Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour

Reykjavik’s beer story is stranger than you might expect. Beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years, and this evening walk explains how a country with such a long dry spell developed a lively craft beer scene. You visit three central bars, taste Icelandic beers and snaps, and finish with a rare local specialty at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.

I like the small maximum group of 12, which gives you room to ask questions and chat with the guide. I also like the practical side: you get oriented in downtown Reykjavik while guides such as Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, and Matthias share restaurant and bar tips for the rest of your stay.

The main consideration is the price, $131.87 per person. That is a serious tab for a two to two-and-a-half-hour evening, so this works best if you value several tastings, local stories, and a planned route more than simply buying drinks at a bar.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Reykjavik bars: The route includes Skúli Craft Bar, Session Craft Bar, and Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.
• Beer and snaps: You sample several Icelandic beers, with snaps available as an alternative at some stops.
• A useful first-night activity: The central walking route helps you learn where Reykjavik’s bars and restaurants are.
• Guides shape the evening: Bo, Óli, Stefán, Chris, Matthias, Arnar, Helgi, and others have been praised for humor, stories, and local suggestions.
• Small-group format: The tour accepts no more than 12 people, though it may run with only a few participants.
• Age and timing: You must be at least 20, and the tour begins at 6 p.m. near Ingólfur Square.

Iceland’s beer story gives the evening a real point

This is not just a crawl from one drinking place to another. The useful thread is Iceland’s unusual alcohol history. Beer was prohibited for 74 years, a fact that gives the tasting some context and makes the local brewing scene more interesting than a standard pub visit.

Your guide discusses that ban at Skúli Craft Bar and returns to the subject at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar. You also hear about modern Icelandic beer, local drinking customs, and the way people toast. One guide taught the Icelandic toast, skál, while another shared a playful phrase intended to sound like Icelandic.

That mix of facts, jokes, and ordinary local detail is what gives the evening its appeal. You are not only sampling drinks. You are also learning why beer culture in Iceland arrived late and how it developed afterward.

The guides do not all use the same style. Bo, also identified as Sveinbjörn, is frequently praised for his humor and clear explanations. Óli is known for friendly guidance and strong beer knowledge. Stefán has a story-driven approach, while Chris has been especially good at helping solo visitors settle into the group and get oriented in town.

That variation is worth keeping in mind. A good guide can make this feel like an easy conversation with a well-informed local. One less successful experience was criticized for a guide who offered little information without being asked. The tour is therefore guide-dependent, as many walking and tasting tours are.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square at 6 p.m.

The evening starts at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorg 1, near Ingólfur Square in central Reykjavik. Plan to arrive five minutes early. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point.

The route stays in the city center and ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur. That is useful for a first evening because you can see how the central streets connect while moving between bars. It also means you can continue exploring on foot after the tour.

The activity lasts about two to two-and-a-half hours. The pace includes walking, sitting or standing at bars, listening to explanations, and sampling drinks. Wear proper outdoor clothing because the tour operates in all weather. Reykjavik weather can change quickly, and being cold or wet will make even good beer less enjoyable.

Public transportation is nearby, but the information provided does not include a hotel transfer. You should treat this as a central walking activity, not a vehicle-based excursion.

First stop: Skúli Craft Bar and the long road back to beer

After the short meeting and introduction, you walk to Skúli Craft Bar. This first tasting lasts about 45 minutes and sets up the evening with a selection of Icelandic craft beers or a snaps.

Skúli is an appropriate starting point because your guide explains the background behind Iceland’s alcohol rules here. The conversation covers the amusing and sometimes surprising story of drinking in Iceland, including the long ban on beer.

The first stop also lets the group settle in. You learn how the tasting works, meet the other people in the group, and get a sense of your guide’s style. If you are unsure about Icelandic beer, this is a good time to ask for help choosing. The tour is not limited to one fixed type of drink, and snaps may be available instead of beer.

The useful advantage of a guided tasting is choice with explanation. A beer can seem unusual when you order it alone, but the guide can tell you what makes it Icelandic or how it fits into the local scene. The supplied information does not specify every beer served, so you should expect a changing selection rather than a guaranteed list.

Second stop: four beers at Session Craft Bar

Session Craft Bar is the main tasting stop. You spend about 50 minutes here and sample four different Icelandic beers, or a couple of Icelandic snaps if that suits you better.

This is where the value of the tour becomes clearer. You are not simply paying for one drink at a time. The guide organizes a series of tastings and explains the craft beer and booze scene as you go. Some groups have sampled around nine beers across the evening, while another stop has allowed people to choose from a range and pour their own beer. The exact selection and format can vary, so do not book expecting a fixed flight every time.

The group is usually getting more relaxed by this point, which helps explain why the social side receives so much praise. People arrive as strangers, then share reactions, questions, and travel stories. Solo visitors can benefit most from this setup. One solo participant used the tour to get oriented on the first day and later met some of the same people again during the trip.

That does not mean every group will click. A maximum of 12 keeps the evening manageable, but the experience can still depend on the mix of people and the guide. If you prefer a quiet tasting with detailed technical information, a busy social evening may not be your ideal format.

Third stop: Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar

The final stop is Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, where you spend about 45 minutes. Here, the focus is a unique award-winning Icelandic beer and the story connected to it.

This stop gives the tour a finish rather than simply ending after a sequence of ordinary pints. The bar is presented as a place to try something you may not find elsewhere, and the guide returns to the question of how Iceland’s 74-year beer ban shaped the country’s drinking culture.

The end point is on Vegamótastígur in central Reykjavik, so you finish in a useful area for continuing your night. You can ask your guide for more restaurant and bar suggestions before leaving. Guides have been praised for recommendations around town, which can be especially helpful if this is your first evening in Reykjavik.

One practical point: the route’s official structure lists three bars, though one account describes visiting four brew pubs. The safest expectation is three planned stops, with the precise evening shaped by the guide, venue arrangements, and group. You should not count on a fourth stop unless the guide offers one.

How much beer do you actually get?

The supplied details promise beverages and alcoholic drinks, but they do not give a fixed total volume. The planned tastings include a selection at Skúli, four beers at Session, and a special beer at Ölstofa. Some experiences have included several more samples, while others emphasize a smaller selection suited to the group.

That makes it difficult to calculate the exact drink-for-dollar value. At $131.87, the cost is high if you compare it with buying three standard drinks independently. The price makes more sense if you want guided tastings, several venues, cultural background, and a compact introduction to the city’s nightlife.

The tour may also help you avoid ordering blindly in a costly destination. Icelandic drinks can be expensive, and a guide can steer you toward styles you are more likely to enjoy. Arnar, for example, helped one person who does not usually care for beer find a taste that worked well.

Snaps are an important alternative. If you are joining because of the culture and social setting rather than a deep love of beer, ask about the available snaps at the first stop. The experience is still alcohol-focused, so it is not a good match for anyone looking for a non-drinking history walk.

What the small group changes

The group limit is 12, but the tour can run with only two or three people if the minimum departure requirement is met. That can work in your favor. A tiny group allows more direct conversation and may feel close to a private walk, though the atmosphere will be less lively than a full departure.

With a larger group, you get more social energy and a wider mix of people. Several groups have included friends, couples, and solo visitors from different parts of the United States and elsewhere. You may end up talking as much about travel as beer.

The small format also gives you a better chance to ask about restaurants, nightlife, and places you plan to visit. This is not a lecture where you need to stay silent. The best use of the tour is to treat your guide as a local resource and ask specific questions.

Still, the group size does not guarantee a certain level of instruction. One dissatisfied participant felt the guide gave too little background unless prompted. If you want the cultural material, ask direct questions about the beer ban, modern brewing, Icelandic toasts, and the bars you are visiting.

Best for first evenings, beer fans, and curious non-beer drinkers

I think this tour suits several types of visitors particularly well.

If you are in Reykjavik for the first time, the route gives you a quick sense of the center and points you toward places you might return to later. It is especially useful on your first day, when a coordinated walk can save you from spending the evening guessing where to go.

Beer fans will appreciate the range of Icelandic samples and the chance to compare several venues. People who enjoy local history will find the beer ban an unusual subject with a clear connection to modern life.

Solo visitors can also benefit. The group structure makes it easy to meet people without having to organize a night out alone. Couples and groups of friends should enjoy it too, especially if they like tasting unfamiliar drinks and trading jokes with a guide.

You do not need to be a beer expert. The tour has worked well for people who were not especially interested in beer because the guide could suggest a suitable flavor. You do, however, need to be comfortable with an alcohol-centered activity and walking between bars.

Booking details that matter

The minimum drinking age is 20. At least two people must be booked for a departure, and the provider can cancel for a full refund if that minimum is not reached. This matters if you are booking alone or close to your travel date.

The tour is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives at booking. It operates in all weather, so bring clothing suitable for Reykjavik’s conditions.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. The cutoff uses local time.

The experience is listed as suitable for most people, but it involves walking, standing, and drinking. The provided details do not promise specific mobility arrangements, so contact the provider if you have a concern about the route or bar access.

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a social introduction to Reykjavik, enjoy trying local drinks, and value a guide who can connect beer with Icelandic history. The combination of three bars, several tastings, city orientation, and local recommendations makes it more useful than an unplanned pub visit.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is the cheapest possible night out. At $131.87, the fee is substantial, and the exact number of pours can vary. I would also avoid it if you want a detailed, formal beer class or a guaranteed list of specific brews.

For most people who like beer, local stories, and easy conversation, this is a good first or second-night activity. Go in expecting a friendly walking tasting, not a rigid seminar. Ask questions, dress for the weather, and use the guide’s local suggestions to shape the rest of your Reykjavik stay.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

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

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Hlöllabátar, Ingólfstorg 1, 101 Reykjavik, near Ingólfur Square. You should arrive five minutes before the 6 p.m. start time.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar on Vegamótastígur in central Reykjavik.

How many bars do you visit?

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

What is the minimum age?

The minimum drinking age for this activity is 20.

What happens if the tour does not reach its minimum group size?

At least two people are required for a departure. If the minimum is not met and the tour is canceled, you will be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.