Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Iceland is best tasted in small sips. This Reykjavik beer and booze tour mixes a fun city walk with 10 Icelandic craft beer tastings, and it comes with a guide who makes the history and culture easy to follow. You get oriented in the center fast, then you hop between distinct spots where local drinking habits make sense in real time.

I love two things the most. First, you get a serious variety built in, so you can try lots of styles instead of repeating the same pale ale flavor. Second, the guides bring the room with their stories and chat, with names like Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, and Ástþór showing up in the tour experience, not just reading a script.

One consideration: this is a drinking-focused tour, and it is not suitable for people under 20 or for pregnant women. Also, food is not included, so you will want a plan for dinner before you start layering beers on top.

Key things I’d bank on before you go

• 10 craft beer samples (or 5 schnaps and spirits if you prefer) so you can taste widely without doing math in every bar
• Small groups that actually make it easy to ask questions and hear Iceland-specific stories
• A guided walk that helps you get your bearings fast in central Reykjavik
• Skúli Craft Bar as a highlight stop, with beer and whiskey tastings in the mix
• Different bar moods across stops, so the night feels like a progression rather than one long line
• Extra conversation value from guides like Chris, Kristjan, and Ástþór, who keep people talking

First steps at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorg square, and that quick city orientation

The tour starts outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. If you like being early, there is seating and a covered area to wait comfortably. CenterHotel Plaza sits to the right, so your meeting spot is pretty easy to find even in Reykjavik’s changeable weather.

This part matters because the whole evening runs on an easy rhythm. You are not stuck guessing where you are or how far the bars are from each other. You get a quick, guided sense of the city center before the drinks start stacking up.

The walk pace: short, social, and built for Iceland layers

The tour runs 150 minutes, so it is long enough to feel like a real night out, but not so long that you lose the plot. You will be walking between stops, which is exactly the point. It keeps the experience from turning into a sit-and-collect-coupons situation.

Bring layers, because you will feel the cold while moving between indoor bars. I also like that the time is structured around tasting windows, not random wandering. If you want a guided night that still leaves room to make your own plans afterward, this format works.

Skúli Craft Bar: where the tasting starts and the stories get real

One of your main stops is Skúli Craft Bar, where you get a full hour to taste. Expect a rotation of Icelandic craft beer, and the format can include whiskey tasting alongside the beer. This is a strong anchor because it sets your taste baseline for the rest of the evening.

What I like about starting here is that you get context, not just pours. Iceland has a short but proud beer-making story, tied to freshwater resources and changing laws. Guides also explain the surprising bit: beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. Once you hear that, the modern craft scene lands differently, like it has something to prove.

A heads-up for taste preferences: if you are not a hardcore beer person, you can usually ask for lighter or sweeter options. That kind of accommodation shows up in how guides handle the group, so you are not stuck forcing down something you dislike.

Lemmy: a second bar that keeps your taste buds awake

After Skúli, you move to Lemmy for about 45 minutes. This is where the night stops being repetitive. Different bars can mean different beers, different atmospheres, and different ways the local crowd relaxes.

The practical win here is pacing. With 150 minutes total, the tour avoids the classic problem of drinking too fast and retaining nothing. Each stop gives you a new set of flavors and a chance to ask questions while the group is still fresh and social.

Ölstofa and the end-of-night vibe near Bastarður

Your next tasting stop is Ölstofa for another 45 minutes, and that is typically where the night starts to feel like a proper Reykjavik hangout. Ölstofa is also named as one of the possible drop-off locations, so you may end up here again depending on how the group finishes.

There is also a second drop-off option listed near Bastarður Brew Pub. That helps if you want to keep the night going after the organized tasting ends. You are not abruptly dropped somewhere random with no idea how to continue.

One more useful detail: in at least some runs, guides include signature Icelandic pours, such as a beer known as Black Death. It is not guaranteed for every date, but it is the kind of local-famous label you might encounter when the lineup is being assembled.

The tastings: what 10 beers or 5 spirits gives you for $128

The price is $128 per person, and the big value point is that drinks are included. You are tasting 10 unique Icelandic craft beers, or if you choose that route, 5 varieties of schnaps and spirits. That is a lot of sampling for one ticket, especially in a country where bar drinks can add up quickly.

Here is how to think about the value. In many cities, a single flight is enough to blow through a chunk of your night budget. This tour bundles multiple tastings into a guided evening with stops in multiple bars. Even if you end up only loving half the selections, you still walked away with lots of “now I know what to order” knowledge.

Also, you are not just getting a beer list. The guide connects the dots between style and Icelandic context, like why certain flavors matter, how tastes evolved, and how microbreweries became part of the modern scene. That makes the tasting more memorable than simply counting sips.

If you want to optimize your evening, decide early whether you are doing the 10 beer route or the schnaps and spirits route. Going all in on beer makes sense if you want a wide flavor map, while spirits can be a better choice if your taste leans more toward bold and warming options.

The Iceland beer background you’ll actually remember

This tour does not treat the history like a worksheet. It ties the story directly to why people drink today and why the modern beer scene has the energy it has.

You will hear about Icelandic beer making from Viking-era roots through the resurgence of microbreweries. And you will get the dramatic policy story: beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. That detail is weird enough to stick, but it also helps explain why craft brewing feels like a proud comeback.

I like that guides keep the conversation human. In small groups, it is easier for you to ask, not just listen. You might also get suggestions on where to eat after the tour, and where to party if your night is still young.

Guide quality and group vibe: the part that makes it worth booking

The guides are a major strength of this experience, and it shows up in multiple ways. People like Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, and Ástþór are described as funny, engaging, and able to pull the group into conversation. That matters because a tasting tour can turn awkward fast if the group goes quiet.

Small group size is part of the formula. On quieter nights, you can even end up with a tiny group, which makes it feel like a personal local evening rather than a conveyor belt. If you like asking questions and getting answers tailored to your interests, this setup rewards you.

Also, guides often bring snacks alongside the tastings. The tour info lists no food as included, but the presence of small Icelandic snacks shows up in how the evening runs. Either way, you should plan to eat before you go, since you are relying on a long sequence of tastings.

Who should book this beer and booze tour, and who should skip

This tour is a great fit if you want three things at once: Icelandic craft flavors, a relaxed social night, and quick orientation in central Reykjavik. It also helps if you are the kind of traveler who likes learning cultural context without turning the evening into a lecture.

It is not suitable if you are under 20, and it is not suitable for pregnant women. If you are traveling with someone who falls into either category, you will need a different plan.

If you are worried about your beer tolerance or you do not drink much, you still might be fine because guides can often help with lighter or sweeter options. Just be honest with your guide early, so they can steer your tastings.

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a structured, small-group night that pairs Reykjavik orientation with real tastings. The $128 price looks fair when you remember drinks are included and you are sampling 10 Icelandic craft beers or 5 schnaps and spirits across multiple bars.

Skip it if you hate walking in cold weather, or if you want a food-forward evening. Since food is not included, you will enjoy the tour more if you eat first and treat this as your drinks and stories segment of the night.

If you are trying to pick one “locals-style” first-night experience, this is a strong candidate. You leave knowing which styles you liked, what to order next, and you understand the Icelandic beer comeback story without falling asleep in the middle of it.

FAQ

What does the tour include?

The tour includes drinks: either 10 Icelandic craft beer samples or 5 different schnaps and spirits samples.

How long is the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

It lasts 150 minutes.

Where do we meet?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars.

Is food included?

Food is not included.

What age do you need to be?

You must be 20 or older to participate.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, the live tour guide speaks English.

Can I do beer tastings or spirits tastings?

You can choose between sampling 10 craft beers or sampling 5 schnaps and spirits.

Is there a private group option?

Yes, private group tours are available.