23 Best Souvenirs from Iceland to Buy in 2024
Looking for souvenirs from Iceland? You’re in the right place.
Iceland is a country of natural beauty, which is the main draw for tourists. Known as the “the land of fire and ice,” Iceland is famous for its active volcanoes, stunning cliffs over the ocean, thousands of waterfalls, exotic wildlife and a rich heritage of Viking settlement.
When looking for souvenirs from Iceland, you want things that remind you of the character of this unique country, and quality Icelandic products that can’t be bought anywhere else.
When I went to Iceland with my family, I found it hard to choose between all the different Icelandic souvenirs. We came home with quite a few; some that made great gifts, and others that we have or use to this day.
There are a few good Icelandic products that I like so much, that I’ve had to try to track down online because there’s nothing like them anywhere outside Iceland.
Finding some of the best Icelandic souvenirs was by chance, and from talking to locals.
I’m going to save you some time by telling you the best souvenirs from Iceland to look for during your trip so that you know exactly what to look for, and where to find it.
So, let’s jump in – souvenirs from Iceland.
23 Best Souvenirs from Iceland
Here are the best souvenirs from Iceland to give as a gift, or to remind you of your trip to the land of fire and ice
1. A lava bracelet
Best for: Someone who likes to wear unique jewelry
Where to Buy: Ofeigur in Reykjavik or online
Lava beads from volcanic rock from Iceland are used to make a range of jewelry. Each lava stone is unique, and can be made into bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
There are said to be some spiritual and mental wellbeing to wearing lava rock beads. Lava rock is believed to make you feel grounded; connected to the Earth, stable, safe and peaceful.
For see some more examples of what lava jewelry looks like, check out this artisan lava bracelet made in Reykjavik here, or there are also a good selection of them on Etsy.
If you’re visiting Reykjavik, you should pop in to Ofeigur jewelry store in the city centre. They sell a lot of different kinds of lava jewelry, including lava bracelets.
Good to Know: Real lava bracelets should have creases and holes in the beads, like in the photo above. If the beads are smooth in texture, then it might not be real lava beads. Expect to spend anywhere from $50 to $100 on a real lava bead bracelet.
2. Icelandic sea salt
Best for: Someone who likes to cook
Where to Buy: Supermarkets, or online
Icelandic sea salt is a consumable souvenir that can be added to your pantry at home. It is less processed than many other types of sea salt, and contains healthy minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium.
Icelandic sea salt is used in cooking, and sometimes sprinkled on chocolate.
The best Icelandic salt brand to buy is Saltverk´s Icelandic Flake salt. It is hand harvested sustainably from the Westfjords of Iceland, and is the world’s only artisan salt that is produced with 100% geothermal energy.
There are different flavours, such as black volcanic salt, birch smoked salt (which smells a bit like a campfire, but is great on anything!) and wild berry salt.
Expect to spend around $12 per jar for any of the flavours made by Saltverk’s. You can find them in grocery stores and in souvenir shops.
Good to Know: Another Icelandic salt to look for is called kartöflukrydd. Its a pink salt that is used on French fries. If you ever buy French fries in Iceland, then you’ll know what I’m talking about! Find it in grocery stores, or order it online here
3. A “BÓNUS” reusable bag
Best for: Anyone who does a lot of shopping
Where to Buy: At one of the BÓNUS locations in Iceland
A BÓNUS is not only a cheap souvenir from Iceland, but its useful too! BÓNUS is one of the largest grocery store chains in Iceland; there are over 30 locations throughout the country.
This may not sound like a lot, but Iceland’s population is only 375,000. So, you’re bound to see a BÓNUS grocery store in most towns that you pass through.
We did quite a bit of shopping at BÓNUS during our trip to Iceland. Buying your own food and cooking is a good way to save money travelling, especially a trip to Iceland.
It makes sense to buy a reusable bag from BÓNUS if you’re going to be shopping, as single-use plastics are becoming more and more discouraged. You could also bring your own from home, but I recommend grabbing a few BONUS bags as a souvenir.
I get many comments and compliments on my BÒNUS bag at home, often from others who have also been to Iceland.
Good to Know: Recently as of early 2024, people have been having trouble finding BÓNUS reusable bags in the stores. I’m not sure if they’re in short supply. If you can’t find one, then you can check out other BÒNUS merchandise on the online store.
4. A can of Icelandic beer
Best for: Someone who enjoys trying different beers
Where to Buy: An Icelandic brewery, or a supermarket
Although it was banned in Iceland until 1989, beer has become an important part of Icelandic culture since the government came around to legalizing it.
Iceland now has dozens of breweries and hundreds of its own beer brands, and new microbreweries are popping up all the time.
Some of the top Icelandic beer brands to look for include:
- Ulfur
- Kaldi Blonde
- Systir (pictured above)
- Bríó
Pro Tip: Before bringing any type of alcohol home, you will need to check with your country’s customs and possibly declare it if you’d like to bring it home as a souvenir from Iceland.
5. An Icelandic team jersey
Best for: Someone who likes sports
Where to Buy: An Icelandic sports store, or online
Sports are very popular in Iceland. The national sport in Iceland is called Glíma, which is a form of wrestling which is believed to have originated with the Vikings.. However, Iceland also has hockey and soccer teams.
They make Icelandic sports team jerseys for adults and kids that you can buy from sports stores and souvenir stores. I got one for my daughter, who still wears it to this day.
Many of them have Icelandic writing and names on them, which makes them unique.
There are a few different Icelandic sports stores, Sportis and Sports Direct in Reykjavik. You can also see a selection of Icelandic team jerseys here.
6. Traditional Icelandic Wool Sweater
Best for: Someone who appreciates warm, handmade and cozy clothing
Where to Buy: Souvenir stores in Iceland, or online
Icelandic sweaters, hats, mitts and scarves are made from the wool from Icelandic sheep and are typically warmer than standard types of wool. They’re called lopapeysa.
If you’re looking for a good quality wool sweater that will last a lifetime, then an Icelandic wool sweater might make a great gift or useful keepsake. You can buy them in souvenir stores, there are many different colours and designs.
Icelandic wool is more water-repellent than other types of wool, and it also has a coarser feel to it. It’s perfect for staying warm and dry in cold weather.
Icelandic wool being highly sought after by tourists has meant that its become very commercialized, and a lot of knock-offs have been made in recent years.
You’ll see many hats, scarves, mitts and sweaters in Iceland souvenir stores – but how do you know its real authentic Icelandic wool, and not just an imitation?
Authentic Icelandic wool (lopapeysa) should meet the following criteria:
- handknitted in Iceland
- must be made with fresh wool (not recycled wool)
Just be sure to read the labels carefully so you know whether its authentic or not. There is a small store in Vik (2.5 hours east of Reykjavik) that sells authentic ones.
If you can’t find a lopapeysa you like in person, then you can also check the official website of the Handknitting Association of Iceland .
Good to Know: A “Designed in Iceland” label usually indicates that the sweater was only designed there and not made there. So if you see this label on a wool sweater, then it likely isn’t a real lopapeysa. You should expect to spend anywhere from $150-$300 on a real traditional Icelandic wool sweater.
7. Unique Icelandic Jewelry
Best for: Mom, girlfriend, best friend or wife
Where to Buy: Icelandic jewelry stores, or online
Aside from lava bracelets, you have a few other options for jewelry from Iceland. You can find necklaces with Iceland-inspired pendants, and also Runic symbols.
1. Iceland-inspired pendants
If you’re looking for a beautiful Icelandic pendant, check out a store called Aurum by Guðbjörg in downtown Reykjavik.
They produce fancy jewelry, such as engagement rings, but some of their jewelry is also very unique to Iceland.
They have charms that are inspired by Icelandic natural beauty, such as this one.
2. Jewelry with Runic alphabet symbols
Another option that you can find in Iceland is jewelry with Runes alphabetic symbols. Rune letters were used in Germanic languages, including Icelandic before the Roman alphabet took over in the Middle Ages.
There are many beautiful options on Etsy, which makes it easy to choose the symbol you want (they all mean different things.)
Runes were used for many purposes:
- to contact the dead
- for protection
- good luck
- safety.
I lots of Rune jewelry at the Settler’s Museum gift shop in Reykjavik, and they also have them at Alrun Nordic Design.
One of my personal favourites is this symbol made into a necklace by Alrun Nordic Design is this symbol meaning ‘love.’
8. An Icelandic homemade candle
Best for: Someone who enjoys baths and relaxing
Where to Buy: souvenir shops
The concept of hygge (which means ‘coziness in Norweigen) is very popular in Iceland, as with other Nordic countries.
Icelandic candles are homemade with sustainable soy wax and are lightly fragranced with natural ingredients, such as dried fruits, herbs and spices. Icelanders use candles to make their homes cozier, and smell nice.
Sometimes you can even find handmade candles with 2,000 year-old lava stones from Icelandic volcanoes.
The handmade candles come in different shapes and sizes and different ingredients, and can be found in several Icelandic souvenir stores.
They’re the perfect asset to creating a cozy atmosphere at home; the ‘hygge’ that Scandinavian countries are known for.
Pro Tip: If you prefer tea lights as opposed to large candles, check out these lava tea light holders.
9. Blue Lagoon Skin Care Products
Best for: A skincare enthusiast
Where to Buy: At the Blue Lagoon, or at their online store
You’ve probably heard about the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik. It’s not only a bath, but a professional spa that makes skincare products as well, and one of the best places to visit in Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon Spa makes a lot of high quality, natural skincare products moisturizers, serums and mud-masks.
If you’ve ever gotten a mask at the Blue Lagoon then you’ll know the products can leave your skin feeling amazing. My skin felt so soft after getting a mask at the Blue Lagoon. (I had no idea you could buy the product on-site at the time.)
It costs me a pretty penny to have these Blue Lagoon products shipped to me, so if you’re interested- grab them there in person.
Like most quality skincare products, Blue Lagoon skincare is not cheap. You can expect to spend anywhere from $50-$200 on one single product. Their award-winning eye serum is $180.
Good to Know: If you missed buying the skincare products in person at the Blue Lagoon like I did, then keep in mind that the Blue Lagoon website ships worldwide, and they’ll ship for free to the United States if you spend a certain amount.
10. A book by an Icelandic author
Best for: Someone who likes to read
Where to Buy: Bookstores in Iceland
Books are very much loved in Iceland. They have a 100% literacy rate and its said that most Icelanders read 2-4 books every month.
Julabokaflod is held on Christmas Eve and involves giving books as presents and spending the rest of the evening reading. It’s the passion for books and reading that makes literature a fitting souvenir from Iceland.
One of my favourite Icelandic authors is Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, and she’s famous in Icelandic for her Nordic Noir books. They’re clever murder mysteries and always very exciting. She also has a good sense of humour, which is part of why I make an exception for her murder mysteries when I don’t usually read those types of books.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir’s latest book, The Prey was released in early 2024.
Penninn Eymundsson Austurstræti is the largest bookstore in Reykjavik and has an English section where you can shop for Icelandic literature (for both adults and kids) printed in English. I would recommend stopping there to check out books by Icelandic and international authors!
11. Icelandic sagas
Best for: Someone who’s interested in fantasy, folklore and mythology
Where to Buy: souvenir shops and bookstores
Icelandic sagas were written in medieval Iceland, in the 1200s and 1300s. They’ve been very influential in Icelandic literature.
Each of the sagas have different stories, often involving people in the late 8th century through to the 11th century, and sometimes mythical creatures.
Although the sagas were written in Icelandic, you can buy copies of the sagas printed in English, and in some cases other languages too. Here is a list of the Icelandic sagas:
- Egil’s Saga
- Njáls Saga
- Grettir’s Saga
- Laxdæla Saga
- The Saga of the Volsungs
You should be able to find English prints of the sagas in souvenir shops and bookstores. Amazon also carries a copy of them.
12. Icelandic candy
Best for: A treat for anybody (especially if they like licorice)
Where to Buy: Souvenir stores and supermarkets
Scandinavia in general has some of the best candy I’ve ever tried, and Iceland is no exception. For many years, licorice was the only type of candy that Icelanders had access to.
As a result, they have some of the best licorice you can find in the world. Sometimes you can even find chocolate bars with black liquorice bits in them.
Apollo Liquorice is the most popular liquorice in Iceland. You can get a gift box with assorted liquorice-based goodies like this one, or just bags of straight liquorice.
13. A stuffed puffin
Best for: Kids, or anyone who loves puffins
Where to Buy: Icelandic souvenir shops
Similar to other Northern European countries like Norway and Ireland, Iceland is a haven for puffins! They’re most commonly seen in the summertime, between May and August.
Just a 15-minute boat ride from Reykjavik will bring you to Faxaflói Bay which has thousands of puffins in the summer months.
If you’re in Iceland with kids, you might find it hard to come home without one of these adorable puffin stuffies.
Whether or not you do the puffin tour, puffins are still seen as a representation of Icelandic terrain and wildlife.
14. An Icelandic Christmas ornament
Best for: Someone who celebrates Christmas
Where to Buy: An Icelandic Christmas store
Christmas is the most important holiday in Iceland. Rather than one Santa, there are actually a group of them, called “Yule lads.” Children leave shoes by their beds in hopes that the yule-lads will fill them with presents.
Icelandic Christmas ornaments sometimes have these yule-lads on them, and there are also many ornaments with symbols of nature from Iceland.
The best place to shop for Icelandic Christmas ornaments is the Christmas store called Litla Jólabúðin in Reykjavík. It’s open year-round, six days a week.
15. An Icelandic beanie hat
Best for: Someone who likes to wear hats
Where to Buy: Souvenir shops in Iceland, or online
One thing Iceland is known for, besides the otherworldly scenery, is the cold. In fact, Iceland will be relatively cold whether you visit there in the summer or the winter. (We’ve visited in both August, and in February.)
A beanie makes a good simple souvenir, and they come in a variety of colours and styles; for men and women as well as unisex, and all ages.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want your Iceland beanie hat to look too ‘touristy’ I found that there are more subtle-looking ones on Amazon.
16. Icelandic “Nature” condoms
Best for: Someone with a sense of humour
Where to Buy: Souvenir shops on Laugavegur street in Reykjavík
Nature-based condoms are a new phenomenon in Icelandic souvenirs. The idea started when two Icelandic product designers wanted to create an Icelandic souvenir that could be “useful.”
Rather than tourists only buying things like keychains and trickets that don’t really do anything, they wanted a souvenir that could be put to good use.
In Icelandic souvenir stores, you can find six different types of condoms inspired by Iceland’s natural beauty: Geysir, Rock formation, Volcanic Eruption, Hengill steam, Þursaborgir and Northern lights.
“Enjoy our Nature” is the slogan for these condoms. So, if you’re looking for a souvenir that is useful, or to be a gag for a friend, then these might be the perfect choice.
17. Icelandic chocolate
Best for: Anyone who enjoys chocolate
Where to Buy: The Omnom Factory in Reykjavik, or online
If you like to try different types of chocolat, then you should head to Omnom Chocolate Factory and Ice cream shop, about a 20 minute walk from downtown Reykjavik.
Bonus: they even make vegan chocolate, with toppings like raspberry and cocoa nibs.
You can also buy Omnom chocolate on their website, but it can be expensive to ship it to other countries (to Canada, it was going to cost me $30.00 just for shipping.) However, they offer free shipping to the U.S. for your first order.
If you don’t live in the U.S., then you’re much better off buying Omnom chocolate while you’re in Iceland.
18. A loaf of Rugbrauð
Best for: Anyone who likes bread and is ok with dairy in their bread
Where to Buy: Supermarkets and bakeries
Rugbrauð is Iceland’s rye bread, nicknamed “hot-spring-bread” because traditionally, its baked by being put in a pot and buried in the ground near a geysir.
Rugbrauð is a brown colour bread and usually square-shaped, because it’s baked in a square-shaped pan.
You’ll see it quite often in Iclenadic cafés, bakeries and homes if you were to visit anyone.
Good to Know: Rugbrauð doesn’t have a lot of additives to preserve it, so put it in the fridge or freezer when you get home if you aren’t going to eat it right away.
19. Icelandic liquor
Best for: Anyone who enjoys a liquor
Where to Buy: Vínbúdin
Brennivín is Iceland’s traditional spirit. It was invented in 1915 and is popular throughout Scandinavian countries. It’s an unusual drink, so I’d only recommend it for someone who is a bit adventurous in trying new things.
Brennivín (which means “burning wine” in English) has a bit of a liquorice taste, and was once referred to as “the black death,” only as a joke of course, because its not made with anything unhealthy.
Brennivín is made from potato mash or grain and flavoured with either dill or caraway.
You can find a bottle of Brennivín at Vínbúdi; Iceland’s chain liquor store. There are 51 locations throughout Iceland. We passed countless of them during our Iceland road trip on Route 1.
20. Egils Appelsín drink
Best for: Anyone who enjoys Fanta or orange pop
Where to Buy: Supermarkets and convenience stores
Egils Appelsín is an Icelandic soda. Its an an orange-flavoured sparkling drink popular for people of all ages.
It was created by the Egill Skallagrímsson Brewery in 1955, and is with the slogan hið eina sanna (“the only one.”)
You can grab 500 ml bottles of Eglis Appelsín, or a case of 6 or 12. (Although, if you’re bringing home, you’ll probably only have space for a couple at the most.)
21. Icelandic Hot dog toppings
Best for: Anyone who enjoys Fanta or orange pop
Where to Buy: Supermarkets and convenience stores
If you had a hot dog in Iceland, you might be familiar with the typical toppings – mustard, and crispy onion.
These ingredients are hard to find back home, so if you enjoyed them, I would recommend grabbing some of them to take home from Iceland.
You can find Icelandic hot dog toppings in supermarkets, such as BÓNUS.
PS. As a vegetarian, I still really enjoyed the mustard and crispy onion and find that they also pair well with a veggie hot dog.
22. Aurora Borealis souvenirs
Best for: Someone with a fascination for the Aurora Borealis
Where to Buy: Iceland souvenir stores
Iceland is one of the few countries known for Northern Lights sightings. They’re a major attraction that draws tourists to Iceland in the first place.
While it’s not always possible to see them (they’re much more common in the cold months than the warmer months which is high tourist season) you can find them on many Iceland souvenirs.
Being such a stunning nature phenomenon, anything with the Northern Lights on it usually looks beautiful – paintings, jewelry, T-shirts, art and decorations.
We bought magnets, a pencil case for my daughter and bookmarks with the Aurora Borealis on them.
23. An Icelandic raincoat
Best for: Someone who doesn’t need a wool sweater
Where to Buy: The Reykjavik Raincoat store
We already mentioned the wool products. Unless you live in a colder climate ( which most of the world doesn’t) then Icelandic wool may not be the most practical souvenir from Iceland for you.
If you come from somewhere where its warm for most of the year, then I recommend a store called Reykjavik Raincoats instead.
Reykjavik Raincoats makes high-quality, classic-looking raincoats of different colours, for men, women and children.
Good to Know: The Reykjavik raincoats are handcrafted and 100% waterproof, so they’re not cheap – except to spend about $300 on an adult’s raincoat.
24. (BONUS) Whale souvenirs
Best for: Anyone fond of whales
Where to Buy: At the Whale Museum
Going on a whale-watching tour is a popular activity in Iceland, but like the Northern Lights, you have better chances of seeing them at certain points of the year.
The Whale Museum in Reykjavik is one of the many good museums in the city, and especially worth visiting if you’re in Reykjavik with kids.
Some of the souvenirs at the Whale Museum support a good cause, such as the Oceanwise bracelets made of recycled plastic that my daughter and I bought.
Many of the souvenirs support causes like ocean cleanups and improving the environment so that these majestic creatures are here to stay.
Authentic Iceland Souvenirs that You Can Buy Online
It can be hard to find good quality souvenirs from Iceland online, but depending on what you’re looking for, it is possible to find some good options online.
It’s always easier to buy these products in Iceland, in person. But if you missed out on these during your trip, or want a touch of Iceland in your life, then here is your resource for Icelandic souvenir products that you can buy online.
Here are some of the Icelandic souvenirs that can be bought online, and where you can buy them from:
- Etsy is a great resource to support small artisan business that make products with Icelandic materials and designs
- Iceland sagas can be bought on Amazon. This one includes 14 different sagas; the ones I mentioned above plus more!
- Icelandic sea salt. Kartöflukrydd and can both be found on Amazon
- Wool clothing knitted in Iceland from the online store of the Iceland Hand-knitting Association
- Iceland’s Omnom Chocolate from the Omnom official website
- Blue Lagoon skincare products on the Blue Lagoon website or Amazon
- Icelandic liquorice from the Nordic Store online
- Icelandic lava rock jewelry; depending on what you’re looking for, can be found on Etsy
Cheap Souvenirs from Iceland
Iceland can be a pricey place to travel through. I personally am someone who prefers to spend my money on experiences rather than things. So I understand looking for affordable Icelandic souvenirs.
Here are some cheap souvenirs from Iceland that shouldn’t cost more than $20 each.
- Icelandic sagas
- Bookmarks, pens, postcards and stationery
- Icelandic candy, salt and hot dog toppings
- A BÓNUS reusable bag
An Important Tip for Choosing Souvenirs from Iceland
There are many souvenir shops in Iceland, especially in Reykjavik. These shops are referred to as “puffin shops” by locals, because they’re frequented almost exclusively by tourists, who are drawn to Iceland for the puffins and other things they can’t find at home.
I don’t believe there’s anything wrong at all with shopping in these ‘puffin shops,’ but I would recommend not limiting yourself to them. You can find some good Icelandic souvenirs in them, but you’d be limiting yourself to what tourists tend to buy instead of products that locals usually go after.
Pro Tip: Where to Find Iceland Souvenirs that Locals Use
Check out bookstores, grocery stores, convenience stores and alcohol stores. This is where locals tend to shop, and where you may find some unique items that can’t be bought anywhere else.
FAQs about Souvenirs from Iceland
Here are the most commonly asked questions about Icelandic souvenirs
What is worth to buy in Iceland?
In Iceland, its worth it to buy authentic Icelandic wool products, liquorice, Blue Lagoon skincare products, jewelry made with lava rock, and homemade candles. These are just a few of the many great souvenirs from Iceland
What can you take home from Iceland?
You can bring home several different kind of food products, as well as jewelry and other products made with 2,000 year old lava rock.
What do tourists buy in Iceland?
Tourists in Iceland often buy souvenirs like hats, T-shirts, postcards, keychains, and stuffed animals of Icelandic wildlife, like puffins and whales. While these souvenirs are great, there are so many more Icelandic souvenirs that should be considered.
What jewelry is Iceland known for?
Iceland is known for jewelry made with real lava rock beads, and jewelry with ancient runic symbols. You can find these kinds of items in Icelandic souvenir stores, or at jewelry stores.
Conclusion: Souvenirs from Iceland
When looking for souvenirs from Iceland, you want things that are good quality, and capture the country’s essence and everything it stands for as well.
While you can a lot of unique things in Iceland souvenir shops, be sure to look beyond that as well. There are many products in Iceland that are hard to track down anywhere else.
Even though it is possible to buy some Iceland souvenirs online, you may have to pay for shopping and import fees. So, its much better to do your research and grab these products while you’re in Iceland.
Góða ferð (have a great trip!)