The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour

Reykjavik’s sweetest discoveries are tucked into ordinary-looking shops, and this two-hour walking tour links them with stories, samples, and a few surprises. You’ll try pastries at BakaBaka, Icelandic ice cream at Valdís, skyr cake, and local specialties that may include fermented shark or dried haddock.

I like the small group limit of 12, which gives guides such as Óli, Þór, Ester, Bo, and Páll room to answer questions and adjust the conversation. I also like the easy central route, beginning at Ingólfstorg and following Laugavegur, so you get a little city orientation along with the food.

The main drawback is value for serious eaters. At $109.04, the price is easier to justify if you want context and company, but less so if you already know Reykjavik’s bakeries or simply want to buy your own dessert. The ice cream and dairy-based treats also make this a poor fit if you are lactose intolerant.

Key points at a glance

• Start with Icelandic stories at Ingólfstorg: Meet beside the two tall stone pillars in central Reykjavik.
• Taste more than just sweets: Pastries, candy, ice cream, skyr, fermented shark, and dried haddock may all appear.
• Keep the afternoon open: The 2:00 pm start and generous food portions can easily push dinner later.
• Expect a personal guide: The maximum group size is 12, and some departures may be much smaller.
• Walk through central Reykjavik: The route connects Ingólfstorg, Laugavegur, and several downtown food stops.
• Best for curious eaters: You’ll get food samples plus stories about Icelandic culture, shops, and daily life.

What this Reykjavik food walk is really about

The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour is not just a pastry crawl. It is a short introduction to how Icelanders eat, snack, celebrate, and make use of local ingredients.

The sweet side is clear. You may taste flaky pastries, hot chocolate, candy, ice cream, and skyr-based cake. But the tour also steps outside the sugar bowl. Fermented shark and dried haddock bring a salty, distinctly Icelandic edge to the afternoon.

That mix is part of the appeal. You are not being handed five versions of the same cupcake. Instead, you get a range of textures and flavors, from creamy skyr to cold ice cream and traditional fish. Some past tastings have also included a pastry called Happy Marriage, a favorite mentioned with particular affection by one participant.

The guide is central to the experience. Óli, Þór, Ester, Bo, Páll, Mathias, Einar, and other members of the Your Friend in Reykjavik team have led this walk. The tone is informal and conversational. You can expect stories about Icelandic food, local customs, Reykjavik, and sometimes the guide’s own experience growing up in Iceland.

That personal element matters. A guide can explain why Icelanders eat ice cream even in cold weather, why skyr is more than a sweet yogurt substitute, and how a simple pastry connects with local tradition. You can also ask for restaurant tips or ideas for the rest of your stay.

Meeting at Ingólfstorg beside the stone pillars

The tour begins at Ingólfstorg, a central square near Center Hotels Plaza at Aðalstræti 6. Look for the two stone pillars, each more than three meters high. The meeting point is also close to Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1.

Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That is useful in a busy square, especially if you arrive early and need to identify the right person.

The starting point works well for a first afternoon in Reykjavik. You are already near the old center, and the tour gives you a quick sense of how the downtown streets fit together. One family even added an impromptu stop to feed swans during the walk, a reminder that the pace is relaxed rather than rushed.

The tour starts at 2:00 pm. Plan to arrive a few minutes early, since you do not want to begin by searching the square while the group is moving off.

Laugavegur provides the city setting

The walk continues along Laugavegur, one of central Reykjavik’s main streets. This part is not a formal sightseeing tour with long stops at monuments. Instead, it is a pleasant downtown stroll while your guide fills in the setting with anecdotes and local background.

That balance is useful. You are not spending the whole afternoon seated inside cafés, but you are also not racing between food stops. The walking helps break up the tastings and lets you see a little of central Reykjavik between bites.

The route is short enough for most people to manage, and the activity notes say it is near public transportation and suitable for most participants. Still, it is a walking tour, so comfortable shoes and a weather-ready layer make sense. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and some of the appeal comes from being outside between stops.

BakaBaka brings the pastry course

BakaBaka is the first major food stop and one of the tour’s strongest moments for anyone who loves baking. You can expect Icelandic pastries made with traditional recipes, including flaky, layered treats and, on some departures, hot chocolate.

This is where the food-and-story format works best. A pastry is more interesting when the guide can explain its place in Icelandic life, rather than simply handing it over with no context. Guides have also used the shop and surrounding area to talk about local history and changing food habits.

If you have a sweet tooth, this may be your favorite stop. The pastry tasting tends to feel more distinctive than the candy portion because it connects directly with Icelandic baking traditions.

There is one practical point to remember: the portions across the whole tour add up. Do not arrive after a large lunch and expect to remain comfortable. Several people found themselves very full by the end, and that is worth planning around.

Taste of Iceland adds the surprising bites

Taste of Iceland broadens the menu beyond dessert. This stop may include skyr, fermented shark, dried haddock, candy, and other Icelandic products.

Fermented shark is famous for a reason. It is a strong, unusual taste and not an item most people would casually order on their own. The tour gives you a controlled way to try it, hear why it is part of Icelandic food culture, and decide what you think.

The dried haddock has caused some disappointment for people expecting a strictly sweet tour. That criticism is fair. If you want only pastries, cake, and ice cream, this stop may feel off-theme. On the other hand, the savory bite gives the experience more range and helps explain that Icelandic food is not limited to the treats found in a bakery case.

The lineup can vary, so do not assume every item will be exactly the same on every departure. The experience information specifically includes fermented shark and skyr, while the broader tasting tradition has included candy and other local products.

Valdís serves the coldest course

At Ísbúðin litla Valdís, you get Icelandic ice cream. The shop is presented as a long-running local favorite, with an emphasis on traditional quality and a welcoming atmosphere.

Your guide chooses or recommends flavors, so this is a good time to ask questions rather than simply accept the first scoop. The tour’s message is clear: Icelanders eat ice cream in every kind of weather. In Reykjavik, a cold afternoon does not automatically rule out a cone.

Valdís is also the stop that creates the clearest dietary warning. The tour is not recommended for people who are lactose intolerant because ice cream is part of the experience. If you avoid dairy, you should ask before booking rather than count on a substitute, since no replacement is specified.

For families, this is often an easy hit. Children can follow the guide through the history and food talk, then get an immediate reward. One family with two eight-year-olds found the guide patient and engaged while the children asked a long stream of questions.

Skyr cake finishes the route

The final named food stop is Dass Reykjavik, where the tour includes cake made with skyr. Skyr is a local specialty with a thick, smooth texture and a mild tang. In cake, it offers a lighter contrast to rich pastry and ice cream.

This stop gives the tour a neat Icelandic finish. You have had traditional baked goods, unusual savory tastes, cold dessert, and now a dessert built around one of the country’s best-known dairy foods.

The supplied schedule gives Dass Reykjavik 25 minutes, the longest tasting stop. That extra time makes sense for a final course, especially if the guide is answering questions or discussing how skyr fits into Icelandic eating habits.

The complete route takes about two hours. The listed stop times add up to roughly 100 minutes, leaving time for walking, introductions, and conversation. The activity ends back at the original meeting point.

The guides are a major part of the value

The best reason to book this tour is not simply access to sweets. You can buy pastries and ice cream yourself. The added value comes from having a local person connect the food to Reykjavik and Iceland.

Óli has been praised for keeping the tour personal, sharing recommendations, and making sure there is no dull stretch. Þór, also called Bjarni Þór, is known for combining food with stories about Icelandic history and culture. Bo has been described as warm and informative, while Ester has led an easygoing afternoon with plenty of conversation.

Other guides named in the tour’s feedback include Páll, Mathias, Einar, Stefan, Arnr, and Guðjón. Since the guide is assigned rather than chosen in advance, you should think of these names as examples of the team, not a promise that a particular person will lead your date.

The small-group format helps. The maximum is 12 people, and some departures have ended up with only two participants. A tiny group can feel almost like a private food walk, with more time for questions and photographs. A full group will still be small by city tour standards.

The operator has also shared photographs with some participants after the walk. That is not listed as a guaranteed part of every departure, so treat it as a possible extra rather than a promised feature.

Is $109.04 a fair price?

At $109.04 per person, this is not a cheap way to get dessert. You could spend less by visiting one bakery, buying an ice cream, and stopping for skyr on your own.

The price becomes easier to defend when you value the full package:

• Several tastings are included.
• You get a local guide for about two hours.
• The walk adds Reykjavik history and food context.
• You avoid planning a route between multiple shops.
• A small group gives you a chance to ask questions.
• You can sample unusual items, including fermented shark, without committing to a full serving.

I would book it early in a short Reykjavik stay, especially since it is commonly reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead of about 67 days. It is particularly useful on your first day, when the guide can suggest other places to eat and help you get oriented.

I would skip it if you already know the downtown bakeries, dislike group activities, or mainly want the lowest possible food cost. The experience is paying for guidance and access to a planned tasting route, not just the calories.

Who will enjoy this most?

This tour suits families, couples, solo visitors, and anyone who likes food with a story attached. Children have enjoyed the pastries, candy, ice cream, and skyr, while adults tend to appreciate the cultural details and restaurant suggestions.

It also works well for a first afternoon in Iceland. You get a gentle walk, a manageable introduction to the center, and enough food to make the day memorable.

You should think twice if you are lactose intolerant, since ice cream is included and dairy appears in several other tastings. You should also arrive hungry but not starving. The portions are substantial enough that a full lunch beforehand may be too much, and dinner may need to happen later than planned.

The tour is offered in English. Mobile tickets are accepted, service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Should you book the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

Book it if you want more than a list of cafés. The strongest parts are the relaxed central walk, the small group, and guides who turn pastries and local treats into a conversation about Icelandic life.

I would especially recommend it for a first visit, families with children, and people who enjoy trying unfamiliar foods. Go with an open mind because the tour includes savory and unusual samples, not just sweets.

Skip it if you prefer to choose every item yourself or if $109.04 feels too high for food you could purchase independently. For most people who value the guide’s stories and the social side of the walk, it is a fun and filling introduction to Reykjavik’s food culture.

FAQ

Where does the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour start?

It starts at Ingólfstorg in central Reykjavik, near Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1. Meet by the two stone pillars, which are more than three meters high.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 2:00 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the original meeting point in Ingólfstorg.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

What foods are included?

Included tastings can include Icelandic pastries, candy, ice cream, skyr, fermented shark, dried haddock, and cake made with skyr. The exact selection may vary.

Is ice cream included?

Yes. Ice cream at Ísbúðin litla Valdís is part of the experience.

Is the tour suitable for someone who is lactose intolerant?

The tour is not recommended for people who are lactose intolerant because ice cream is included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.