The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Christmas tastes better in Reykjavik. The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour combines local dishes, festive drinks, city lights, and Icelandic folklore in a compact three-hour walk with Your Friend In Reykjavik. I like the generous range of food, from smoked lamb and reindeer paté to laufabrauð, and I like that guides such as Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar bring plenty of personality to the route. The main concern is value: at $173 per person, portions and included stops need to match the price.

This is a good way to meet Icelandic Christmas customs without planning several restaurant visits yourself. It also makes a practical first or second evening in town, since you walk between central stops and hear the story behind each taste. Bring warm clothing, and tell the company about allergies or dietary needs before the tour, not at the meeting point.

Six things to know before booking

• Smoked lamb and reindeer are central tastes: You get a clear introduction to some of Iceland’s most memorable Christmas foods.
• The walk begins at Hlöllabátar: Meet outside the sandwich shop near Ingólfstorg Square, facing the two tall stone pillars.
• The Little Christmas Store is part of the route: You can browse decorations, crafts, and seasonal gifts in Laugavegur.
• The guide shapes the evening: Palli has been praised for his Viking presence and storytelling, while Paul, Pauly, and Einar have also led warmly received tours.
• The holiday drinks are varied: Expect Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg, with hot cocoa available instead of mulled wine if requested.
• Christmas Day requires extra care: The Little Christmas Store or a Christmas market may be closed, and the food selection may not match the usual description.

A festive walk through central Reykjavik

The tour lasts three hours and stays on foot in central Reykjavik. You move between several food stops, with walks of about 10 minutes, one shorter five-minute walk, and time at each stop ranging from 15 to 45 minutes.

That pace matters. This is not a sit-down Christmas dinner in one restaurant. It is a moving meal, with food and drinks spread across the city and local stories filling the spaces between bites. I find that format more useful than a standard restaurant meal if you want context along with your supper.

Your meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, and the square has benches, tables, and a covered ceiling where you can wait. Arrive five minutes early and look for a guide in a light blue jacket marked Your Friend In Reykjavik on the back.

The route includes several stops in Reykjavik, but exact restaurants are not named in the supplied information. That means you should expect a flexible food walk rather than a fixed list of famous venues. Guides handle the arrangements at each location, which lets you concentrate on the food and the stories instead of keeping track of reservations.

First tastes: local food with a Christmas setting

The first food stops introduce the broad idea of Icelandic holiday eating. Christmas food in Iceland is not limited to one roast or one sweet. It includes preserved fish, smoked meat, seafood, bread, pâté, and special festive drinks.

Smoked lamb is one of the strongest flavors on the route. It has a firm texture and a pronounced smoky taste, so it is a useful first sample if you want something that feels distinctly Icelandic. You also taste smoked salmon, which one particularly enthusiastic assessment named as a favorite, along with smoked reindeer.

Reindeer may sound unusual if you come from a place where it is mainly associated with Christmas stories. Here it appears as paté, and its savory, gamey flavor gives the meal a different edge from ordinary pork or beef. The tour is well suited to curious eaters, but you should say clearly in advance if you avoid particular meats.

Another stop features gravlax, the Nordic-style cured salmon, and pickled herring. These are not sweet holiday treats. They bring salt, acidity, and a strong fish flavor to the meal, which helps explain how Icelandic festive food balances heavier meats and buttery bread.

The food is served in stages, so you are not expected to swallow every flavor at once. Still, the three-hour schedule can feel full. The provider says you will not leave hungry, and the amount of food described is substantial for a walking tour. One important qualification is that a previous Christmas Day departure did not include every advertised dish, so you should confirm the seasonal menu if specific items matter to you.

Laufabrauð, the leaf bread with a delicate crunch

Laufabrauð is one of the most charming foods included in the experience. Its name is often translated as leaf bread, and the bread is cut with decorative patterns before it is fried until crisp.

It is thin, buttery, and more about texture and tradition than heft. You may see the careful patterns as part of the food itself, since Icelandic families often prepare it as a Christmas custom. This is the sort of small detail that makes the tour more meaningful than a simple sampling session.

One caution is worth spelling out. A December 29 departure was missing the leaf bread mentioned in the description. Seasonal supply, holiday opening hours, or menu changes can affect what appears on the table. If laufabrauð is the dish you most want to try, ask about its availability before booking or shortly before your tour.

The route also includes a special glazed hamborgarhrygg, a festive Icelandic pork dish. The glaze adds a sweeter holiday note, and it gives you a useful contrast with smoked lamb, cured salmon, and pickled herring. Together, these samples show how Icelandic Christmas food moves between smoky, sweet, salty, sour, and buttery flavors.

Christmas drinks, from malt and appelsín to warm glögg

The drink selection helps keep the food from feeling like a string of unrelated samples. Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, while malt and appelsín is a beloved non-alcoholic combination. The latter is especially useful if you do not drink alcohol, since it is a familiar part of the holiday season rather than a token substitute.

Jólaglögg, Icelandic mulled wine, adds the warm spice many people expect from a winter food tour. If you prefer, the company can substitute hot cocoa. You should request that change when booking or before the tour begins.

The drink details also show why this experience is best understood as a cultural introduction. You are not only tasting restaurant dishes. You are learning what Icelandic families and communities put on the table during the holidays. The guide explains the background while you eat, which gives each sample a clearer place in the wider Christmas tradition.

Again, availability can change around the holidays. One past departure did not include mulled wine, despite the usual description. If you need alcoholic or non-alcoholic options for personal reasons, mention that before the walk.

Stories that are sometimes more frightening than the food

The guides do more than lead you from one restaurant to another. The tour includes Christmas stories, including tales that can be strange or genuinely frightening. That darker folklore adds a welcome edge to the cheerful lights and shop windows.

Guides have received especially strong praise for their storytelling and warmth. Palli was described as a real Viking with a gift for stories, and Paul was praised for welcoming the group and even suggesting photographs beside the Christmas decorations. Pauly and Einar also received strong marks for explaining Icelandic traditions and looking after food needs.

You cannot guarantee a specific guide unless the provider confirms one. Still, the individual names and comments give you a useful sense of the experience: the guide is not just a walking escort. The guide controls the mood, explains the dishes, handles the restaurants, and connects the food to Icelandic life.

That personal element matters at $173. If you only want to eat Icelandic food, ordering a few dishes independently may cost less. If you want help choosing, explanations between courses, and a social evening with a small group, the guide is a major part of what you are paying for.

The Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur

A stop at the Little Christmas Store adds a shopping and visual part to the food walk. Expect seasonal decorations, artisanal crafts, and other holiday treasures, plus a locally inspired gift to take home.

This is not just a retail pause. It gives you time to look at Icelandic Christmas style after hearing about its food and stories. The store can also be useful if you want a small present that feels tied to Reykjavik rather than a generic airport souvenir.

There is one important calendar warning. A departure on Christmas Day found the Christmas market closed, and the person who booked it had chosen the experience partly for that reason. Shops and markets have different holiday schedules, so do not assume every seasonal attraction will operate on December 24 or 25.

The company should explain any substitutions, but the safest approach is to ask directly if the Little Christmas Store is open on your date. If the shop is the main reason you are booking, avoid relying on a Christmas Day visit without confirmation.

How much food do you really get for $173?

The price is $173 per person, and it includes the guide, Christmas food, and drinks. The route has several food stages: three regional food stops of about 30 minutes each, a 15-minute tasting, and a final 45-minute regional food stop.

On paper, that is a substantial three-hour schedule. You are not paying for one sample and a short stroll. You are paying for multiple tastings, festive drinks, restaurant coordination, storytelling, and the convenience of moving through central Reykjavik with someone who knows what to order.

The value depends on your priorities. The price makes more sense if you want a full meal, a social group, and an introduction to dishes you might not confidently order alone. It makes less sense if you are a light eater, already know Icelandic cuisine, or judge a food tour strictly by the size of each individual portion.

One past assessment found the price high for the amount served, including a very small sample at one location. That criticism should not be ignored. Food prices in Reykjavik are high, but a high citywide restaurant bill does not automatically make every tour good value.

The strongest case for booking is the combination of food and interpretation. The weakest case is booking solely for one or two promised dishes. Menus can shift, especially during the Christmas period, and a missing item can affect how worthwhile the tour feels.

Who will enjoy this three-hour experience?

I would recommend the tour to someone visiting Reykjavik during the Christmas season who wants a guided introduction rather than a formal meal. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and anyone who enjoys tasting many things instead of ordering one familiar dish.

It is also a sensible choice for first-time visitors. The meeting point is central, the route is easy to follow, and the walk gives you a useful orientation to Reykjavik’s festive streets. You get food, city sights, and cultural background in one evening.

Families may like the hot cocoa option, although the tour includes strong flavors such as herring, smoked meats, and reindeer paté. Children or selective eaters may not enjoy every stop. Ask about substitutions before booking rather than hoping to solve the issue on the spot.

The experience is less suitable if you want a quiet, private dinner, a fixed restaurant menu, or a guaranteed visit to a particular Christmas market. It is also a poor fit if you dislike walking in cold weather. The company specifically asks you to bring weather-appropriate clothing, and Icelandic winter conditions deserve respect.

Dietary needs can be accommodated when the provider knows in advance. Give full details about allergies and restrictions during booking. One person with an allergy received suitable attention after noting it ahead of time, which is encouraging, but you should still repeat the information to the guide at the start.

Practical details that can save your evening

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothes and comfortable shoes. The total walking time is not extreme, but you move outdoors between several stops, and some waiting may take place outside near the meeting point.

Arrive at least five minutes before the start. Go to the front of CenterHotel Plaza, not inside the hotel. The official meeting description points you to the area outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two stone pillars.

The walk has included small groups, with one departure described as having 10 people. Group size can affect the evening. A smaller group usually makes it easier to ask questions and hear the stories, while a larger group may slow the restaurant stops.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

Book it if you want a full Christmas-themed meal with stories, not just a market visit. The smoked lamb, smoked salmon, reindeer paté, laufabrauð, gravlax, herring, seasonal pork, and drinks give you a broad taste of Icelandic holiday food. The best guides add real warmth, humor, and folklore, with Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar all associated with especially positive experiences.

Think carefully before booking at $173 if you are focused on strict food value. Portions may vary, advertised dishes can be missing on holiday dates, and the Christmas market or Little Christmas Store may not be open on Christmas Day.

My advice is simple: choose a date other than Christmas Day if the shop or full menu matters, report dietary needs early, and arrive ready for cold-weather walking. With those precautions, this is a lively and useful way to spend an evening in Reykjavik.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $173 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

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

How early should I arrive?

You should be at the front of CenterHotel Plaza five minutes before the starting time. Do not wait inside the hotel.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour is conducted in English.

What food and drinks are included?

The experience includes Christmas food and drinks such as smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg. Hot cocoa can replace the mulled wine if requested.

Can dietary restrictions and allergies be accommodated?

The company tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you must provide the information before the tour.

Can I cancel the tour?

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