Reykjavik: 3-Hour Christmas Food Tour & Jólaöl Tasting

Three Hours of Reykjavik's Christmas Menu, Guided by Someone Who Actually Lives Here

You meet outside Hlöllabátar at Austurstræti and spend three hours moving through Reykjavik's Christmas spots with a local guide, tasting smoked lamb, laufabrauð, gravlax, reindeer paté and pickled herring at restaurants along the way. You'll sample Jólaöl, malt & appelsín, and mulled wine (or hot cocoa if you prefer), visit the Little Christmas Shop where you get a small gift, and finish at the ice skating rink and Christmas stalls. All food and drinks are included, so you arrive hungry and leave full.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Reykjavik Christmas food and sights

• Meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop
• Visit Little Christmas Shop and write to Santa
• Sample Christmas food at restaurant
• Try various Christmas treats
• Visit Reykjavik Christmas store and get gift
• Sample Icelandic holiday foods
• Visit ice skating rink and Christmas stalls

The experience

The guide was supposed to meet us at the sandwich shop at Austurstræti, but she was running five minutes late, which somehow made the whole thing feel real. We were standing in front of Hlöllabátar with maybe eight other people, the December cold already settling in, and then she showed up in the light blue jacket with "Your Friend in Reykjavik" on the back, apologizing in that Icelandic way that means she wasn't really sorry, just being polite. That's when I realized this wasn't going to be a scripted thing. We were about to spend three hours eating Christmas food with someone who actually knows what she's talking about.

The Reykjavik Christmas food tour moves through the city's holiday spots in a loose line: first stop was the Little Christmas Shop, where they give you a small local gift and you can write a letter to Santa if you want (I didn't, but the couple next to us did). Then we hit the first restaurant and that's where the eating started: smoked lamb that tasted nothing like what I'd had before, rich and almost sweet, paired with laufabrauð, this intricate leaf-patterned bread that's fried until it's crispy on the outside. The guide explained how Icelanders make it weeks ahead, how the pattern matters, how it's become this whole thing during the holidays. She wasn't performing. She was just telling us how her family does it.

We stopped at another spot for more samples: glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté that was smoother than I expected, gravlax, pickled herring. The drinks came alongside: Jólaöl, the traditional Christmas ale that's only around in December, plus malt & appelsín for anyone who wanted something without alcohol. Someone asked if they could swap the mulled wine for hot cocoa and the guide said yes without hesitation. By the time we got to the ice skating rink and the Christmas stalls at the end, we'd been eating for three hours straight and nobody was complaining. The whole thing took about three hours total, moving at a pace that let you actually taste things instead of just checking boxes.

What made it work was that the guide wasn't trying to sell you on Iceland. She was just showing you how her city eats in December, which is different. You leave having tried things you wouldn't have ordered on your own, having heard actual stories about how Icelanders celebrate, and having eaten enough that you'll probably skip dinner. If you're in Reykjavik in December and you want to understand the food without spending the whole day figuring out which restaurants to hit, this is the move.

What’s included

• Expert local guide sharing stories and traditions about Icelandic Christmas food.
• all food tastings including smoked lamb, laufabrauð, Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax and pickled herring.
• all Christmas drinks including Jólaöl, malt & appelsín and mulled wine (or hot cocoa).
• a small local gift from the Little Christmas Shop.
• visits to the Little Christmas Shop and Reykjavik's Christmas stalls at the ice skating rink.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00 and 16:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Child (under 7): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make it a comfortable spot to wait.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Your Friend In Reykjavik

Is this one for you?Book this if you're in Reykjavik during December and want to taste the actual Christmas food locals eat without spending the day researching restaurants and timing your own stops. The guide handles the route and the food is already waiting at each place.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years); Child (under 7): free.

What time does the Reykjavik Christmas food tour start?

The tour meets at 10am outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1, facing Ingólfstorg square and the two tall stone seat-pillars. The covered area in front of the shop provides shelter while you wait.

Can I swap the mulled wine for something else?

Yes. The tour can substitute hot cocoa for Jólaglögg mulled wine if you prefer.

What Christmas foods are included on the tour?

You'll taste smoked lamb, laufabrauð (leaf bread), glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring at different stops throughout the tour.

How long is the Christmas food tour?

The tour runs for 3 hours total, moving through several stops in Reykjavik.

What drinks are included?

You'll sample Jólaöl (Icelandic Christmas ale), malt & appelsín (a non-alcoholic Christmas beverage), and Jólaglögg mulled wine, or hot cocoa as an alternative.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible and public transportation options are available nearby.

What should I wear for the December tour?

Dress warmly for Reykjavik's December weather. The tour includes walking through the city streets and visiting an outdoor ice skating rink and Christmas stalls.