Reykjavik: The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour

Reykjavik’s sweet shops are easy to love. This 2-hour walking tour is a concentrated taste of Iceland’s “nammi” culture, built around stops like kleina, licorice chocolate, and ice cream. It’s also a handy way to understand why Icelandic sweets taste the way they do—right in the middle of downtown, not in a museum.

I like two things most: the small group (max 12) keeps the pace human, and the expert guide—people like Matthias and Oli—turns each snack into a quick story about ingredients, brands, and local habits. One possible drawback: it’s very weather-dependent. If the wind is rude, you’ll want solid outerwear and a good attitude about short walks.

Key points before you go

• A 2-hour sweet route that doesn’t feel like homework
• Small group size (up to 12) so you actually hear the guide
• Guides who know the local shops and how Icelandic sweets are made
• Licorice-forward options, but there are alternatives if you avoid it
• A good mix of pastries, chocolate, ice cream, and even a small savory bite you might not expect

Icelandic sweets make a smart walk in Reykjavik

This tour is basically a guided shortcut through Iceland’s dessert identity. You’re not hunting on your own through unfamiliar labels and street names. Instead, you follow a route in central Reykjavik where sweets are part of everyday life, not a special-occasion performance.

The best part is that you taste several categories in one go: pastries, chocolates/candy, and ice cream. And because what’s sampled can change with season, day, and time, you’re getting a snapshot of what’s popular right now. That flexibility matters in Reykjavik—things vary, and the guide adapts.

You’ll also learn a bit as you go, like why Icelandic licorice is typically sweet and mild (not the sharp, medicinal kind). That context helps you make sense of flavors that might otherwise seem odd on first bite.

Meet at Ingólfur Square and get your bearings fast

The tour starts at Ingólfur Square, in the center of Reykjavik, by two tall stone pillars (over 3 meters high). It’s a good meeting spot: easy to find, and it’s not tangled up in side streets.

Your guide—usually wearing a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back—leads a short intro while you’re still fresh. You’ll get a guided moment at Ingólfur Square (about 10 minutes), then you move into the main shopping street area. Even if you’re not here for shopping, this first leg helps you orient yourself in the city core.

One practical note: show up at least 5 minutes early. This is Iceland, and the weather can turn fast, so late arrivals slow the whole group.

Baka Baka: where kleina and pastry history start

Stop one after the intro is Baka Baka, with about 25 minutes for food tasting. This is where the tour usually kicks off the traditional pastry story. You’ll likely try pastries such as kleina, a deep-fried doughnut-like treat that’s very Icelandic. You also learn about the history and how the bakers make these items.

This is also the stop where sweet cravings calm down and your brain starts focusing on ingredients: dough texture, sweetness level, and why Icelandic baking leans into warm, filling flavors. In one of the guide-driven highlights from the experience, people singled out amazing cocoa at Baka Baka, plus a mix that can include other pastry styles such as Danish pastry.

There can even be a small savory surprise along the way (one review mentioned dried fish alongside sweets). That small detour is smart. It keeps the tour from becoming pure sugar overload and helps you reset your palate between candy and ice cream.

What to consider: if you’re expecting only candy and nothing else, you might be pleasantly confused at how much “proper bakery” character there is here.

Laugavegur and Loo.koo.mas: sweets plus local shopping

After Baka Baka, you spend time walking and getting a guided look at Laugavegur (about 20 minutes). This part matters because it turns the city into a route, not just a backdrop. You’re going from one sweet stop to the next with context—why these shops are clustered, how downtown shopping works, and where you’ll likely want to go after the tour.

Then comes a dedicated shopping window at Loo.koo.mas (about 15 minutes). This is where you can pick up small gifts and candy-related items you may not stumble upon without help. It’s also your chance to buy something you tasted, if you found a favorite flavor combo.

This stop is brief on purpose. The tour isn’t built like a long retail session; it’s built like a curated tasting walk. That’s a good thing for short Reykjavik stays, especially if you also want time for other sights later.

Quick tip: if you see something you really want, grab it during the shopping minute window. After you’re done, you’ll be back outside the sweet circuit.

Ísbúðin litla Valdís ice cream stop for licorice lovers

Ice cream is a key part of the tour, and your stop at Ísbúðin litla Valdís lasts about 20 minutes. This is where you taste some of the creamiest options in the route. Flavors can include Icelandic signatures like licorice, and you might also find options tied to skyr (the Icelandic dairy product). Exact flavors can vary, but the point is clear: this is Icelandic ice cream, not generic “sweet and cold.”

Licorice is the star ingredient you’ll hear about a lot on this tour. The big thing I want you to know is that Icelandic licorice is often described (and experienced here) as sweet and mild. If you’ve avoided licorice in the past because you expected bold, bitter flavor, this is a fair place to try it under guidance.

Also, you won’t be trapped. The tour specifically notes there are other options if you don’t like licorice. That matters because the whole route is built for people who have varied tastes. You shouldn’t feel pressured to like everything.

Potential drawback: if you dislike licorice, plan mentally for a few bites that you might share or skip. The tour does accommodate you, but the flavor theme is real.

Taste of Iceland candy finale: Draumur and Þristur

The last tasting stop is Taste of Iceland (about 20 minutes), and it’s the candy finish line. This is where you can indulge in Icelandic sweets such as the iconic Draumur chocolate bar and the classic pairing Þristur—licorice combined with chocolate.

This finale works because by now you’ve trained your palate. You’ve tasted pastry sweetness, learned about licorice being milder than expected, and already tried ice cream flavors. So when the chocolate and candy show up, you can actually taste the ingredients, not just react to sugar.

You might also hear the local word nammi, which is Icelandic for candy. It’s a tiny word, but it gives you a feel for how casually people treat sweets here—as everyday joy, not a once-a-year splurge.

The tour ends back at Ingólfur Square, so you’re not stranded deep in a neighborhood you’ve never seen. That keeps it easy to roll straight into your next Reykjavik plan.

Is $90 worth it? Group size, pace, and what you sample

At $90 per person, this isn’t the cheapest way to snack in Reykjavik. But it can still be good value because you’re paying for three things at once: guided routing, expert explanations, and multiple tastings across different types of sweets.

The pacing helps too. It’s about 2 hours total, and the group stays small (up to 12). That means you’re not stuck waiting for a big crowd in front of tiny shops, and the guide can actually answer questions while people are actively tasting.

The tastings are the heart of the deal: pastry, sweets/chocolate, and ice cream, with the exact items depending on season and timing. You’re not just getting one “sample.” You’re getting a sequence that shows how Icelandic sweets move from fried bakery treats to candy bars to cold dairy flavors.

Finally, there’s a less obvious value: the tour helps you decide what to buy afterward. If you like licorice and chocolate (or want to try it responsibly), you’ll know where to go. If you don’t, you’ll still walk away with flavors that feel Icelandic without forcing one ingredient on you.

FAQ

FAQ

What’s the duration of the Reykjavik Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Where do I meet the guide in Reykjavik?

Meet at Ingólfur Square in the center of Reykjavik by the two stone pillars. The square is in front of Center Hotels Plaza on Aðalstræti 6.

What types of food are included in the tastings?

You’ll sample Icelandic pastries and sweets, specialty chocolates, and ice cream. Common examples include kleina, and the tour may also include flavors like licorice and possibly skyr in ice cream. The exact items can vary by season, day, and tour time.

Does the tour work if I don’t like licorice?

Yes. The tour notes there are other options if you don’t like licorice, though licorice is a common theme and you may still see it paired with chocolate.

What should I wear?

Wear weather-appropriate clothing. Reykjavik weather can be unpredictable.

How big is the group and what language is the guide?

The tour is a small group with a maximum of 12 people. The live guide speaks English.

Should you book this tour?

If you’re short on time in Reykjavik and want a concentrated route through Icelandic desserts, I think this is a smart booking. The combination of tastings across pastry, chocolate/candy, and ice cream—and the fact that guides like Matthias and Oli explain what you’re eating—makes it more than just a sugar stop.

Book it if you want an easy way to learn what Icelandic sweets taste like, and you like the idea of walking through downtown with a plan. Skip it if you strongly dislike licorice flavors and don’t want to risk being offered themed options at multiple stops, even if alternatives exist.