Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Christmas flavors hit you fast in Reykjavík. This 3-hour Your Friend in Reykjavik tour mixes Icelandic holiday tastings with a walk past Christmas lights and decorations, so you get food, stories, and winter atmosphere without doing the planning. I love that you sample real Christmas staples like smoked lamb and crisp laufabrauð, and I also love that the guide explains what each dish and drink means culturally. One thing to consider: at $173 per person, it is not the cheapest way to eat well in Iceland, so value matters if you plan to do other paid activities too.

If you get a host like Palli, you will likely feel the tour is more lively than most food walks. It is also good to know up front that this tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, so check your needs before you book.

Key Highlights to Know Before You Go

• Smoked lamb and laufabrauð: classic flavors, served as tastings so you can try more than one thing
• A guide-led Christmas lights walk: you get the why behind the season, not just pretty streets
• Real Icelandic Christmas drinks: Jólaöl, malt og appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine
• A stop at the Little Christmas Store: seasonal decor and a locally inspired gift
• History with each bite: the guide connects food to Icelandic traditions
• All-weather, warm clothes needed: you will be walking, even in winter weather

A 3-Hour Taste of Reykjavik Christmas Lights and Classics

This tour is built for one simple goal: help you taste Icelandic Christmas the way locals expect it, in a short time. Reykjavik in December can feel magical, but winter also moves fast, the streets are busy, and it is easy to waste time hunting for the right place to eat. This solves that by turning the season into an organized walking food experience.

You start with tastings, you keep going with more food and drinks, and you finish with a Christmas store stop. Along the way, the guide shares the cultural background for each item, which is where the tour goes beyond being just an enjoyable snack run.

Meeting Outside Hlöllabátar, Facing Ingólfstorg Square

You will meet outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, right across from Ingólfstorg Square. Look for the two tall stone pillars and for CenterHotel Plaza on your right. The good news is that the area has benches, tables, and a covered ceiling, so you can wait comfortably if the weather turns.

Your Friend in Reykjavik guides usually wear a light blue jacket with the company name on the back. If you spot that, you are at the right place. If you arrive early, use the time to orient yourself to the square, because this tour is about moving through the city on foot.

Practical tip: bring comfortable shoes and warm layers. You are walking, and Reykjavik winter can be very determined.

Smoked Lamb and Laufabrauð: The Christmas Starter Duo

The first tastes focus on two Icelandic Christmas standouts: smoked lamb and laufabrauð, the leaf bread.

Smoked lamb brings that strong, hearty flavor you expect from Icelandic holiday cooking. If you like foods that taste like they have a story, this is your first hit. It is the kind of flavor that warms you up from the inside, especially when the air outside is cold.

Then comes laufabrauð. This is not just bread that looks festive. It is fried leaf bread with an intricate, patterned shape, crispy to the bite. It is the sort of food that seems delicate because of the design, but it delivers crunch and richness. Watching how it is described and then tasting it is one of those small moments that makes the whole tour feel more authentic than a standard restaurant meal.

What I like about starting here: it sets the tone. You immediately get the mix of smoky, savory food and the crisp, buttery Christmas treat that Iceland does so well.

Hamborgarhrygg, Reindeer Paté, and the Milder-Savory Side

After the opening duo, you move into more Christmas foods that cover different textures and flavor styles.

You can expect a special glazed Hamborgarhrygg, which is a holiday pork dish, served in a way that highlights sweetness and richness through glazing. It is a good contrast to the smoked lamb, because the flavor direction shifts from smoky depth toward something more caramelized and festive.

Next are tastings like reindeer paté. This is a classic Icelandic ingredient for the holidays, and it is a useful one to try on a tour because it might not be something you naturally order on your own. The paté format also keeps things manageable, so you can try multiple items without feeling stuffed.

You will also taste gravlax and pickled herring. These can be polarizing foods if you are unfamiliar with them, but a guided tasting is the safe way to approach them. The guide can explain how they fit into the Christmas table and why they are so common. And even if you are not a superfan of pickled fish, you might be surprised by how you react when you taste a small portion in the right context.

Pickled Herring and Gravlax: Why Context Changes Everything

Pickled herring and gravlax are two of the most recognizable Icelandic seafood flavors, and they show up often in winter. The thing most visitors miss is that these are not random foods. They are part of a seasonal rhythm and a tradition of using curing and preservation methods that make sense in Iceland’s climate.

On this tour, you get those dishes in tasting size. That matters, because it lowers the risk. You can try the flavors, learn what you are tasting, and decide if you want to seek them out again later.

A consideration: if you strongly dislike the idea of fish served cured or pickled, plan carefully. This tour is not built as a safe, neutral food walk. It leans into Christmas menu staples, including those seafood classics.

Christmas Drinks in the Cold: Jólaöl, Malt og Appelsín, Jólaglögg

A big reason to book a Christmas food tour in Iceland is the drinks. Food is only half the party in winter. This one adds three festive options.

First up is Jólaöl, a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale. If you like beer, this is a fun taste because it is seasonal, and it often feels more like a holiday ritual than a casual pint.

Then there is malt og appelsín, a beloved non-alcoholic Christmas beverage. If you want the holiday flavor without alcohol, this is your move. It also helps keep the tour from feeling like you are only chasing alcohol-based tastings.

Finally, there is Jólaglögg mulled wine. It is warm, aromatic, and very much made for cold weather. Even if you do not normally drink mulled wine, the guided format and small tastings make it easy to enjoy rather than commit.

Practical note: you still need warm clothing. Drinks help, but you will still be outdoors during the walk.

The Christmas Lights Walk Through Reykjavik Streets

The tour includes a guided walk to see Christmas lights and decorations. You do not just look. The guide keeps things moving and shares context around the season, so the streets feel like part of the same story as the food.

This matters because Reykjavik in December can be beautiful but also confusing, especially if you do not know where to look for decorations. A short, organized route means you spend your time seeing the things you came for instead of wandering in cold streets hoping the lights are nearby.

If you are the kind of traveler who likes photos, bring your camera. If you are the kind of traveler who hates crowds, you will still get a walk, but it is structured for a small tasting tour rather than a full festival mob.

Little Christmas Store Stop and Your Locally Inspired Gift

The tour ends with a visit to the Little Christmas Store. This is the part that feels like strolling into a holiday toy shop, even if you are not shopping for big gifts.

The store offers festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal treasures. You get time to look around, and you receive a locally inspired gift. That gift is part practical, part souvenir. It is a small way to take the trip home without carrying a suitcase full of Iceland-themed clutter.

If you like buying a single meaningful item instead of lots of small purchases, this stop is a good fit. Also, it is a nice emotional landing at the end of the tastings, when you are probably already warm and ready to browse.

Who This Tour Fits Best, and Who Should Skip It

This is a great option for you if you want a compact introduction to Icelandic Christmas food, plus a guided walk through festive Reykjavik. It also works well if you like learning while eating, since the guide covers cultural significance for each dish and drink.

You should think twice before booking if you are vegan or vegetarian. This tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, and it is built around traditional Christmas meat and fish items.

Dietary needs are welcome with advance notice. The operator says they are happy to accommodate specific dietary needs, so if you have allergies or a special requirement, tell them when you book. That is especially important on a food tour, where cross-contact and ingredient details matter.

One more practical note: smoking is not allowed.

Price and Value: Is $173 Worth It?

At $173 per person, you are paying for more than food. You are paying for a guided, timed, three-hour experience that combines multiple tastings and drinks plus a Christmas lights walk and a store stop with a locally inspired gift.

Here is how I think about value on this kind of tour:

• You get multiple Icelandic holiday items in one go: smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring.
• You also get drinks, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic Christmas options.
• You get guide narration that adds meaning to what you eat, not just directions.
• You get a store visit and a locally inspired gift, which offsets some souvenir costs.

So yes, it can feel pricey if you are used to stretching your budget. But if you want to taste the Christmas canon without doing research, without hunting menus, and without paying for multiple meals separately, this pricing can start to look more reasonable.

A small caution: one booking note says the price felt a bit high. That lines up with my advice. If you are on a tight schedule and you want the most efficient way to try many traditional items, it can be worth it. If you are more flexible and plan to eat cheaply and explore on your own, you might choose a la carte meals instead.

What to Wear and Bring in Reykjavik Winter

Because the tour runs in all weather conditions, you need to dress for walking outdoors in cold air. Bring:

• Comfortable shoes for uneven or icy streets
• Warm clothing, plus layers you can adjust
• A mindset that winter weather is part of the plan, not a reason to cancel

Also, the tour is live guided in English. That helps a lot if you want to ask questions about what you are tasting and why it matters.

Wheelchair accessible is listed as well, and private group options are available if you want a smaller, more tailored experience.

Should You Book This Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

I would book this tour if you want a straightforward way to try Icelandic Christmas foods and drinks, while seeing Christmas lights in Reykjavik without having to map it all out. It is especially appealing if you like your winter travel with structure, warm tastings, and a guide who keeps things entertaining, like Palli.

I would skip it if you are vegan or vegetarian, if you dislike cured or pickled seafood, or if you want to keep costs very low. With $173 per person, you should book it because you want the full package, not just because you are curious about one dish.

If you want, tell me your dates and any food allergies, and I can suggest whether this fits your style, or what to pair it with for the rest of your Reykjavik Christmas week.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square with the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

What types of food and drinks are included?

The tour includes food tastings and drinks such as smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, Jólaöl, malt og appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine.

Is the tour suitable for vegans or vegetarians?

No. The tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Can the tour accommodate dietary restrictions?

The operator says it can accommodate specific dietary needs if you let them know when booking.

What should I bring for the tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress warmly. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so plan for winter walking.