps you make sense of what you are seeing.

This is also one reason to check your tour time before booking. A weekday or evening route may not include the market. That does not make the other departures poor choices, but it does change the balance of the experience. Weekend daytime schedules offer the clearest market component.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and Reykjavík’s iconic hot dog

No Reykjavík food walk can ignore Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. This is the original hot dog stand, operating since 1937, and the tour stops here for an Icelandic lamb hot dog.

The hot dog is a useful reminder that traditional food does not always look old-fashioned. It is quick, inexpensive by Reykjavík standards, and deeply tied to the city’s food identity. Several people singled out the hot dog as one of the tastiest parts of the route, along with cod and soup.

The stop is short, about 15 minutes. Expect a quick serving rather than a long lesson at the counter. That pace keeps the route moving, but it also means the guide remains your main source for the story behind the food.

Icelandic Street Food and lamb soup

At Icelandic Street Food, you sample lamb soup along with other traditional dishes. The soup is often presented as Iceland in a bowl, and that is a fair description of the tour’s broader theme: simple, warming food shaped by local ingredients and climate.

Lamb is central to many Icelandic food traditions, and this stop gives you a more substantial portion than the opening soup. Some people found the tastings generous, while one person felt the bread and soup were less impressive than versions served elsewhere in Iceland. That is useful context. The stop is a good introduction, but it may not be the best lamb soup you eat on the entire trip.

The visit lasts about 40 minutes, making it one of the longer stops. You will want to pace yourself here. The tour still has candy, snacks, delicacies, and fermented shark ahead.

Taste of Iceland for candy, snacks, and unusual foods

Taste of Iceland is a local delicacy shop where you look at Icelandic snacks, candy, and distinctive foods. This stop is less about sitting down and more about seeing what Icelanders buy, share, and take home.

Chocolate-covered licorice is one example mentioned by people who took the tour. Licorice is a recurring Icelandic flavor, and the sweet-salty combination can surprise you if you have never tried it. This is also a good point to ask your guide what to buy as a small edible souvenir.

The stop lasts around 10 minutes. It is brief, but it breaks up the heavier soups and savory dishes. It also gives you a chance to discover foods you might otherwise pass in a shop without recognizing.

Dass Reykjavik, hakarl, and the final Icelandic drink

The final stop is Dass Reykjavik, near Hallgrimskirkja church. Here you try several Icelandic delicacies and, if you wish, fermented shark, known as hakarl.

Hakarl is not included as a dare for its own sake. Fermentation was historically a way to preserve food, and the strong smell and flavor are part of why it has become Iceland’s most talked-about food challenge. You do not need to love it. Taking a small taste is enough, and your guide can explain what you are eating and why it exists in Icelandic food culture.

The tour closes with a drink. You can choose an alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic option. The listed choices include a special beer or Icelandic schnapps, often called Black Death, but one person reported being offered soda, beer, or moonshine without being offered Black Death. I would treat the exact drink selection as variable rather than guaranteed.

This final stop lasts about 45 minutes. It gives the group time to sit, compare favorite dishes, and finish the food walk at an easier pace. The activity information says the tour ends back at the meeting point, though the route description places the final stop near Hallgrimskirkja. Confirm the end point if you have a tight evening plan.

How much food do you get for $152.37?

The price is high for a three-hour activity, especially if you compare it with buying a hot dog, soup, and snacks on your own. The value comes from the guide, the variety, the organization, and the chance to sample foods without ordering full portions at several costly Reykjavík restaurants.

The food can amount to a light lunch or dinner, and some people found the portions generous. Others felt the cost was high given the portion sizes, especially if they had already tried many of the same foods elsewhere during a longer Iceland trip.

I would judge the price this way:

• Good value for first-time Iceland visitors: You receive a broad introduction and useful advice about places to eat later.
• Less appealing for serious food hunters: Some stops are mainstream and central, not obscure neighborhood discoveries.
• Better value if you are adventurous: Hakarl, traditional delicacies, and market foods are harder to sample with confidence on your own.
• Less useful if you already know Icelandic food: You may find the route repeats dishes you have already tried.

The tour includes food tastings, water at all stops, taxes, fees, and the final drink. You pay separately for getting to the meeting point.

Guides, group size, and the social side

The maximum group size is 12. That is small enough for a guide to hear your questions and keep the group together while crossing central Reykjavík. It also creates a social evening, since you share several tables and short stops with people from different places.

The guide can make or break a food walk. The strongest guide experiences came from people such as Einar, Bo, Stefan, Paul, Robyn, Palli, Óli, Magnús, and Pauli. Their strengths include humor, local stories, food knowledge, restaurant tips, and explanations of Icelandic culture.

The format is not a chef-led class. Restaurant staff may not explain each dish in detail, so you should expect the guide to do most of the teaching. If you want hands-on cooking instruction or a long conversation with each restaurant, this is not that kind of tour.

Food allergies, weather, and practical planning

The tour operates in all weather. Reykjavík weather can change quickly, so wear a waterproof outer layer and comfortable shoes. You move between stops, and the route is still a walking experience even though the tastings provide regular indoor breaks.

The company tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. Tell them when booking and remind the guide at the start. Do not assume every traditional dish can be replaced, since the route includes meat, seafood, dairy-based foods, and unusual preserved items.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, but the tour is built around eating and walking, not a formal accessibility program. If you have mobility or dietary concerns, ask before booking rather than relying on a last-minute change.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, you do not receive a refund, and changes are not accepted. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason may lead to another date, another activity, or a full refund.

Who should book this food tour?

I would recommend it to you if this is your first visit to Iceland, you want a guided introduction to local dishes, or you prefer tasting several foods instead of spending a full meal at one restaurant. It is especially useful early in your stay, when the guide’s restaurant suggestions can shape the rest of your time in Reykjavík.

It also suits curious eaters who want to try hakarl with a guide nearby. You can take the small bite, learn the story, and move on to something more familiar.

I would hesitate if you have already eaten widely across Iceland, dislike group walking tours, or expect hidden neighborhood restaurants and chef presentations. The route uses well-known central places, and one stop may feel more like standard street food than a special discovery.

Should you book the Reykjavík Food Lovers Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, well-paced sampler of Icelandic food with plenty of local context. The mix of seafood soup, lamb, the original Reykjavík hot dog, licorice, market foods, delicacies, and fermented shark gives you a useful picture of the country’s food culture in one outing.

Skip it if $152.37 feels too steep for tasting portions, or if you prefer to choose your own restaurants. For most first-time visitors with an open mind and a healthy appetite, the small group, varied route, and lively guides make this a practical way to get oriented.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík food tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours.

What is the price?

The listed price is $152.37 per person.

Where does the tour start?

You meet at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, at Ingólfstorg. You should arrive five minutes before the start time.

What food is included?

The tastings include Icelandic shellfish soup, lamb hot dog, lamb soup, traditional foods, local snacks and candy, Icelandic delicacies, and fermented shark. The exact offerings can vary.

Is an Icelandic drink included?

Yes. The tour ends with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic Icelandic drink. Options may include beer, schnapps, soda, or another available drink.

Does every tour visit Kolaportið Market?

No. The market stop is included on daytime weekend tours when the market is open. Kolaportið operates Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Can dietary restrictions and allergies be accommodated?

The company tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. You should provide that information when booking and discuss it with the guide at the start.