Christmas arrives early in Reykjavík.

This 3-hour shared food tour gives you a close-up look at Icelandic holiday flavors and traditions you usually miss when you only eat at restaurants. I like that it’s a small-group walk (max 12) with an English-speaking local guide, so you can ask questions without shouting in the cold. I also like that you get all-inclusive bites and drink that add up to a proper meal, not just a few cute samples. One thing to consider: at $149 per person, it’s a premium splurge, so if you’re not into guided tastings or Christmas-themed stops, the price may feel steep.

You’ll start near Ingólfstorg square, guided through classic holiday places and shops, and end back at the same meeting point after a relaxing stretch of festive sightseeing. I especially like the hands-on Christmas touches, like a chance to write a letter to Santa Claus and picking up small gifts at holiday stops. A possible drawback is winter pacing: you’ll be walking and stopping outdoors, so wear warm layers and plan for brisk weather.

Key things to know before you go

• Max 12 travelers keeps the tour feeling personal and easier to manage on a city walk.
• All-inclusive tastings (food and drink) mean you won’t be searching for dinner afterward.
• Local gifts are part of the experience at holiday shops along Laugavegur and at Litla Jolabudin.
• Santa-letter moment lets you write to Santa Claus during the tour.
• Guides with a clear Iceland vibe can include Páll or Helgi, and you’ll often spot them in a light-blue Your Friend in Reykjavik jacket.

A 3-Hour Christmas Food Walk That Actually Feels Like a Meal

This tour is built for two things: getting you fed and getting you oriented to Reykjavík’s December vibe. It’s listed as about three hours, and that timing matters. In a city where daylight can be short and weather can shift fast, a tight, guided route is a practical way to taste lots of Icelandic holiday foods without losing half your day to decisions.

At $149 per person, you’re paying for convenience and curation more than for a single restaurant. The value comes from the number of stops and the fact that tastings are included. You’ll sample multiple places over the walk—sandwich shop bites, restaurant tastings, and holiday shop treats—so you’re not stuck ordering one dish and hoping for the best.

The group size also changes how the tour feels. With a maximum of 12 travelers, you can usually hear the guide, ask questions, and keep moving at a comfortable pace. If you’ve ever done “food tours” where you’re packed shoulder-to-shoulder, this one has a calmer tempo.

Family-friendly is part of the pitch too, which tells you this is meant to be fun and not overly formal. The guide shares stories and holiday context while you eat—so even if you’re not a huge history buff, you’ll get something out of it beyond the flavor.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar: The Stone Pillars Trick

You’ll meet outside Hlöllabátar, at Austurstræti 1 near Ingólfstorg square. The exact meetup details are unusually specific, which is good news when you’re arriving in a busy winter center: gather facing Ingólfstorg and the two tall stone seat-pillars. Each pillar is over two meters high, and Center Hotel Plaza is to your right.

Why this matters: in Reykjavík, landmarks can feel spread out, and tour groups can form quickly. Knowing to look for the tall stone pillars makes you less likely to join the wrong group or stand around in the cold. There are also benches, tables, and a covered area near the sandwich shop spot, so waiting is less miserable if you arrive early.

Your guide is typically easy to spot. They often wear a light-blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik printed on the back. That’s a small detail, but when you’re juggling hats, gloves, and winter breath in the air, little cues save time.

How the Tastings Add Up (Without Waiting in Lines)

This isn’t one long sit-down dinner. It’s a sequence of short visits—about 3 to 40 minutes at each place—so you sample a range of holiday foods without the stress of long waits. The tour includes Christmas food and drink, and it’s designed so you won’t leave hungry. That’s important. Many walking food tours give you tiny tastes that barely scratch the surface. Here, the intent is a generous meal made out of multiple bites.

You can also plan for a “try-first” style of eating. The guide is there to explain what you’re tasting and where it fits in Icelandic seasonal traditions, and you’ll be encouraged to sample rather than just nibble cautiously. If you like to discover flavors by doing, this approach works well.

One practical thing: because everything is included, you avoid the awkward moment of trying to calculate what’s still coming. You can just enjoy each stop. And since it’s in English, you won’t be stuck guessing what the food is or why it’s part of the holiday table.

Stop-by-Stop: What You’ll Do Between Sandwiches and Christmas Stalls

The route focuses on a classic Reykjavík holiday corridor: you’ll start at a sandwich shop, walk through central streets, and end back at the Ingólfstorg area where December stalls and ice skating set the scene. Here’s what to expect at each stop and what each one is best for.

Hlöllabátar: Start With a Local-Feeling Sandwich Shop Base

You begin outside Hlöllabátar at the Austurstræti spot near the stone-pillars landmark. This first stop is mainly about getting settled: meeting the guide, grouping up, and kicking off with the tour’s pace. The best part is how comfortable the meetup area can be, with sheltered seating nearby.

A practical drawback: since you’re starting by gathering outside, be ready for chilly minutes before you’re on the move. If you tend to feel cold easily, dress in layers you can peel off as you walk.

Laugavegur and the Little Christmas Shop: A Gift and a Santa Letter

On Laugavegur, you’ll visit a Little Christmas Shop. This is where the tour adds a playful holiday twist. You receive a small local gift here, and you also get a chance to write a letter to Santa Claus himself.

This matters more than it sounds. The letter-writing moment gives you a break from food-focused thinking and puts you into the seasonal rhythm of the city. It’s also a nice way to create a souvenir that isn’t just edible or disposable.

If you’re traveling with kids, this stop is likely to be a highlight. If you’re traveling solo, it still works because it’s interactive and not just a photo moment.

Le KocK: Christmas Food Sampling at a Real Restaurant Stop

Next you sample various Christmas food at Le KocK. This is the “food-forward” stop where you can expect flavors to feel more like a holiday meal than a quick snack. A restaurant setting also helps the guide explain how certain items fit into Icelandic seasonal tastes.

The tradeoff is time. You’ll spend about 35 minutes here, which is enough for sampling, but not enough to linger. If you’re the type who wants to slow down and eat slowly, treat this as a taste tasting moment, not a full dining experience.

Taste Of Iceland: Treat Sampling With a Holiday Theme

You’ll then make a shorter stop at Taste Of Iceland for more Christmas treats, with about 20 minutes scheduled. This is ideal if you want variety—small items you can try without overcommitting.

One thing I like about these shorter food stops: they keep energy up. You get more chances to try different flavors without the tour feeling stuck in one place.

Litla Jolabudin: Reykjavik’s Christmas Store Energy

At Litla Jolabudin, you get a visit to Reykjavík’s Christmas store and you’ll even receive a small gift. This stop is shorter (about 15 minutes), so it’s less about browsing and more about experiencing that holiday retail atmosphere.

The best use of this time is to look closely at what’s being sold and how it connects to Icelandic Christmas culture. Even if you don’t buy much, you’ll learn what locals consider worth celebrating with.

Dass Reykjavik: Another Round of Holiday Favorites

Then comes Dass Reykjavik, where you sample various food that Icelanders enjoy during the holidays. You’ll have around 40 minutes at this stop, which signals it’s a larger tasting segment than some others.

For me, the sweet spot of this kind of tour is when you get more than one “style” of holiday food. This stop helps with that, because it’s separate from the earlier restaurant and shop sampling.

Practical note: with multiple tastings across the walk, you’ll want to keep water handy after you’re done with the included drink portion if you’re out exploring afterward.

Ingólfstorg: Ice Skating Rink, Christmas Stalls, and a Final Food Glance

You finish at Ingólfstorg, the same area that frames your meetup. Here you’ll visit the ice skating rink and Christmas stalls that show up every year during December. With about 30 minutes, you get a proper “visual wrap” of the holiday scene.

You might also have the chance to sample some Christmas snacks from the stalls, which is a great way to keep the holiday flavor going as you near the end.

The drawback is weather exposure. Even with stalls nearby, you’ll be outdoors long enough to feel it. Plan on warm outerwear and gloves you can tolerate taking on and off.

Price and Value: What $149 Buys You in December

Let’s be honest: $149 is not cheap. The question isn’t whether the price is high. It’s whether the experience justifies it for you.

Here’s what you’re paying for, based on the tour design:

• Multiple included tastings across several stops, rather than one restaurant meal
• Expert local guide who shares history and holiday traditions while you eat
• Included drink, which helps the “meal” feel
• Holiday extras like local gifts and the Santa letter writing moment
• Small group size capped at 12 travelers, which improves your experience

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to eat your way through Icelandic Christmas culture in a single afternoon, the cost starts to feel more reasonable. You’re buying time and structure—two things that matter a lot in winter.

If you’re on a strict budget or you prefer to choose your own restaurants, you might be better off using the same route on your own. But you’d lose the guide explanations, the organized tasting pacing, and the bundled gifts.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Skip It)

This works especially well if you:

• Love walking food tours but hate when they’re too small to matter
• Want a Christmas-themed introduction to Reykjavík that goes beyond typical sightseeing
• Like guided storytelling and short, snack-sized experiences
• Travel with family and want something that feels festive and not too intense

You might skip it if:

• You’re not interested in Christmas foods or seasonal shops
• You dislike walking in winter conditions
• You prefer a full sit-down dinner at your own pace rather than tasting multiple bites

Also, consider your appetite. Even with included tastings, you’ll be sampling across the city. If you’re a big eater, plan a small follow-up snack or dessert after the tour ends.

Tips to Make Your 3 Hours Easier and Tastier

You can make this tour smoother with a few simple choices:

• Dress in layers. You’ll be outdoors between stops, but indoors at food locations.
• Wear gloves you can manage. You’ll likely want to handle small gifts and any paper items for the Santa letter.
• Come hungry, but not starving. The tour is built as an included meal.
• Ask questions early. If your guide is Páll or Helgi, you’ll likely get great answers about the Yule lads and cat folklore during the holiday storytelling vibe.
• Keep an eye on the meeting-point landmark. Those two tall stone pillars are your friend.

Should You Book This Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

I’d book it if you want a guided Christmas food afternoon that keeps you moving, fed, and culturally tuned in. The mix of tastings, small gifts, and holiday landmarks like Ingólfstorg makes it more than just a snack crawl. And the small group size (max 12) is a real quality lever, especially in winter.

I’d hesitate only if $149 feels uncomfortable for you, or if you’d rather spend your time picking one big meal and exploring at your own tempo. If that’s your style, do your own food plan. If your style is guided variety and festive structure, this tour is a strong fit.

FAQ

How long is the 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour in Reykjavik?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $149.00 per person.

Is the tour all-inclusive?

Yes. The tour includes an expert guide, Christmas food and drink, and the tastings are included.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where does the tour start?

It starts outside Hlöllabátar near Ingólfstorg square, at Austurstræti 1, Reykjavík.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the meeting point at Hlöllabátar.

Do I get any gifts during the tour?

Yes. You receive small local gifts at the Little Christmas Shop and at Litla Jolabudin.

Can I write a letter to Santa Claus?

Yes. During the stop at the Little Christmas Shop on Laugavegur, you can write a letter to Santa Claus.

Is hotel pickup or drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup or drop-off is not included.