Reykjavik Food Tour: Taste Traditional Icelandic Cuisine
Walk through the old city center, eat with locals, and discover the flavors that define Iceland.
This Reykjavik food tour takes small groups of up to 12 guests through the heart of the city, sampling over ten traditional Icelandic dishes at carefully selected local venues. From fermented shark to lamb soup, every stop connects food with the stories behind it.
Iceland has a culinary identity shaped by centuries of isolation, harsh winters, and a resourceful relationship with the sea and land. Preserved fish, slow-cooked lamb, and foraged ingredients are not novelties here but foundations of a living food culture that locals still embrace daily.
Guides on this tour are graduates of the Tour Guide School of Iceland, trained to blend history, humor, and local knowledge into every stop. The small-group format keeps things personal and allows for genuine conversation with your guide and fellow travelers.
The route also passes through the Reykjavik Flea Market, a weekend institution where Icelanders browse, trade, and gather. It adds a slice of everyday Reykjavik life that most visitors miss entirely.
Tour Highlights
Sample at least ten traditional Icelandic foods across multiple stops in the old city center.
Visit the Reykjavik Flea Market, a lively weekend gathering spot beloved by locals.
Limited to 12 participants, the tour offers a genuinely personal and unhurried experience.
Expert guides from the Tour Guide School of Iceland weave history into every tasting stop.
The walking route doubles as an orientation of old Reykjavik, helping you find your way for the rest of your stay.
Encounter Iceland's most iconic preserved and fermented foods, including shark, salted fish, and Brennivin spirit.
Guides share insider tips on where to eat, drink, and explore for the rest of your time in Reykjavik.
Tour Itinerary
The group assembles outside Hlöllabátar, facing the two tall stone pillars of Ingólfstorg Square with CenterHotel Plaza to the right. Guides wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The first tasting here includes Icelandic lobster soup, a small piece of Minke whale steak, and, for those willing, a portion of fermented shark.
One of Reykjavik's oldest and most recognized food institutions, this stand has been serving its legendary hot dogs since 1937. It remains a fixture of everyday Icelandic street food culture and a genuine local staple.
A beloved spot among both residents and visitors, this location is known for its slow-cooked lamb soup made from a long-standing traditional recipe. It is a comforting and distinctly Icelandic dish that reflects the country's pastoral heritage.
The group visits the Reykjavik Flea Market, a weekend gathering that showcases local trade, crafts, and community life. Alongside the market experience, guests sample a variety of traditional and distinctive Icelandic foods not found elsewhere on the route.
Salted fish is among the oldest preserved foods in Iceland, eaten for generations as a practical and flavorful staple. This stop also includes an optional tasting of Brennivin, the caraway-flavored spirit colloquially known as Black Death, whose reputation is far more dramatic than its actual character.
What Is Included
Included
- At least ten traditional Icelandic food tastings
- Icelandic lobster soup
- Minke whale steak sample
- Fermented shark tasting
- Legendary Reykjavik hot dog
- Traditional lamb soup
- Salted fish tasting
- Brennivin spirit tasting
- Flea market visit
- Expert licensed local guide
- Insider food and drink tips for Reykjavik
Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities for guides
- Additional food or drinks beyond the tour tastings
- Personal travel insurance
Important Information
Reserve Your Spot
This small-group tour fills quickly, especially on weekends when the Flea Market is open. Secure your place to avoid missing out on one of Reykjavik's most genuine food experiences.
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