Iceland: Private Sweet Tooth Tour

Save room for dessert. This private two-hour tour makes Reykjavik’s food scene easy to sample, from warm kleina and snúður to Icelandic chocolate, ice cream, and candy. I especially like the mix of familiar sweets and distinctly Icelandic flavors, plus the short walks between stops.

I also like that your guide explains how each treat is made and where it fits into Icelandic food culture. The main drawback is the $365 per person price, which is high for a two-hour tasting unless you value a private guide, several included samples, and the personal stories that bring the food to life.

Key details at a glance

• Four sweet stops: Visit a bakery, specialty chocolate shop, ice cream parlor, and famous candy shop.
• Traditional Icelandic pastries: Try kleina, a fried pastry similar to a doughnut, and snúður, a sweet cinnamon roll.
• Distinctive flavors: Look for birch sugar, wild berries, licorice, skyr, and chocolate mixed with licorice.
• Short walking route: The tour is designed around brief walks in the capital area, useful in cold or wet weather.
• Private group format: You get a guide for your own group rather than joining a large public tour.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund and reserve without paying at once.

Starting at Ingólfstorg Square

Your meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait.

Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That detail matters in a busy central area, especially if the weather is poor or you are meeting after a long day of sightseeing.

The tour lasts two hours, so expect a quick, focused outing rather than a full meal or a relaxed afternoon sitting in cafés. You will walk between several food stops, though the route includes very short walks. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Icelandic weather can change quickly, so a waterproof outer layer is sensible even for a short city tour.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the square and return from the final candy stop.

First stop: kleina and snúður at a local bakery

The bakery visit gives the tour its traditional starting point. Instead of beginning with flashy chocolates or elaborate desserts, you get a taste of everyday Icelandic baking.

Kleina is a deep-fried, doughnut-like pastry with a firm shape and a simple, old-fashioned appeal. Snúður is a sweet cinnamon roll, the sort of bakery treat that works well with coffee and appears in many Icelandic homes and cafés. These pastries help you understand the country through ordinary food rather than only through special-occasion dishes.

Your guide explains how the pastries are made and gives you background on their place in Icelandic life. That commentary is one of the main reasons to choose a guided tasting instead of simply walking into a bakery on your own. You are not just eating a pastry. You are learning what people in Iceland grew up eating and how local bakers prepare it.

This stop may be the least exotic for anyone who has sampled Scandinavian or northern European baking before. Still, the value is in the context and the chance to compare Icelandic versions of familiar treats. If you prefer unusual flavors over classic pastry, the later chocolate, ice cream, and candy stops will probably be more exciting.

Icelandic chocolate with birch sugar and wild berries

The specialty chocolate shop shifts the mood from traditional bakery food to more inventive Icelandic sweets. Here, you taste some of the country’s finer chocolates and learn about ingredients that give them a local character.

Birch sugar and wild berries are two details worth watching for. Birch sugar brings a connection to Icelandic natural ingredients, while berries add a bright, fruity note to chocolate. The precise flavors available can vary, but the point is to show how Icelandic confectioners use local ingredients in modern sweets.

I like this stop because it gives you something to look for when browsing Icelandic shops later. A chocolate bar with birch sugar or berries is more useful as a souvenir than a generic imported candy, especially if you want a small gift that feels connected to the country.

You should also keep your expectations in check. A chocolate tasting is not the same as a meal, and the tour does not include lunch. The samples are part of the experience, but you may want to eat beforehand if you are hungry. The supplied information also advises having water and snacks handy for the walk.

Ice cream, skyr, and the Icelandic taste for licorice

The ice cream parlor is likely to be a favorite stop if you enjoy cold desserts, even in Iceland’s chilly weather. You can sample creamy ice cream in several flavors, including options associated with Iceland such as licorice and skyr.

Skyr is a thick Icelandic dairy food with a mild, tangy taste. In ice cream, it offers a different profile from standard vanilla or chocolate. Licorice is more divisive. Icelanders enjoy it in many forms, and its sharp, salty-sweet flavor can surprise anyone who has only tried soft American-style licorice.

This is a good part of the tour for testing your assumptions. You may find a new favorite, or you may decide that licorice belongs on someone else’s spoon. Either result is useful. The tour gives you a chance to try small portions without committing to a full serving of an unfamiliar flavor.

The ice cream stop also breaks up the heavier pastry and chocolate samples. You still should not think of the whole outing as a substitute for a meal, but the change in texture and temperature keeps the tasting from feeling like one long parade of similar sweets.

Finishing with Draumur and Þristur

The final stop is a famous candy shop, where you sample a wider selection of Icelandic sweets. This is the most casual and playful part of the route.

Draumur is an iconic Icelandic chocolate bar. Þristur combines licorice and chocolate, a pairing that captures the sweet and salty side of local candy culture. If you are unsure about licorice, Þristur is a useful introduction because the chocolate softens the stronger flavor without hiding it completely.

A candy shop also gives you the easiest opportunity to identify souvenirs. You can ask your guide which sweets are especially associated with Iceland, then look for them later if you want to take some home. The tour does not promise a shopping stop with time for a large purchase, so treat this primarily as a tasting rather than a dedicated retail visit.

By ending with candy, the tour finishes on an easy, informal note. You have moved from traditional baked goods to specialty chocolate, then ice cream, and finally familiar-looking packaged sweets with distinctly Icelandic combinations.

What makes the guide important

The food itself is easy to find in Reykjavik. The guide is what turns four snack stops into a coherent experience.

Your guide explains the origins of the pastries, how bakers make them, and the ingredients used in Icelandic chocolate and ice cream. The personal side matters, too. One guide described how particular foods were eaten in his family and how relatives made the treats their own. That sort of family detail gives the tour a warmer feel than a simple list of ingredients and dates.

The strongest praise focuses on the guide’s understanding of Icelandic food and culture, along with a kind, personable manner. That is important because a private tour depends heavily on the person leading it. A good guide can adjust the conversation to your interests and explain why a simple cinnamon roll or candy bar matters.

The available guide languages are English, German, French, and Spanish. You should select your preferred language when checking availability.

Is $365 per person good value?

At $365 per person, this is not a budget snack walk. The price makes the most sense for someone who specifically wants a private experience and values personal explanation more than saving money.

You are paying for several things at once:

• A private group rather than a large shared tour
• A live guide for two hours
• Included samples at four different types of food businesses
• Cultural and family context around the sweets
• A short central walking route
• The convenience of having the tasting plan organized for you

The price is harder to justify if you simply want to try Icelandic candy and pastries on your own. Reykjavik has shops and bakeries where you can buy individual items without paying for a private guide. You also should not book this expecting a full meal, since meals are not included.

For couples, families, or small groups who enjoy food stories and want a private outing, the cost may feel worthwhile. For solo visitors focused on low-cost sightseeing, it is a luxury purchase. The private format is the key question. If you would happily pay for a local guide to explain the food, the price has a clearer purpose.

Walking, weather, and accessibility

The route includes short walks, which is useful if you want a food experience without a long trek across Reykjavik. Still, you should wear comfortable walking shoes. The guidance also asks you to prepare for changing weather conditions.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Since the exact access details for each bakery, shop, and parlor are not provided, you should confirm any specific mobility requirements before booking.

Pets and smoking are not allowed. Food allergies are another serious concern. The tour is not suitable for people with food allergies, so do not rely on the guide to adapt every sample safely.

Because the tour includes dairy, pastries, chocolate, and candy, you may encounter several ingredients across the stops. Anyone with dietary restrictions should ask for confirmation before reserving rather than assume substitutions will be available.

Who will enjoy this sweet tour most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• People who plan trips around food
• Visitors curious about everyday Icelandic treats
• Couples or families who prefer a private guide
• Anyone who wants short walks instead of a long city tour
• People willing to try licorice and unusual sweet-and-salty combinations
• First-time visitors who want food context without spending half a day on a formal tour

It may be less suitable for you if you need a full lunch, dislike dairy and sweets, have food allergies, or want a low-cost activity. It is also not the best choice if you prefer major sights and outdoor scenery during every hour of your Iceland trip.

The tour is compact enough to fit into a busy Reykjavik schedule. You could place it between other central activities, but remember that a two-hour tasting can leave you quite full, especially with pastry, chocolate, ice cream, and candy in one outing.

My booking advice

I like this tour because it treats Icelandic sweets as a window into local life, not just as a series of sugar samples. Kleina and snúður show you familiar bakery traditions, while birch sugar, wild berries, skyr, licorice, Draumur, and Þristur bring in flavors that feel more specific to Iceland.

The two available ratings are both five-star reviews, with particular praise for the guide’s food knowledge, kindness, and personal family stories. That matches the tour’s main strength: the conversation should be as important as the tasting.

Book it if you want a private, guided food experience and the price fits your budget. Skip it if you are mainly looking for inexpensive snacks or a substantial meal. For the best experience, arrive hungry but not starving, wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and keep an open mind about licorice.

FAQ

Where does the Iceland Sweet Tooth Tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar the Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right. There are benches, tables, and a covered ceiling nearby.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two hours.

What foods are included?

The experience includes traditional pastries such as kleina and snúður, Icelandic chocolates, ice cream with unique flavors, and Icelandic candies and sweets.

Is the tour private?

Yes. This is a private group experience.

Which languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English, German, French, and Spanish.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. You should confirm specific access needs for the individual food stops before booking.

Can I cancel the tour or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve now and pay later option is also available.

Is the tour suitable for people with food allergies?

No. The tour is listed as unsuitable for people with food allergies.