Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

A craft beer walk through Reykjavík is interesting because you are tasting Icelandic drinks while a guide translates the city for you, bar by bar. I love the range of Icelandic pours you get across multiple stops, and I love that the evening doubles as an easy way to learn how to move around the center without guessing.

One possible drawback: this is built around adult drinks, so if you want a more food-heavy night or you drink slowly, you may feel the pace. Still, most people find it fun, relaxed, and very chat-friendly.

The tour runs about 2 to 2.5 hours starting at 6:00 pm with a maximum of 12 travelers, so it stays social but not chaotic. Expect a guided walk, multiple tastings, and plenty of stories about alcohol in Iceland, including the long beer ban topic you will hear more than once.

Key things I’d plan around

• Small group size (max 12) means you can ask questions and actually talk to your guide.
• Four tasting-focused stops in the evening, with a mix of craft beer and snaps options.
• City-center orientation on foot, so you leave knowing where you are and where to go next.
• History included with each pour, including the 74-year beer ban theme.
• English-language guidance, plus guides who add humor and local bar recommendations.
• Weather-ready walking, so bring the right layers and shoes.

Why a Reykjavik beer walk is a smart way to start

Reykjavík has a busy pub scene, but figuring out where to go first can be tricky, especially if it is your first night. This tour solves that problem by turning a simple walking route into a guided tasting. You are not just buying drinks, you are getting a short education in how Iceland drinks, why bars feel the way they do, and what makes certain beers worth seeking out.

I also like that the pacing is built for conversation. You are not stuck in one place. You start near the famous downtown square area and gradually move through different spots. The guide keeps the flow going, but there is room to ask, joke, and adjust to the group mood.

What $131.87 buys you, and why it feels fair

The price is $131.87 per person, and the big value piece is that it is not just a guide with directions. Your tour includes beverages and alcoholic beverages, plus a local and professional guide. In practical terms, you are paying for:

• Guided tasting time at multiple bars
• Drinks that would otherwise cost you separately
• The context to help you order like a local later

Two things make the math work out. First, you get several tastings across the night rather than one quick sample. Second, you leave with real bar recommendations you can use afterward. Even if you are not a big beer person, many people end up enjoying the cultural angle and the variety.

The one cost you still need to plan for is transportation before and after, because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is very central, and you end near another downtown location, so most people handle it with short walks or public transport.

The 6:00 pm start, the 2 to 2.5 hour timeline, and your best pre-game plan

This tour starts at 6:00 pm. That is a great time because Reykjavík daylight and dinner schedules are still working in your favor, and you are less likely to feel like you are chasing your night too late. It also gives you a chance to fit in a full dinner afterward, if you want.

Plan to be at the start area about 5 minutes early so you do not miss the handoff into the first bar. The tour runs in all weather conditions, so show up dressed for cold wind and slick pavement. Good shoes matter more than you think, because you are walking between stops.

Also, since the minimum drinking age is 20, assume your group will be adults who are ready for a drink-focused evening. If you are driving, I would not schedule this tour as your first plan. It is not set up for a zero-alcohol night.

Start point near Ingolfur Square, then your city orientation begins fast

You meet at Hlöllabátar Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík. From there, the tour goes into a meet-and-greet and then heads to the first bar. Even if you know Reykjavík already, you will probably appreciate the early momentum. Your guide can point out where you are in the grid, how locals move around downtown, and which streets are easiest to return to later.

This is also when the group energy takes shape. With a maximum of 12 travelers, people are close enough for small talk, but not packed like a big group. In a couple of small-group evenings, it can feel more like a guided hangout than a formal tour.

Stop 1: Your Friend in Reykjavik, a meet-and-greet that sets the tone

The first stop is essentially a launch into the bar circuit. You get a quick meet-and-greet, then you move to the first bar for your opening drink.

What matters here is the setup. Your guide uses this moment to frame the night. You will likely hear how Icelandic alcohol culture is tied to history and law, and you will get an idea of how the guide wants you to participate. This helps a lot later, when tastings start turning into a conversation.

If you are the type who likes to ask questions, this is a good moment to do it. Guides on this tour often handle the “first timer” questions easily, like what to order next, how beer styles map to Icelandic preferences, and where to look for good bars when you are done walking.

Skuli Craft Bar: first craft beers and the funny side of alcohol in Iceland

At Skúli Craft Bar, the tour starts with an Icelandic craft beer selection, or you can choose a snaps option if that is your preference. The guide also sets up the theme of the night with stories about the history of alcohol in Iceland.

Why I like this stop as a warm-up: craft beer is easier to taste when you understand what you are tasting. The guide gives you the background and then you get to apply it immediately. You also learn quickly that Icelandic alcohol culture has its own rhythm, shaped by long periods where choices were limited, and by the way bars became social hubs.

This is where humor often shows up. Guides tend to tell the story in a way that keeps everyone relaxed, not lectured. If you are worried this will feel like a formal history lesson, this stop usually proves the opposite.

Session Craft Bar: the tasting flight, plus tips and stories while the group settles in

At Session Craft Bar, you sample four different Icelandic beers, or a couple of Icelandic snaps depending on what you choose. This stop is around 50 minutes, which is long enough to actually taste, compare, and chat.

I like that the group mood usually shifts here. By the time everyone has had a few sips, the stories get easier to follow and the jokes land better. Your guide uses that moment to share practical tips about Reykjavík’s craft beer and booze scene, plus funny anecdotes that make it feel like you are in on the local rhythm.

A detail that comes up in firsthand accounts: at one stop, some people get a chance to pour their own pint. You should not count on that exact moment every time, but it is the kind of interactive touch that makes the night feel less like a “taste and go” product.

If you want to do more than drink, this is also the stop where language fun can happen. One guide included a playful Icelandic phrase connected to toasting. It is the sort of thing you will remember later when you hear locals talk.

Olstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar: award-winning beer and the 74-year beer ban conversation

The final bar, Ólstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, is where the tour gets a bit more specific and memorable. Here you sample a unique award-winning Icelandic beer, and the guide discusses the history, including the ban on beer in Iceland for 74 years.

This is a big reason to do the tour: that ban topic is not abstract. It connects to why certain traditions and bar culture in Iceland feel the way they do today. When you understand the “why” behind the beer story, even people who are not huge beer nerds end up paying attention to flavors and brewing choices.

This stop also tends to be the one people bring up afterward, because you are trying something you are less likely to find on your own. If your goal is to taste like a local rather than just consume alcohol, this is the payoff.

How the guide makes the difference, from humor to ordering help

The tour is only as good as the guide, and the strong pattern here is that guides bring both information and personality. Names that have shown up in praise include Bo (Sveinbjörn), Stefán, Chris, Óli (Ólafur), Olaf, Matt, Helgi, Kris, Arnar, and Óli again in different groups.

What you should look for in a good guide on this tour:

• They keep the pace steady while still letting you ask questions
• They match tastings to your preferences when possible, even if you are not a die-hard beer drinker
• They share local bar recommendations at the right moments, not at the end when you are already tired

If you are the type who likes facts, expect them. If you are the type who likes humor, expect that too. And if your guide is more quiet, you will still be able to participate, because the group size stays small.

There is one caveat: not every guide experience is perfect. A less positive account described a guide who did not volunteer much background unless asked. If you want more explanation, I would plan to actively ask early, not later. This tour works best when you treat it like a conversation.

Group size, social vibe, and who tends to love this most

With a maximum of 12 travelers, the tour usually stays friendly and talkable. Some nights are even smaller, which can make it feel personalized. That is ideal if you are traveling solo, because you get an organized way to meet people without forcing group dynamics.

This is especially a strong fit if you:

• Enjoy craft beer or want to learn how it differs from what you know at home
• Like history told through real-life situations (bars, laws, social habits)
• Want a quick way to orient yourself in downtown Reykjavík before you go off on your own

It is also a good choice for couples. One review mentioned this as a husband-wife booking where the non-beer person still ended up enjoying it. That tends to happen when the guide makes the stories and tastings interesting, not just technical.

Practical tips so the night stays fun, not messy

A beer and booze tour can be a great time, as long as you plan smart. Here is how I would approach it:

• Eat a proper meal before you go. You will be tasting multiple drinks across several stops, and you want your stomach ready.
• Dress for weather, not for photos. Reykjavík can be windy and cold, especially in the evening. Wear layers and shoes you trust on wet pavement.
• Pace your sips. Even if drinks keep flowing, you control how fast you drink. If you slow down, you will enjoy the stories more.
• Ask for local recommendations during the walk. The guide is a resource, and you want to use them while you can still make choices afterward.
• Use the tour to learn what to order later. If you find a style you like, take note so you can return to it without guessing.

Also, keep in mind the tour is adult-only with an age minimum of 20. The whole event is built around alcohol, even though snaps can be an alternative. Plan accordingly.

End point near Vegamótastígur, then you’re free to continue

You finish at Ólstofa on Vegamótastígur (the tour lists the address near that area). That end location is still in central Reykjavík, which is ideal because you can continue your night with less stress.

The main win is what you carry with you when you leave. You now know:

• Which bars your guide thinks are worth revisiting
• What kinds of Icelandic beers and flavors you enjoyed
• How the city center connects, so your next walk is smoother

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour?

I think this is a strong booking for most people who want an easy first-night Reykjavík plan. The price feels reasonable for a two-plus hour guided walk that includes multiple tastings and a story-driven education, not just a route and a receipt. The small-group cap of 12 is a real advantage, and the repeated praise for guides like Bo, Stefán, Chris, Óli, and Arnar points to a consistent focus on humor and good pacing.

Skip it only if you are not comfortable with an alcohol-centered evening, or if you need a strictly food-first experience. Also, if you are the type who wants a lot of structured background and you are not chatty, be prepared to ask your questions early. When you do, the tour tends to reward you with exactly the kind of local color and drink context you came for.

If you want a fun, guided way to start your trip and taste Iceland in the places where people actually hang out, book this and wear shoes you can walk in.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour?

It runs about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The start time listed is 6:00 pm.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes beverages, alcoholic beverages, and a local and professional guide.

What drink options are available?

You will taste Icelandic beverages. At one stop you sample four Icelandic beers, and at other stops you can choose craft beers or Icelandic snaps.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age is 20.

What if the tour does not reach the minimum number of travelers?

If the minimum is not reached, the tour can be canceled for a full refund, or you may be offered a different date or experience.