The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas food is more than cookies and hot drinks. This three-hour walk takes you from Hlöllabátar through the city center for smoked lamb, gravlax, reindeer paté, pickled herring, leaf bread, and Icelandic holiday drinks. The food tells you how Iceland celebrates winter, family, and the darkest weeks of the year.

I like the way the tour joins several food stops with a city walk, so you get more than a meal at one table. I also like the local storytelling. Guides such as Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar have been singled out for warm hosting, good stories, and help with group photos. The main drawback is value: at $173 per person, portions and included items need to match the promise.

Key points

• Three hours on foot in central Reykjavik, with walks of about 5 to 10 minutes between stops.
• A proper taste of Icelandic Christmas, including smoked lamb, Hamborgarhrygg, gravlax, herring, and reindeer paté.
• Christmas drinks are part of the plan, including Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg or hot cocoa.
• Storytelling adds context, including Icelandic Christmas customs and some darker, sometimes frightening tales.
• Dietary needs can be accommodated, but you must provide the details when booking.
• The price demands careful thought, especially if leaf bread, mulled wine, or a Christmas market visit matters to you.

A Christmas walk that eats like a small Icelandic feast

This tour works best if you want to understand Iceland through food rather than simply photograph the Christmas lights. You move through central Reykjavik with a guide, stopping to taste dishes that appear on Icelandic holiday tables. The walking is easy in distance, but winter weather can make it feel less so.

The food is served in several settings rather than as one large sit-down dinner. That gives you variety, but it also means the size of each serving can differ. One stop may provide a satisfying plate, while another may offer only a small taste. At this price, that distinction matters.

The setting helps. Reykjavik in December brings dark afternoons, decorated streets, and a strong Christmas mood. You are not shut away in a restaurant for three hours. You are walking through the city, hearing stories, and stopping to eat as the evening takes shape.

Starting at Hlöllabátar near Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is 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 detail in cold or wet weather, since you can wait outside without standing in the middle of the street.

Arrive five minutes early. Look for a guide in a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The tour is in English, and the group may be small. One account described a group of 10, a size that allows for conversation without making the walk feel private or exclusive.

Starting at Hlöllabátar also gives you a practical first stop in a central part of Reykjavik. You are not being sent to a distant suburb or asked to arrange transport. From here, the rest of the experience takes place on foot.

The first Reykjavik food stops

After setting off, you walk for about 10 minutes before reaching the first food stop. The schedule allows about 30 minutes for regional food, which gives your guide time to explain what you are eating rather than simply place a plate in front of you.

Smoked lamb is one of the important tastes here. It has a firm texture and a strong, savory flavor that suits Iceland’s cold-weather cooking. If you prefer mild food, this may be one of the bolder bites on the route. If you like cured and smoked meats, it gives you a quick sense of why lamb has such a central place in Icelandic cooking.

You may also try laufabrauð, or leaf bread. This thin, buttery bread is cut into delicate patterns before frying. It is as much a Christmas craft as a side dish. The crisp texture makes it very different from the dense rye bread often associated with Iceland.

There is a practical catch. One Christmas Day booking did not include leaf bread, despite it being part of the advertised food list. Menus and availability can shift around the holiday, so ask about this item before you commit if it is a major reason for booking.

Hamborgarhrygg, gravlax, and the flavor of the holidays

The next walking section takes about 10 minutes, followed by another 30-minute food stop. This is where the tour’s variety becomes clear. You are not simply tasting different versions of the same fish or meat.

Hamborgarhrygg is a glazed Christmas pork dish. The sweet coating sets it apart from the smoked lamb, offering a softer and more familiar flavor for many people. It is a good example of how Icelandic holiday food can combine preserved meat with sweet, glossy sauces.

Gravlax brings cured salmon to the table. Its clean, salty flavor and silky texture provide a lighter change after the meats. Smoked salmon was a favorite for one recent participant, and it makes sense as a crowd-pleasing stop, especially if you enjoy Nordic fish dishes.

The tour may also include pickled herring. This is sharper and more divisive than gravlax. The tangy flavor is the point, not a flaw, and it gives you a chance to try a classic northern European preservation method. You do not need to love every dish for the stop to be worthwhile. Part of the fun is finding out where your own limits lie.

Reindeer paté and Icelandic Christmas stories

Another 10-minute walk brings you to a third regional food stop, planned for about 30 minutes. Reindeer paté is one of the more distinctive items on the route. It offers gamey flavor in a smooth spread, and it is the kind of taste that can make the tour feel specific to Iceland rather than like a generic holiday tasting.

Your guide also fills the walking time with stories about Christmas traditions. Some are lively and warm, while others are described as frightening. Icelandic Christmas folklore is not limited to cheerful elves and decorations, so families with young children may want to ask how scary the stories become.

The storytelling is a major part of the value. Food can be easy to forget when it arrives without context. A guide who explains why a dish is served at Christmas, how it is prepared, or what it means in Icelandic family life gives the tasting a stronger connection to the place.

Palli, Paul, Pauly, and Einar have each led recent departures. The names vary by date, but the guide makes a real difference here. A friendly guide can keep the group moving, handle the restaurant arrangements, explain unfamiliar food, and make the walk feel social rather than procedural.

A short tasting stop before the final meal

The itinerary includes a shorter food tasting of about 15 minutes after a five-minute walk. This stop is likely to feel more like a sample than a full course, which is worth keeping in mind when judging the total amount of food.

That small serving can still be useful. A tasting tour should let you compare flavors without committing to a full plate of every dish. The problem comes when several stops are this small. One participant felt that a sample served on a tiny spoon did not justify the cost of the tour.

I would treat this section as a chance to try something new, not as one of the meals that will fill you up. The overall experience is described as all-inclusive, and the company says you will not leave hungry, but the exact balance of full portions and samples can vary.

Finishing with food, drinks, and the Little Christmas Store

The final regional food stop lasts about 45 minutes. This is the longest stop on the route and should give you time to settle into the food rather than rush through another bite.

The drink selection is one of the tour’s more appealing features. Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale. Malt and appelsín is a popular non-alcoholic combination, sweet and distinctly associated with the holiday season. You may also receive Jólaglögg, a warm mulled wine with spices, or choose hot cocoa instead.

The wording matters here because one departure did not include mulled wine. If Jólaglögg is important to you, confirm what will be served on your date. The same advice applies to the Christmas market or store visit. A booking on Christmas Day found the market closed, which was a serious disappointment for someone who chose the tour partly for that reason.

The planned visit is to the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur. You can browse decorations, seasonal items, and local crafts, and you receive a locally inspired gift. This is a pleasant finish because it gives the evening a small souvenir beyond the food.

Still, do not assume every shop or market operates normally on December 25. Christmas opening hours in Reykjavik can be unusual. If shopping is central to your plan, check the store’s holiday schedule before booking and ask the operator what remains open on your date.

What $173 buys you in Reykjavik

The cost is $173 per person. That is not a casual snack budget, even in an expensive city. You are paying for the guide, multiple food stops, drinks, storytelling, the walk, and the convenience of having the evening arranged for you.

The all-inclusive format has real value if you want a broad introduction to Icelandic Christmas dishes without choosing restaurants yourself. It also reduces the risk of ordering an unfamiliar item blindly. Your guide can explain the food and manage the stops while you focus on the evening.

But the price only works if the portions and promised extras line up with your expectations. One person felt the tour was expensive for the amount served, especially when one stop offered a very small sample. Missing leaf bread or mulled wine makes the calculation less favorable.

I would compare the price with what you would spend on a substantial Reykjavik dinner plus drinks. The tour is not simply a dinner replacement, since it includes a guide and city walk. But if you mainly want a large meal, a restaurant may offer better value. If you want several tastes, stories, and a festive route, the higher price becomes easier to defend.

Dietary needs, clothing, and winter comfort

Tell the company about allergies or dietary restrictions when you book. The team has accommodated an allergy when it was provided in advance, but you should not wait until the first restaurant stop. Since the food includes fish, meat, dairy, and alcoholic drinks, clear information matters.

Wear weather-appropriate clothing. You will walk between stops for roughly 10 minutes at a time, with one shorter five-minute section. Reykjavik weather can make a short walk feel long, so warm layers, a waterproof outer layer, and sturdy footwear are sensible choices.

The route is city-based and does not involve a coach. You will be outside between food stops, then indoors for the tastings. That rhythm gives you a break from the weather, but it also means you should not dress as if you are going straight from hotel to restaurant.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to you if you want an easy introduction to Icelandic Christmas food and prefer guided context to independent restaurant hopping. It suits curious eaters who want to try smoked lamb, reindeer paté, cured fish, herring, and holiday drinks in one evening.

It is also a good fit for a first visit to Reykjavik during the Christmas season. The route helps you get oriented around the central streets while giving you a ready-made evening plan. The guides have been praised for friendliness, stories, photo help, and handling the practical details at each restaurant.

Families should consider the storytelling style. The tales can be entertaining but sometimes frightening. You should also think about whether younger children will enjoy several tastings and a three-hour walk.

I would be more cautious if you are focused on the Christmas market, exact menu items, or maximum food value. Christmas Day availability can affect what you see and eat, and the menu may not match every listed item. Ask before booking rather than assuming.

Should you book the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

Book it if you want a guided taste of Icelandic holiday culture, enjoy trying small portions of unusual food, and value stories as much as the meal. The strongest parts are the range of dishes, the central walking route, and guides who can make the evening personal and easy.

Pause before booking if $173 feels high for a tasting menu, or if leaf bread, mulled wine, or a Christmas market visit is essential. Confirm those details for your date, especially around December 25. With realistic expectations, this can be a warm and entertaining way to spend a winter evening in Reykjavik. Without that check, the price may feel harder to justify.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

How early should I arrive?

You should be in front of CenterHotel Plaza, not inside the hotel, five minutes before the tour starts.

What language is the tour in?

The live guided tour is in English.

What food is included?

The planned tastings include smoked lamb, laufabrauð leaf bread, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine. You can request hot cocoa instead of Jólaglögg.

Can dietary restrictions and allergies be accommodated?

The company tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. You must provide the information before the tour, preferably when booking.

What should I bring?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing because the experience includes walking outdoors between food stops.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

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