Three hours, six tastings, and Reykjavik clicks into place. This private walking tour strings together classic city corners with Icelandic flavors, from Ingólfstorg to the harbor and finally Restaurant Dass. If you like food that comes with a story, you’ll enjoy the way each stop explains what Iceland eats and why.

I love the variety in such a short time. You’re not stuck with one theme, you sample things like an Icelandic shellfish soup appetizer, a lamb hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, and the famously challenging fermented shark at the end. I also love that the guides bring context, with names like Einar and Gardar praised for connecting neighborhoods and history to the food choices.

One possible drawback is that the tour leans into bold flavors, including hakarl (fermented shark). If you expect only mild, tourist-friendly bites, you might feel differently, and it is worth noting one low rating raised concerns about guide English and inappropriate political propaganda.

Key highlights that make this tour worth planning

• Old Reykjavik starts the story at Ingólfstorg, meeting by the two stone pillars in the city center
• Harbor appetizer at Reykjavik harbor, starting with Icelandic shellfish soup
• Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for the lamb hot dog, with a heads-up about copycats
• A supermarket stop for real Icelandic snacks and candy, not just restaurant food
• Kolaportið Flea Market on weekends only, open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm
• Restaurant Dass near Hallgrimskirkja ends with multiple Icelandic delicacies plus hakarl and a chosen drink

Entering Reykjavik by eating, not rushing

Reykjavik can feel like a small city, but food culture there is anything but simple. This tour is designed to make the city feel readable fast. You start in the older core, move to the waterfront, then head through the kinds of places locals actually browse and buy food.

What I like about this setup is the pace. It is long enough to matter, about 3 hours, but not so long that you fade out halfway through. And because it is a private tour, your group sets the tone, instead of getting stuck in a rigid script.

Ingólfstorg first, because Reykjavik has a reason

Your walk begins at HlöllabátarIngólfstorgi 1, right outside Ingólfstorg square, by the two tall stone pillars. It is a great “start here” moment. Those pillars symbolize the original settler decision about where to establish Reykjavik, so you’re not just walking around, you’re getting a starting point.

From there, the guide leads you onward toward the harbor. Even if you never care about settlement stories, this matters because it frames why fishing, preservation, and seasonal eating shaped what ended up on Icelandic plates.

Reykjavik harbor appetizer: Icelandic shellfish soup

Stop two focuses on the harbor area, and the first real taste is an Icelandic shellfish soup appetizer. Harbor food has a logic: it uses what the sea gives, and it’s designed to be satisfying when the weather is moody.

This is also a smart early stop. You get a warm, savory baseline before moving on to street snacks and market browsing. If you tend to get hungry fast, this appetizer timing is one of the reasons the tour works.

The hot dog stop that Reykjavik takes seriously

Next you’ll hit Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, the legendary Icelandic hot dog stand. Here you sample a lamb hot dog. The guide’s job is not just to point you at the menu, it’s to give you the local context, including the friendly warning about copycats.

Practical tip: hot dogs in Iceland are not necessarily light. Eat it with the understanding that you’re building a full-food evening day later, not just “having a snack.” This stop is quick by design, about 20 minutes, so it’s best if you come ready to taste and keep moving.

A local supermarket detour, where the candy has personality

After the street food, you shift gears at a local supermarket. You spend about 10 minutes looking at Icelandic foods, snacks, and candy.

This stop is easy to overlook on other tours, but it’s one of the most revealing parts here. Restaurant tasting is fun, but supermarket tasting tells you what people actually reach for. You can see the flavors Iceland favors, how snacks are packaged, and what gets treated like everyday comfort.

If you love the “buy it and taste it later” part of travel, this is a bonus. Even in a short window, you’ll get enough ideas to guide what you seek out after the tour.

Kolaportið Flea Market: when it appears, it’s the party

Stop five is Kolaportið Market, tucked inside the Reykjavik Flea Market. If you’re in town on weekends, this is where the tour adds extra character.

Important timing detail: Kolaportið is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. The tour includes a 20-minute stroll, with traditional Icelandic foods you may not find anywhere else at the same kind of casual market energy.

What to look for here is the “small bite” mindset. This is not the place for big plated meals. It’s about tasting variety, grabbing a few samples, and enjoying the mix of local sellers and everyday food shopping.

Restaurant Dass by Hallgrimskirkja: the hakarl finish

The tour wraps at Restaurant Dass, near Hallgrimskirkja church. This ending stop lasts about 40 minutes, and it is where the flavors go from fun to memorable.

Here you can try several Icelandic delicacies, including the star item: fermented shark (hakarl). You also get a drink, and the tour allows a choice of non-alcoholic or alcoholic, so you can keep it flexible. The guide recommendation includes a special beer or Black Death snaps.

Hakarl reality check: it’s the kind of food that people either love, tolerate, or refuse. That’s true anywhere. The smart part is that you do not need to guess how to handle it. One of the practical reasons this ending works is that guides are often helpful about how to eat it, so it feels less like a dare and more like a cultural lesson.

Also, this is a good moment to ask questions. The walk is over, so you can focus on what you just tasted and what it connects to.

Pickup, meeting spots, and staying oriented

You meet at the start near Ingólfstorg square, outside Hlöllabátar, facing the square’s two stone pillars. The info says the guide will wear a light blue jacket, which makes it easier when you arrive early.

Pickup is offered from hotels or accommodations within a specified radius. If you’re staying outside downtown, you’ll meet at the start location instead. For most people, the simplest move is to use Google Maps for the address at the meeting point.

This tour is also labeled as near public transportation, so you’re not locked into a car or taxi plan, which is helpful when Reykjavik weather has opinions.

Price and value in plain terms

At $249.23 per person, this is not a budget activity. But it is also not “just a few snacks.” You’re paying for a private guide, a focused 3-hour route, and multiple tasting moments, including items that are part of the experience at the end (with entrance included at Kolaportið and Restaurant Dass, plus the drink option).

The value comes down to your taste style. If you want food plus context, and you’re the type who will actually enjoy trying things like a lamb hot dog, supermarket snacks, and hakarl, this price can feel fair. If you only want safe, familiar foods and you would rather skip fermented shark entirely, you may feel like you overpaid.

A related point: this tour’s average booking window is 71 days in advance. That’s not just a random stat. It signals that people treat this as a first-night plan or a “lock it in early” activity. If your schedule is tight, reserve sooner rather than later.

Guide style matters, and it shows

One of the strongest themes in the guide feedback is how the tour turns into more than eating. Guides like Einar, Gardar, Magness, Olaf, Bo, Stefan, Magnus, Robyn, Palli, Bjarni, and Ester E are repeatedly praised for adding story and keeping groups engaged.

That matters because Icelandic food can sound strange on paper. The best guides make it click with explanations: what fishing culture created, why certain preservation methods became normal, and how Reykjavik’s neighborhoods tie into the food you’re tasting.

That said, one low rating flagged poor English and lack of engagement, plus inappropriate political propaganda. If you care deeply about those things, send a quick message to the operator before the day of your tour. It’s reasonable to request a food-forward focus and ask about guide language comfort.

Who this tour is best for (and who should reconsider)

This tour fits best if you are:

• A foodie or an adventurous eater who likes learning while tasting
• Interested in Icelandic staples and quirky classics, including hakarl
• Planning a short Reykjavik visit and want an organized way to cover several distinct food stops

You might reconsider if you:

• Really dislike strong-flavor foods and see fermented shark as a hard no
• Want only full meals and zero walking between stops
• Are sensitive to guide communication style and need very high English comfort

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the private food walking tour in Reykjavik?

It lasts about 3 hours.

Is this tour private or shared with other people?

It is private, meaning only your group participates.

Do you offer hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup is offered from hotels or accommodations within a specified radius.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at HlöllabátarIngólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland, and ends at Dass Reykjavik, Vegamótastígur 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

What food stops are included?

You’ll taste Icelandic shellfish soup, a lamb hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, snacks and candy from a local supermarket, traditional foods at Kolaportið Market (included), and Icelandic delicacies plus fermented shark at Restaurant Dass.

Is Kolaportið Market part of the tour every day?

Kolaportið Market is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, so the stop depends on the day.

What do you try at the final stop, Restaurant Dass?

You can try several Icelandic delicacies including fermented shark (hakarl). You also choose a non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink.

What is the tour language?

The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Should you book this Reykjavik food tour?

If you want a first taste of Icelandic eating that actually feels tied to place, I’d book it. The route is compact, the stops cover street food, everyday grocery browsing, a market window, and an iconic ending at Restaurant Dass.

Book it especially if you are willing to try hakarl and you like guides who explain the why behind the bites. Skip it if your idea of Icelandic food must be mild and familiar. For everyone else, this is a smart way to get your bearings fast through Reykjavik, one stop at a time.