The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Christmas lights and plates, right on time. Reykjavik’s holiday food scene is easiest to crack when a local guide handles the ordering and the pacing, and this 3-hour tour does exactly that. I especially like the stop at the Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur, because you leave with more than full bellies, you leave with a small piece of the season. And I really enjoy the flight-style mix of Christmas specialties, from laufabrauð leaf bread to smoked meats and festive drinks, all wrapped in stories that can be funny or a bit spooky.

One consideration before you book: if you’re going on Christmas Day, some parts of Reykjavik’s holiday calendar can be different than usual, so you may not always get every item named in the description.

Key Things I’d Prioritize on This Tour

• Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur for seasonal crafts and decorations, plus a locally inspired gift
• Smoked lamb and leaf bread as the classic Icelandic Christmas combo of savory and crunchy
• A real mix of tastes including reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring to cover the full spectrum
• Festive drinks like Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg, with a hot cocoa swap if you prefer
• Guide-led Christmas stories that add context to why the food shows up on the table
• Food-and-drink stops built into a walkable route so you see twinkling streets without worrying about logistics

Meeting Hlöllabátar First, Then Letting the City Lead

The tour starts in a practical spot: outside Hlöllabátar, at the Sandwich Shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. If you’re arriving early, you’re not stuck out in the cold with no place to wait. There are benches, tables, and a covered ceiling, which makes a big difference when Reykjavik weather decides to act like it has a personal grudge.

Look for your guide near CenterHotel Plaza. They usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend In Reykjavik on the back. The meeting time is tight for a reason, you’ll walk between stops and keep the tastings moving. Aim to arrive about 5 minutes early and stand in front of Center Hotels Plaza, not inside.

This matters because Icelandic winter tours work differently than summer ones. When it gets dark quickly, and temperatures drop, you want the route to feel smooth, not like you’re hunting down restaurants in the dark. This start point anchors the evening so you can focus on what you came for: Christmas food.

The Walking Pace and the 3-Hour Flow

This is a 3-hour Christmas food loop with short walking stretches between tastings. Expect several on-foot segments, each about 5 to 10 minutes, plus multiple time blocks where you’ll sit down and eat. The structure is simple: snack, drink, walk, repeat, with one longer regional-food stretch near the end.

You’ll cover the Reykjavik central area at a pace that suits most people who can handle winter sidewalks. You’re not doing long distances, but you are moving enough to stay warm and keep your appetite interested. The route also takes advantage of that holiday lighting effect, so the walk doesn’t feel like dead time. It feels like part of the show.

One more practical note. Bring weather-appropriate clothing. It’s not about comfort only. It’s about staying flexible if you’re waiting outside for a table or for the group to regroup.

Stop One: Classic Christmas Flavors in Reykjavik

After the initial meet-up, you head out on foot toward the first tasting. The tour’s early course selection sets the tone: Icelandic Christmas food leans savory, smoky, and buttery, and it rarely plays it safe.

Here’s what you should be ready to taste:

• Smoked lamb, known for its deep, robust flavor
• Laufabrauð (leaf bread), fried crispy and patterned, with a buttery feel

This pairing works well because it gives you two different textures right away. Smoked lamb brings warmth and richness. Leaf bread brings crispness, saltiness, and that festive “you can snack while you talk” vibe.

Then the guide adds the why. Expect discussion of the history, stories, and cultural significance behind the dishes and drinks. That’s not just trivia. It helps the food make sense when you see how traditions keep repeating every year.

If you’re the type who usually eats first and asks questions later, this tour nudges you the other way. You learn why these items show up at Christmas time, then you get to taste them.

Stop Two: A Full Icelandic Christmas Board

Next comes another on-foot segment and another round of food. This is where the tour broadens beyond the headline dishes and leans into the real variety of Icelandic Christmas tables.

You can expect samples such as:

• Glazed Hamborgarhrygg (a Christmas-style ham preparation)
• Reindeer paté, an iconic seasonal choice
• Gravlax, the cured salmon that Iceland does so well
• Pickled herring, tangy and bold

This is the portion of the tour I think most people appreciate, especially if you’ve been in Reykjavik for only a day or two. Instead of trying to pick the “one best” restaurant and hoping for the right menu, you get a spread. You learn what you like. You also learn what surprises you.

A small caution: pickled herring is not subtle. If you hate strong tang, you might still want to try a bite. But go in with open expectations and know you can keep going without forcing yourself to love it.

Drinks at Christmas Time: Ale, Citrus Soda, and Mulled Wine

Food is only half the equation on this tour. You’ll also sip festive drinks that Icelanders associate with the season.

Included options may include:

• Jólaöl, a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale
• Malt and appelsín, a popular non-alcoholic Christmas beverage
• Jólaglögg, mulled wine

And yes, there’s flexibility. If you don’t want Jólaglögg, they can substitute it with hot cocoa.

This drink section is more than a bonus. It ties the whole experience together. The warm drink helps cut through cold air, and each one carries a different flavor story. Alcohol-free options matter here too, because Icelandic Christmas celebration still has a place for everyone at the table.

The Christmas Storytelling Component

One of the best parts is what happens between tastings: the guide stories. The tour promises interesting and sometimes terrifying Christmas stories, and the guides bring the drama.

From what you can expect with past guides, the storytelling is not just a random add-on. It’s part of how they connect the food to local Christmas culture, including the strange, folklore-style tone that shows up in Icelandic winter traditions.

You may get a guide like:

• Palli, who tells lively stories and handles the restaurant side smoothly
• Einar, who does a great job sharing lots of details while keeping the group on track
• Pauli or Paul, who guide you through the city while adding festive context, even helping the group get photos with Christmas decor

A good guide can turn “we ate food” into “we understood the food.” That’s the difference you’re paying for.

The Little Christmas Store Stop in Laugavegur

Near the end, you visit the Little Christmas Store in Laugavegur. This is where the tour becomes more than dining.

You’ll have time to browse festive decorations and artisanal crafts. You’ll also receive a locally inspired gift meant to remind you of the trip. That gift part matters if you’re trying to make memories without turning the whole vacation into a shopping spree.

Laugavegur is one of the most central shopping streets, and in December the lighting and window displays can be a big part of the atmosphere. This stop lets you take some of that vibe home in a small, tangible way.

Dietary Needs and How the Tour Handles Them

If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, you’ll want to plan ahead. The tour can accommodate needs, but you must let them know when booking.

In practice, that means you should treat the reservation like an important part of the trip, not an afterthought. If you wait until you arrive, you may lose the best chance for the tour team to adjust selections.

One past experience that stands out is a tour where the guide handled an allergy request during booking and still delivered a full evening of tastings. That’s a good sign for anyone with restrictions. Still, your best move is to be direct and specific when you register.

Price and Value: Is $173 Worth It?

The price is $173 per person, for a 3-hour all-inclusive format with an expert guide plus Christmas food and drink.

Here’s how I think about value on tours like this:

• You’re paying for organization. In winter, finding the right Christmas menu, getting seated, and timing everything becomes work.
• You’re paying for variety. Icelandic Christmas specialties are not small snack items. A full spread across savory smoked dishes, cured fish, meats, and drinks adds up fast.
• You’re paying for a human guide. The stories and cultural context are part of why this tour isn’t just a food crawl.

That said, value can be uneven. Some people found the portions or pace to feel a bit light for the price, especially at one place where the tasting felt more like samples than a full portion. That doesn’t mean the tour is bad. It does mean you should go in with the right expectations: you’re eating multiple things, but not every stop may feel like a full meal.

If you want a guaranteed heavy dining experience at every stop, you might feel more satisfied with a traditional dinner plus a shorter snack add-on. If you want variety, context, and a guided way to taste Icelandic Christmas flavors, this is a strong fit.

Best For Whom (And Who Should Skip It)

This tour is a great match if:

• you’re visiting Reykjavik in December and want the Christmas food experience without planning
• you like guided stories and not just eating
• you want a mix of iconic Icelandic flavors in one evening
• you want alcohol-free Christmas options included too

It may be less ideal if:

• you want a single sit-down, full-course meal
• you’re very sensitive to strong flavors like pickled herring
• you’re visiting on Christmas Day and need specific items to be available exactly as described

A Quick Reality Check for Christmas Day

Christmas Day can be special and tricky. One planning takeaway to keep in mind: some holiday facilities and market hours can change. If your main goal is a specific market stop or a specific item like mulled wine or leaf bread, consider booking on a different date when possible. If Christmas Day is the only option, keep your expectations flexible and treat the tour as a chance to experience Christmas food culture, not a strict checklist.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end, you should feel like you tasted a real Icelandic Christmas table, not a tourist version of it. You’ll likely remember:

• the smoked flavors and savory hits
• the crispy leaf bread experience
• the cured and pickled items that show Iceland’s love of preservation
• the seasonal drinks, especially when they warm you up
• the guide stories, because they make the food feel anchored in place

You’ll also have the store stop and gift to remind you of the season in Reykjavik.

Should You Book This Christmas Food Tour?

I’d recommend booking this tour if you want a guided, all-in-one way to experience Reykjavik Christmas food. The guide-led storytelling, the mix of smoked, cured, and festive dishes, and the included drinks are the core strengths. The Little Christmas Store stop is a nice bonus that turns the evening into something you can take home.

Skip it or switch dates if you need a very specific holiday checklist, especially if you’re traveling on Christmas Day. Also, if you’re expecting restaurant-size portions at every stop, read the experience as variety-first rather than feast-everywhere.

If you like food plus context, and you’d rather walk through the festive streets with a plan than figure it out yourself, this one is a solid bet.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

Where is the meeting point?

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

Is there an English-speaking guide?

Yes. The tour includes a live tour guide in English.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour is all-inclusive with Christmas food and drink, plus an expert guide, and you won’t leave hungry.

Can the tour accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?

They try their best to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you need to tell them when booking.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks can include Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine. Jólaglögg can be substituted with hot cocoa if you want.

What should I bring?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing, since you’ll be outside and walking between stops.

Is there a cancellation option?

Yes. There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.