Iceland is an epic place to explore. But once your vacation is over, you’re going to want to remember your adventures here. Luckily, there are some unique items to bring back with you as souvenirs of your time spent on this Nordic island.
From food and drink to antiques and iconic clothing, there are several different items you can pick up that will help bring you closer to Iceland’s unique culture and also introduce you (and your family and friends) to traditional customs.
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Best Icelandic Souvenirs
Lopapeysa (traditional Icelandic wool sweater)
Picking up a traditional Icelandic lopapeysa sweater is more than just buying your everyday souvenir. These warming garments are made from the wool of the approximately one million sheep that call Iceland home. Translating to “sweater made from unspun yarn,” this traditional jumper is made with a patterned yoke circling the front, over the shoulders, and the back.
There’s a whole range of different styles you can find across the island. It’s a particularly great souvenir as it’s connected to the identity of Iceland and is an important cultural symbol of this Nordic nation. Not only that, but they’re really warm and will help stave off any cold weather.
Socks
If you don’t want to splash out on a whole lopapeysa jumper, then picking up a pair of Icelandic wool socks is a good option, too. Plus, socks can fit into your suitcase a lot more easily than a sweater. Reflecting the same knit patterns as the jumpers, the fabulous knitted socks are representative of Iceland’s cultural heritage.
Given the more affordable price point and transportability of these cool socks, they make for a great gift to pick up for friends or family back home. If you want to make sure that your socks are the real deal, then head to the Handknitting Association of Iceland store in Reykjavík.
Wool blanket
Iceland is great for its cozy knits – not least, its amazing wool blankets. To find some of the best blankets on the island, head over to Álafoss. This traditional store has been in business since 1896 and sells a range of hand-knitted Icelandic products, including high-quality blankets.
Aside from making some extremely homely blankets, the guys at Álafoss also offer a tour of a local wool factory. Here, you can learn all about how they make the yarns, as well as the history of the products themselves.
66 Degrees North clothing
Founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjansson, this clothing line started out making hard-wearing clothing for Icelandic fishermen and search and rescue teams. The name comes from the location of Súgandafjörður, whose latitude is 66 degrees north. Over the years, the label has grown and is today known for its rugged, insulating outerwear that really stands up to the elements.
The stylish brand features a whole lot of chic but practical outerwear that is purchased around the world. But when you’re in Iceland, you can purchase it directly from the source. The fashion-forward fleeces and down jackets make a change to the run-of-the-mill sports-focused activewear.
Map of Iceland
When you’re on your road trip exploring the natural wonderland of Iceland, why not pick up a vintage map of the island nation to take back home with you? A nicely framed old map of Iceland would make for a characterful addition to a carefully curated room, reminding you of the amazing travels you’ve had there.
Of course, you don’t have to purchase a map already framed; take a rolled-up map back with you. Reykjavik has charming stores where you can shop for memorabilia and antiques, such as maps, including flea markets.
Blue Lagoon products
Blue Lagoon – a geothermal spa situated on the Reykjanes Peninsula – is one of the most famous destinations in Iceland, a giant hot spring where locals and tourists alike go to soak after a chilly day of working or exploring the island. No wonder: it’s less than an hour’s drive from the capital city.
It is possible to soak up the relaxation of this natural spectacle long after you’ve left your vacation behind, thanks to the range of exclusive Blue Lagoon products. Think mud masks and salt scrubs, as well as hydrating creams, all of which are inspired by the natural properties of the geothermic hot spot itself.
Hardfiskur
Dried fish might not be the number one product that you’re thinking about packing into your suitcase to take home, but don’t overlook hardfiskur. This fermented product is made by drying out local fish – usually haddock, cod, or wolffish – by hanging them over cliffs or off wooden beams. You may even see it drying out while you’re there.
It’s a traditional snack that’s been a staple of the local diet for centuries and is something of a superfood; locals eat it with Icelandic butter. If you want to take some home for yourself or a foodie friend of yours, don’t worry: it’s well sealed and won’t add an unwanted aroma to your luggage.
Omnom chocolate
The only “bean-to-bar” chocolate company in Iceland, Omnom is a fashionable candy brand that started life back in 2013 when two friends decided to produce small batches of bean-to-bar chocolate. Driven by the culture behind the food in Iceland, as well as attention to high-quality ingredients, this craft chocolate was a success.
Omnom focuses on Iceland’s unique ecosystem and creates using local ingredients found on the island in products, which leads the brand to say that, effectively, Iceland is in their chocolate’s DNA. You can find their products all over the country; in fact, you won’t be able to miss them, thanks to their funky packaging. If you want to learn more about their story, you can visit their chocolate factory in downtown Reykjavik.
Icelandic sea salt
It may surprise you to learn that Iceland is a fairly big producer of sea salt. In fact, thanks to the country’s rich mineral soil, Arctic air, and geothermal-infused coastal areas, the country’s high-quality sea salt is particularly renowned.
One of the most well-known sea salt brands in Iceland is Saltverk. Their products are made using geothermal energy – a unique production method that stems back to 1753. Arctic seawater is drawn inland, where it’s heated by geothermal energy; the waters evaporate, leaving crisp flakes of salt.
Liquorice
Liquorice is a well-loved candy throughout the Nordic nations, and its status in Iceland is no different. Called lakkris in Icelandic, you’ll find it quite literally everywhere, at supermarkets and gas stations alike, and not just in pure form. There are liquorice gummies, chocolate-covered liquorice, liquorice ice cream, liquorice-coated raisins – you name it, there’s a liquorice-infused version of it.
This love of the sweet black treat stems from necessity. It’s hard to grow anything with any sugar content in it in Iceland, but luckily for liquorice it’s quite easy: it doesn’t need to flower since you only use roots to make candy, so it became an important part of the country’s diet. It’s even used in cough syrups, among other items.
Fish oil
Fish oil is well known to have several health benefits – being an important source of Omega-3, for one thing – and it’s something that helps keep Icelanders healthy. Iceland’s very own Lysi is the world’s leading producer of fish oil. Even the brand itself says that fish oil is “Iceland’s secret to healthy living”; it helps the brain, joints, heart, and immune system.
Lysi has a focus on quality control and works hard to research its products. You can pick up Lysi products while you’re in Iceland (without having to pay for the import tax), so you can take the Icelandic secret to good health home with you. Find Lysi products at health stores and grocery stores; there are even children’s versions.
Blodberg (Icelandic tea)
Blodberg is the name of creeping thyme (also called Arctic thyme), a perennial herb that grows wild across Iceland. This evergreen plant produces purple aromatic flowers, but its leaves are what they are harvested for. These contain essential oils and have been used for medicinal and culinary purposes for centuries on the island.
It’s also used in tea. This tea, a combination of black tea and blodberg, has a fresh taste and is known for its health benefits. It’s used as a natural remedy for coughs and colds, and even upset stomachs. Not only that, but it can help warm you up on chilly days.
Brennivin (Icelandic liquor)
Translating to “burnt wine,” owing to the distilling process over an open fire, brennivin is Iceland’s signature liquor. It’s made from distilled fermented grain that’s mixed with Iceland’s soft water and flavored with caraway seeds.
Brennivin first made its way over to Iceland due to its Nordic connections. Fresh beer couldn’t survive the journey from Denmark to Iceland – and also took up too much space – but strong spirits were ideal. The addition of caraway, which grows naturally in Iceland, finished the product as it is seen today. It’s served as a shot, with a beer chaser, or mixed like a cocktail.