Reykjavik Food Walk Tour

Taste your way through downtown Reykjavik on this 3-hour food walking tour, with about 8 tastings of Icelandic food at local restaurants and a local guide to explain each dish. This Reykjavik food tour suits first-time visitors, food lovers, and anyone who wants a relaxed introduction to the city and its food early in their trip.

Groups are capped at 14 guests, so you can chat with your guide and ask questions at every stop. The walk covers about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) at a slow pace, and the next restaurant is never far away. By the end, you know where locals like to eat for the rest of your stay.

Your tour starts at the main entrance of Harpa Concert Hall, the glass-fronted building on the Reykjavik Harbor, a short walk from most downtown hotels. If you drive, there is parking near and underneath the building. Food and some drinks are included in the price, so come hungry, because the tastings add up to a full meal.

Tours run daily all year, with several departure times to choose from. In winter, the warm restaurants are a welcome break from the cold, dark streets, while in summer the evenings stay bright for the walk between stops. The exact route can change between departures, since it depends on which restaurants are open.

From Harpa, your guide leads you into the historic city center and along the main streets of downtown Reykjavik. You usually visit 5 local restaurants, and your guide shares stories about the history and culture of the city between tastings.

The menu mixes traditional comfort food that Icelandic families have eaten for generations with popular street food and modern takes on classic dishes. Tastings change with the season but often include Iceland's famous hot dog, fresh Arctic char, or the catch of the day, Icelandic lamb, and a local dessert.

The Icelandic hot dog is a Reykjavik favorite, made from a blend of lamb, pork, and beef and topped with crispy and raw onions, ketchup, sweet mustard, and remoulade. Icelandic lamb has a long history too, since the sheep descend from the animals the first settlers brought over in the 9th century, and still graze freely in the mountains each summer.

Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon and trout, and it is one of the most common fish on Icelandic menus. Your guide explains how fishing and farming kept Icelanders fed through long winters, and how those traditions still shape the food served in Reykjavik today.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options are available. Add your dietary needs in the special requests section when you book, so the restaurants can prepare your tastings in advance.

The tour ends in the center of downtown Reykjavik, a couple of minutes' walk from Harpa and most hotels. From there, you are free to stay in town and explore the shops, cafes, and bars on your own.

Join this Reykjavik food walk to taste Icelandic hot dogs, lamb, and Arctic char with a local guide in a small group. Check availability now by choosing a date.