10 beers in 2.5 hours, Reykjavik style. This Reykjavik beer and booze walking tour mixes Icelandic craft beer tastings with a guided stroll through the city center, including sit-down time at multiple bars. Two big things I like are the chance to try 10 local beers in one evening and the way the guide ties drinks to Iceland’s drinking culture. One consideration: food isn’t included, so you’ll want to eat beforehand if you don’t want to get too tipsy too fast.

The best part is that it’s not just a checklist of drinks. You’ll get the story from Vikings to microbreweries, plus the odd fact that beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. Guides such as Kristjan, Arnar, Astor, and Ástþór show up in recent tour feedback for being friendly, funny, and good at getting everyone talking, even on slower nights.

Key things that make this Reykjavik beer tour worth it

• 10 Icelandic craft beer samples (or 5 schnaps/spirits) so you can taste a range, not just one brand
• A structured bar route that gets you oriented fast in downtown Reykjavik
• Skúli Craft bar as the main sit-down stop, with beer plus whiskey tasting
• Two additional bar tastings (Session Craft Bar and Ölstofa) to compare styles and atmospheres
• Small group energy, which makes it easier to ask questions and tailor what you try
• A night-cap style finish in the center (drop-offs listed at Ölstofa or Bastarður Brew Pub)

Why Icelandic beer is a smart way to see Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a compact city, and that’s great for a bar tour that includes real walking instead of hopping around by car. What makes this experience more interesting than a standard pub crawl is the Iceland angle: Iceland’s beer scene is short-lived by European standards, but it’s proudly local. You’ll hear how Icelanders used their freshwater and learned to brew, long before the current microbrew resurgence.

The tour also frames beer as part of national culture, not just a drink. The fact that beer was banned for 74 years is the kind of detail that makes the whole evening click. It helps you understand why today’s craft scene feels both modern and stubbornly traditional at the same time.

If you like the feeling of traveling with a purpose—see the city, taste what it does best, and learn while you do—it’s hard to beat a beer walking tour where the guide keeps the story going while you’re drinking.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square and getting your bearings fast

You start near the center of Reykjavik at Ingólfur Square, right by the two large stone pillars. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza on Aðalstræti 6, and it sits at the beginning of Austurstræti.

This matters more than you might think. Icelandic street names can be tricky when you’re tired, and the tour moves on a schedule. The practical advice here is simple: arrive at least 5 minutes early. If you show up late, it’s tough for a guide to hunt you down while groups are lining up and heading inside.

Also, don’t aim for the nearby statues people often photograph first. The starting point is at Ingólfur Square by the pillars, not at the statue of Ingólfur Arnarsson or the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur.

You’ll likely notice how the walking route shapes your first impressions of Reykjavik: you get a quick sense of where the main streets run, where bars cluster, and how the city’s nightlife feels in the open air before you’re seated with your first tasting.

Stop 1: Skúli Craft bar for beer and whiskey tasting

The itinerary centers on Skúli Craft bar as a longer sit-down stop. You’ll spend about 1 hour there, with beer plus whiskey tasting.

Why that’s a good design: if you start with quick sips at places that are standing-room crowded, you don’t really get to talk or pay attention to the flavors. A longer first bar stop gives you time to slow down. It’s where the guide can explain what you’re tasting—style differences, local ingredients, and how the Icelandic craft scene has evolved.

It’s also a good place to check your pace. If you’re the type who likes to drink carefully, you can use this stop to decide how fast you want the rest of the night to go. If you’re more adventurous, it’s where you can push past the beers you already know and try something unfamiliar.

One more practical detail: the tour is designed around bar tastings, not meals. So Skúli is where you should pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you skipped lunch, this is when you’ll notice it.

Stop 2 and Stop 3: Session Craft Bar and Ölstofa

After Skúli, the tour moves to two more bars: Session Craft Bar (about 45 minutes) and Ölstofa (about 45 minutes). This second half is where you compare rather than just sample.

Expect a more “compare and contrast” vibe. By now you’ve tasted Icelandic beer enough to spot differences in color, bitterness, sweetness, and body. The guide can steer you toward what’s most interesting in each place, and you’ll start to feel the city through the atmosphere of each bar—how loud it is, how friendly the staff feels, and what kind of crowd hangs around.

One good way to use this part of the night: don’t try to rank the beers in your head. Instead, pick one tasting note you want to remember—something like a darker beer’s roast character or a lighter beer’s crispness—and see how the next bar’s selection changes your taste.

And if you’re curious about spirits, remember you can choose the 10 beer option or swap to 5 schnaps and spirits instead. That switch is especially helpful if you’d rather treat this as an Icelandic drinking culture lesson than a beer-only evening.

Beer vs schnaps: choosing the tastings that fit your taste

You’ll have the option to taste either:

• 10 craft beer samples, or
• 5 schnaps and spirits samples.

This choice makes the tour flexible for different travel styles. If you’re a beer person, you get breadth—different labels, different brewing styles, and enough variety to learn what “Icelandic craft” means. If you’re not a beer person, the schnaps/spirits version can still feel local, because Iceland’s drinking culture isn’t just about beer.

What I like about this approach for your trip: it’s one ticket that adapts. You’re not stuck forcing yourself through beers you don’t enjoy. In tour feedback, guides have shown up as good at steering people toward lighter or sweeter options when someone isn’t chasing hoppy or bitter flavors.

A simple tactic for getting the most out of your tastings: tell the guide your rough comfort zone early. If you say you prefer lighter beers or you want something sweeter, you’ll spend less time “tolerating” and more time learning.

Group size and guide energy: why it feels social, not scripted

This tour is designed for small groups. That changes everything. In a big crowd, you’re just collecting glasses and moving on. In a smaller group, you get real conversation—about the beers, about the city, and about what Iceland is like day to day.

This is also where the guide matters. Names like Kristjan and Arnar stand out in recent feedback for being engaging, funny, and good at involving everyone. Some guides seem especially effective at making the walk feel like a guided city orientation, not just a hop from one door to another.

If you want the tour to help your wider Reykjavik plans, bring questions. You can ask where to eat after the tour, or where the night might go next—especially if you want something more local and less touristy.

Price and value: what $112 gets you in Iceland

The price is $112 per person for about 2.5 hours. On paper, that can sound high until you think about what alcohol costs in Iceland and how these tastings are bundled.

Here’s the value logic I’d use if I were budgeting:

• You’re getting either 10 craft beer samples or 5 schnaps/spirits.
• You’re not paying bar-by-bar cover fees or separate tasting flights across multiple venues.
• You’re also paying for a guide to translate the local beer scene into something you can actually taste and remember.

In Iceland, drinks tend not to be cheap. So the best value angle is simple: if you would otherwise buy multiple individual beers at different bars, this package often saves money while giving you a wider set of options than you’d pick on your own.

Where you might feel the price more: if you only want one or two beers, or you’re not drinking alcohol at all. This tour is built for people who want to sample and spend time seated in multiple places.

Food, timing, and staying comfortable while you taste

The tour includes your drinks, but food isn’t included. That’s not a minor detail. This is a walking tour with repeated tastings, and if you start hungry, you’ll feel it.

My practical advice:

• Eat a real meal before you meet your guide.
• If you snack easily, consider a light snack earlier, then let the tastings be part of the fun instead of a substitute for dinner.
• Wear layers. Even in good weather, Reykjavik can feel chilly, and you’ll be outside walking between bars.

Also remember the legal drinking age: the tour only allows people 20+. If that’s you, great. If not, you’ll need a different plan for the night.

Ending where the city keeps going: drop-offs in the center

The tour ends with drop-off locations listed in the center, including Ölstofa and Bastarður Brew Pub. Some activity descriptions also note returning back near the meeting point, so the most accurate way to think about it is: you finish within walking distance of central Reykjavik bars.

That’s ideal if you want to keep exploring after the tasting. You’ll already be in the right area, and you’ll know the vibe of the neighborhood instead of stumbling around in the dark with a buzz and a phone at low battery.

Who should book the Reykjavik beer and booze tour

I’d book this if you want:

• a fun, guided walking night with local stories attached to what you drink
• the chance to sample Icelandic craft beers you can’t easily find elsewhere
• a way to get oriented in downtown Reykjavik without doing a separate sightseeing tour
• a social group setting where you can ask questions and adjust what you taste

I’d skip it if:

• you’re pregnant or you’re under 20 (both are listed as not suitable)
• you hate walking between stops
• you’re hoping for a meal-focused evening (food isn’t included)

If you’re on the fence because you’re not a strong beer drinker, don’t assume you won’t have options. The tour is built with room for different preferences, and guides have been reported as good at finding lighter or sweeter choices for people who don’t want the strongest profiles.

Should you book this Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a high-value Reykjavik night that mixes craft tastings, local culture, and an easy walk through the city center. The big win is getting multiple Icelandic options in one go—plus learning why beer matters here, from historical restrictions to the modern microbrew scene.

Skip it if you want food included, you can’t (or don’t want to) drink alcohol, or you’d rather do a bar on your own time. This tour is built for drinking, learning, and moving together.

If you fall in the middle—curious, social, and happy to spend 2.5 hours tasting Icelandic drinks—this is one of the most practical ways to kick off your evening in Reykjavik.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik beer walking tour?

It lasts about 2.5 hours.

What does the price include?

The tour includes 10 craft beer samples, or 5 schnaps and spirits samples.

Do I get food on this tour?

No. Food is not included.

Where does the tour start?

You meet at Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik, at the two large stone pillars.

What should I bring for the tour?

Bring a passport or ID card.

Do I need to speak Icelandic?

No. The live tour guide is English.

What are the age limits?

You must be 20 or older. People under 20 are not allowed, and infants/children are not permitted since alcohol is served in bars.

Is the tour suitable for pregnant women?

No, it’s listed as not suitable for pregnant women.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I book a private group?

Yes, private group availability is listed.

Where do I end after the last bar?

Drop-off locations are listed as Ölstofa and Bastarður Brew Pub, and the activity description also notes returning near the meeting point.