The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour

This Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour is interesting because it pairs Reykjavík street walking with small, memorable bites that explain the city through food. I love that included samples remove the guesswork, so you can focus on the taste and the stories instead of prices and decisions. Guides such as Paul and Thor are especially good at turning each stop into a mini lesson.

I also love the small group cap of 12, which keeps it friendly and question-friendly, and I’ve seen it shrink to a private feel when there are only two of you. One drawback to plan for: it is not recommended if you are lactose intolerant, since ice cream is part of the route, and you should also be ready for an occasional savory tasting mixed into the sweet theme.

Key things to know before you go

• Meet at Ingólfstorgur by the two stone pillars, easy to find in central Reykjavík near Center Hotels Plaza
• You walk through downtown with an easy pace on streets like Laugavegur, with narration along the way
• BakaBaka is all about traditional Icelandic pastries, the kind you see locals return for
• Taste of Iceland leans Iceland bold, with items like fermented shark and skyr on the tasting list
• Ísbúðin litla Valdís is the ice cream payoff, and yes, Icelanders eat ice cream in bad weather
• Dass Reykjavik ends with skyr cake, a local specialty to close the loop

Why this Sweet Tooth Tour feels like a shortcut to real Reykjavík

If you want Reykjavík’s dessert culture without spending your whole afternoon bouncing between menus, this tour is a smart fix. You get a guided loop of classic shops, and the walking is short enough to stay fun even when it’s chilly outside.

I like that the experience is built around included bites. It’s not a “try one thing” situation. You’re eating your way through the city in a way that feels practical, not touristy. And because you’re on foot with a guide, you pick up how locals think about food, tradition, and even identity.

Another reason this works is the human touch. When guides like Oli, Ester E, or Gudjon are on the group, the vibe is relaxed and conversational. You’re not stuck listening to a script. You can ask questions, and the stories connect food to place.

The meeting spot at Ingólfur Square, and why location matters

You’ll start at Ingólfur Square (Ingólfstorgi), right by the two tall stone pillars in the center of Reykjavík. This is the kind of meeting point that makes sense, because it’s central and easy to recognize once you’re there.

The practical win: you’re close to major streets from the start, including the area around Austurstræti and near Center Hotels Plaza. That means you don’t lose time figuring out logistics before you even taste anything.

Your guide meets you by the pillars, and guides from Your Friend in Reykjavik often wear a light blue jacket with the company name on the back. If you like smooth starts, this kind of clear visual helps a lot.

Laugavegur stroll time, and how the guide turns streets into stories

After the start, you head into downtown on an easy walking route. A big part of the value here is that the tour isn’t only about sweets. The guide narrates as you move, so you get context for what you’re seeing and eating.

This portion feels like the warm-up lap. You get to settle into Reykjavík, notice the rhythm of the city, and then the tastings start stacking up. If you’re doing this early in your trip, it’s also a good way to get your bearings fast, so you know where you are when you head out later for dinner.

Group size helps here too. With up to 12 people, the guide can actually talk to you, not just talk at you. In several experiences, the group even ended up tiny, which made the walk feel more like a friendly afternoon than an organized activity.

BakaBaka pastry stop: the “flaky and traditional” highlight

One of the stops is BakaBaka, a bakery that’s known for serving authentic Icelandic pastries. This is where the tour shifts into “you can smell the history” territory, because pastries in Iceland carry strong family and regional patterns.

What you should expect is not just sugar. You’re looking at classic baking styles and flavors that taste like they belong in Iceland, not like a generic dessert shop. You’ll usually get time to slow down, taste, and ask questions if something catches your interest.

The time slot is about 20 minutes, which is long enough to enjoy the tasting without feeling rushed. If you like pastries more than candy, this is a stop you’ll likely remember, especially on a cold day when warm baked goods hit just right.

Taste of Iceland stop: skyr, fermented shark, and other bold bites

Next comes Taste of Iceland, and this is where the tour earns points for bravery. The tasting list includes items that many first-timers only know from stories, and that means you’re getting more than “safe dessert choices.”

A few things to know from the tasting lineup:

• Skyr shows up as a key local ingredient
• Fermented shark is part of the experience
• You’ll also find other Icelandic treats mixed into the tasting

If you’re the kind of person who likes tasting menus, this stop is your moment. If you’re squeamish, you can still enjoy the rest of the tour, but it helps to mentally prepare. The tour is light on drama and heavy on opportunity, meaning the guide keeps it straightforward when you’re trying something unfamiliar.

This stop is also about building understanding. Iceland’s food culture can feel extreme until you learn the logic behind it. Even if you don’t love every bite, you’ll learn why people do.

Ísbúðin litla Valdís ice cream, even when Reykjavík is cold

Then you hit Ísbúðin litla Valdís, also known through local shorthand as Valdis. This is the ice cream stop, and yes, the guide’s message is practical: Icelanders eat ice cream in any weather.

That matters, because in many places you’d question ice cream when it’s windy and gray. In Reykjavík, it’s normal. You’re not doing anything wrong by craving it. It’s part of the culture, and it’s exactly the kind of detail that makes a tour like this feel grounded.

Plan for it: this is another short tasting window, around 15 minutes, so come ready to choose. If you’re sensitive to dairy, take note. This tour is not recommended for lactose intolerance, because the ice cream stop is a core piece of the lineup.

Also, don’t schedule a big heavy meal right before this portion. Several people walked in too full and ended the tour stuffed. If you want to enjoy each tasting instead of forcing bites, you’ll want a lighter stomach.

Dass Reykjavik skyr cake ending: the local finish you’ll feel later

The tour wraps with a sweet that ties strongly to Iceland: skyr cake at Dass Reykjavik. Skyr is one of those Icelandic specialties that shows up across the country, but cake gives it a different texture and a different kind of comfort.

This last stop is about 25 minutes, which makes the ending feel unhurried. It’s also a good moment to slow down, recap what you liked, and ask any “wait, why do they do it that way?” questions that pop up after you’ve tasted.

If you’re doing this as your first afternoon in Reykjavík, ending with skyr cake makes a lot of sense. You leave with a clear flavor memory that still feels local, not just generic dessert.

Guide power: stories, history, and why the best guides make the tour

The biggest repeated theme in great tours is the guide. People often praise guides for being friendly, funny, and genuinely engaged, with narration that connects what you’re eating to how Reykjavík grew its traditions.

You’ll see this in the range of guide personalities, from Thor to Oli to Ester E to Einar. Even when the tasting lineup stays the same, the guide changes the experience. The best ones turn a short walk into a story loop, so you feel like you’re spending time with someone who actually cares.

A practical perk: one guide experience included photo moments, with photos shared afterward. If you like having a record without playing photographer all afternoon, keep an eye out for that. It’s a small touch, but it helps.

There’s also a family-friendly factor. In at least one experience, kids enjoyed the tour and even got a chance to feed swans, which is the kind of spontaneous memory that makes a food tour feel like a real day out, not only tastings.

Price and value: what $109.04 buys you in 2 hours

At $109.04 per person, this isn’t a budget snack crawl. But it can still be good value because the tastings are included and the route is structured around multiple stops in central Reykjavík.

Here’s the value logic I use:

• You’re paying for guided time, not just food.
• You’re also paying for samples across several shops, so you don’t have to hunt down what’s worth trying.
• The tour runs about 2 hours, which is efficient if you’re only in town briefly.

If you tried to recreate this on your own, you’d likely spend time figuring out where to go and what to order. You could spend similar money on pastry, candy, and ice cream plus still miss the “Iceland explanation” part. This tour gives you both, which is why people rate it highly.

One thing to consider carefully: a sweet-themed tour should feel sweet-forward, but one experience criticized the tasting mix as including something savory, like dried haddock, as part of the sweet tour lineup. That doesn’t mean the whole experience is off, but it’s a good reminder to keep your expectations flexible if you want only sugar.

Who should book this, and who should skip it

This tour is a great match if you:

• Want a short, walkable activity that doesn’t require planning
• Like trying a mix of pastries, skyr, candy, and ice cream
• Prefer a small group over a big bus-style tour
• Want local stories tied to what you’re eating

It may be a poor match if you:

• Are lactose intolerant, since ice cream is part of the route
• Strongly prefer only sweets, since one tasting may include a savory Iceland item

Kids can do well here too. Several experiences mention young kids enjoying the tour, asking questions, and liking the variety. Just make sure they pace themselves, because you will be eating a lot.

Tips to make it taste better, not just longer

Come hungry, but not empty. If you’re too full, the end of the tour can feel like a sugar-and-snack wall. If you’re totally empty, the first pastry might hit too hard and make later bites less enjoyable.

Dress for Reykjavík weather. You’ll be walking outside, and ice cream happens even in cold conditions, so layers help.

Finally, be open with the Iceland bold stuff. If fermented shark is on the table, treat it like a culture moment, not a pass/fail snack. Even a try you do not love gives you context for why Icelanders keep it in the food story.

Should you book the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

Yes, book it if you want an easy, centrally located dessert plan where the food is included and the guide makes it about Reykjavík, not just sugar.

Skip it or rethink it if dairy is an issue for you, or if you truly want zero surprises and only sweet flavors. Also, if you’re already planning to spend the whole afternoon eating at random cafés, this might be redundant. But if you want someone else to handle the stop selection and pacing, this tour is a strong choice.

One more smart move: because the experience is commonly booked well in advance, it’s worth locking in a spot early if you’re traveling during peak weeks.

FAQ

How long is the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

What time does the tour start and where do we meet?

It starts at 2:00 pm. You meet at Ingólfstorgur Square in the center of Reykjavík, by the two stone pillars.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Are tastings included in the price?

Yes. All bites and samples are included in the tour cost, and several stops specifically note admission included.

Is the tour suitable for lactose intolerant travelers?

It is not recommended for lactose intolerant travelers because the tour includes ice cream.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.