Reykjavik Food Tour & City Walk: Private Local Guide

Walk Reykjavik's old streets with someone who knows where the real food is

You walk the old city with a local guide who stops at Hallgrímskirkja, Parliament, and City Hall, then eats traditional Icelandic food at a family restaurant, tries pastries at the oldest café, and finishes with ice cream at the harbour. All meals and drinks are included, and the route is set so you don't have to plan the stops yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Reykjavik city walk and food tasting

• Visit Hallgrímskirkja church
• See government house and National Parliament
• Stop at Reykjavík City Hall
• Visit traditional family-run restaurant
• Taste salmon, herring, haddock, lamb
• Stop at oldest café for pastries and hot drink
• Visit ice cream shop
• Pass famous hot dog stand "Bæjarins Bestu"
• End tour at old harbour

The experience

The smell hits you first: woodsmoke and salt air mixing with fresh bread from the oldest café in town. That's when you realize this isn't a bus tour with a microphone. A local guide meets you and starts walking, pointing out the Parliament building and Hallgrímskirkja church not as photo stops but as places where things actually happen. The city unfolds in the order it makes sense, not the order a map suggests.

You'll stop at a family-run restaurant that's been serving the same dishes for decades: salmon, herring, haddock, and the lamb Icelanders talk about with real pride. The guide explains what changed in Icelandic food culture over the last hundred years while you eat, which makes the meal land differently than if you were just ordering. After that comes the oldest café, where you try traditional pastries and something hot to drink, then an ice cream shop that's somehow still standing in a city that gets cold. On the walk between stops you'll pass Bæjarins Bestu, the hot dog stand that's been there over 60 years. The guide knows the story, and you'll understand why locals queue for it.

The tour ends at the old harbour, which means you're not rushed back to a bus or a hotel. Everything (lunch, coffee, pastries, ice cream) is already paid for, so there's no menu anxiety or deciding what's worth the price. The pace is walking speed, which is slow enough to actually see the city and fast enough that you're not standing around.

What’s included

• Private local guide.
• walking route through old Reykjavik visiting Hallgrímskirkja, Parliament, City Hall, and government house.
• traditional Icelandic lunch at a family restaurant.
• coffee or tea with pastries at the oldest café in town.
• ice cream at a local shop.
• pass by the 60-year-old Bæjarins Bestu hot dog stand.
• all food and beverages included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “We will meet at bus stop number 8, next to Hallgrímskirkja church.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Travelling Iceland

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat real Icelandic food without planning where to go or what to order. The guide handles the route and everything is paid upfront, which leaves you free to actually taste the city instead of managing logistics.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What food is included in the tour?

Lunch at a traditional restaurant (salmon, herring, haddock, or lamb), pastries and a hot drink at the oldest café, and ice cream. All food and beverages are included in the price.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

Can I bring a stroller or infant seat?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

What landmarks does the tour visit?

The tour covers Hallgrímskirkja church, the government house, the National Parliament (Alþingi), and Reykjavík City Hall, ending at the old harbour.

Is this a group tour or private?

This is a private tour with a local guide, so it's just you and your group with one guide.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and involves walking around the old city at a normal pace with food stops built in.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.