Iceland is a land of dramatic contrasts where fire meets ice, featuring active volcanoes, massive glaciers, geothermal hot springs, and the mesmerizing Northern Lights. This Nordic island nation offers breathtaking natural wonders from thundering waterfalls to black sand beaches, making it one of the world's most unique travel destinations.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Iceland through its food.
Reykjavik Food Walk
Walk through downtown Reykjavik with a local guide, stopping at 7 iconic food spots including Sandholt Bakery, Bæjarins Beztu hot dog stand, and Grandi food hall. Tastings of traditional Icelandic dishes included throughout.
Traditional Icelandic Food Tasting Tour
Sample Iceland's most unusual traditional foods including hákarl (fermented Greenlandic shark), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), harðfiskur (dried fish), skyr, and Brennivín schnapps. A brave and memorable culinary adventure.
Kolaportið Market & Harbour Food Tour
Weekend tour visiting Kolaportið flea market followed by Grandi Mathöll food hall and the harbour seafood shacks. Taste everything from traditional Icelandic produce to modern street food, with stories of Iceland's fishing heritage.
New Nordic Reykjavik Dinner Crawl
Evening progressive dinner visiting three restaurants for starter, main, and dessert, each showcasing a different aspect of New Nordic Icelandic cuisine. Includes wine or craft beer pairings at each venue.
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Iceland's food scene.
Street food tours
Self-guided or guided hot dog crawl starting at Bæjarins Beztu and ending at Grandi Mathöll. The iconic Icelandic street food experience for $10-20 total.
Market tours
Weekend-only Kolaportið flea market tours with traditional food tastings including hákarl and harðfiskur. Also summer farmers markets with fresh Icelandic produce.
Restaurant tours
New Nordic multi-course dining tours visiting 2-3 restaurants for a progressive meal experience, showcasing Iceland's modern culinary scene.
Specialty tours
Brennivín and craft beer tours visiting Kaldi Brewery bar and Micro Bar with Iceland's largest tap selection. Skyr tasting experiences also available.
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Iceland home with you.
Icelandic Kitchen Cooking Class
Learn to cook three traditional Icelandic dishes including skyr cheesecake, lamb soup (kjötsúpa), and plokkfiskur (fish stew) with a professional Icelandic chef. Class includes sit-down meal with wine pairing.
New Nordic Cooking Workshop
Workshop-style class creating contemporary Icelandic dishes using foraging-inspired techniques. Learn to make fresh herb oils, smoke fish at home, and create a 3-course New Nordic menu from scratch. Small groups of 6 maximum.
Icelandic Seafood Masterclass
Hands-on class learning to fillet and prepare Icelandic cod, Arctic char, and langoustine. Chef teaches traditional and modern preparation methods. Includes market visit to Grandi to select the catch.
DIY self-guided food tour
Reykjavik's compact city centre makes a self-guided food crawl very easy on foot. The best route runs from Hlemmur food hall through Laugavegur to the Old Harbour, taking 2-3 hours.
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Stop 1: Brauð & Co (Frakkastígur 16) – fresh-baked cinnamon buns and sourdough, open from 7 AM
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Stop 2: Hlemmur Mathöll food hall (Laugavegur 107) – browse multiple vendors, try Skál craft beer bar
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Stop 3: Sandholt Bakery (Laugavegur 36) – Reykjavik's oldest bakery since 1920, excellent open sandwiches
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Stop 4: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Tryggvagata 1) – the legendary hot dog stand, order 'eina með öllu'
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Stop 5: Sægreifinn Sea Baron (Geirsgata 8) – lobster soup and seafood skewers at the harbour shack
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Stop 6: Kolaportið Flea Market (Tryggvagata 19, weekends) – try hákarl and harðfiskur
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Stop 7: Grandi Mathöll food hall (Grandagarður 16) – modern food hall with harbour views for final stop
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Order 'eina með öllu' at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur – it means 'one with everything' and gets you the full works: remoulade, mustard, ketchup, raw and fried onion on an Icelandic lamb hot dog.
Supermarkets (Bónus, Krónan) are significantly cheaper than restaurants – stock up on skyr, harðfiskur, and snacks for budget-conscious eating.
Lunch is the best value meal of the day in Iceland – many fine dining restaurants offer set lunch menus for $25-40 that would cost $80+ at dinner.
Harðfiskur (wind-dried fish) is the traditional Icelandic snack – buy it at Kolaportið market and eat it with Icelandic butter as locals do.
Iceland's lamb is world-class – the animals roam free in the highlands eating wild herbs all summer. Order it whenever you see it on a menu.
Coffee culture is strong in Reykjavik – Reykjavik Roasters and Kaffitár both roast their own beans to Nordic standards. Expect $5-6 for a flat white.
The New Nordic dining scene is genuinely innovative – reserve a table at Dill (Michelin-starred) 2-3 weeks in advance for the tasting menu experience.
Skyr is not yogurt – it's technically a fresh cheese made in Iceland for over 1,000 years. Try it plain with blueberries for breakfast or in skyr cheesecake.
Food halls (Hlemmur Mathöll and Grandi Mathöll) offer the best value for multiple flavours in one sitting – perfect for groups with different tastes.
Fish and chips in Iceland is made with very fresh cod or haddock – vastly superior to most other countries. Try Messinn or the harbour shacks.