How the Tour Works

The Reykjavik Food Walk starts at the main entrance of Harpa Concert Hall in the heart of downtown Reykjavik - a short walk from most hotels and easy to find from anywhere in the city center.

From there, your local guide leads a small group through the most charming streets of central Reykjavik, stopping at five carefully chosen local spots along the way. The walking distance is about 2 km - easy, slow-paced, and always with the next delicious stop just around the corner.

At each stop you sit down, eat well, and let a local Icelander bring the city to life around you - the food, the stories, the culture, and the hidden gems that most visitors never find on their own.

The whole experience lasts around three hours. Groups are capped at 14 guests to keep things personal, relaxed, and genuinely fun. And everything - all food, all stops, no surprises on the bill - is included in the price.

Every tour includes:

• 5 local stops - 4 hand-picked restaurants plus Iceland's most famous hot dog stand
• 8+ tastings of traditional Icelandic dishes
• A local Icelandic guide born and raised in Reykjavik
• All food included, plus some drinks along the way
• Additional drinks always welcome at any stop

One thing we want to be clear about: this is not a tour of tiny samples and photo opportunities. We built it to be properly filling. If you are joining a lunchtime tour, skip breakfast. If you are joining later in the day, dinner is covered.

What You Will Eat

Each tour is carefully curated by our team so that every route is a brilliant local foodie experience. The exact stops and dishes vary between tours - which keeps every visit feeling fresh, and is a big reason why many guests come back to do it all again and again.

Here is what every single Reykjavik Food Walk has in common:

Icelandic Lamb - always on the menu

Icelandic sheep roam freely all summer, grazing on wild herbs and mountain grass, drinking from clean springs and rivers. The lamb that comes from this environment is naturally tender and unlike anything most travelers have tasted before. Depending on your tour, you might enjoy it as kjötsúpa - a slow-cooked lamb soup that is Icelandic comfort food in its purest form - as beautifully slow-cooked lamb, or as a perfectly prepared lamb steak. However it arrives, it will be delicious.

Fresh Icelandic Fish - straight from the daily catch

Iceland is surrounded by some of the cleanest, coldest waters in the world, and the fish reflects that completely. Every tour features fresh local fish, though the preparation changes with the route. The traditional Icelandic seafood pan, a silky slow-cooked cod, or fresh Arctic char - rich, buttery and a consistent guest favorite. Whatever lands on your plate will be straight from that day's catch.

A Homemade Icelandic Dessert or Pastry

Every tour ends the sweet way. Sometimes a unique homemade Icelandic ice cream, sometimes a traditional pastry with deep roots in Icelandic home cooking. Either way, it is consistently the stop guests mention most when they write their reviews.

The Famous Icelandic Hot Dog - a true national institution

Made primarily from lamb, ordered með öllu (with everything) - raw onions, crispy onions, ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade - and eaten at Iceland's most famous hot dog stand. Icelanders have been doing this since 1937. You will understand the hype within the first bite.

And a few delicious surprises

We have given you a taste of what to expect - but we are not giving everything away. Part of the fun is not knowing exactly what is coming next. Across the full tour you will enjoy 8+ tastings in total, and we like to keep a few of the best ones as a surprise. Some things are simply better experienced than described. Come hungry and find out. 🧡

Is It Worth Doing on Your First Day?

Short answer: yes, and here is why.

When you arrive in a new city - especially one as unique as Reykjavik - the first few hours matter a lot. You can spend them wandering around figuring things out, or you can spend them with a local who has already done that work for you.

The Reykjavik Food Walk is designed to be the perfect first-day experience because it solves several things at once. You eat well. You see the city properly. You meet a local who can answer your real questions. You discover restaurants worth returning to. And you leave with a feel for Reykjavik that would otherwise take days to develop on your own.

Most guests tell us that doing the food walk first made everything else in their trip better. They knew where to eat, what to look for, and felt genuinely oriented in the city. That is exactly what we set out to create - and it is why so many travelers book this before anything else.

Who Is the Tour For?

Almost anyone who enjoys good food and is curious about the place they are visiting.

We have hosted solo travelers, couples on honeymoons, families with young kids, groups of friends, corporate groups, and people visiting Iceland for just a single day. The mix of people on any given tour is part of what makes it fun - and our small group format means everyone actually gets to connect.

The tour is a great fit if you:

• Want a genuine local introduction to Reykjavik and Icelandic cuisine
• Are traveling solo and want to meet people in a relaxed, natural setting
• Are visiting for the first time and want to hit the ground running
• Love food and want to understand the culture behind what you are eating
• Prefer authentic local experiences over standard tourist itineraries

It is probably not the right fit if you:

• Prefer to stick to familiar food and are not open to trying something new
• Are looking for formal fine dining with white tablecloths and structured service
• Would rather spend the afternoon ticking off sights from a tour bus

If you are open to adventure and the idea of trying fermented shark with a group of strangers while an Icelander tells you its history sounds like your kind of afternoon - you are going to love this.

A Tour for Every Season

The Reykjavik Food Walk runs almost every day of the year, and every season brings something different to the experience.

Summer means long bright evenings, lively streets, and a Reykjavik that is fully alive. We take our time between stops and make the most of every moment outdoors. There is a unique energy to the city in summer that guests fall in love with instantly.

Winter is cozier and more intimate. Hopping between warm restaurants on a cold Reykjavik day, wrapping your hands around a bowl of lamb soup while snow falls outside - it is a completely different kind of magic. On rough weather days when most outdoor tours cancel, we still operate. We make the most of the outdoors when we can and duck warmly between restaurants when the weather calls for it.

Spring and autumn offer a quieter, more relaxed version of the city - fewer crowds, softer light, and a pace that feels genuinely local.

The honest truth is there is no wrong time to do the Reykjavik Food Walk. The food is excellent, the guides are passionate, and Reykjavik is a city that rewards proper exploration in every season.

The Guides

Every guide on our team was born and raised in Iceland. Every single one genuinely loves this city and loves sharing it.

We never use outsourced guides or international operators. The local knowledge, warmth, and personal stories our guides bring to every tour is something guests mention again and again in their reviews - and it is something that simply cannot be faked or imported.

Each guide has their own personality, humor, and way of making the experience feel alive. Different styles, but always the same result: guests who leave feeling like they just spent three hours with a brilliant local friend.

What Guests Say

With over 19,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, the Reykjavik Food Walk is the highest-rated food tour in Iceland. A few things guests say consistently:

• "Do this on your first day - you will thank yourself for the rest of the trip"
• "The guide made it unforgettable"
• "Best thing we did in all of Iceland"
• "We came back to Reykjavik specifically to do it again"

We are proud of every single one of those reviews. And we work hard every day to make sure the next guest feels exactly the same way.

How to Prepare for the Tour

A few practical tips to make sure you get the most out of the experience:

Come hungry. This is the most important one. Skip the big breakfast if you are on a morning or lunchtime tour. You will not regret it.

Wear comfortable shoes. The walking is easy and slow-paced, but you will be on your feet for three hours. Comfortable footwear makes a difference.

Tell us about dietary needs in advance. We accommodate most restrictions - vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, lactose-free and most common allergies. Just add them in the special requests when booking and we will handle the rest.

Arrive a few minutes early. We start on time and do not want you to miss the beginning. Harpa Concert Hall is easy to find - just head to the main entrance on the harbor side.

Bring an open mind. Icelandic food is full of surprises. The guests who embrace that always have the best time.

Practical Details

Duration: Around 3 hours, give or take 30 minutes depending on the group, weather, and other factors

Meeting point: Main entrance of Harpa Concert Hall, central Reykjavik

Availability: Almost every day of the year, multiple departure times

Group size: Maximum 14 guests. Private tours available - email info@thereykjavikfoodwalk.com

Walking: Approx. 2 km, easy and slow-paced

Price: Adults from 17,900 ISK | Children under 4 join free | Children aged 4-12 are 50% off

Food and drinks: All food included. Some drinks included. Additional drinks always welcome.

Cancellation: Full refund or free reschedule with 24+ hours notice. Bookings never expire.

Money-back guarantee: If you don't enjoy the tour, we will refund you. Simple as that.

Book Your Spot

The Reykjavik Food Walk fills up fast - especially during summer and around popular travel dates. We recommend booking in advance to secure your preferred time.

Come hungry. We would love to show you our city 🧡

Reykjavik Food Walk | #1 Rated Food Tour in Iceland

The perfect local introduction to food and restaurants in Iceland! Enjoy delicious local cuisines with a fun and knowledgable Icelander by your side!

Check Availability and Book Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Reykjavik Food Walk worth it? We are biased - but genuinely, yes. In three hours you visit five hand-picked local spots, taste 8+ dishes, learn about Icelandic food from a real local, and leave with a feel for the city that most travelers take days to build on their own.

When should I do the tour? Your first day in Reykjavik is our top recommendation - it sets the tone for your whole trip. That said, it works brilliantly at any point during your visit and in any season.

What if I have dietary restrictions? We accommodate most - vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, lactose-free and most common allergies. Add them in the special requests when booking and we will take care of the rest. Vegans are welcome, though options are more limited given how meat and dairy-forward traditional Icelandic cuisine is.

How much food is included? A lot. Five stops, 8+ tastings - proper dishes, not tiny samples. Skip breakfast if you are on a lunchtime tour. If it is later in the day, dinner is covered.

Can I do a private tour? Absolutely. Email us at info@thereykjavikfoodwalk.com and we will come back to you with availability and a quote.

What happens if my plans change? Contact us more than 24 hours before the tour and you can reschedule, put your booking on hold (it never expires), or get a full refund. Changes within 24 hours are non-refundable.

Is the tour suitable for children? Everyone is welcome. Children under 4 join free - they are happy sharing food with parents or family members. Children aged 4-12 are 50% off the adult price. Families join us regularly and kids love it.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible? Unfortunately not - the older infrastructure of some restaurants we visit makes this difficult. If you have specific accessibility questions please reach out before booking.

Does the tour run in winter? Yes, almost every day of the year. Winter is one of our favorite times - there is something magical about hopping between warm restaurants on a cold Reykjavik day with a bowl of lamb soup in your hands. The tour is designed to work beautifully in every season.

Can I do the tour more than once? Absolutely - and many guests do. Because the route and dishes vary between tours, each visit feels fresh and different. It is one of our favorite things to hear: that someone is back in Reykjavik and the food walk was the first thing they booked again.