- Find out more by readingShopping in Reykjavik | A Local's Guide to the City's Originals
- Learn more in the ultimate guide toShopping in Iceland
Reykjavik is home to a relatively large selection of supermarkets, varying in size, selection, and price, butthe farther you venture from the capital, the more limited your options become. Planning and doing most of your shopping before you leave Reykjavik is helpful if you want to stick to a tight budget.
Some general tips for shopping in Iceland are as follows:
Google Translate is your friend! In some budget supermarkets, the products will only be labeled in Icelandic. Make your life easier and be sure you're getting the food you want by using the Google Translate app, where you can either type in the product name or scan it with your phone camera, and the app can directly translate what is in the picture.
Bring your bag with you or prepare to pay a few kronorfor paper bags. Iceland is very focused on sustainability, so plastic bags aren't available at most grocery stores.
Read the labels on meat very carefully. Icelandic people have a more expansive palate than Americans, and unique meats such as foal orreindeer are readily available in supermarkets. Double-check your meat products if that isn't something you want to try.
Don't expect to buy your alcohol at the grocery store. Supermarkets can only sell beer with an alcohol percentage of2.25% or below.Alcohol is sold exclusivelythrough state-run liquor stores called Vinbudin.
Like many places in Western Europe, credit cards or contactless payments are the most typical in Iceland. When using a self-checkout at a supermarket, cash is not accepted.
Most Icelandic grocery stores sell plenty of fresh fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables, but the rule of thumb is that the cheaper the store, the lesser the variety. The upscale stores make up for what the budget stores lack in selection and service by adding to the price.
The main exception, as will be covered in more detail later in this article, is the store 10/11. It's both expensive and lacking in range.
- See also: 19 Tips on How to Save Money in Iceland
Ethical Grocery Shopping in Iceland
In this day and age, travelers to Iceland and locals alike are increasingly concerned about the origins of their food. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are locally grown in heated greenhouses, harnessing the abundant geothermal energy that Iceland is well known for, and livestock is mostly free-ranging.
Additionally, grocery stores no longer offer plastic bags, requiring customers to bring their reusable bags or pay a few kroner per paper bag.
Vegetarian and vegan diets are increasingly popular in Iceland, so many supermarkets and restaurants cater to such diets. It is not difficult to find a wide array of fruits or vegetables when shopping at the leading supermarket chains.
However, those seeking kosher or halal food might have a little more work ahead of them, so keep this in mind when planning your trip. The supermarkets Kronan, Bonus, and Netto, carry some kosher and halal products, though kosher and halal meats will be more challenging to find.
- See also: Sustainable Tourism in Iceland
Budget Supermarkets in Reykjavik
Iceland is an incredible country to vacation in, but it is well-known that it can be expensive. Smart travelers, however, can minimize the impact on their wallets by researching the cheapest places to buy groceries before arrival.
You can save hundreds of dollarsby purchasing your food at the locations listed below rather than spending at expensive restaurants or pricysupermarket chains that target unknowing visitors.
The supermarkets that offer the lowest prices do have some downsides. Budget supermarkets might have fewer staff members, meaning lines can be longer. It can also be more challenging to find help if you need it. Though, with the recent implementation of self-checkout lanes, paying for your products has gotten much quicker.
A good tip is to use your translation apps or memorize the Icelandic words for some of the most common items you might purchase.This willshorten the time you spend shopping and thusincrease your time enjoying Iceland.
Bonus
Operating around 30 stores nationwide, Bonus is the most visible supermarket in Iceland.
Due to minimal customer service, a raw warehouse interior, and the conglomerate's market share size, Bonus can underbid all of its competitors. Surveys almost always find it to be Iceland's cheapest grocery store.
Bonus stores are open on weekdays and weekends, identified by a yellow banner showing a chubbypiggy bank. They close earlier than most supermarkets, usually at 18:30.
Street addresses of Bonus inReykjavik:
- Fiskislóð 2 Grandi, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Holtavegur 10 Holtagarðar, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Hraunbær, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Kringlan 4-6, 103 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Laugavegur 59 Kjörgarður, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Lóuhólar, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skeifan 11a, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skipholt 11-13, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skútuvogur 13, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Spöngin, 112 Reykjavík, Iceland
Kronan
Kronan is slightly more expensive than Bonus but offers a considerably larger variety of food items, includingan impressive selection of organic and preservative-free groceries.
Kronan runs around 20 stores nationwide, open from morning to evening on weekdays and weekends. They usually close a little later thanBonus, at 20:00.
Street addresses of Kronan inReykjavik:
- Bíldshöfði 20, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Borgartún 26, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Fiskislóð 15-21, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Hallveigarstígur 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Háaleitisbraut 68, 103 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Jafnasel 2, 111 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Nóatún 17, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Rofabær 39, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skeifan 19, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Þjóðhildarstígur 2, 113 Reykjavík, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland is a British supermarket chain focused on frozen goods while still having a decent selection of essential food items. The supermarket opened in 2012 and currently has five stores, all located within the Capital Region.
The relationship between Iceland (the supermarket) and Iceland (the country) has often been strained. The country and the supermarket have battled in courts over the right to use the name 'Iceland' as a trademark.
In 2019, an EU court ruled in favor of Iceland (the country) being allowed to use the name 'Iceland' for marketing purposes. It should be mentioned that Iceland was given in its name in the 9th century, about 1000 years before the supermarket chain was established.
Trademark disputes aside, some people might get a kick out of being in Iceland in Iceland while shopping for food.
Street addresses ofIceland inReykjavik;
- Álfheimar 74, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Seljabraut 54, 109 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Vesturberg 76, 111Reykjavík, Iceland
Mid-Range Supermarkets in Reykjavik
Iceland's mid-range supermarkets are great for travelers looking for various items, which often extend beyond foodstuffs. They can also be an excellent option for picky eaters, as they are far more likely to have products from home than the stores at either end of the price range.
Hagkaup
An extensive range of goods, from cheap clothes and cosmeticsto a large selection of food items, makes HagkaupIceland's only chain of upscale hypermarkets. The interiors often feel more like a mall than a simple store.
The food prices are considerably higher than at thebudget shops, but most branches are open until midnight for convenience, except the one at Kringlan mall.
Street addresses of Hagkaup inReykjavik:
- Eiðistorg, 170 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Kringlan, 103Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skeifan 15, 108 Reykjavík
- Spöngin, 112 Reykjavík, Iceland
Netto
Netto is a combination grocery anddepartment store home to an interestingarray of everyday items, ranging from woolto kitchen utensils and relatively cheap groceries.
The stores are open both on weekdays and weekends. Many are open 24 hours,making Netto the country's best placeto buy Icelandic yarnshould you run out in the middle of an all-night knitting marathon.
Street addresses ofNetto inReykjavik;
- Fiskislóð 3, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Kjalarvogur 7-15, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Lágmúli 7, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Nóatún 17, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Þönglabakki 1, Reykjavík, Iceland
Expensive Supermarkets in Reykjavik
Iceland's supermarkets on the more expensive side are numerous, conveniently located, and inviting, with glowing signs and English labels. They often create an unpleasant surprise for the wallets ofunsuspecting tourists. If you are traveling with little concern for budget, they are fine for a quick snack or a pre-made meal. For those on a more careful budget avoiding the stores below is advisable.
10/11
While incredibly convenient and easy to find in downtown Reykjavik, shopping in thebright green 10/11stores will add at least 50 percent to your grocery bill. It's well-known that these convenience stores are the most expensive places to shop in Iceland while offering a somewhat limited selection.
The 10/11 stores tend to alter their electronic price tags at night,increasing the prices of their already overpriced assortment of food by an average of eight percent every evening. However, for travelers who have perhaps just returned from a northern lights tour and are just looking for a quick snack,they will prove convenient as most are open 24 hours a day.
Street addresses of 10/11 inReykjavik:
- Austurstræti 17, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Laugavegur 116, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Krambudin
With over 21 stores located around the country, Krambudin is the main competitor of 10/11 when it comes to convenience and long hours. These stores usually have a good location but a moderate selection, focusing on ready-made meals, essential food items, and bread and pastries, which are freshly baked in the morning.
Krambudin stores open early in the morning and close at 23:30. They are open on weekdays and weekends. The prices are usually slightly cheaper than 10/11, but they don't boast the 24/7 opening hours.
Street addresses of Krambudin inReykjavik:
- Eggertsgata 24, 102Reykjavík, Iceland
- Hjarðarhagi 47, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Mávahlíð 26, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Menntavegur 1, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Skólavörðustígur 42, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
See also:Top 10 Best Value Places to Eat in Reykjavik
Corner Stores in Reykjavik
Melabúðin, Pétursbúð, and Kjötborg are some of the last corner shops left in Reykjavik, remnants of a time when most of the shops were these family-owned stores and customers had a much more personal experience.
Each shop has a charm uniquely of its own, with friendly personal service and an authentic atmosphere. Of course, by necessity, they are more expensive than most supermarkets (although not 10/11), but shopping at one is excellent for the local economy and readily justifiable for those with a bit more money to spare.
Should you long for sincerity, fair trade, and a glimpse into Iceland's economic and cultural history, you would do well to take your business to the endangered species that is the Reykjavik corner shop.
Kjötborg is located on Ásvallagata 19
Melabúðin is located on Hagamelur 39
Pétursbúð is located on Ránargata 15
See also: The History of Iceland
Did you find this guide to grocery shopping in Iceland helpful? Where did you purchase your groceries, and did you find them expensive? Did Iceland's supermarkets cater to your tastes? Let us know in the comments section below.
