Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Iceland’s beer story has an odd twist: beer was banned for 74 years, only becoming legal again in 1989. This 150-minute tasting walk turns that strange fact into a good evening out, with three central bars, local stories, and up to 10 Icelandic beers to sample. I like the mix of city orientation and drinking culture, and I like that the small groups leave room for real conversation with guides such as Chris, Arnar, Kristjan, and Ástþór.

The price is $128 per person, which is not pocket change. Still, alcohol is costly in Iceland, and the fee covers all 10 beer samples, or five schnaps and spirits. The main drawback is that food is not included, so eat beforehand or plan a meal after the tour. This is a bar crawl with a cultural purpose, not a full dinner.

Key points to know before you book

• Iceland’s 74-year beer ban: Learn why beer disappeared from Icelandic tables and how modern microbreweries brought it back.
• Three different bar stops: Visit Skúli Craft Bar, Lemmy, and Ölstofa, each offering a different setting and selection.
• Up to 10 beer samples: You can taste a broad spread of Icelandic styles, with spirits available instead if beer is not your thing.
• Small-group conversation: Guides make room for questions about Reykjavik, drinking laws, food, nightlife, and daily life.
• A useful first or second night activity: The central route helps you get your bearings and gives you local suggestions for the rest of your stay.
• Adults only: You must be at least 20, and children cannot enter the bars under Icelandic law.

Why Iceland’s beer story makes this tour different

Beer is not just a drink in Iceland. It is a useful way to understand the country’s modern culture and unusual laws.

For 74 years, beer was banned in Iceland. Wine and stronger spirits were available under changing rules, yet ordinary beer remained illegal until 1989. The tour explains this strange chapter alongside the older Viking connection to brewing and the more recent return of small breweries.

That gives the tasting some shape. You are not simply moving from bar to bar and collecting glasses. You learn why beer matters in a country with a short but proud brewing tradition, and why Iceland’s clean freshwater is such an important part of its modern brewing identity.

I especially like this angle for a first visit. Food and drink can tell you a great deal about a place, and the stories here give you something to listen for as you taste. You may leave with a better sense of Icelandic drinking habits, not just a list of beer names.

The guides also use the evening to talk about Reykjavik itself. Past tours have been led by Chris, Arnar, Kristjan, and Ástþór, among others. The strongest part of the experience depends on the guide’s style, but the format clearly allows plenty of conversation. Chris, for example, has been praised for drawing an entire group into the discussion, while Arnar and Ástþór were noted for mixing local stories with humor.

Meeting at Ingólfstorg, the easy central starting point

The meeting place is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right. The area has benches, tables, and a covered ceiling, so you have a reasonably comfortable place to wait if the weather turns unpleasant.

Look for a guide usually wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. Bring your passport or identity card. The meeting point is central, but do not treat it as a place to arrive at the last second. Reykjavik’s streets are easy to walk, yet a wrong turn around the square can cost you a few minutes.

This opening location makes practical sense. Ingólfstorg is close to many hotels, restaurants, and bars, and the route keeps you in the city center. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the square.

The walk includes a short guided stop at Ingólfstorg, lasting about 10 minutes. That gives the evening a small city orientation before the tastings begin. You will not see all of Reykjavik in this time, but you will get a useful central reference point for later nights.

Skúli Craft Bar, the main tasting stop

The first major stop is Skúli Craft Bar, where you spend about an hour with beer and, depending on the tasting chosen, whiskey or other spirits.

This is the part of the tour that best suits curious drinkers. You can try a range of Icelandic craft beers rather than committing to one full pint at a time. That matters in Iceland, where buying several full drinks can become expensive very quickly. Small samples let you compare styles and find something you may want to order later.

The selection is described as 10 different Icelandic craft beers. The exact lineup can change, and you may even get a new beer from a microbrewery that is not yet available on the wider market. That possibility adds a bit of fun, though you should not book the tour expecting a particular label or rare release.

If beer is not your preferred drink, the alternative is five different schnaps and spirits. The information also identifies whiskey tasting at Skúli, while the broader option includes schnaps and spirits. Ask your guide which tasting route is being offered when you arrive.

This first bar is also where the guide’s personal knowledge can make the most difference. A good guide can explain why one beer tastes light, sweet, bitter, smoky, or strong without turning the evening into a lecture. Several guides have been praised for making the details easy to follow and for suggesting lighter or sweeter choices to people who do not usually drink beer.

You should still pace yourself. Ten samples in an evening can add up, even if each serving is small. Have a proper meal before the tour, drink water when you can, and tell the guide if you prefer milder choices.

Lemmy, a shorter stop with a different feel

The route continues to Lemmy for about 45 minutes and more beer.

The value of a multi-stop tour is variety. Skúli is the main tasting session, while Lemmy gives you another setting and another chance to see how Iceland’s beer scene is presented in local bars. You may try different pours, including pale ales, porters, IPAs, or other styles, though the exact beers are not fixed.

Past groups have tasted everything from local beers to porters and IPAs. People who already know what they like can use this stop to compare Icelandic versions with familiar styles. If you are new to craft beer, the guide can help you sort through the choices without making you feel you need a trained palate.

Lemmy is not presented as a sightseeing attraction in itself. That is worth understanding. This is a social stop, not a grand interior or famous landmark. The point is to sit, taste, and talk. If you want a quiet evening with a fixed menu and no bar atmosphere, this format may not suit you.

The walking portions between stops help keep the evening from becoming a long stretch of sitting. They also give the guide more chances to point out central Reykjavik and answer questions. Still, wear layers. The tour moves outdoors between venues, and Icelandic weather does not care if you are dressed for a warm bar.

Ölstofa, the final bar and a chance to keep going

The final listed stop is Ölstofa, with about 45 minutes devoted to beer. It is also one of the possible drop-off points at the end, along with Bastarður Brew Pub.

This last stop can work well because you have already learned the basic story and tried several styles. By now, you can ask more focused questions: which beer is best with food, which brewery to seek out, or what local drink is worth ordering on another night.

The three venues are distinctive rather than identical. One past group found the final stop especially atmospheric, while the first two were more ordinary. That is a fair warning. The quality of the evening does not rest on every bar being a destination in its own right. The guide, the company, the beer selection, and the flow between places matter just as much.

You can also treat the end of the tour as a useful handoff into your night. Ask the guide where to eat, which bar fits your mood, or where to continue drinking. The tour ends in the central area rather than taking you back to your hotel, so you remain close to Reykjavik’s evening action.

Food is not included. Some past groups received small Icelandic snacks or sweet treats during the tastings, but those extras should not be treated as a meal or guaranteed part of the package. Eat before you meet, then use the guide’s advice to find dinner afterward.

What you get for $128

The price needs a little thought.

At $128, this is expensive compared with a simple self-guided bar visit. Iceland itself is costly, and alcohol prices can make a few independent tastings add up quickly. Here, the price includes 10 craft beer samples, or five schnaps and spirits, plus the guide and the organized route through three bars.

The strongest value comes if you want context and variety. You get a broad introduction without guessing which Icelandic beers to order. You also get local advice that can shape the rest of your trip, especially if this is your first or second night in Reykjavik.

The value is weaker if you only want a couple of full drinks in a quiet pub. You are paying for a guided social experience, not simply for liquid in a glass. The walk, explanations, city orientation, and access to a local guide are part of the package.

Small groups help justify the cost. Some departures have had only two people and a guide, while others have brought together a larger but still manageable group. A small setting makes it easier to ask about Icelandic culture, laws, food, and nightlife. It also gives the guide a better chance to adjust the tasting for someone who prefers lighter or sweeter beers.

There is an option for a private group, which may suit a birthday, a couple, or a group of friends who want the evening to remain among themselves. The standard format is still designed for conversation, and meeting other people can become part of the fun.

Who will enjoy the beer and booze walk

I would choose this tour for several kinds of visitors.

First-time Reykjavik visitors get a quick orientation to the center and a practical introduction to local drinking customs. It works especially well early in a stay, when you still need ideas for dinner and nightlife.

Craft beer fans get the widest range of Icelandic samples. You can compare styles and perhaps try a beer that has not yet reached the wider market.

People who do not know much about beer should not feel left out. The guide can help you find lighter or sweeter options, and the tasting format lets you try without ordering a full serving.

Couples and small groups benefit from the relaxed pace and social setting. Private group bookings are available if you want more control over the company.

I would be more cautious if you dislike alcohol, need a full meal included, or want a sightseeing tour filled with major landmarks. This is not suitable for pregnant women, and nobody under 20 is allowed. Iceland’s legal drinking age is 20, and the bar restrictions apply to the tour.

Practical tips for a better evening

Eat before you arrive. Food is not included, and the samples are spread across several stops rather than paired with a full meal.

Wear layers and comfortable shoes. The walk is easy to combine with central sightseeing, but you will be outside between bars. Iceland’s weather can shift fast, even when the evening begins calmly.

Bring a passport or identity card. You need proof of age, and the tour is limited to people aged 20 and older.

Choose the beer option if you want breadth and a look at Iceland’s modern microbrewery scene. Choose the schnaps and spirits option if you prefer stronger drinks or want a different view of local drinking culture.

If you are not a big beer drinker, say so early. One person’s guide found lighter or sweeter choices that suited a hesitant drinker, which is exactly the kind of adjustment that can turn an awkward evening into a good one.

Finally, do not schedule a demanding activity immediately afterward. The tasting includes many samples, and the whole point is to slow down, talk, and enjoy the evening.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to understand Reykjavik through its bars, taste a wide range of Icelandic drinks, and have a local guide to question along the way. The strongest reasons are the 74-year beer-ban story, the 10-sample format, the central walking route, and the chance to get practical advice for the rest of your stay.

Skip it if $128 feels too high for a drinking activity, if you want substantial food, or if you prefer to choose your own bars. For everyone else, it is a useful first-night introduction, especially when a lively guide such as Chris, Arnar, Kristjan, or Ástþór is leading the group.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

The tour lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

How will I recognize the guide?

The guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik printed on the back.

How many drinks are included?

The beer option includes 10 Icelandic craft beer samples. You can choose five different schnaps and spirits instead.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included in the tour price. Small snacks may be offered, but you should eat beforehand and plan another meal if needed.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old. Children and infants are not allowed because people younger than 20 cannot enter the bars under Icelandic law.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide language is English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.