Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

The best part of this private Reykjavík food tour is the mix of Christmas traditions and unusual Icelandic flavors. You stroll through decorated downtown streets, stop at several food spots, try hangikjöt, skyr, seasonal fish, and fermented shark, then finish with coffee and stories about Icelandic Christmas trolls.

I like the personal format, since only your group takes part, and I like the way food comes with context instead of arriving as a string of anonymous samples. Guide Ester has been praised for combining her Icelandic background with experience as a traveler herself. The main drawback is the price: at $241 per person, this is a costly three-hour outing, especially if you are not keen on adventurous foods.

• Three hours of tasting and walking: The route links several central Reykjavík stops with a gentle downtown stroll.
• A true Christmas focus: Seasonal fish dishes, a decorated city center, a small Christmas market, coffee, and Icelandic folklore shape the experience.
• Fermented shark included: You may try hákarl more than once, so this is not a cautious food tour.
• Private group format: Your party participates alone, giving the guide room to adjust the pace and conversation.
• Hotel pickup may be available: Pickup is offered from accommodations within the company’s specified radius.
• Finish at Hallgrímskirkja: The tour ends at Reykjavík’s famous church, a useful location for continuing your afternoon.

Why this food walk feels different in December

Many Reykjavík food tours focus on the city’s everyday eating scene. This one is tied to Christmas, which gives the walk a clear seasonal purpose. You see downtown decorations, sample foods served around the holiday period, visit a Christmas market, and hear about Icelandic Christmas trolls and other myths over coffee.

That matters because Icelandic Christmas is not simply a matter of lights and gift shopping. Food and folklore are part of the character of the season. The tour gives you a compact introduction to both, with the guide connecting what you taste to local customs.

I like the balance between familiar and challenging food. Hangikjöt, a traditional smoked lamb, gives you a recognizable Icelandic specialty. Skyr is mild and creamy compared with some of the stronger samples. Fermented shark is the test of nerve, and the tour does not hide from it.

You should know what kind of experience you are booking. This is not a pastry crawl or a polished restaurant meal. It is a walking tour with tastings at several locations, and some foods are chosen because they are culturally important, not because every palate will love them.

Meeting by the two tall pillars at Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1, facing Ingólfstorg Square. Look for the two stone pillars, each more than three meters high. CenterHotel Plaza is to the right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a reasonably comfortable place to wait.

The guides usually wear a light blue jacket with the company logo on the back. That is a useful detail in a busy central square. I would use Google Maps, as the meeting instructions recommend, especially if you are arriving on foot from a hotel or bus stop.

Hotel pickup is offered from accommodations within a specified radius. Since the exact radius is not given, check your pickup details rather than assuming every Reykjavík address is covered. If your accommodation is outside the downtown pickup area, plan to meet at Ingólfstorg.

The tour ends at Hallgrímskirkja, at Hallgrímstorg 1. That makes the route practical for a first or second day in the city. You do not return to the starting point, so keep the finish in mind when planning dinner or another booking.

A decorated stroll through central Reykjavík

After introductions, you walk through downtown for about 20 minutes before the first tasting. This early section is short, but it gives the guide time to explain the city and point out seasonal details as you head from one stop to another.

The walk also helps set the pace. This is not a bus tour that drops you at a restaurant door. You move between locations on foot, so warm clothing and sensible shoes matter in December. The experience lasts about three hours, but part of that time is spent outside.

I like that the walking is broken up by food stops. You get some city orientation without spending the whole tour on your feet, and each stop gives the guide a natural place to talk about Icelandic eating habits and holiday customs.

Hangikjöt at Le KocK

The first tasting takes place at Le KocK, where you try hangikjöt along with other local treats. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, making it more than a quick bite at a counter.

Hangikjöt is one of the most useful foods to encounter on an Icelandic Christmas tour. It is traditional smoked lamb, and its presence connects the meal to Icelandic holiday tables. If you want a distinctly local introduction that does not begin with the most extreme flavor, this is the right kind of first stop.

The available information does not specify every additional item served here, so expect the guide to introduce local samples rather than a fixed restaurant meal. The food tasting is included in the tour price, which means you are not constantly reaching for your wallet as the walk continues.

A broad tasting at Taste of Iceland

The next stop, Taste of Iceland, is built around several local specialties. You can expect skyr, fermented shark, and other Icelandic foods selected for quality and tradition.

Skyr is a useful counterpoint to the stronger flavors. It is one of Iceland’s best-known dairy foods, and its gentle taste gives you a breather before or after more demanding samples. Fermented shark, by contrast, is famous for its strong smell and flavor. You may find it fascinating, unpleasant, or simply memorable. The point is cultural curiosity, not universal appeal.

This stop lasts about 25 minutes. That is enough time for explanation and tasting, but not so long that one difficult sample takes over the entire tour. If you are nervous about hákarl, remember that tasting does not require loving it. A small bite and a good story can be enough.

Seasonal fish and a second chance at hákarl

At Dass Reykjavík, the focus shifts to traditional fish dishes served around Christmas. The stop lasts about 45 minutes, the longest food stop on the route, so you have more time to sit with the dishes and hear about their place in the season.

You also get another chance to try fermented shark here. That repetition may appeal to adventurous eaters who want to compare the experience after trying it in a different setting. If you already know hákarl is not for you, you can treat this as a chance to focus on the other fish dishes and listen to the explanation.

The Christmas connection is important. Fish is not merely a generic Icelandic theme here. The dishes are tied to the time of year, giving the food a stronger sense of place than a standard sample platter might provide.

The exact fish dishes are not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular recipe. Instead, think of the stop as a guided introduction to seasonal Icelandic fish traditions.

Coffee, a Christmas market, and Icelandic trolls

After the food tastings, you visit a small Christmas market and sit down for coffee. This final section lasts about 40 minutes and shifts the mood from sampling to conversation.

The guide tells stories about Icelandic Christmas trolls and other myths. That is one of the tour’s most appealing details for anyone interested in folklore. You are not just looking at decorations or buying market goods. You are hearing the stories that give the season its local flavor.

I especially like this ending because it gives the tour a pause. Strong foods can make a tasting feel rushed if one sample follows another without a break. Coffee and storytelling let you settle in, ask questions, and think about what you have eaten.

The experience then ends at Hallgrímskirkja. The church is not described as a formal stop with an included visit, so do not assume an interior tour. It is the endpoint, and its central location makes it easy to continue exploring Reykjavík.

What the private format changes

Only your group takes part in this activity. That can make a real difference on a food tour, where people often have different comfort levels with unfamiliar dishes.

You can ask why a food matters, how it is served at Christmas, or what to try next during your Iceland visit. A private group also gives the guide more room to adapt the conversation. The available details do not promise custom substitutions or a personalized menu, so ask ahead if you have dietary needs.

The guide is a major part of the experience. Ester has been specifically praised for her warmth, personal Icelandic knowledge, and experience as a traveler. Another description highlights a guide who met the group at its hotel and filled the walk with history, folklore, and holiday traditions.

Those details suggest the tour works best when you enjoy conversation rather than simply collecting food samples. You are paying for a guide-led introduction to Reykjavík as much as for the tastings themselves.

Is $241 per person a fair price?

At $241 per person, this is not a budget way to eat in Reykjavík. The price includes the food tastings at several locations and the private guide, but not tips. Tips are not required in Iceland.

The value depends on what you want from a food tour. If you would happily spend an afternoon arranging several tastings, learning the Christmas background yourself, and navigating the city in winter, you may find the price hard to justify. If you want a private introduction with food, folklore, and a clear route handled for you, the cost becomes easier to understand.

The tour runs for about three hours. That is a useful length for a first day in Reykjavík, particularly if you want an introduction without giving up an entire afternoon. Still, the price per hour is high, so I would choose this over a cheaper group tour only if privacy and seasonal storytelling matter to you.

It is also booked an average of 152 days ahead. That suggests you should not wait until the last minute if your December dates are fixed. Book early, then remember that free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want:

• A private outing for your own group
• A Christmas-themed way to see central Reykjavík
• Traditional foods rather than only familiar restaurant dishes
• A guide who can explain local customs and folklore
• A comfortable mix of walking, seated tastings, and coffee
• A deliberate chance to try fermented shark

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the private format, though the food itself varies in appeal. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation, but the activity still involves outdoor walking and several food stops.

I would hesitate if you dislike strong fish flavors, want a large meal, or are looking for a low-cost city orientation. The tour is also less suitable if you need a fully specified menu in advance, since the exact selection of additional treats and fish dishes is not provided.

Practical details before you book

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation is received at booking, and mobile tickets are accepted.

Wear warm clothing and shoes suitable for walking in Reykjavík in December. The route includes a 20-minute downtown walk plus movement between food locations, and the weather can make even short distances feel long.

Plan to arrive at the meeting point with time to spare. Ingólfstorg is central, but the instructions use specific landmarks: Hlöllabátar, the two tall stone pillars, CenterHotel Plaza, and the covered seating area. Google Maps is the safest choice.

Tell the provider about food restrictions before booking. The supplied details do not list allergy handling, vegetarian alternatives, or substitutions. Do not assume that a private tour automatically means a customized menu.

The two published ratings are both five out of five, but the sample is small. I would put more weight on the specific praise: Ester’s personal approach, generous amounts of food, and the combination of history, folklore, and holiday customs. Those are the clearest clues to what the experience does well.

Should you book the Reykjavík Christmas Food Tour?

Book it if you want a private, seasonal introduction to Icelandic food and folklore, and if $241 feels reasonable for three hours of guided tastings. The strongest reasons are the Christmas setting, the varied stops, the final coffee and troll stories, and the chance to learn from a local guide such as Ester.

Skip it if you mainly want a cheap meal, a fixed list of famous dishes, or a tour without fermented shark. This is a curious, story-led food walk rather than a simple restaurant crawl. For the right eater, it offers a memorable first taste of Reykjavík in December.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins outside Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorgi 1 in Reykjavík, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Hallgrímskirkja, at Hallgrímstorg 1 in Reykjavík.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered from hotels and accommodations within the provider’s specified radius. If you are outside that area, you should meet the guide at the Ingólfstorg meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

What food is included?

Included tastings feature hangikjöt, skyr, fermented shark, other Icelandic treats, and traditional fish dishes served around Christmas.

Is fermented shark part of the tour?

Yes. Fermented shark is included at the Taste of Iceland stop and is also offered at Dass Reykjavík.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.