Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

Reykjavík’s Beer & Booze Tour is as much a short lesson in Icelandic culture as it is a night of drinks. You walk between three central bars, taste Icelandic beer or snaps, and hear how a country that banned beer for 74 years developed such an active craft-drink scene. I especially like the small group cap of 12 and the chance to ask a guide such as Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, or Matthias about bars, food, and Reykjavík life.

I also like that the tour helps you get oriented on your first evening, with a route through the city center and practical recommendations for later. The main caution is the price, $131.87 per person, and the fact that your enjoyment depends heavily on the guide and the group. One poor guide experience included limited commentary and bars that felt empty, so this is not a guaranteed party every night.

Key points at a glance

• Three central bars in about two hours: The route includes Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.
• A history lesson with your drinks: Expect stories about Iceland’s alcohol laws and the 74-year ban on beer.
• Beer is not your only option: Tastings can include Icelandic snaps, and the guide may help match a drink to your taste.
• A useful first-night activity: The walking route helps you learn Reykjavík’s center and gather ideas for restaurants and bars.
• Small groups keep it social: The maximum is 12 people, with enough room for questions and conversation.
• Plan for Icelandic weather: The tour runs in all weather, so a warm, waterproof outer layer matters.

Why the 74-year beer ban makes this tour different

Iceland’s beer story is unusual. Beer was banned for 74 years, and the tour uses that odd fact as a doorway into the country’s drinking culture. You are not simply moving from one pub to another. You are learning why beer has a relatively recent place in modern Icelandic life and how the local craft scene developed after the ban ended.

That context gives the tastings more meaning. A beer flight becomes part of a national story rather than a string of samples with hard-to-remember names. Your guide may also teach you how to toast in Icelandic and add bits of language and everyday culture along the way.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Bo, also known as Sveinbjörn, is praised for his humor and clear explanations. Óli has led groups through several pubs and is noted for his friendly manner. Stefán is known for combining beer, restaurant advice, history, and storytelling, while Chris has helped solo visitors get their bearings on their first day.

Other named guides include Matthias, Arnar, Helgi, and Olaf. The range of positive feedback about different guides suggests a strong team overall, but it also explains why the occasional weak experience matters. If your guide gives little background unless you ask, the tour becomes a costly pub crawl rather than the cultural introduction it promises.

Starting at Ingólfur Square at 6 pm

Meet at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, at 5:55 pm. The official start time is 6 pm, and you should allow a few minutes to find Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavík. The meeting point is near public transportation, and the tour ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. That is not a serious drawback if you are staying in central Reykjavík, since the tour begins and ends in the downtown area. It does mean you should know how you will get back to your accommodation, especially after several drinks.

The first stop is listed as Your Friend In Reykjavik, where you meet the guide and head toward the first bar. This opening is brief, about five minutes, so think of it as a welcome and orientation rather than a full sightseeing stop.

The group can include up to 12 people, though it may be much smaller. Some departures have had only two or three participants, while others have included a full group. A small group makes it easier to speak with the guide, and a tiny group can feel almost private without being formally advertised as a private tour.

Skúli Craft Bar and the first Icelandic pour

Skúli Craft Bar is where the tasting begins. You receive a selection of Icelandic craft beers, or a snaps if that suits you better, and the guide starts explaining Iceland’s complicated relationship with alcohol.

The planned time here is about 45 minutes. That is enough time to settle in, taste carefully, and ask questions. If you are not a serious beer drinker, do not assume you will be left out. One participant who booked the tour mainly for a beer-loving partner was guided toward a flavor that she ended up enjoying, which points to the value of telling your guide what you usually like.

This stop should also help you understand what makes Icelandic beer worth trying. The experience is not built around one famous label. It is about sampling different local styles and learning how to notice their differences. Exact pours can vary, and the supplied details allow for snaps in place of beer, so you should not expect one fixed tasting menu every evening.

The alcohol history is the real reason this first stop matters. The guide sets up the story that continues through the night, explaining why beer and other drinks developed differently in Iceland than in many European countries.

Session Craft Bar and a broader tasting

The second bar is Session Craft Bar, where the tour allows about 50 minutes. Here the tasting expands to four different Icelandic beers, or a couple of Icelandic snaps.

This is likely the most substantial tasting stop. Several people have described trying a wide range of beers across the evening, with totals such as nine different beers on some departures. You may also get a choice at one stop, including the chance to pour your own beer. Those details can vary, but they show that the evening is not limited to a single sample at each bar.

Session is also where the social side tends to take over. The guide shares tips, small stories, and practical advice about Reykjavík’s craft beer and booze scene. By this point, the group may be more relaxed, making it easier to compare favorites and talk with people from other countries.

The walking between bars is useful here. You are not being driven from one place to the next, so you begin to recognize the streets and the relationship between Reykjavík’s central bars. For a first-night activity, that orientation is valuable. You can return to a place later without having to search for it from scratch.

You should pace yourself. The tour is roughly two to two and a half hours, and the alcohol is included. It is easy to treat a tasting as a race, especially when the group is having fun, but the best value comes from listening and trying drinks thoughtfully. If you prefer not to drink at every opportunity, tell the guide early.

Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar and the final specialty beer

The final stop is Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, where you spend about 45 minutes. The focus here is a distinctive, award-winning Icelandic beer and the story behind it.

This bar is presented as one of the best places on the route to try something you may not find elsewhere. That makes the final stop more than a last drink. It gives the tour a clear finish, with one unusual beer and another chance to connect the drink to Icelandic brewing history.

The stop is also where the beer-ban discussion returns. You can ask your guide to explain how Iceland’s 74-year prohibition shaped habits, laws, and the modern pub scene. If you enjoy history, this may be the most rewarding part of the evening.

The tour ends here, at 43W9+6HG on Vegamótastígur. Since hotel transport is not included, note the location before you begin. The end point is still in central Reykjavík, but the walk back may feel different after an evening of tastings.

What the guides add to the experience

A strong guide turns this tour into a cultural walk with drinks. The best guides do more than name the beers. They explain the alcohol laws, talk about daily life, point out useful places nearby, and keep the conversation moving without making it feel like a lecture.

Bo and Óli receive especially strong praise for combining information with humor. Stefán is a good choice for anyone who wants history and restaurant advice along with the drinks. Chris has been particularly helpful for solo visitors who want to meet people and get a quick sense of the city.

Matthias has led groups through three bars with a varied tasting, while Helgi has been praised for choosing beers that fit the group. Arnar also helped a less enthusiastic beer drinker find something enjoyable. These details matter because the tour is not only about what is poured. It is about how well the guide reads the group.

There is one important limitation. The supplied feedback includes a poor account of a guide appearing drunk, taking the group to quiet backstreet bars, and offering little value. Another account describes a guide who answered questions but did not volunteer much information. These are isolated against a strong overall score of 4.9 from 166 ratings and a 96 percent recommendation rate, but they are worth keeping in mind.

Is $131.87 a fair price?

At $131.87, this is not a cheap way to have a few beers. You are paying for the drinks, a professional local guide, the organization of three bar visits, and the time saved finding suitable places yourself.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise spend an evening trying to choose bars, compare Icelandic beers, and research the country’s alcohol history on your own. You also receive recommendations for later meals and nights out, which can help you avoid wasting one of Reykjavík’s expensive evenings on a mediocre stop.

The price is less appealing if you already know the city, prefer to order one drink slowly, or mainly want a nightlife outing. Reykjavík bars can be visited independently, and the tour’s cost will not suit every budget.

The number of samples also affects value. Some evenings include four beers at Session, a selection at Skúli, a specialty beer at Ölstofa, and additional pours at other stops. Exact quantities and choices are not fixed, so do not book solely on the assumption that every departure includes nine beers.

Who should book this walking tasting?

I would recommend it most to first-time visitors, beer fans, solo visitors, and anyone who wants an easy first evening in Reykjavík. The short route gives you a basic map of the center, and the small group offers a natural way to meet people without committing to a full-day group activity.

It also suits couples where one person is more interested in beer than the other. The guide can suggest different flavors, and snaps provide another route through Icelandic drinks. You do not need to arrive as a beer expert.

History fans should like the alcohol-law stories, especially the ban on beer. The tour also works well for people who want local suggestions for restaurants and bars rather than a purely scripted tasting.

I would be more cautious if you dislike group activities, do not drink alcohol, or want a quiet, refined tasting. Beverages are central to the experience, and the mood can become lively as the evening progresses. The tour operates in all weather, with walking between venues, so dress for wind, rain, or cold.

Booking about eight weeks ahead may be sensible. The experience is booked, on average, 57 days before the date, and each departure needs at least two people. If the minimum is not reached, the operator cancels and offers a full refund or another option.

Practical details that affect your evening

The minimum drinking age is 20. Confirmation arrives when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 6 pm start time. Inside that 24-hour window, changes are not accepted and the amount paid is not refunded.

Wear shoes suited to walking on city streets and a waterproof outer layer. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and the tour continues in poor conditions. You should also eat sensibly before the start, since the supplied inclusions cover beverages but do not list a meal.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can take part, and the route stays near public transportation. Since the tour ends at a different location from the meeting point, save the final address before leaving your accommodation.

My take: a good first night, with one condition

I would book the Reykjavík Beer & Booze Tour if I wanted a social introduction to the city and liked the idea of pairing local drinks with Icelandic history. The three-bar route, included beverages, small group size, and strong record across many departures make it a useful way to get oriented fast.

I would not book it simply because I wanted the cheapest drinks in Reykjavík. The cost is high, the exact tasting lineup can change, and the guide makes a large difference. Book it for the stories, the local advice, and the chance to discover several bars without planning the route yourself.

If you do book, arrive ready to ask questions. Ask about the beer ban, request a recommendation based on your usual tastes, and ask which bars or restaurants are worth visiting afterward. That is how you turn the evening from a series of drinks into a better introduction to Reykjavík.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavík Beer & Booze Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two to two and a half hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorgi 1, 101 Reykjavík, at Ingólfur Square.

What time should I arrive?

The start time is 6 pm. You should arrive at Ingólfur Square five minutes early.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur in central Reykjavík.

How many bars does the tour visit?

The planned route visits three bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.

What drinks are included?

Beverages and alcoholic drinks are included. Tastings may include Icelandic craft beers or snaps, depending on the stop and the group.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age for this experience is 20.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people. A departure requires at least two people.

What happens if the minimum number of people is not reached?

The tour may be canceled if fewer than two people attend. In that case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted and are not refunded.