A bite-sized history of Reykjavik. In about 3 hours, you’ll eat your way from the old harbor to Kolaportið Flea Market, with all tastings included and a max 12-person group that gives your guide time to answer questions. One catch to plan for: Kolaportið is only open on Saturday and Sunday, so your flea market stop depends on the day.

I like this format because it feels like a guided walk, not a checklist. You’ll get the culture facts along the way, and guides such as Óli or Ester E. have a knack for tying food to Iceland’s history and the way the island shapes what people eat. If you’re arriving with jet lag, this kind of downtown orientation also helps you get your bearings fast.

From start to finish, the route keeps moving, with stops built around what Iceland does best: seafood, street food, and hearty comfort bowls. The experience includes beverages and ends with a big serving of meat soup, so you’re not just tasting snacks, you’re eating like locals do on a weekend.

Key points before you go

• Small group, real conversation time (up to 12 people), so you’re not lost in the crowd.
• All tastings and drinks are included, meaning you travel light and skip the ordering stress.
• Kolaportið is weekend-only, open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.
• The hot dog stop is the 1937 original, at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
• You end with Icelandic street food, a big bowl of meat soup plus an Icelandic drink.

Ingolfur Square meet-up: a tight 3-hour route that stays friendly

The tour starts in central Reykjavik at Ingolfur Square, near Ingólfstorgi 1. Plan to arrive about 5 minutes early, because the whole idea is a smooth handoff from one taste to the next. There’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll want to show up already in “walk mode.”

This is a small-group experience capped at 12 people, which matters more than you’d think. In a city where restaurant lines and weather can slow you down, having a guide who can slow or adjust without losing the group is a big quality signal.

The walk is not presented as strenuous, but you will be moving through downtown and spending time inside different food spots. It’s also designed to operate in all weather, so dress for wind and rain even if the forecast looks hopeful.

Stop 2 by the old harbor: Icelandic shellfish soup to start

Right after you meet, the tour heads toward the old Reykjavik harbor area for an appetizer: Icelandic shellfish soup. This is a smart first taste because it sets the Iceland tone fast, rich, salty, and built for a cold climate.

You’ll get more than just soup, too. A good guide will explain why seafood shows up everywhere in Icelandic life, not just as a tourist gimmick. If you tend to be picky about flavors, soup is usually an easier entry point than a plate of unfamiliar seafood served as-is.

Time at this stop is about 25 minutes, which is enough to eat, ask questions, and regroup before the flea market portion. If you’re thinking about coming with a strong appetite, this first stop is your warm-up lap.

Kolaportið Flea Market: traditional food browsing on Saturdays and Sundays

The Kolaportið stop is the part many people circle on purpose. You’ll stroll through the Reykjavik Flea Market, sampling traditional Icelandic foods in a setting that feels like the real rhythm of the city.

Here’s the practical thing you must plan around: Kolaportið is open only on Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00. If you’re visiting Reykjavik on a weekday, you can still take the tour, but this particular market stop may not match the weekend experience you’re expecting.

The market itself is the kind of place where you see a lot of Icelandic food preservation and “cold country logic.” In feedback from past guests, people have mentioned seeing items like dried cod and unusual frozen seafood displays, which is part of why it feels more like culture than a food stop.

One more tip: citywide events can make downtown paths busier and can force small schedule shifts. If your travel dates line up with a big event, wear comfortable shoes, keep your pace flexible, and don’t build the rest of your day around perfect timing.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stop: the 1937 original lamb experience

No Reykjavik food tour route feels complete without the lamb hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. This stop is short, around 15 minutes, but it’s iconic for a reason: it’s described as the original from 1937.

The main reality check is the line. Even when the tour schedule includes this stop, the hot dog stand can be busy, and your time can shrink if the queue runs long. If the hot dog is your top priority, come hungry and be ready for a bit of waiting rather than expecting a quick grab.

Also, keep your expectations tied to the Iceland version, not a comparison to another country’s street food. Some people love the lamb hot dog because it tastes like a local shortcut to comfort, while others find it less exciting than the hype. Either way, tasting it here is the whole point of the stop.

If you’re worried about missing it due to time, ask your guide early in the tour how they handle delays at this specific location. In past experiences, guides can sometimes pivot, but you should still plan as if the line is part of the deal.

Local supermarket sampling: snacks, candy, and your shopping list

After the hot dog, the tour makes a quick hop to a local supermarket stop. This part lasts about 10 minutes, and it’s designed for exactly one goal: show you what Icelandic packaged snacks look like so you can buy them later.

This is where you get value even after the tour ends. Once you’ve seen what’s available and what Icelanders actually snack on, your grocery run becomes easier and more confident. You’ll also learn which types of flavors to look for if you want to recreate the taste at home.

The best way to use this stop is to pay attention to what’s described as unique. Icelandic candy and snack flavors can be surprisingly different from what you’ll find in your home country, especially in salted, smoked, or rye-adjacent categories.

Because the stop is brief, don’t try to do a full shopping mission. Think of it like a guided scouting trip, so you leave with a shortlist rather than a cart full of maybes.

Icelandic Street Food finale: Iceland in a bowl with soup and a drink

The tour wraps at Icelandic Street Food at Lækjargata 8 in the downtown core. The final stop runs about 45 minutes, which gives you time to sit, eat, and let the walking portion settle your stomach.

What you’re getting here is a big bowl of meat soup. This dish is often described as Iceland in a bowl, a perfect end note when the weather is cool and you’ve worked up an appetite during the earlier seafood and market tastings.

The experience also ends with an Icelandic drink. Beverages are included throughout the tour, and alcoholic beverages are listed as included as well, so this is a good moment to relax and decide whether you want to sip on something local.

If you care about the ending, arrive ready to enjoy it as a real meal. Some guests have felt the earlier portions were more like tastings than lunch, so the soup finale helps balance that. If you’re a super big eater, consider keeping a light snack option in your day plan for after the tour too.

How history and culture show up in each bite

What makes this tour work for me is that it doesn’t treat food like trivia. You get Icelandic history and culture woven into the tastings, which makes each stop feel connected instead of random.

You’ll hear how island geography influences the food system. Past guests have highlighted that guides explain how Iceland’s volcanic land and weather affect what people can access and how flavors develop over time. That kind of context turns a bowl of soup into a small story you can remember.

The guide also changes the tone. Some guests have praised guides for being funny and conversational, others for speaking slowly enough to include everyone in mixed-language groups. In any case, the goal is the same: you should leave knowing more than what you ate.

Comfort, allergies, and the real-world walking notes

This route is designed for most travelers, but it’s still a city walk with restaurant steps. One practical point from guest experiences is that there can be upstairs and down-stairs moments inside some places, which may be tricky for mobility issues. If you use a cane, walker, or have knee concerns, wear shoes you trust and consider telling your guide at the start.

Food allergies are a major concern, and this tour has shown it can handle substitutions. One guest specifically mentioned a fish allergy and that the replacements were handled well, so you should feel comfortable asking questions about what’s served and what can be swapped.

What about how full you’ll feel? The tour includes multiple tastings, but some people have said the total food amount didn’t feel like a full lunch-sized meal. If you prefer to eat large portions, view the tour as a flavorful sampler plus an ending soup, not as your only meal of the day.

For everyone else, it’s the perfect “first day in Reykjavik” plan. Several guests describe it as an antidote to jet lag naps, because you’re walking, eating, and learning without needing museum stamina.

Price and logistics: when $151.38 makes sense

At $151.38 per person, you’re paying for three things: a guide, a route with multiple included tastings, and a set of stops you might otherwise struggle to line up on your own. You’re also getting beverages, with alcoholic options listed as included, so you’re not paying separately for drinks during the walk.

The best value angle is the included food flow. In Reykjavik, it’s easy to end up spending money on one meal and then still scrambling for snacks. Here, you’re buying a curated sequence of bites, so your spending becomes predictable.

Logistics are straightforward. This is in English, you get a mobile ticket, and the tour runs in all weather conditions. Just remember there’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll handle your own way to Ingolfur Square and you’ll finish downtown at Lækjargata 8.

Should you book this Reykjavik weekend food tour?

Book it if you want a high-impact first look at Reykjavik through food, with history and culture mixed in. It’s also a strong fit if you like small groups, because up to 12 people keeps the guide attentive and keeps questions from getting lost.

Book it if the flea market stop matters to you, but lock your travel date to a Saturday or Sunday. Kolaportið is open 11:00 to 17:00 only, so weekend timing is the key that unlocks that part of the itinerary.

Consider passing or adjusting expectations if hot dog lines make you impatient. The lamb hot dog stop is short by design, so you’ll want to be okay with waiting for the iconic stand. Also, if you have mobility challenges, note that you may deal with stairs inside some stops.

If your top goal is comfort food at the end, the Icelandic Street Food meat soup is a great payoff, and the included drink helps you finish the experience on a relaxed note.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik food tour?

It runs about 3 hours (approx.).

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Ingolfur Square (Ingólfstorgi 1 area) and ends at Icelandic Street Food on Lækjargata 8.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What’s included in the price?

Food tastings and beverages are included. Alcoholic beverages are also included. A professional guide is included too.

Does the tour include the Reykjavik Flea Market?

Yes, it includes a stop at Kolaportið Market. The flea market is only open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.

How many people are in a group?

The maximum is 12 people per booking.

Do I get hotel pickup or drop-off?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts.