Reykjavik tastes way better on foot. This 3-hour weekend food walk blends Icelandic food culture with stories as you sample classic dishes, then adds a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market. If you want an easy first taste of the city (before you go full tourist), this hits the spot.

I especially like how the tour keeps things small (max 12 people), so your guide can actually answer questions without rushing. I also like that all tastings and beverages are included, so you do not spend your day calculating snacks and prices.

One thing to plan around: the Kolaportið stop only makes sense when the flea market is open (Saturday and Sunday, 11:00–17:00). If your timing clashes with that window or with busy city days, your day can feel more chaotic than it needs to.

Key things to know before you go

• Small group attention (max 12): better pace, more Q&A, and less queue-weighing-your-feet.
• All tastings and drinks included: you can travel light and still leave full.
• Old harbor seafood start: an early intro to Icelandic seafood culture with shellfish soup.
• Kolaportið flea market weekend timing: only open Sat and Sun, 11:00–17:00.
• Bæjarins Beztu pylsur stop: the original lamb hot dog stand from 1937.
• Big ending bowl at Icelandic Street Food: you finish with a warm local meat soup plus an included Icelandic drink.

Value and vibe: why 3 hours is the right length

This is a food tour built for people who want real orientation without turning the day into a long crawl. Three hours in downtown Reykjavik is short enough that jet lag has a harder time winning, but long enough that you are not just nibbling. You end up with a clear sense of what Iceland eats, what Iceland values, and where key areas sit on the map.

The price is $151.38 per person, and the value comes from what you get included: food tastings, beverages, and alcohol (at the end), plus taxes and fees. This is not a cheap “sit and sample a bite” setup. It is more like a guided mini-meal route, with stops that each explain something about Icelandic life—fishing, trade, local markets, and everyday comfort food.

You also get a small group experience. A max of 12 people can sound like a marketing number, but it matters. It usually means fewer interruptions, a steadier walking rhythm, and more time for your guide to turn food into context instead of just calling out menus.

If you are the kind of traveler who likes to start with practical local eats, this tour fits you well. If you need a super quiet, low-walking day, you might still enjoy it—just know there are restaurant stairs and some short uphill stretches along the way.

Start at Ingólfstorgi: quick meeting point, quick momentum

Your meeting point is near Ingólfstorgi 1 by Hlöllabátar. You should arrive about 5 minutes early so the group can start together. The good news: you are in central Reykjavik, close to where you will likely be walking anyway, and it is near public transportation.

The tour runs in all weather conditions, so dress like Iceland is in charge (it usually is). A light waterproof jacket and grippy shoes help. Even if the day looks calm at departure, you can still get mist, wind, or a quick rain shift while you move between stops.

Small group also changes how it feels in the first 15 minutes. With only a handful of people, the guide can check in with dietary needs and set expectations without a big scramble. In guides’ storytelling styles across past tours, you might notice they vary from calm and conversational to funny and fast-moving. Names you may run into include Óli and Ester, and they both have a reputation for making the history feel tied to the food rather than tacked on.

One practical thing: if you plan to do more sightseeing after, this start is great. You get downtown orientation while you eat. Then later you can say, I know where that harbor is, or I’ve walked past that street, and it makes the rest of your trip smoother.

Harbor shellfish soup: old Reykjavik and a warm first bite

The tour opens down by the old harbor area with an appetizer: Icelandic shellfish soup. This is a strong first stop because it gives you a flavor of the coast right away. Icelandic cuisine leans on the sea for a reason, and seafood soups are a practical way to taste that without committing to a single heavy dish.

You get about 25 minutes here, which is enough time to eat, listen, and reset. The guide ties the food to local culture and history, so you are not just tasting salt water in a bowl. You learn how the environment shapes what ends up on plates, and why certain ingredients show up again and again in Icelandic home cooking and street food.

This stop is also a good benchmark for your tastes. If you love rich, brothy soups, you will probably enjoy the rest of the route more. If seafood is a hard no for you, you should still consider the tour only if you are confident you can handle substitutions. One past guest with a fish allergy reported that substitutions worked well, but you should still tell your guide clearly at the start.

Also, soups are a win in Reykjavik because even pleasant days can turn chilly fast. A hot first bite helps you stay comfortable while the rest of the tour is more walking-and-stopping than sitting in one restaurant.

Kolaportið flea market: traditional foods in a real weekend setting

The standout “what else can we possibly eat here?” stop is Kolaportið Market, the Reykjavik Flea Market. You get roughly 30 minutes for an on-foot stroll inside the market, tasting traditional Icelandic foods along the way.

Important timing note: Kolaportið is only open Saturday and Sunday, 11:00–17:00. That means this stop is most consistent on weekends. If you are traveling midweek, your day plan should match the market schedule, or you might find the tour needs to adapt around what is open.

What makes the flea market portion work is that it is not only about buying stuff. It is about seeing how Iceland treats food as culture. You may spot items that feel strange at first glance—think dried fish and even unusual seafood preparations. One past group described seeing dried cod and a frozen sheep head, which gives you a reality check: this is food shaped by land, weather, and preservation habits.

This is also where you get a fun shopping mindset shift. After the market, you are more likely to recognize Icelandic candy, preserved bites, and snackable items when you see them later in stores.

Possible drawback: the flea market can get tight and busy, especially if a citywide event hits the same day. On at least one occasion, a guide had to work around major event traffic and timelines. If you are visiting during a packed weekend, give yourself extra breathing room and do not plan a rigid next appointment right after.

Bæjarins Beztu pylsur since 1937: the lamb hot dog moment

No Reykjavik food tour feels complete without the classic lamb hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. This specific stop matters because it is the original stand dating to 1937. You get about 15 minutes here—short, but it is built around one mission: get the iconic bite.

This is a high-demand stop, so treat it like a popular landmark food experience. In at least one review, the line was too long and the hot dog stop did not land as described, with a voucher mentioned but not delivered later. That does not mean it always happens, but it is a reality check: the most famous food is often the most crowded.

If you are easily discouraged by queues, you might still enjoy the rest of the tour, but you should know this is where your patience could be tested. If you want to minimize waiting, choose smarter timing when you can and show up ready to eat fast.

Also, do not underestimate how much this hot dog can anchor your trip. A hot dog may sound simple, but in Iceland it is part street food, part cultural marker, and part “you had to try it” moment. Eating it on a guided route turns it from a random snack into a story about local flavors, lamb culture, and Reykjavik’s street-food identity.

The local supermarket stop: snacks, candy, and practical shopping ideas

About 10 minutes are set aside at a local supermarket for Icelandic foods, snacks, and candy. This stop can feel small on paper, but it is one of the best ways to take Iceland home without overthinking it.

I love supermarket stops on tours because they answer a travel question: What do locals actually grab when they want something quick? Instead of only eating restaurant dishes, you get a look at packaged and snackable options that match what you see day-to-day.

This is also where your tastes get personal. You might look for something sweet after savory bites, or you might hunt for a crunchy snack that feels different from home. If you like bringing gifts back, this is where you can spot items that look easy to pack and share.

In some guides’ routes, guests reported tasting more unusual items than they expected, like shark. You should not plan on one specific oddity, but do know the route can push you beyond the safest choices—especially if your guide is enthusiastic about showing variety.

Small note: supermarket aisles mean quicker decisions. If you have a strict diet, it helps to speak up early so your guide can steer you toward options you can actually eat. Even when substitutions are possible, you still want enough time to compare ingredients and not feel rushed.

Iceland Street Food ending: the meat soup finish with an included drink

The tour wraps at Icelandic Street Food at Lækjargata 8. You spend around 45 minutes here, which is a generous finish for a walking tour. The star dish is a big bowl of meat soup—often described as Iceland in a bowl—which lands like a reward after hours of tasting.

This is where you likely feel the most satisfied. Soup is filling, warm, and easy to share in a casual setting. Ending with a proper sit-down style meal also helps you process what you ate earlier: seafood tastes at the start, then street-food and market flavors in the middle, then comfort-food meat at the end.

You also get an included Icelandic drink at the close, and alcoholic beverages are included. If you plan to keep it light, you can treat it as part of the experience rather than a separate party plan.

This ending stop is also your final culture check. The guide can explain what makes the soup feel traditional, where it fits in Icelandic comfort food, and why simple ingredients often win in a place where the weather makes warm meals matter.

One consideration from past participants: some portions of the route involve steps inside restaurants and there can be some uphill walking. The walking is not usually described as strenuous, but if you have mobility concerns, go in with eyes open and wear shoes that feel stable on indoor stairs and wet sidewalks.

Who this tour suits best (and who should think twice)

This tour is a good fit if you:

• want an easy first-day activity that helps you learn the city while you eat
• like a mix of history + food, not just tasting
• enjoy seafood and lamb, or at least enjoy the idea of tasting Icelandic staples
• prefer small-group pacing (max 12) and real back-and-forth with your guide

It is also a strong pick if you are the type who gets stuck in a jet lag nap trap and still wants to do something meaningful. People have used this as a smart way to knock out the first-day energy shift.

Think twice if:

• you are very sensitive to lines at famous stalls like the pylsur stand
• you are on a very strict allergy plan and cannot eat much variation (even with substitutions, you still need to communicate)
• you are traveling on a day when major city events create crowding and delays—this can affect timing, and the flea market stop depends on its weekend hours

If you are traveling with kids, the tour says children must be accompanied by an adult. If your kids are adventurous eaters, this can be a fun way to turn Icelandic food into a story. If they are picky, be sure you can handle seafood flavors or ask about suitable alternatives.

Should you book this Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour?

Yes, I’d book it if you want a guided food-and-culture introduction that keeps moving through central Reykjavik and ends with a satisfying meal. The value is strongest because tastings and beverages are included, the group stays small, and the stops hit a mix of harbor food, flea market culture, and iconic street food.

I would hesitate only if your main goal is a guaranteed hot dog without any queue risk, or if your visit timing puts you outside Kolaportið’s Saturday/Sunday hours. Also, if you have mobility limits, wear careful shoes and plan for some stairs inside stops.

If your trip plan has room for a few surprises, this tour gives you a practical taste map of Reykjavik. You walk away full, slightly wiser, and with a better sense of where to go next.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Weekend Food Tour?

It lasts about 3 hours.

What is the price and what’s included in the tastings?

The price is $151.38 per person. Food tastings, beverages, and alcoholic beverages at the end are included, along with all taxes, fees, and handling charges.

Where do I meet the tour?

The tour starts at Ingólfstorgi 1 (near Hlöllabátar / Hlöllabátar Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík). You should be there about 5 minutes before the start time.

How big is the group and is it offered in English?

The tour is offered in English and has a maximum of 12 people per booking.

Does the tour stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market?

Yes, it includes a stop at Kolaportið Market (the Reykjavik Flea Market). Keep in mind Kolaportið is only open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.

Is the tour cancelled for bad weather?

No. It operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.