Known as the land of fire and ice, Iceland has so much to see and do. You can hike a volcano, explore glaciers, swim between tectonic plates, bath in geothermal pools, watch steam come out of the ground, and so much more. After all the things you will see or do here you will certainly have tons of memories and photos of the experience. But perhaps you want to bring back something else to remind you of all the incredible things you did there, or you want to bring back gifts from Iceland for your family and friends.
So, you are probably wondering what you should bring back if you are planning a trip to Iceland (and I hope you are). Now, it’s no secret that Iceland can be a bit expensive, but with so many cute things I’m sure you can find something to fit your budget, or at least find something worth splurging for! Here are some of the best Iceland souvenirs and gifts from Iceland to inspire you. Some of these are things I got, some are things my family and friends got, some are things I wish I got, and some are just things that I know would be great for some people.
Where to Buy Souvenirs and Gifts in Iceland
Of course you will find plenty of souvenir shops around Iceland, especially the gift shops of tourist attractions like Gullfoss or the Glacier Lagoon (though since most of the tourist attractions in Iceland are natural many do not have gift shops), but there are lots of other places to look for Icelandic gifts too.
You can find cute trinkets at gas stations, Icelandic candy and chocolate at grocery stores, gorgeous lava rocks along a hike, wool products at local shops or a flea market, and the airport is a better place to find a good deal than you may think. I actually wish I knew before going to Iceland that, due to the lack of taxes you need to pay for goods you buy at the airport, it is a great place to buy souvenirs and gifts. For example, when I was shopping for wool, I paid more in town than I did at the airport for the exact same wool.
Icelandic Sweaters
A traditional Icelandic wool sweater would definitely be a splurge item, unless you get really lucky at a thrift store, but it can’t not be on top of the list. Called a lopapeysa sweater, these icelandic sweaters are made of lopi wool from Icelandic sheep, and have an iconic design, making them one of the best souvenirs you can get. However, these are far from a tourist gimmick, and if you are travelling in the fall or winter, you’ll see tons of locals wearing them.
Other Wool Products
If Icelandic wool sweaters are out of your price range, why not get a different wool item with an Icelandic design. Due to the prevalence of their famous lopi yarn, there are tons of wool products available. From hats and mitts, to scarfs and socks, that are plenty of options. However, even these smaller products can get pricey, especially when homemade (which is common, like this hat). So, another alternative for even more budge friendly wool products is some thing factory made but with 100% Icelandic wool, and an Icelandic design, like these mittens.
Icelandic Wool to Knit Your Own Products
Or, if you or someone you love knows how to knit, just buy the yarn and do it yourself! It’s more cost effective and then you can design exactly what you want. There are so many beautiful colours, and I think they are so fun to shop for! There is the most famous brand, Istex which produces wool in multiple thicknesses and colours and ships it all over the world, as well as many smaller, local, wool stores. I went to one wool store, called Uppspuni Mini Mill & Yarn Shop, that had at least 20 different natural colours from different coloured sheep.
Icelandic Chocolate and Candy
If you don’t know what to get someone, candy or chocolate always makes for a great gift. Anything liquorice is very popular in Iceland, especially chocolate-covered liquorice. There is also an award winning chocolate factory in downtown Reykjavik, called Omnom Chocolate. They are a bean-bar facility that has many Iceland themed treats (AKA edible souvenirs).
Elf and Elf House Figurines
According to Icelandic folklore, there are elves or Huldufólk (hidden people) all over Iceland. To pay tribute to this, you will find elf houses all over the country, in fields, farmlands, and people’s yards. You can also find elf and elf house figurines in most souvenir shops, plus other elf themed knick knacks, like this cork stop. They make such cute little gifts from Iceland to bring back for people.
Lava Rocks
If you have a very tight budget for your trip, don’t worry, you can find some of the best Icelandic souvenirs on the ground. No, really, all over the country you will find lava rocks of all shapes and sizes. Some are shiny and metallic, others are light, grey and hole-y, and others are a dull red colour. They are all so interesting and make for really unique souvenirs. Plus, the price is right at free!
Black Sand
Another great souvenir for a tight budget is to collect a jar (or bag) full of Iceland’s famous black sand. Whether alone in a jar, or to use in a vignette with some shells, rocks, or other things from Iceland, collecting a bit of black sand makes for a great budget friendly way to bring a small piece of Iceland back with you.
Postcards, Paintings, and Art
Art is perfect for any budget, since you can go anywhere from postcards to big magnificent paintings. Something I really like to do, since I typically don’t have a very big souvenir/art budget, is to get several postcards or cards with art on them and make a collage on my wall. This feels like a win win to me because I get to have more works of art on my wall, by more artists, without spending too much. Plus you can rearrange them whenever you want and it feels like getting new art. So whether you want an Iceland art college, or are building a bigger college with art from around the world, this works great.
All Things Puffins
Of course, puffins are a common theme in Iceland since the adorable, unique birds live there in the summer. As such, there are tons of puffin themed souvenirs to get! Whether it’s a wood carving, a stuffed puffin toy, a metal or plastic figurine, a painting, or a “grow your own puffin” toy for a kid in your life, anything puffin themed is a perfect gift or souvenir from Iceland.
Icelandic Salt
Iceland sea salt is unique because it is produced using geothermal energy from hot springs. The main brand you’ll see is Saltverk which has different variations of flaky sea salt, including black lava salt which is blended with activated charcoal. And since nearly everyone uses salt, it is one of the best gifts to bring back for people.
Fridge Magnets
Another classic souvenir idea is fridge magnets, especially if you make it a goal to get one from everywhere you go! And okay, I’ll be honest, I know this isn’t unique to Iceland in anyway, I mostly just wanted to show off the cute little elf house magnet I got in Iceland. I mean, isn’t it adorable?
Money
Another thing I like to bring home for a souvenir sometimes is a little bit of the local currency. This is especially good in Iceland because each of their coins has a different sea animal on it. Obviously, I just bring back some of the smallest denominations, but I think it’s interesting to have.
I keep a little collect of coins from various countries I have been to. Actually, I even have a few from countries I haven’t been to – gifted to me, or found. For example, on my layover in New Delhi on the way to Nepal, I had to go through security. For women, they had a private little room where you would get checked with a metal detector and padded down if necessary. I forgot I had a couple of coins in my pocket, but when something beeped I took them out and put them on the table.
After I was done the rest of the check, she gave them back to me with another coin someone had left there before me. So, I keep that coin in my collect too.
Beauty Products
You can also get some unique beauty products in Iceland, such as the Blue Lagoon Skin Care Products. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa. The algae and silica in the water here are known to have skin benefits. However, they are quite expensive.
Going to bathe in the blue lagoon is expensive too for that matter, but it is worth it for a once in a lifetime experience I think. Or there are lots of other geothermal spas and hot springs that are cheaper and also an amazing experience.
Reyka Vodka
If you like vodka, it could definitely be worth it to try Reyka Vodka, which is made in Iceland. What’s unique about it is that it uses glacier water as a n ingredient and lava rocks to filter it, truly capturing the “land of fire and ice” expression for Iceland. While this is really cool and could make the perfect gift from Iceland for someone, don’t stress if you don’t have space for it. You could grab some duty free at the airport last minute, or you might even be able to buy it at home. They ship to various liquor stores in other countries.
What Else?
I hope you found this list of ideas for souvenirs and gifts from Iceland helpful. It definitely includes all my favourites! If you have been to Iceland, what did you bring home? What would you get there if you went again? And if you haven’t been yet, what do you think you would want to get? Did anything on this list surprise you? Let me know in the comments!
Check out these other posts from Iceland:
- 14 Must Know Tips for a Trip to Iceland
- Magical Experiences in Iceland
- 3 Hikes Unique Within an Hour of Reykjavik
- 6 Days in Southern Iceland – How to See the Most Without Moving Your Stuff Every Night
