Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: Hangikjöt & Fermented Shark

Reykjavik's Christmas Markets Smell Like Smoked Lamb and Woodsmoke

You meet your guide at Ingólfur Square and walk through lit-up downtown Reykjavik, stopping at four different spots to taste hangikjöt, fermented shark, traditional fish dishes, and skyr. The tour includes conversations about the cultural weight of each dish and ends with coffee and stories at the Christmas market. It takes a few hours and moves at a walking pace through the city center.

Step-by-step itinerary

Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

• Meet guide at Ingolfur Square
• Stroll through decorated downtown
• Try traditional Hangikjöt and treats
• Taste fermented shark and skyr
• Sample traditional Icelandic fish dishes
• Visit Christmas market and have coffee

The experience

The stone pillars at Ingólfur Square rise over three meters high, and that's where your guide meets you. They wear a light blue jacket with the company logo. You'll spot them. From there, the decorated downtown streets pull you in, and the first stop comes fast: a local favourite where hangikjöt, the smoked lamb that defines Icelandic Christmas, sits waiting. It's salty, dense, nothing like what you'd expect if you've only had ham before. Your guide talks through why this dish matters. It's not just food, it's how Icelanders mark the season.

Then you move to Taste of Iceland, and this is where the tour gets real. Fermented shark comes out. It smells like ammonia and the sea had a fight, and the first bite is a jolt: funky, intense, nothing polite about it. But then there's skyr, the creamy yogurt that's been part of the diet for centuries, and other local treats that make more immediate sense. The market fills with people doing exactly what you're doing: tasting, laughing a little nervously, asking the guide questions. You're not separate from the holiday rush. You're in it.

After that comes the fish course, traditional Icelandic dishes served around Christmas time, the kind of thing locals eat at home in December. The guide keeps talking, weaving in stories about why each dish landed on the table, what it meant when food was scarce and preservation mattered. Then you sit down at the Christmas market with coffee, and the guide tells you about Icelandic Christmas trolls and the myths that still shape how people think about the season. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you after you leave.

What’s included

• Food tastings at four different locations including hangikjöt, fermented shark, skyr, traditional Icelandic fish dishes, and coffee.
• a fun-loving and expert local guide who shares stories about Icelandic Christmas traditions and mythology.
• a walk through decorated downtown Reykjavik streets.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 19:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (5 to 12 years) · Child (2 to 4 years): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 37 pickup points.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 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Your Friend In Reykjavik

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste what Icelanders actually eat at Christmas without spending the day figuring out which restaurants to visit or what to order. The guide handles the route, the tastings, and the stories that make each dish make sense.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 12 years); Child (2 to 4 years): free.

Where exactly do I meet the guide?

At Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, by the two stone pillars that are over 3 meters high. Your guide wears a light blue jacket with the company logo.

What Icelandic Christmas dishes do I taste?

Hangikjöt (smoked lamb), fermented shark, gravlax, skyr, and traditional Icelandic fish dishes served around the holiday season.

How many food stops are there?

Four main stops: a local favourite for hangikjöt, Taste of Iceland for fermented shark and skyr, a fish course stop, and the Christmas market for coffee and stories.

What should I wear?

Bundle up. You'll be walking through downtown Reykjavik in December, so warm layers, a good coat, and waterproof shoes are essential.

Can I use public transport to get there?

Yes, public transportation options are available near Ingólfur Square, where the tour starts.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace is a walking tour through the city center, not a hike.

What if I don't like fermented shark?

You'll taste it as part of the experience, but the tour includes multiple other dishes. Your guide can discuss the cultural context even if the flavour isn't for you.