Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

The most interesting part of this evening tour is not simply the beer. It is the strange story of Icelandic drinking culture, including the country’s 74-year beer ban and the clever ways modern breweries have built a local beer scene since beer returned. You walk between three central bars, so the night also helps you understand Reykjavik’s compact downtown.

I like the small maximum group of 12, which gives you room to ask questions and chat with your guide. I also like the mix of drinks: you may sample several craft beers, try Icelandic snaps, and finish with a distinctive award-winning beer. The main consideration is price. At $131.87 per person, this is a serious drinks bill, even with the tastings and guide included.

Key points to know before booking

• Three downtown bars: The route begins near Ingólfur Square and ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.
• Iceland’s beer-ban story: Your guide explains why beer was prohibited for 74 years and how that shaped drinking habits.
• More than a beer flight: The tasting can include Icelandic snaps and, at some stops, a choice of drinks.
• Guides make the difference: Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, Matthias, Helgi, Arnar, and others have led this experience.
• Useful first-night orientation: The walk helps you find bars, restaurants, and nightlife areas in central Reykjavik.
• A true evening outing: It begins at 6 p.m., lasts about two to two and a half hours, and runs in all weather.

Why Iceland’s beer story makes this tour different

Iceland is not the first place you might associate with a long beer prohibition, but that odd fact gives this tour its backbone. Beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years, and the subject comes up early as you taste local drinks and walk through the center.

That history gives the evening more shape than a standard bar crawl. You are not just moving from one pint to the next. You are learning why Icelandic beer culture developed late and why today’s craft breweries have such a strong presence in Reykjavik.

Your guide also covers the broader alcohol culture. You may learn how to toast in Iceland, hear amusing local stories, and pick up a few Icelandic words or phrases. One guide used the phrase I forgot my yogurt as a playful way to make Icelandic sound more familiar. That kind of humor helps keep the historical information from feeling like a lecture.

The guide is central to the experience. Bo, also identified as Sveinbjörn, has been praised for his humor and clear explanations. Stefán is known for linking beer and restaurant advice with stories about Icelandic history. Chris has led relaxed walks with a strong focus on daily life and local customs. Óli, Matthias, Helgi, Arnar, and other guides have also led the tour.

Because the guide changes, the tone may change too. You should expect the same basic route and tastings, but the balance between history, jokes, recommendations, and drink talk will depend on who leads your group.

Starting at Ingólfur Square at 6 p.m.

The meeting point is by Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorg 1, close to Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik. You should arrive five minutes early. There is no hotel pickup, so plan to make your own way to the square.

The location is practical for a first evening in town. You are already in the city center, near public transportation and within walking distance of many hotels, restaurants, and shops. The tour finishes elsewhere downtown, at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur, so you do not need to return to the starting point.

The opening five minutes are mainly a meeting and greeting before the group heads to the first bar. This is a short transition, but it matters if you are using the tour to get your bearings. Pay attention to the streets and landmarks as you walk. By the end, you should have a better sense of how the central nightlife area fits together.

The tour runs in all weather. Reykjavik can be cold, wet, and windy even when the calendar says summer, so wear a waterproof outer layer and comfortable shoes. You will be walking between bars, not sitting in one place for the full evening.

Skúli Craft Bar and the first Icelandic tasting

The first substantial stop is Skúli Craft Bar, where you begin with a selection of Icelandic craft beers or a snaps. You spend about 45 minutes here, which gives the guide time to introduce the drinks and explain the history of alcohol in Iceland.

This is a useful opening stop because it sets up the rest of the evening. If you are new to Icelandic beer, your guide can explain what you are tasting before the number of samples increases. If beer is not usually your drink, you may be offered a snaps instead, depending on the arrangements for your group.

I like the chance to ask questions early. The group is limited to 12 people, and some departures are much smaller. A group of three, or even a pair, can feel more like a guided evening with local advice than a large organized outing.

The stop also gives you a first look at how the tour handles choice. The supplied details allow for beer or snaps, and individual experiences have included patron choice at one bar. Do not assume every person receives exactly the same drinks, but you can expect the guide to discuss options when available.

Session Craft Bar and the main flight

The second bar is Session Craft Bar, where the advertised tasting includes four different Icelandic beers or a couple of Icelandic snaps. You spend about 50 minutes here, making it the longest stop.

This is likely the main tasting section of the route. The guide talks about the Icelandic craft beer and booze scene, shares stories, and offers practical advice about bars and restaurants for later in your trip. By this point, the group is usually more relaxed, which makes the social side of the tour important.

You may hear recommendations for places to eat or drink after the tour. That advice is one of the better reasons to book this early in your stay. A guide who knows the downtown scene can help you avoid choosing a restaurant only because it is close to your hotel.

The amount of beer can add up quickly. Some individual accounts describe tasting nine beers across the evening, while the stated plan at Session includes four beers and the other stops add more. You should pace yourself, especially if you have plans later or are not used to Icelandic serving sizes and alcohol prices.

The choice between beer and snaps also makes this stop more flexible than a fixed beer-only flight. Still, this is a booze tour. It is not designed for someone who wants only one small sample or a detailed lesson in brewing technique.

Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar and the final local beer

The final stop is Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur. You spend about 45 minutes here, sampling a distinctive award-winning Icelandic beer and hearing more about its background.

This bar is presented as a place to try something you may not find elsewhere. That gives the last stop a clear purpose. Instead of ending with a generic lager, the tour aims to finish with a beer tied to Iceland’s own brewing scene.

The stop also returns to the beer-ban story. By now, the earlier explanation about prohibition should make more sense. Iceland’s modern beer culture is relatively young, so a local brew carries more context than it would in a country with centuries of uninterrupted beer production.

Your endpoint is useful. Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar is in central Reykjavik, so you can continue your evening on foot after the tour. The experience does not include hotel drop-off, but you finish in an area where you can find more bars and restaurants.

One caution: the route details describe three bars, while one group account described four brew pubs. Bar schedules, group needs, or the guide’s choice may affect the exact route. I would book this for the general experience of three central stops, not for a guaranteed count beyond that.

What the $131.87 price really covers

At $131.87 per person, this tour is not cheap. Iceland is expensive, and alcohol is among the costliest parts of a night out. The price includes the beverages, a local guide, a professional guide, and admission to the three bar stops, so you are paying for both the drinks and the organized route.

The value depends on how many tastings you receive and how much you use the guide’s advice. If you visit three bars on your own and buy several Icelandic beers, the total can rise fast. The tour also saves you from guessing which places are worth your time and gives you a local explanation of what you are drinking.

The strongest value is for a first visit. You get a walking orientation, an introduction to local bars, history about alcohol in Iceland, and recommendations for the rest of your stay. If you already know Reykjavik’s nightlife or mainly want the cheapest possible drink, the price will be harder to justify.

The included drinks are alcoholic beverages, not a meal. Some guides have offered small snacks or treats to pair with the beer, but you should not treat the tour as dinner. Eat beforehand or plan a meal afterward.

The experience is also more valuable for people who enjoy trying several drinks rather than ordering one familiar style. You may taste beers that range from traditional to unusual, including a pina colada beer mentioned by one participant. That variety is part of the fun, but it means the tour may not suit a strict traditional-ale drinker.

The small-group format and the social side

The maximum group size is 12. That is small enough for conversation but large enough to create a shared evening. You will be walking, tasting, and talking with people from different places, and the bar setting makes it easy to meet others.

Solo visitors can get particular value from this format. One solo participant used the tour on the first day to learn the downtown layout and ended up meeting people to see again later. I can see why this works: the scheduled route removes the awkwardness of choosing where to go alone, while the small group gives you natural conversation.

Couples and friend groups also fit well. A group of six friends described it as a strong evening out, and a group of eight found the social setting especially enjoyable. If you book with friends, remember that the tour is still built around meeting other people, not around a private party.

Very small departures can happen. A group of only three, or just two people, may feel more personal and give you extra time with the guide. The minimum is two people, so the tour requires at least that number to operate. If the minimum is not reached, the departure can be canceled with a full refund or moved to another date or experience.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik evening

I would put this tour high on the list for:

• People who like craft beer and want to try Icelandic examples
• Solo visitors who want a social first night in Reykjavik
• Couples looking for a guided evening rather than a formal sightseeing tour
• Anyone curious about Iceland’s unusual alcohol laws and customs
• Visitors who want restaurant and bar recommendations from a local guide
• Groups that prefer a relaxed walk with tastings over a large party crawl

It is less suitable if you do not drink alcohol, want a quiet history walk, or need a full meal included. The tour is also not ideal if you expect a technical brewery tour with detailed production notes. Its focus is bars, tastings, stories, and local orientation.

The drinking pace deserves attention. The tour lasts only two to two and a half hours, and the samples may be numerous. Eat first, drink water when you can, and do not plan to drive. The minimum drinking age is 20.

A few practical details that affect the evening

You receive confirmation when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 6 p.m. start time. Canceling within 24 hours, or making changes during that period, does not qualify for a refund.

Dress for the weather rather than the season. The tour operates in rain, wind, and cold, and you will walk outdoors between indoor stops. Comfortable shoes and a weatherproof jacket will make a real difference.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give a detailed accessibility description, so you should ask the operator directly if you have specific mobility needs.

Keep the end point in mind when planning the rest of your night. You finish at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, not at the original meeting point. That is convenient for continuing downtown, but you will need to arrange your own return to your accommodation.

The main weakness: guide quality can shape the result

Most of the available feedback praises the guides for humor, friendliness, clear information, and local advice. Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, Matthias, and others are repeatedly associated with entertaining stories and useful recommendations.

But the experience is not immune to an uneven departure. One strongly negative account described an intoxicated guide, quiet backstreet bars, and a disappointing atmosphere. Another person felt the guide offered little information unless directly asked and left without learning much about Icelandic drinking culture.

Those complaints matter because the guide is the heart of this tour. The bars and drinks are part of the product, but the history, pacing, and social energy depend heavily on the person leading your group.

I would not ignore the high overall rating, but I would keep expectations sensible. You are booking a casual, social tasting walk, not a tightly scripted museum tour. Ask questions if you want more detail about beer, prohibition, local customs, or nightlife. A curious group usually gets more from the evening than a group that stays quiet.

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly introduction to Reykjavik’s beer scene, enjoy several tastings, and like learning local history over a drink. It is especially useful on your first evening, when the city center is still unfamiliar and you want a ready-made route with recommendations for later.

The $131.87 cost makes sense only if you plan to sample several drinks and value the guide’s local knowledge. It is not the right pick for a low-cost night out or for anyone who wants a meal, a brewery production tour, or a quiet walk.

For beer lovers, solo visitors, and curious first-time visitors, I think it is a strong choice. Arrive ready to walk, eat beforehand, dress for bad weather, and ask questions. That is the best way to turn three bars and a few Icelandic drinks into a useful first lesson in Reykjavik.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorg 1, near Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 6 p.m. You should arrive at Ingólfur Square five minutes early.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur in central Reykjavik.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours to two and a half hours.

How many bars do you visit?

The planned route includes three bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.

What drinks are included?

Beverages and alcoholic beverages are included. The tastings can include Icelandic craft beers and Icelandic snaps.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age for this tour is 20.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants. At least two people are required for a departure to operate.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.