Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Reykjavik’s beer story has a strange twist: beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. This 2.5-hour walk turns that odd fact into a lively introduction to Icelandic drinking culture, with tastings at three central bars and up to 10 Icelandic craft beers.

I like the generous number of samples and the small-group feel, which makes it easier to ask about food, nightlife, and Icelandic customs. I also like that guides such as Kristjan, Arnar, and Ástþór bring plenty of personality to the evening. The main consideration is that this is a drinking tour, not a food tour, and two of the bar stops may feel more ordinary than the final one.

Key points to know before you book

• Ten Icelandic craft beers: Sample a broad flight of local beers, including some that are hard or impossible to find outside Iceland.
• A choice beyond beer: You can opt for five snaps and spirits instead of the beer tasting.
• Three central Reykjavik bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa form the main route.
• A useful first-night activity: The guide can point you toward places to eat or continue your evening.
• Adults only: Everyone must be at least 20, and you should bring a passport or ID card.
• Dress for the walk: Wear layers, since Reykjavik weather can change quickly even during a short city stroll.

Why Reykjavik’s beer ban makes this more than a pub crawl

Iceland has a short but proud modern brewing story. The country has excellent freshwater, a growing microbrewery scene, and a drinking culture shaped by strict alcohol laws. That makes a beer tour here more interesting than simply ordering a local lager and moving on.

Your guide explains the Viking connection to beer, the return of brewing, and the unusual ban that lasted from 1915 until 1989. That date is worth remembering: Iceland’s Beer Day is celebrated on March 1 to mark the end of the ban.

The tour uses beer as a doorway into everyday Iceland. You hear how people drink, what locals order, and why alcohol can be costly in Reykjavik. The conversation may also move into city history and local customs. Guides such as Arnar and Ástþór have been praised for keeping everyone involved, while Kristjan has brought both beer knowledge and snacks into the evening.

This is especially useful at the beginning of a stay. You get a quick feel for central Reykjavik, learn the names of local breweries, and can ask where to eat after the tour. It is also a sensible way to spend an evening during a stopover, when you want more than a bar but less than a full formal meal.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square without getting lost

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

The tour information also lists Aðalstræti 7 as the starting location, so follow the detailed meeting instructions rather than relying only on a street number. Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back.

There are two statues in central Reykjavik that can cause confusion. Do not go to the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson or the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur. The correct place is the square with the tall stone pillars.

If you are walking down Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street, keep going straight until you reach the square. Street names in Reykjavik can be tricky, so use Google Maps or a similar navigation app. Arrive at least five minutes early. Once the walk begins, it can be hard for a guide to locate someone who is late.

The short walk through central Reykjavik

The walking part is modest, with a 10-minute guided stop at Ingólfur Square. Do not expect a long sightseeing walk covering every major landmark. The point is to connect the bars and give you some orientation before the tastings begin.

That works well for this kind of evening. You are not trying to manage public transport or find several bars on your own. The guide handles the route, gives you a few city details, and sets the tone before everyone settles in for the first flight.

Because the tour is in the center, it is easy to fit around other plans. You can book it early in your visit to get nightlife tips, or later in your stay when you already know the streets and want a relaxed evening with local drinks.

The walk also helps break up the alcohol tastings. You are not sitting in one place for the full 2.5 hours, and the short movement between bars gives the evening a natural rhythm.

Stop one: Skúli Craft Bar and the first beer flight

Skúli Craft Bar is the main craft beer stop and usually the most important visit for serious beer fans. You taste Icelandic beers here, with the possibility of trying a new beer from a microbrewery before it reaches the wider market.

That possibility adds a little interest to the stop. Iceland’s brewing scene is small enough that limited releases and local experiments can matter. You may find styles you already know, along with beers made with Icelandic ingredients or a distinctly local approach.

The supplied itinerary allows about one hour at Skúli, and this is where the tasting has room to breathe. Instead of rushing through one drink, you can compare several samples and ask why they taste different. The stop also includes whiskey tasting in the listed schedule, though the tour’s main promise is the beer or snaps and spirits option.

You do not need to be a devoted beer drinker. One useful detail from the tour experience is that guides can adjust the tasting conversation for lighter or sweeter preferences. If one person in your group prefers mild drinks and another wants something more unusual, tell the guide early.

The drawback is simple: ten samples over three stops can add up quickly. Drink slowly, eat beforehand, and treat the tasting as a guided sampling session rather than a contest.

Stop two: Session Craft Bar and a change of pace

The second stop is Session Craft Bar, with about 45 minutes set aside for beer. By this point, you have the basic story of Icelandic brewing, so the focus can shift toward tasting and conversation.

A stop like this is useful because you can compare the atmosphere and beer selection with Skúli. The tour is not built around one brewery or one style. It gives you a look at several places that help define Reykjavik’s craft beer scene.

Some visitors may find this bar less memorable than the final stop. That is worth knowing before you book. The value is not only the room itself, but the chance to keep comparing Icelandic beers while your guide fills in details about local drinking habits.

Small groups make a difference here. You can ask questions without shouting across a crowded table, and the guide can learn what kinds of drinks you prefer. Several groups have ended up spending more time together after the formal tasting, which says something about the easy social side of the evening.

Still, the social element cuts both ways. If you want a private night with only your own companions, choose the private group option if available. If you enjoy meeting people, the shared format can work very well.

Stop three: Ölstofa and Icelandic snaps

The final listed bar is Ölstofa, with about 45 minutes devoted to beer. The tour information also lists a drop-off option at Bastarður Brew Pub, so the exact ending point may depend on the day’s arrangements. The stated activity end is back at the meeting point, so check the current details when booking.

This last part may include snaps and spirits, especially if you select the alternative tasting. A well-known Icelandic spirit called Brennivín is often nicknamed Black Death, and that was the spirit included during one reported tasting. The tour does not promise a particular bottle every time, so think of it as a chance to learn about Icelandic spirits rather than a guarantee of one specific pour.

The final bar has been described as having the best atmosphere of the three. That makes sense as an ending: by then, the group knows one another, the guide has warmed up the conversation, and everyone has a better sense of the local drinks.

If you choose beer, you receive the full set of 10 craft beer samples across the evening. If beer is not your thing, the alternative is five different snaps and spirits. Confirm your preference when booking, since these are two different tasting paths.

Ten drinks for $112: Is the price fair?

The price is $112 per person, with all tasting drinks included. Food is not included, and neither are hotel pickup or drop-off.

For Reykjavik, the value is fairly strong if you would otherwise buy several drinks at full bar prices. Icelandic alcohol is expensive, so ten craft beer samples, or five spirit samples, can make the cost reasonable. You are also paying for a guide, a planned route, city orientation, and the chance to sample local drinks that may not be available at home.

The comparison changes if you drink very little or mainly want sightseeing. In that case, a standard city walk followed by one drink may cost less and suit you better. This tour earns its price through quantity and guidance, not through a meal or a long list of major monuments.

Eat before you arrive. The tour includes drinks but no food, and the samples are spread over several hours. Having a meal first also helps you enjoy the tasting at a sensible pace.

Guides, group size, and the tone of the evening

The strongest part of the experience is the guide. Names connected with the tour include Kristjan, Arnar, Ástþór, Astor, and Aster. Spelling may vary for Icelandic names, and you may not receive a particular guide on your date.

The best guides keep the evening loose without letting it become aimless. They explain Iceland’s beer ban, answer questions about local culture, and make introductions within the group. Arnar has been praised for drawing everyone into the conversation, while Ástþór has been described as funny and engaging.

Group size is generally small, though the exact number is not stated. Small groups are valuable at a bar because you can hear the guide and speak directly with other people. On quieter nights, the group may be very small, even consisting of one booking. That gives you unusual access to local advice, but it may feel less like a social pub crawl.

This is not an ordinary pub crawl with a race from one crowded bar to another. The focus is guided tasting and conversation. You still get a warm buzz, but the evening has an educational side and a clear route.

Who should book this Reykjavik beer walk?

I would choose this tour if you meet several of these conditions:

• You enjoy craft beer and want Icelandic brands rather than familiar international labels.
• You want a relaxed first-night activity in central Reykjavik.
• You like asking locals about food, nightlife, history, and drinking customs.
• You are traveling with adults who are all at least 20.
• You want a social evening without planning three bar visits yourself.
• You are willing to walk outside in changing Icelandic weather.

It is less suitable if you do not drink alcohol, need a full meal included, or want a major sightseeing tour. Pregnant women and anyone under 20 cannot join. Children and infants are not allowed inside the bars, so this is strictly an adult activity.

The private group option may suit couples, families of adults, or friends who want the guide’s full attention. A shared group is a better fit if you enjoy meeting people and want the social side of a tasting evening.

Practical details that can make the night better

Wear layers. Reykjavik’s weather can shift quickly, and you will walk between venues rather than remain indoors all evening.

Bring a passport or ID card. The legal drinking age for purchasing alcohol in Iceland is 20, and the tour only accepts participants who are 20 or older.

Start with food already in your system. Since no food is included, plan a meal before the meeting time or arrange dinner afterward. The guide can suggest where to eat once the tour ends.

Keep the rest of the evening flexible. You may want to continue with the group or follow the guide’s advice about nightlife. The tour ends after about 2.5 hours, but the exact final arrangement should be checked because the information lists both a return to the meeting point and drop-off locations near Ölstofa and Bastarður Brew Pub.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want local beer, a bit of Reykjavik history, and practical nightlife advice in one easy evening. The 10 samples give you good value in an expensive city, and the guides are the main reason this works: they turn a set of bar visits into a friendly introduction to Icelandic culture.

Go in with realistic expectations. Two stops may feel fairly simple, and food is not part of the deal. But if you eat first, arrive at the correct square, dress warmly, and enjoy the tasting at a steady pace, this is a smart way to get oriented and find drinks you might not encounter on your own.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

How many drinks are included?

The beer option includes 10 Icelandic craft beer samples. You can instead choose five different snaps and spirits.

Are all drinks included in the price?

Yes. All tasting drinks are included. Food, hotel pickup, and hotel drop-off are not included.

Where does the tour meet?

Your guide meets you at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, beside the two stone pillars. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled start time. It may be difficult to find the guide after the tour has begun.

How can I identify the guide?

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

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old. Children and infants are not allowed because people under 20 cannot be inside the bars for this activity.

What should I bring and wear?

Bring a passport or ID card, and wear layers for the Icelandic weather.

Can I cancel the tour?

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