The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour

If sugar is your travel fuel, this one’s for you. The Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour turns a simple afternoon stroll into a small-group food hit with insider stories stitched between bakeries and dessert spots. I love that all the bites and samples are built into the price, and I love the pace—easy walking, no sprinting between stops. One drawback to consider: this is mostly sweet, but the included tastings can also include a few non-candy surprises, so if you want only desserts, come with flexible expectations.

Reykjavík is compact, and this tour uses that advantage well. You start in the city center near Ingólfur Square, then work your way along familiar downtown streets while your guide adds context you won’t get from a map. You’ll also get a guide who keeps the group moving without rushing the conversations.

Best of all, the tour feels made for real questions. It’s limited to 12 travelers, and on some departures the group size can get very small, which makes the whole experience more like having a friend show you the good stuff. If you’re lactose intolerant, there’s an important catch: the tour includes ice cream, so you’ll want to think twice.

Key highlights to look for

• A 2-hour, walkable loop in central Reykjavík, designed for low stress and maximum tasting
• Six named stops across Reykjavík dessert favorites, with samples covered in the tour price
• Guide-led stories, including local history tied directly to the places you visit
• Bold Iceland flavors you might not order on your own, like skyr and fermented shark
• Small group limit (max 12), which helps the tour feel personal rather than factory-paced
• Family-friendly energy, with guides who seem comfortable engaging kids and keeping it fun

Sweet Tooth Tour in Reykjavík: how the timing and format work

This is a ~2-hour walking tour that fits nicely into your first full day in Reykjavík or any afternoon when you want something warmer and more playful than museums. With a start time of 2:00 pm, you can sleep in a bit, grab lunch earlier, and then let dessert be your next meal plan.

The format is simple: meet in the center, walk to the first stop, and keep moving at an easy pace. Because the tour is capped at 12 people, the guide can slow down if you’re asking questions or want help deciding what to taste.

One practical tip: plan to arrive hungry enough to enjoy everything, but not so hungry that you feel stuffed by the end. More on that later, because this tour has a habit of turning into “save room” mode.

Finding Ingólfur Square and getting started near the stone pillars

Your guide meets you at Ingólfur Square by the two tall stone pillars (over 3 meters). It’s in the middle of Reykjavík, in front of Center Hotels Plaza on Aðalstræti 6, and close to the start of Austurstræti (Austurstræti 1).

If you use Google Maps, look for Ingólfstorg / Ingólfur Square first, then orient yourself to the pillars. Guides with Your Friend in Reykjavik typically wear a light blue jacket with the company name on the back, so you shouldn’t have to guess for long.

Starting near this landmark matters. It puts you in the city core immediately, which means less time hunting for the beginning and more time enjoying what’s on the route.

Ingólfstorg: the meeting point that turns into a story stop

The tour begins at Ingólfstorg, and it’s not just a convenient address. The pillars are a fast way to get your bearings in Reykjavík’s center, and your guide uses that moment to set the tone for the walk.

This is a smart move. When you start with something that’s visually striking and historically meaningful, the rest of the route feels connected rather than random. You also get a short window to settle in—kids can focus, adults can orient, and everyone can start with the same “where are we?” reference point.

It’s quick (about 10 minutes), but it’s the kind of first stop that makes the tour feel organized instead of wandering with snacks.

Laugavegur stroll: easy walking plus guide narration

After the square, you head toward Laugavegur, the heart of downtown Reykjavík. This part is built around an easy stroll, not a tour of every street corner.

The point isn’t just scenery. It’s the combination of relaxed walking with narration from your guide. Expect stories and anecdotes threaded through the route so you understand what you’re seeing—not only where you’re going.

Laugavegur is also the reason this tour works for many schedules. You’re in the main pedestrian-friendly zone, so the whole thing stays practical even if you’re managing jet lag or traveling with kids.

BakaBaka: Icelandic pastries that taste like tradition

The first real food stop is BakaBaka, a cozy place known for Icelandic pastries. This stop is designed for people who love flaky layers and warm, bakery-style comfort food.

What I like about this kind of stop on a walking tour is the contrast. Earlier, you’re getting orientation and context. Here, the tour shifts into a more sensory mode—smell, texture, and sweetness. It also helps that the time commitment is reasonable (about 20 minutes), so you get time to taste without turning it into a long sit-down meal.

You’ll likely find yourself comparing bites to what you’ve had before in Europe—then realizing Iceland has its own baking personality. Your guide can help you notice what makes these pastries distinctly Icelandic.

Taste of Iceland: skyr, fermented shark, and fearless sampling

Next comes Taste of Iceland, where the tour turns adventurous. The included samples can include fermented shark, skyr, and other Icelandic treats.

Fermented shark is the one that makes people pause. If you’re curious, this is exactly where you want it—because you’re not deciding alone, and your guide can frame what you’re tasting and why it matters locally. If you’re not curious, you can still enjoy the rest of the variety, since the stop is set up as a tasting experience rather than a single forced dish.

Skyr is the anchor here. It shows up in Iceland’s food culture again and again, and this stop gives you a chance to taste it in a way that fits the dessert theme. Even if you don’t love everything, the structure helps you sample widely without the stress of ordering a full item you might not finish.

This stop is about 20 minutes. It’s long enough to enjoy multiple samples, but short enough that you won’t feel like you’re sitting out the rest of the walk.

Valdís at Ísbúðin litla Valdís: ice cream that Icelanders eat anyway

If you’re following a sweet-food trail, you can’t skip ice cream. The tour makes its next move to Ísbúðin litla Valdís, described as a classic ice cream shop in Reykjavík.

What I like here is the attitude. Your guide explains (and the tour experience reinforces) that Icelanders eat ice cream in any weather. So even if it’s chilly or windy, you’ll still have a warm reason to stop.

Ice cream also explains the tour’s warning for lactose intolerance. The ice cream portion is part of the experience, not an optional extra. If dairy is a problem for you, you may want to skip this tour or be ready for an alternate approach at the shop.

This stop runs about 15 minutes. It’s enough time to taste, decide on a favorite flavor, and move on—without losing the momentum that keeps the tour fun.

Dass Reykjavik: skyr cake, a softer finish, and sweet balance

The final food stop is Dass Reykjavik, where you try a cake made with skyr. It’s a nice way to finish because it blends Iceland’s signature ingredient into a dessert form that doesn’t rely on just sugar.

Then you’re done, and the tour ends back at the meeting point. That “back to start” design keeps things simple if you’re planning dinner afterward or trying to coordinate with other activities in central Reykjavík.

What makes this ending work is balance. You’ve likely tasted pastries, candy-style sweetness, ice cream, and bolder Iceland flavors. The skyr cake gives a more dessert-like wrap-up that still feels local.

Price and value: what $109.04 buys you in practice

The tour costs $109.04 per person, lasts about two hours, and includes all the bites and samples. On paper, that can sound high until you map it to what’s actually included.

Here’s the practical math: you’re covering multiple branded stops (BakaBaka, Taste of Iceland, Ísbúðin litla Valdís, and Dass Reykjavik) plus tastings that can add up quickly if you paid separately. Because the tour bundles everything, you avoid the common problem with food tours: you end up paying for drinks and extra items that aren’t included.

Also, the guide’s role is part of the value. The stories aren’t random facts; they tie to what you’re tasting and what you’re walking past. People repeatedly highlight the guides’ ability to connect desserts to Icelandic culture and everyday life, which is the real reason to book a guided version instead of just “going to cafes.”

Still, I’ll be honest about the main value risk: if you’re already planning to revisit the exact same shops later, a tour might feel redundant. One person found the tasting included items they weren’t expecting to fit the sweet theme, which is why I recommend you come ready to taste broadly, not just candy.

Who should book (and who might skip)

This tour fits best if you want a guided dessert route in central Reykjavík and you’d rather eat first, think later. It’s especially good for:

• Couples and small groups who want something fun on an afternoon schedule
• First-time visitors who need help turning street names and landmarks into stories
• Families with kids who can handle short shop visits and enjoy sweet stopping points

It’s less ideal if:

• You’re lactose intolerant, since ice cream is part of the included experience
• You only want desserts that are strictly candy-sweet and nothing else
• You already know you’ll spend a long time in each of these shops independently and don’t want any guided structure

Group size helps either way. With a maximum of 12 travelers, you’re unlikely to feel swallowed by the crowd.

What kind of guide experience you can expect

Guides matter on a food tour. This one is operated by Your Friend in Reykjavik, and the narration style shows up in real outcomes: people talk about guides like Paul, Thor (Bjarni Þór), Oli, Ester, Gudjon, Bo (Sveinbjörn), Einar, Mathias, and Stefan. The consistent theme is engagement—good questions, patience, and story-telling that makes the stops feel connected.

Some people also noted a small extra touch: photos taken during the tour and shared after. That’s not essential, but it’s a handy keepsake when you’re walking around looking for the next bite.

Because the tour can end up small, the guide can shift into friend mode quickly. If you like conversation and asking why Icelandic people eat what they eat, this tour rewards that instinct.

After the tour: what to do next with a dessert-heavy stomach

You’ll likely finish satisfied, maybe even overly satisfied. Many people recommend doing this earlier in your trip or planning a light dinner later, because the walk includes enough samples to function like a late lunch plus dessert.

Once you’re back near the center, you’re set up for easy next moves. You’re already in the main Reykjavík zone, so you can keep exploring on your own without hunting for transit.

If you want to follow up, the smartest approach is to return to whichever shop you loved most—rather than trying to repeat everything. The tour does the heavy lifting of taste-testing so you know where to spend your time later.

Should you book the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

I’d book it if you want a guided, two-hour sweet route with local context and multiple branded tastings. It’s good value when you factor in that bites and samples are included, and the small group size keeps the experience lively instead of chaotic.

I’d skip or rethink it if ice cream is a no-go for you, or if your idea of a sweet tour means only cake-and-candy with zero surprises. Also, if you’re already committed to visiting the exact stops independently and want zero structure, you may not get as much out of paying for the guide.

If you’re in the mood for fun, walking, and Iceland-flavored desserts, this tour is an easy yes.

FAQ

How long is the Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour?

The tour runs for about 2 hours.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What stops and foods can I expect?

You’ll visit multiple dessert spots, including BakaBaka (pastries), Taste of Iceland (including fermented shark and skyr), Ísbúðin litla Valdís (ice cream), and Dass Reykjavik (skyr cake). Candy and additional Icelandic treats are also included as part of the tasting.

Is the tour a bad idea if I’m lactose intolerant?

Yes. The tour is not recommended for people who are lactose intolerant because it includes ice cream.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid will not be refunded.