Iceland Layover and Reykjavik Food Tour
On the way to the Faroe Islands I had an 8-hour layover in Iceland. I wanted to make the most of my time and do something active to help deal with jet lag, I decided to book a walking tour of Iceland’s captial city, Reykjavik. This wasn’t just any walking tour though, this was a FOOD tour.
Wake up Reykjavik offers several different types of tours, but the 3 to 4 hour walking food tour was exactly what I was looking for and so much more. I was in Iceland a few years ago and LOVED everything about it. One of my favorite things was the food. So to have a chance to come back and taste more of what Iceland had to offer, was perfect.
A small group of us with similar adventurous tastebuds met up with our Wake Up Reykavik guide at the Harpa Music Hall. Our fun and friendly guide, Bára, started us off at a cafe inside a museum run by two friends, “Julia & Julia.” We had some of the best skyr yogurt with fresh blueberries and a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Not a bad way to start the day or the trip.
1. Julia & Julia: Icelandic Skyr
It just kept getting better and better. We visited another 5 amazing places that are off the tourist radar. Since talking about the tasty goodness just won’t do it justice, I will share a few more photos.
2. Ostabúðin: Local Cheese and Meat Tasting
Some of the best cheese and meat I’ve ever tasted. We had gouda, a swiss, smoke geese, lamb, and a few others that I can’t remember, but I know I enjoyed.
3. Cafe Loki: Secret Family Recipe – Rye Bread Ice Cream
Next up was Loki Cafe where they have the BEST dessert I’ve had in my life and the only place in the world where you can get rye bread ice cream. Now…this isn’t just regular rye bread, because that could be nasty. This is rye bread ice cream that has been caramelized and is sweet and is the best pairing with creamy, vanilla ice cream. We also had mashed fish and smoked salmon on rye bread, which were also amazing. It’s just one of those things you have to taste in person.
4. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: Best Hotdogs in Town
Hotdogs are a must and Iceland happens to have one of the BEST hotdog stands in Europe. It’s also one of the oldest hot dogs stands in the world, opening up in 1937. The stand is called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur – which translates from Icelandic into English as “the best hotdog in town” and I would agree.
5. The Taste of Sweetness: Icelandic Chocolate
Iceland also happens to make seriously good chocolate. We had lots of options to sample at “Taste of Sweetness.” Flavors included grape, bubble gum, ash sea salt, and Coca Cola pop rocks mixed with the chocolate. All were creamy and wonderful! You can’t go wrong because Iceland does chocolate right!
At this point I was grateful we were walking all around town. Not only were we getting to see historical sites and learn more about the city, it was helping us to digest and make room for all the food we were eating.
6. Icelandic Seafood Soup
The last stop was to a nice seafood restaurant by the harbor where we had a creamy shrimp soup with spinach and bean sprouts. Everything was delicious! It was the perfect ending to a perfect tour.
This food tour is a MUST and not just because of the food. The guides are outstanding! They love their country, their city, and they get to share that love with you. You get to skip lines, visit places, eat food and hear the histories that you’ll never find in a guide book.
So if you have 4 to 5 hours to spare in Iceland on a layover, Wake Up Reykjavik food tours are the perfect way to spend it. It would also be a great way to start your Iceland adventure. You can miss the crowds, make some new friends, and treat your taste buds. It also gives you a good feel for the city. They have morning and afternoon tours and is the perfect cure to jet lag and the best way to start an adventure.
Please note, these options are my own and I’m not being paid to recommend or refer Wake Up Reykjavik. I paid for this tour myself and believe in sharing great trips, resources, and experiences with like-minded adventure cravers. So enjoy!
In the next post, I’ll dive into the sailing part of the Faroe Island Sailing Adventure. I was just so impressed with my Icelandic layover I just couldn’t skip over it.
Questions about the trip?
If you have any questions about the trip, the boat, the gear, the flights, or the Faroe Islands, please feel free to reach out. You can leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer. Thanks!