Reykjavik beer has a story you’ll want. This Beer and Booze Tour is a fun, small-group way to get oriented in the city center while tasting 10 Icelandic craft beers (or 5 schnaps/spirits) with a local guide. I also like that the night mixes serious drinking culture with an easy walking pace. The big thing to note: the tour is only for people 20+ (and not suitable for pregnant women), so it’s not for everyone.

You’ll start outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop by Ingólfstorg Square, then move bar to bar. Along the way, expect plenty of Iceland talk—why beer took off again, how people drink, and what makes Icelandic flavors different when the ingredients come from freshwater and cold climates. The good news is that the guide keeps it lively, and the stops are varied, not just three versions of the same menu.

Key points before you go

• 10 craft beer samples or 5 schnaps/spirits included in 150 minutes
• Ingólfstorg Square orientation with a quick guided stop to anchor your bearings
• Skúli Craft bar is the long stop, with beer plus whiskey tasting
• Small groups and real conversation with guides like Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, Asthor, and Ástþór mentioned by name
• Reykjavik bar variety: different atmospheres, not a one-style-only crawl

Price and what $128 really buys you in Reykjavik

At $128 per person for about 150 minutes, you’re paying for two things: access and guidance. In Iceland, drinks add up fast, and tastings at established craft bars aren’t usually cheap. Here, the core value is simple—you’re not just buying pints. You’re getting a structured lineup of 10 unique Icelandic craft beers (or 5 schnaps and spirits) plus a local guide to make sense of what you’re tasting.

You also get the practical benefit of being guided through the city center. The tour includes time at Ingólfstorg, so you’ll leave with more than just a buzz—you’ll understand where things are and how Reykjavik’s beer scene fits into the broader Iceland story.

If you’re the type who wants one good night out in Reykjavik without turning it into guesswork, this price starts to look reasonable. If you’re a light drinker or don’t drink alcohol at all, then the math flips and you’d likely be better off spending that money elsewhere. Also, the age rule matters. If you’re not 20+, you can’t join.

The vibe: local history meets a real beer crawl (without the chaos)

This isn’t a random bar hop. It’s built around Icelandic drinking culture and the history of beer—from the Viking era to today’s microbreweries. And yes, it covers the wild detail that beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years. That single fact changes how you understand the whole scene. When beer comes back after such a long pause, people don’t treat it like background noise—they treat it like identity.

The walk also helps the night feel like Reykjavik, not just a drinking schedule. You’re moving through central streets with breaks built in, which keeps the energy social instead of frantic. Guides mentioned in feedback—like Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, Asthor, and Ástþór—come up as funny, engaging, and good at pulling the group into conversation, so you’re not just following along silently.

One more practical point: this is designed for people who want to ask questions. You can ask what to order next, where to eat afterward, and where the night tends to go. That kind of local steering is part of the value, even if you never ask one question.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar: where to start so you don’t lose time

You’ll meet outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, right by Ingólfstorg Square. The key landmarks are the two tall stone pillars, with CenterHotel Plaza to your right. There are benches, tables, and a covered area, which helps if weather decides to be Iceland-weather.

The guide is easy to spot once you know what to look for: they typically wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That’s worth remembering if you arrive a few minutes early and want to avoid that awkward scanning.

Bring a passport or ID card. Iceland’s rules for buying alcohol are strict, and the tour follows them. If you’re traveling with an ID that isn’t accepted, you’ll lose time fast.

The itinerary, stop by stop: what each place adds to the night

Ingólfstorg Square (10 minutes): get your bearings fast

The tour opens with a short guided moment at Ingólfstorg. This is one of those “small stop, big payoff” parts. You’re in the middle of Reykjavik’s historic center, and the guide uses that setting to orient you before you start sampling.

What I like about starting here: it gives you context for the rest of the evening. When you later look at the bars and street corners you’ve just visited, you can place them mentally instead of feeling like you walked in circles.

This is also the part that makes the tour feel like a city tour, not just alcohol delivery.

Skúli Craft bar (about 1 hour): the tasting anchor, beer plus whiskey

Next comes the biggest stop: Skúli Craft bar, with about one hour there. This is where you’ll likely get the most variety. The plan calls for beer and whiskey tasting here, and this tends to be where the guide talks most—about styles, why certain flavors show up in Iceland, and how modern microbreweries connect to the country’s older traditions.

Why the long stop matters: you get time to slow down. Icelandic craft beer isn’t always “easy” compared with mass-market lagers, so a longer tasting window helps you understand what you like. If you’re worried about tasting too quickly, this is the stop that reduces that stress.

You’ll also notice that this tour is set up for variety. Reviews around the experience frequently mention a guide steering people toward lighter or sweeter options when someone isn’t chasing bitterness. That flexibility is usually easier when a stop like Skúli has enough time to adjust to the group.

Lemmy (45 minutes): another bar feel, another angle on beer

At Lemmy, you get about 45 minutes and a beer-focused stop. This is where the tour shifts from the “main tasting room” vibe into a second mood—different beers, different atmosphere, and more chances to compare.

This part is especially useful if you’re trying to learn how Icelandic beer differs across brands. The contrast between bars is the point. You’re seeing how the same city can support different craft identities.

A small caution: some bars may be better than others for atmosphere. The itinerary keeps you moving, but if one stop isn’t your style, the next one usually has something to make up for it.

Ölstofa (45 minutes): a final tasting sprint that still feels social

The next 45-minute stop is Ölstofa. This is another solid chunk of time for tasting and conversation. By now, you’ve learned the guide’s rhythm: how they explain a beer, what to pay attention to, and how to decide whether a style fits your taste.

This is also where you start thinking ahead. If you’re planning the next day—morning coffee, a museum visit, or a long excursion—you’ll want to know how you’ll handle the day-after hangover risk. The tour’s pace is designed for fun, but you’re still drinking multiple samples. If you like to keep mornings intact, pace yourself at each stop and take water seriously.

Drop-off: Bastarður Brew Pub or Ölstofa

The tour ends at two possible drop-off points: Bastarður Brew Pub and Ölstofa. That’s actually handy. You don’t end up stranded far from the action. If you want to continue your evening, you can. If you want to wrap up and head back, you can do that too.

Just plan for the fact that your “final neighborhood” depends on how the group flows and where the guide finishes.

What you’ll taste: craft beers, schnaps/spirits, and those Icelandic stories

The headline promise is clear: you’ll taste 10 unique Icelandic craft beers or 5 different schnaps and spirits. The tour’s highlights mention that you might even try a new microbrewery beer that isn’t widely available yet. That’s the kind of detail that can turn a standard tasting into something worth writing home about.

You’ll also hear why Icelandic beer culture developed the way it did. The tour framework covers:

• the Vikings to the present-day resurgence of microbreweries
• the fact that beer was banned for 74 years
• how Icelanders use local conditions—especially freshwater—to support brewing

Those are the themes that make the tasting more than just trying flavors. When you understand the why, you taste more intentionally. You may start noticing things like the balance of malt and hops, or how certain styles feel “colder” or “cleaner” compared with what you’re used to at home. Even if you can’t name a style, you’ll feel the differences.

And if you’re someone who doesn’t love bitter beer, you’re not doomed. In feedback tied to the experience, guides reportedly suggest lighter or sweeter options and help people find what they enjoy.

Group size, guides, and the conversation factor

One of the best parts of this tour is how social it stays. The structure supports conversation, not just swig-and-sprint. Group size is described as small, which matters in Reykjavik, where walking and standing inside bars can get tight fast.

Guide quality also seems to be a standout. Different guides get named—Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, Asthor, and Ástþór—but the theme is consistent: the guides are entertaining, funny, and good at getting everyone involved. That makes a huge difference if you’re traveling solo or you don’t want to sit through a lecture while you drink.

Also, small-group tours usually mean you’re more likely to get personalized suggestions—what to order next, what to do after, and how to experience Reykjavik without wasting time.

What to bring (and what will trip you up)

This is Iceland. Wear layers. You’ll be walking, standing, and going in and out of doors. Even if the weather looks calm when you start, that can change quickly.

Bring passport or ID. The tour is for alcohol purchase eligibility, so the staff need you to be able to prove your age. The age limit is 20+, and there are no infants or children allowed because of Icelandic bar rules.

Two more “know before you go” notes:

• it’s listed as not suitable for pregnant women
• it’s English only with a live guide

Finally, consider how this fits your night plan. If you want a relaxed dinner afterward, you’ll probably want to go easy on the strongest tasting options.

Value check: when this tour is a smart buy

I’d call this a great buy if:

• you want to learn the beer scene fast without doing homework
• you want your Reykjavik first-night or second-night plan to include both history and fun
• you like chatting and asking questions while you travel
• you want your drinks handled—no hunting for places, no negotiating menus

It may be less ideal if:

• you’re looking for a food-focused tour (food isn’t included)
• you don’t drink enough to justify the tasting volume
• you’re traveling with someone who can’t meet the 20+ rule

A note on snacks: the tour data says food isn’t included, but some guides may provide small items. I’d treat any snacks as a bonus, not part of the core plan.

Should you book Reykjavik’s Beer and Booze Tour?

If your goal is a simple, high-reward Reykjavik evening, I’d book it. The structure is tight—orientation, then multiple distinct bars—with 10 Icelandic craft beers or 5 schnaps/spirits included. You’ll leave understanding Icelandic beer culture, not just tasting it.

Book it especially if you’re the kind of traveler who likes good local guidance. A tour where you can ask where to eat and where to party is more useful than one where you’re only handed a drink list.

Skip it if alcohol isn’t your thing, if you’re not 20+, or if you need something food-heavy rather than tasting-heavy. And if you do go: wear layers, pace yourself, and treat water as part of the plan—not an afterthought.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

The tour lasts 150 minutes.

How many drinks are included?

You’ll receive tastings of 10 unique Icelandic craft beers or 5 different schnaps and spirits (drink samples are included in the price).

Where is the meeting point?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included.

What should I bring for the tour?

Bring passport or an ID card.

What is the age requirement?

The legal age to purchase alcohol in Iceland is 20, and the tour only allows people who are 20 or older. It’s not suitable for people under 20.

Is there hotel pickup and drop-off?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The tour uses street meeting and end drop-off locations.

Is the guide language English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English guide.