A sweet tooth works overtime in Reykjavik. This small-group walking tour turns downtown streets into a tasting circuit, with classic treats like kleina, licorice chocolate, and ice cream stops, plus a guide who keeps the story going as you walk. I especially love how you get both the food and the context, and how the pacing lets you slow down, warm up, and keep moving. One watch-out: it is a walking tour, so dress for weather and be ready for quick shop-to-shop stops in daylight and passing crowds.

Two things I like a lot are the variety (pastry, chocolate, candy, and ice cream) and the way the guide points you toward real places you can revisit later, not just a one-time hit. Also, the group stays maximum of 12 people, so you are not stuck waiting while people ask 40 questions about sprinkles. The only potential drawback is that the exact treats can vary by season, day, and time, so if you have one item you absolutely must try, you should keep expectations flexible.

Key moments that make the Reykjavik Sweet Tooth Tour worth it

• Ingólfur Square start keeps the whole route easy to follow in central Reykjavik
• Baka Baka tasting is your first hit of warm Icelandic baking, often including kleina-like favorites
• Laugavegur time adds city flavor while you move between stops
• Ice cream at Ísbúðin litla Valdís is where licorice and possibly skyr might show up
• Chocolate and candy finale can include famous-style combinations like Þristur and bars like Draumur

Meeting at Ingólfur Square and getting your bearings fast

This tour starts in the heart of downtown Reykjavik at Ingólfur Square, by the two tall stone pillars. If you are using Google Maps, look for Ingólfur Square near Center Hotels Plaza (Aðalstræti 6). One easy mistake is going to the wrong meeting area, like the statues at Austurvöllur. You want the square with the two pillars, not the big named monuments.

I like that this start point is practical. You can arrive, orient yourself, and then get going without a half-hour scramble through side streets. Plan to be there at least 5 minutes early, because once the tour begins, the guide has to keep momentum.

Your guide is usually easy to spot in Reykjavik terms, a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The first part of the experience is short guided sightseeing around the square. It sets the tone: this is not just eating, it is also understanding how locals think about food, treats, and quick errands in the city.

Also note the structure. It is a 2-hour walking tour with a small group, and it stays in the central area. That makes it a great “first day” activity if you want to learn the geography while you snack your way around town.

The Baka Baka stop: warm pastry, local flavors, and a real opener

The first real food stop is at Baka Baka for about 25 minutes of tasting. This is where the tour often hits you with the kind of Icelandic pastry that feels both familiar and specific. Kleina is one of the classic options you might try, described as a deep-fried, doughnut-like pastry, and it is the kind of food that tells you something about how Icelandic bakeries balance comfort with local identity.

What I like about starting with Baka Baka is that it gives you a foundation. You start with baked goods before you jump into colder sweets like ice cream, so your taste buds are ready for the rest. And because the guide talks about history and how bakers make these treats, you end up knowing what you are eating beyond just calling it tasty.

In the past, you might also find other pastry styles in the mix. One example from real-world experience is that a Danish pastry can show up, and people tend to remember it. The key idea for you: the lineup can shift based on timing and season, so treat this as a guided sampler rather than a guarantee of one exact pastry every day.

Laugavegur stroll: sweets plus city context, not just shop hopping

After Baka Baka, you move along Laugavegur for around 20 minutes of guided sightseeing. This matters more than it sounds. Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street, and it is also where you see how people move between work, errands, and casual food stops. The guide uses the walking time to connect the treats to what you see around you.

This part of the tour is also good for pacing. You get a little breathing room between tastings, so you can digest (or at least pretend you are digesting). It is a short stretch of city viewing, not a long march, and it helps you build a mental map of downtown.

I also like that this is not only about eating. The guide shares tips for where to eat and drink, and those suggestions often matter later when you are choosing your own plans. If you are the type who likes to know the best spots before you waste time wandering, you will appreciate this.

And yes, it is still a sweet-focused tour. But Laugavegur gives you context: you are tasting Icelandic culture, not eating randomly in a vacuum.

Loo.koo.mas for shopping time, gifts, and snack souvenirs

Next comes a 15-minute shopping stop at Loo.koo.mas. This is not the “tasting” moment, it is the you-can-browse-with-a-plan moment. The tour structure matters here because it gives you just enough time to look, ask questions, and pick something to take back.

Why it is worth including: you learn what Icelandic sweets look like when they are packaged for real purchase, not just for a demo table. If you want a gift that feels Iceland-specific, this is often where you find it, especially if you are hunting for chocolate or candy styles tied to the country’s taste profile.

The guide may also nudge you on which flavors are “tourist-friendly” versus adventurous. And since the tour is flexible about exact items, shopping time can help you lock in what you loved earlier.

If you want to pack light, keep it simple. Choose one or two take-home items instead of trying to buy everything at once. You do not need to come home with a suitcase full of licorice to call this a good souvenir strategy.

Ísbúðin litla Valdís: ice cream and the licorice question

This is one of the highlights: Ísbúðin litla Valdís for about 20 minutes. The tour includes ice cream tasting, and yes, Icelandic flavors can be unusual if you are used to plain vanilla and chocolate only.

You might be able to choose from multiple flavors, including licorice and possibly skyr. The important detail for your decision-making is that Icelandic licorice is described as sweet and mild. That single note changes the whole experience for people who assume licorice means harsh and salty candy.

I like ice cream on this tour because it breaks up the heavier sugar of pastries and chocolate. It also cools you down if you started the tour on a cold Reykjavik day. If you are traveling in winter or shoulder season, comfort food matters, and ice cream is a fun way to keep your mood up while you keep walking.

One practical thought: if you are not sure about flavors, ask the guide what they think fits your comfort level. You can also use this stop as a reset, because you still have at least one more candy stop after you finish.

Taste of Iceland candy finale: Draumur-style bars and Þristur combos

The final tasting stop is Taste of Iceland for about 20 minutes. This is where you get to lean into candy and chocolate. Depending on timing and season, you might try iconic-style items like the Draumur chocolate bar or the licorice and chocolate combination called Þristur.

Even if licorice is not your thing, the tour does not lock you into one flavor path. The tour plan explicitly notes that there are other options if you do not like licorice. That is a big deal, because a sweet tour can become unpleasant if you dislike the one signature flavor the operator expects everyone to eat.

I find this finale stop works well because you already learned the tour’s flavor rules by now. Early tastings train your palate, and by the end you know how the guide frames Icelandic ingredients, like licorice profiles, local berries, and other regional flavor ideas tied to chocolate.

You are also likely to leave with a better sense of what tastes “Icelandic” to you. Some people come in for pastry, but end up buying chocolate. Others start with ice cream and end up obsessed with candy textures. This stop gives you that last chance to choose what you actually want to remember.

How the guide turns snacks into useful tips (and fun facts)

The tour is led by a live English-speaking guide and runs with a small group, maximum 12 people. That size is not just a comfort thing. It also affects the quality of the conversation. You can ask a question, hear the answer, and keep moving.

What stands out is that the guides focus on more than just listing treats. They connect snacks to culinary culture and share background on items like kleina and other sweets. That turns a tasting walk into a mini education you can use later, like knowing where to return for your favorites and how to interpret local ingredients.

Real guide names that have shown up in strong feedback include Matthias and Oli, both praised for being personable and fun, with good variety across the tasting lineup. People also describe guides sharing history and fun facts, and that matches the tour’s structure, with guided time built into multiple segments.

One thing I like: you are not forced to be an expert. The guide brings the context, you bring curiosity, and together you get a much richer experience than if you simply wandered into the most famous shop.

If you are traveling solo, this format is also a confidence booster. You get a social moment, then you can branch out on your own with better direction.

Price and value: is $90 a smart sweet splurge?

At $90 per person for roughly 2 hours, this is a splurge compared to buying a single pastry and calling it a day. But the value comes from what you are actually getting: multiple tastings, a local expert, and a structured route through downtown specialty shops.

You are not just paying for food. You are paying for:

• guided stops that keep you from guessing which shops are worth your time
• samples of pastry, sweets, and ice cream across several locations
• small-group attention, which tends to improve the overall experience

When I think about value in tours like this, I focus on trade-offs. If you self-tour Reykjavik sweets on your own, you might spend hours hunting for the right items and still end up missing key specialties. Here, the route is compact and the tasting plan is built around recognizable Icelandic favorites, with the exact menu shifting by day and season.

Also, the tour works as a “reset” activity. People use it to rest their legs, top up energy, and then continue sightseeing with a sugar cushion. If you plan to do other walking in Reykjavik the same day, the tour can help you keep your energy up without turning it into a full-day food mission.

What to bring, and how to survive Reykjavik weather

Because this is a weather-appropriate clothing kind of tour, come dressed for wind and cold, not just for indoor comfort. You will be outside for walking segments, even if the time is short between shops.

Also, go easy on heavy meals before the tour. Even with multiple tastings, you still want to enjoy everything, not just survive it.

If you have dietary restrictions, the tour data does not spell out specific accommodations. So I would treat this as a bring-curiosity-and-ask-questions activity. The guide is your best tool for confirming options you can handle, especially for flavors like licorice, where preference varies a lot.

Who should book this tour in Reykjavik?

This is ideal if you:

• like trying a little of everything rather than committing to one dessert
• want an easy way to learn downtown layout while eating
• enjoy local food stories, not just selfies with treats
• are traveling solo and want a structured social experience

It is also a smart pick if you plan to do more Reykjavik sightseeing afterward. The tour duration keeps it from swallowing your whole day, and the pacing supports energy management.

If you hate licorice, do not panic. The tour notes you will have other options, so you are not forced into one flavor. You just might skip the licorice-forward favorites and focus on chocolate, pastry, and candy you enjoy.

Should you book the Reykjavik Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

Yes, if you want a compact, small-group way to taste Icelandic sweet culture without spending your whole afternoon researching shops. I would book it especially if you like variety, want a guide’s recommendations for where to eat and drink, and prefer a route with built-in structure.

Skip it only if you dislike walking around town or you are not interested in sweets beyond one or two categories. Because this is unapologetically a dessert tour, you will get the best experience if you actually want to eat, not just sample a bite here and there.

If you are on the fence, think of it like this: Reykjavik can be cold, and your schedule can get tight. A two-hour plan that keeps you warm-ish, fed, and oriented in the center of town is a very practical kind of fun.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Where do I meet the guide?

You meet at Ingólfur Square in the center of Reykjavik, by the two stone pillars. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza (Aðalstræti 6).

What will I sample on the tour?

You receive samples of Icelandic pastry, sweets, and ice cream. Specific treats can vary by season, day, and time.

Do I have to try licorice?

No. The tour notes that if you do not like licorice, you will have other options.

Is the tour a small group?

Yes. It is a small group tour with a maximum of 12 people.

What language is the tour guide?

The tour is guided in English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.