The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas food is less about one grand feast than a series of small, hearty discoveries. You’ll walk between several central stops for smoked lamb, leaf bread, gravlax, reindeer paté, pickled herring, and Christmas drinks, while your guide explains the customs behind them. I especially like the local storytelling, including Iceland’s sometimes frightening Christmas tales, and the visit to the Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur.

I also like that guides such as Palli, Paul, and Einar have been singled out for warm hosting, good stories, and practical help at each food stop. The main caution is value: at $173 per person, the meal needs to feel substantial for you, and one past outing had very small samples and did not include the advertised leaf bread or mulled wine.

Key points at a glance

• A walking Christmas meal: Expect several central Reykjavik food stops rather than one sit-down dinner.
• Classic Icelandic dishes: Try smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.
• Three festive drinks: Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg are part of the planned tasting, with hot cocoa available instead of mulled wine.
• Strong guide element: Palli, Paul, and Einar have all been praised for storytelling, group care, and handling restaurant arrangements.
• A final shopping stop: The Little Christmas Store offers decorations, crafts, seasonal gifts, and a locally inspired souvenir.
• Plan for winter weather: The whole experience is on foot, so warm, weather-ready clothing matters.

Why Icelandic Christmas food makes this tour different

If you know Iceland mainly through hot dogs, skyr, and seafood, this tour gives you a more seasonal picture. Christmas tables in Iceland bring together preserved fish, smoked meats, fried bread, rich pâté, and sweet or spiced drinks. The food can feel plain at first glance, but the traditions behind it give each bite a reason to be there.

Smoked lamb is one of the key tastes. It has a firm texture and a strong smoky flavor, so it is a good introduction to the hearty side of Icelandic holiday cooking. You’ll also get a chance to try smoked salmon and smoked reindeer, two items that one participant especially enjoyed.

The tour also includes laufabrauð, or leaf bread. This thin, buttery bread is cut into delicate patterns before it is fried until crisp. It is one of the more visually memorable foods on the route, and its careful decoration gives you a glimpse of the work that goes into Icelandic Christmas customs.

Other samples show a different side of the holiday table. Gravlax brings cured salmon with a clean, savory taste. Pickled herring is sharper and more divisive, while reindeer paté offers a smooth, strongly flavored spread. The glazed Hamborgarhrygg adds a festive roast-meat note to the mix.

This is not a tour built around familiar comfort food. I would choose it if you want to try several Icelandic specialties in one evening and hear why they matter. If you prefer large portions of one safe dish, the format may feel less satisfying.

Starting at Hlöllabátar in central Reykjavik

You meet outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, with benches, tables, and a covered ceiling nearby. This is a useful meeting place in winter because you have somewhere recognizable to wait, though you should arrive five minutes early and remain outside the hotel rather than going inside.

Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That detail matters in a busy central square, especially if you are arriving after dark or in poor weather.

From the starting point, the group walks about 10 minutes to the first food stop. The distances are short, but the route is still a walking tour, not a restaurant crawl by vehicle. Reykjavik’s winter weather can change quickly, so bring a warm coat, sturdy shoes, and clothing suited to wind or rain.

Five food stops, with time to talk and taste

The route allows about 30 minutes at each of three main regional food stops. That pace gives your guide time to explain the dishes instead of handing you a bite and rushing you onward. It also spreads the food through the evening, which is helpful when the menu includes smoked meats, bread, fish, pâté, and drinks.

The first stops focus on Icelandic Christmas specialties. You might begin with smoked lamb and laufabrauð, then move on to other dishes such as glazed Hamborgarhrygg or reindeer paté. The exact order may vary, but the purpose is clear: you are tasting a set of foods linked to the holiday season rather than sampling generic Icelandic snacks.

A later stop brings gravlax and pickled herring into the mix. These are useful comparisons. Gravlax is cured rather than cooked, while pickled herring has a more pronounced sweet-and-sour edge. If you already enjoy Nordic fish traditions, this part may be a highlight. If you dislike sharp or preserved flavors, tell your guide about your preferences, though the food plan is built around trying local specialties.

The itinerary includes a shorter 15-minute tasting stop, followed by a final 45-minute regional food stop. That last longer visit gives the group more room to settle in, eat, and talk. A guide may also handle the practical details at each restaurant, which helps keep the group moving without making you feel lost in an unfamiliar city.

One important point: portions are not guaranteed to feel like a full restaurant dinner at every stop. A past experience included a very small sample at one venue, and another did not receive the leaf bread or mulled wine described in the plan. That appears to be an occasional risk rather than the intended format, but it is worth keeping in mind when judging the $173 price.

Christmas drinks, from malt and appelsín to mulled wine

The drinks are a useful part of the experience because Icelandic Christmas beverages are not all alcoholic. Jólaöl is a traditional Christmas ale, while malt and appelsín combines malt drink with orange soda and is a popular non-alcoholic holiday choice.

You are also scheduled to try Jólaglögg, a warm mulled wine with spices. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, or simply want something sweeter, you can request hot cocoa instead. This substitution is one of the more practical details in the tour, particularly for families or anyone avoiding alcohol.

The drink selection helps make the food stops feel seasonal rather than like a standard city food tour. Still, do not assume every listed drink will appear exactly as described. One past outing lacked the mulled wine, so I would confirm your expectations when booking if that drink is a major reason you are choosing the tour.

Stories that add a darker edge to Christmas

The guide does more than identify the food. You’ll hear about the history and cultural meaning of the dishes, along with Christmas stories that can be amusing, strange, or downright unsettling. Icelandic holiday folklore has plenty of room for large personalities and scary tales, so this part gives the walk a distinct local character.

Palli has been praised for his Viking look and storytelling, while Paul was noted for welcoming the group and taking photographs among Reykjavik’s Christmas decorations. Einar has also been praised for explaining Icelandic customs and responding well to an allergy.

Those details point to an important strength of this experience: the guide shapes the evening. You are not simply following a printed route between restaurants. A good guide connects the dishes, the streets, and the holiday customs. You may also get help with group photos, restaurant arrangements, and questions about Icelandic life.

The quality of the guide matters more here than it would on a simple tasting counter. With three hours of walking and conversation, a warm, engaging host can make the evening feel social and easy. The available rating of 4.8 from 19 reviews reflects that the guide element has been a major success, though a small sample size means you should not treat it as a guarantee.

A stop at the Little Christmas Store

The visit to the Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur gives the tour a change of pace after the food tastings. Instead of another plate, you get festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items tied to Reykjavik’s Christmas mood.

This stop works well near the end because you can browse without needing to carry purchases through the whole meal. You also receive a locally inspired gift, giving you a small reminder of the evening beyond photographs and new food memories.

Do keep the date in mind. A past tour that took place on Christmas Day encountered a closed Christmas market. The Little Christmas Store is the planned stop, but seasonal businesses can keep different holiday hours. If the shopping element is your main reason for booking, check the operating details for your date.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is not a bargain food walk. You are paying for an English-speaking local guide, several food stops, drinks, cultural interpretation, a shopping visit, and a three-hour route in one of Europe’s expensive capitals.

The price makes more sense if you value convenience and variety. You do not need to research which Icelandic Christmas dishes to seek out, find open venues during the holiday period, or work out how to order unfamiliar foods. The guide leads you from stop to stop and explains what you are tasting.

The value is weaker if the portions are small or if several planned items are unavailable. One past participant felt the amount of food did not match the cost, while others found the food plentiful and the evening worth booking again. That difference is important. The tour is best viewed as a guided cultural meal with tastings, not a guaranteed three-course dinner.

You should also compare the timing with your plans. Three hours is long enough to make this a main evening activity, but short enough to fit into a day of sightseeing. Since the route stays in central Reykjavik, it is practical if you are lodging nearby or already spending time around Ingólfstorg and Laugavegur.

Dietary needs and winter planning

The company asks you to provide allergies and dietary restrictions when booking. That notice matters because the route includes fish, meat, dairy, bread, and alcoholic drinks. An allergy was accommodated successfully on one recent tour, but you should not wait until the meeting point to explain a serious restriction.

The tour is conducted in English. It is entirely on foot, with walks of about 10 minutes between several stops and a final five-minute walk before the last tasting. You should wear weather-appropriate clothing, including shoes that feel secure on wet or slippery streets.

This is a good choice for couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy eating in a small social group. A group of 10 has been noted, though the exact group size can vary. It may also suit families, especially with the hot cocoa option, but the menu includes strong flavors and preserved foods that younger children may not enjoy.

Who should book this Reykjavik Christmas tour?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to Icelandic holiday food, enjoy trying unfamiliar dishes, and like your sightseeing mixed with stories. It is especially useful early in your Reykjavik stay because you can learn which foods and drinks you may want to seek out again.

I would also recommend it to visitors who are in town over the Christmas period and want a planned activity when opening hours can be limited. The guide, food, and drinks are all arranged for you, which removes much of the guesswork.

Think twice if you want generous servings, a fixed menu with every item guaranteed, or a low-cost way to eat dinner. The price is high, and the past inconsistency over leaf bread and mulled wine is worth noting.

For me, the best reason to book is the combination of food and folklore. You get smoked lamb and gravlax, but you also get the stories, the lights, the central streets, and a glimpse of how Christmas is celebrated in Iceland. Just arrive hungry, dress for the weather, and confirm any must-have food or drink in advance.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours. It includes walking between several central Reykjavik food stops, tastings, drinks, stories, and a visit to the Little Christmas Store.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $173 per person. The price includes the expert guide, Christmas food, and drinks.

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.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled start time. Wait outside CenterHotel Plaza rather than inside the hotel.

What food will I try?

Planned tastings include smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring. Smoked salmon and smoked reindeer may also be included among the tastings.

Which drinks are included?

The planned drinks are Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine. You can request hot cocoa instead of Jólaglögg.

Is the tour suitable for dietary restrictions?

Dietary needs and allergies can be accommodated, but you need to provide that information when booking.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English by a live guide.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, according to the booking conditions.