Reykjavik: Icelandic Food Tour

Fermented shark gets the headline, but the real pleasure of this three-hour Reykjavik food tour is the full picture. You move through the old city center, stopping for familiar comfort food, traditional fish, sweets, and a tiny bite of shark that comes with a useful lesson in how Icelanders actually eat it.

I like the way food and city sightseeing are tied together instead of treated as two separate activities. I also like the small maximum of 12 people, which gives you room to ask about Icelandic culture, restaurant choices, and the stories behind each dish. The main drawback is the price: at $148 per person, this is not a cheap meal, and anyone with a serious dislike of fish, meat, or dairy may find the traditional menu limiting.

Key points to know before booking

• At least ten Icelandic foods: Expect a broad tasting rather than one large restaurant meal, with examples such as lamb soup, fish soup, cod, a Reykjavik hot dog, fermented shark, sweets, and salty licorice.
• Five food stops: You visit local restaurants and food shops during a walking route through central Reykjavik.
• The guide makes the difference: Guides such as Stefan, Einar, Paul, Magnus, Anna, and Ester have been praised for humor, storytelling, and local insight.
• A useful first-day activity: The route helps you get your bearings in the old center and gives you restaurant suggestions for the rest of your stay.
• Small groups matter: The usual group is limited to 12 people, and a private option is available.
• Come ready for bold flavors: Fermented shark and very salty licorice are included among the more adventurous tastes.

Starting at Hlöllabátar in Ingólfstorg Square

You meet outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, while benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait if the weather is unpleasant.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. Since hotel pickup is not included, you need to make your own way to the square. That is a small point, but it matters in Reykjavik, especially if you are arriving tired, carrying luggage, or trying to fit the tour between other plans.

The route stays in central Reykjavik, so you walk between food stops rather than ride in a vehicle. I see that as part of the value. The walk is not just a way to burn off lunch. It helps you understand where the old center sits and gives the guide a chance to point out places and explain how food connects with Icelandic life.

The total time is three hours. That is long enough for a proper introduction without taking up an entire afternoon or evening. You should wear weather-appropriate clothing, since Icelandic weather can change quickly and some time is spent outdoors between stops.

Warm soup and the everyday side of Icelandic food

The first substantial food stop is where the tour begins to make sense. Icelandic cuisine is often presented through unusual delicacies, but soup shows you the more comforting side of the country’s food culture.

You can expect a warm serving of Icelandic lamb soup, one of the tour’s featured tastes. Several food samples are served during the first restaurant visit, and the portions can add up quickly. This is not a route built around one tiny bite at each door. By the end, you may be pleasantly full.

Fish soup is another example mentioned as part of the food selection. These dishes give you a useful contrast: lamb reflects Iceland’s pastoral traditions, while fish points to the country’s close connection with the sea. A good guide, such as Einar or Stefan, can turn a bowl of soup into a short lesson about Icelandic food and family life without making the meal feel like a lecture.

I especially like this part for first-time visitors. Soup is familiar enough to ease you into the menu, but the local preparation gives it a clear Icelandic identity. If you are cautious with unfamiliar food, this is likely to be one of the more approachable sections.

Reykjavik hot dogs and the city walk between bites

One of the tour’s promised highlights is a unique Icelandic hot dog. This is a good reminder that traditional food does not have to mean old-fashioned or formal. A hot dog is quick, casual, and tied to everyday life in Reykjavik.

The food is split by short guided walks of about 20 minutes and 15 minutes. These intervals let you see a little of the city center and give your stomach time to catch up. You are not seated in one restaurant for three straight hours, and you are not rushed from one sample to the next either.

The guide also fills in the spaces between meals with stories about Iceland, Reykjavik, geography, and culture. Guides named in the feedback include Magnus, Oli, Bjarni, Paul, Bo, August, Helge, and Palli, among others. The recurring strength is not one fixed personality or script. It is the local guide’s ability to connect the food with personal stories, local customs, and the places you are walking through.

I would book this early in your stay if you want practical help for the rest of your visit. The guides give restaurant suggestions beyond the stops on the tour, and the central route helps you see where you may want to return later. If you have already eaten at some of the included places, the value is slightly reduced, so check the food stops before booking if you have a short stay.

Cod, fish, and the braver tasting at the shark stop

The middle and later stops bring you closer to the flavors that make Icelandic cuisine famous. Cod and other fish samples are part of the mix described on the tour, and the food selection is intended to cover both classic dishes and everyday favorites.

Then comes fermented shark. You receive a small piece, not a full serving. That is a kindness, because hákarl has a powerful smell and taste that can overwhelm anyone unprepared for it.

The guide does not simply hand it over and watch you struggle. Einar, for example, explained how to eat the shark and pair it with the traditional Icelandic spirit Brennivin. The suggested approach is part of the fun. The final taste can be strongly fishy, and the shot helps clear the palate.

You do not have to pretend to like it. The point is to try an important Icelandic specialty, understand why it has a place in the country’s food traditions, and share a memorable moment with the group. I would treat it as a cultural tasting, not as the reason to expect a delicious snack.

A word of caution: traditional Icelandic food relies heavily on meat, fish, and dairy. The operator says it can accommodate gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, vegetarians, and other dietary needs, but you should explain your restrictions before or at the start of the tour. The menu may be adjusted, yet you should not expect every substitute to match the standard tasting.

Sweets, licorice, and a proper finish

The sweet course gives the menu a useful change of pace. The tour can include an Icelandic sweet, a candy-shop stop, and very salty licorice. Icelandic licorice is not the mild candy many people know, so this can be almost as challenging as the shark for some palates.

One useful detail is that the guide may explain how to eat the licorice and other unusual items. That small bit of instruction makes the experience more enjoyable and keeps the tasting from feeling like a dare.

Dessert portions may be smaller than the savory servings. If you have a strong sweet tooth, keep your expectations in check. The focus is variety and cultural context, not a large slice of cake or a separate dessert course.

At the final stop, you receive food and one drink. The options include beer, soda, coffee, tea, or a shot of Brennivin. Alcohol is restricted to those aged 20 or older in Iceland. Water is included at all stops, which is welcome since the food can be salty and the walking adds up.

The evening finish works well. You have sampled familiar and strange foods, learned how they fit into Icelandic life, and ended with a drink that feels connected to the country rather than tacked on as a generic extra.

Why the guide matters more than the menu

The food is the reason to reserve, but the guide is what shapes the quality of the afternoon. The company says its guides are trained at the Tour Guide School of Iceland, and the names attached to the experience include Stefan, Einar, Paul, Magnus, Anna, Ester, Bjarni, Bo, and others.

Some guides bring family stories. Einar has shared stories about his ancestors and Icelandic traditions, while other guides have spoken about local life, current events, geography, and the role of food in national culture. Einar has even sung a folkloric song about trolls during one tour, and another outing included a story about the Christmas Cat.

You should not book expecting one specific guide unless the booking system lets you choose one. The strength of this setup is that the experience can feel personal even though the guide changes from day to day. The group size, capped at 12, helps. It is easier to ask where to eat, how Icelandic customs work, or what a dish means when you are not lost in a crowd of 30 people.

I also like the social design. Food naturally gives a small group something to discuss, and the walking breaks keep the mood relaxed. Several guides are described as funny, theatrical, energetic, or warm, but the practical benefit is simple: an engaging guide makes three hours of eating and walking feel like time well spent.

Is $148 a fair price for three hours?

The cost is $148 per person, including food tastings, water, an expert guide, and a drink at the final stop. Hotel transportation is not included.

I would not compare this price with the cost of ordering one hot dog or soup in Reykjavik. That misses what you are buying. The fee covers multiple tastings, five food stops, a guided walk, local interpretation, and advice that can improve the rest of your time in the city.

The value is strongest if you want to sample many foods without planning several restaurants yourself. It also makes sense if you are visiting for only a few days and want a fast introduction to Icelandic cuisine. Several generous servings can leave you full, so you may save money on a later meal that evening.

The value is weaker if you already have a detailed food plan, dislike group activities, or are mainly looking for a cheap dinner. You can certainly eat for less in Reykjavik, but you will not get the same range of foods and personal storytelling in one sitting.

A private group is available if you want more control over the pace and conversation. That will suit families or small parties who prefer not to share the experience, though the standard small group already keeps things fairly personal.

Who should book this Reykjavik food walk?

I would choose this tour for first-time visitors who want a friendly introduction to central Reykjavik. It is especially useful on your first or second night, before you have settled into your own restaurant routine.

Food-focused visitors will appreciate the range, from lamb and cod to hot dogs, sweets, licorice, and fermented shark. Curious eaters will get the most from it, because the unusual samples are treated as part of Icelandic culture rather than simple shock value.

Vegetarians and people with allergies can ask for accommodations, and vegetarian food has been available at every stop on at least one tour. Still, the company is clear that traditional Icelandic food centers on meat, fish, and dairy. Contact the operator with your needs rather than assuming the standard menu will work.

I would hesitate to recommend it to wheelchair users, since the activity is marked as unsuitable for wheelchair users. I would also think twice if you have difficulty walking outdoors for several hours or strongly dislike fish and dairy.

Practical details that make the day easier

The tour is offered with live guides in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when choosing a date.

Plan to arrive at the meeting point outside Hlöllabátar in good time. The covered seating area near Ingólfstorg Square is useful, but you still need to allow for finding the sandwich shop and getting settled before the guide arrives.

Bring layers and waterproof clothing suited to the forecast. You will be walking between restaurants, and the weather can affect how comfortable the route feels.

If your plans change, cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland schedule is still shifting.

My verdict: book it for context, not just for shark

I recommend the Reykjavik Icelandic Food Tour if you want many small tastes, local stories, and an easy orientation walk in one experience. The strongest parts are the range of food, the generous overall quantity, the central route, and the guides’ ability to make Icelandic culture personal and funny.

Book it early, tell the guide about allergies, and arrive ready to try things without demanding that every bite become a favorite. If you want a cheap meal or a polished fine-dining experience, spend your money elsewhere. If you want to understand why lamb soup, cod, hot dogs, licorice, and fermented shark all belong in the same conversation, this is a smart start to Reykjavik.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Icelandic Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

How many foods will I try?

The experience includes at least ten traditional Icelandic food items.

Is fermented shark included?

Yes. You receive a small piece of fermented shark as one of the tastings.

Is a drink included?

A drink is included at the final stop. Options include beer, soda, coffee, tea, or a shot of Brennivin. The minimum age for alcohol in Iceland is 20.

Is water provided?

Yes. Water is included at all food stops.

Where does the tour meet?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

The tour can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies such as gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, and vegetarian diets. Traditional Icelandic food is mainly meat, fish, and dairy, so you should tell the operator about your needs.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is marked as unsuitable for wheelchair users.