17 Best Souvenirs From Iceland To Remember Your Trip With
Wondering what to bring home as a souvenir from Iceland?
Then you’ve come to the right place as I’ve visited Iceland and bought lots of souvenirs while I was there.
As a full-time traveller, I know what is worth buying as a souvenir and what isn’t. You don’t want to buy something you can just buy anywhere, right?
So I’ve put together a list of all of the best souvenirs from Iceland which are specific to the country that you can’t find anywhere else.
Souvenirs from Iceland
Visiting Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and creates endless memories which will stay with you forever. But it’s also nice to have something to remember the trip by, in other words, a souvenir from Iceland. Here are some of my favourite options which I recommend picking up on a trip to the Land of Fire and Ice.
1. Lopapeysa
When you’re travelling throughout Iceland on tours and excursions, you’ll probably see lots of Icelandic sheep – and that is a breed, not a description.
You’ll also probably have a tour guide tell you on at least one tour about how warm the wool is, and how every Icelander will have an Icelandic wool jumper.
In short, you can’t import sheep to Iceland, meaning it’s the purest breed of sheep in the world, leading to thicker wool and warmer wool. It’s tougher too, and in my opinion, feels rough, but it quickly softens up after a few washes.
You are able to buy a Lopapeysa anywhere in Iceland, which is the name for the Icelandic style of sweater made out of Icelandic sheep wool.
It’s one of the most popular Iceland souvenirs, and one of the most authentic things too.
Important Note: Make sure to check the label before you buy a Lopapeysa, as there are some places which sell inauthentic jumpers. It will say “Made in Iceland” if it is real, otherwise, it will say “Made in China”, according to our Golden Circle tour guide.
2. Blue Lagoon Skin Products
A trip to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without spending some time in the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa.
The water itself is really good for your skin, and as part of your visit, you get one free face mask too.
You can actually buy these face masks to take home and spread on yourself, as well as a range of other Blue Lagoon skincare products.
There is a shop at the Blue Lagoon itself, and also in Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik centre.
Top Tip: Head to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport before going to Reykjavik. It’s the most route-efficient and time-efficient way of visiting the spa.
3. Viking-related Items
Scandinavia is famous for its Viking period, and while the Vikings weren’t in Iceland for quite as long as the likes of Norway, they still made their mark by holding the first Icelandic parliament at Thingvellir, one of the must-visit places in Iceland.
And what better way to take a trip to Scandinavia than by bringing home some Viking memorabilia? There is an abundance of options to choose from.
Whether it’s Viking helmets, Viking mugs, Viking coins, Viking ships, or whatever it is, you can find pretty much anything you have in mind in Iceland.
4. Volcanic Rock Jewelry
While it is illegal to take rocks, sand, or anything else from Iceland’s natural beauty yourself, you are allowed to buy volcanic rocks and volcanic rock jewellery in souvenir stores.
Iceland is known for its extraordinary landscapes, and after visiting the country for yourself, you’ll be sure to want to pick up a rock to take as a souvenir from Iceland. But you can’t, and you shouldn’t as the areas you are visiting are most likely protected areas.
Plus, you can actually be stopped in the airport leaving Iceland if they spot any rocks or anything in your bag which you have taken.
Instead, head to a souvenir shop where you can simply buy some rocks (which have been harvested from areas where it is allowed to do so as they aren’t protected). Make sure to keep the receipt in case you do get stopped in customs.
But I recommend buying some jewellery instead. You can actually wear it rather than having a small pebble sit in a drawer somewhere in your house.
5. Puffin-themed Items
When you think of puffins, you probably think of Iceland. And if you visit at the right time of year, you can be lucky enough to see them for yourself.
I recommend taking a puffin tour from Reykjavik so you will be taken to the spots where you are guaranteed to see them.
Puffins are adorable, and they’re just as cute when they are turned into a teddy, which is just one example of puffin souvenirs you can buy.
You can get puffin-themed anything, and in one shop, I even saw them selling a stuffed puffin. I’m not sure I would suggest buying that, but it goes to show how many puffin things you can buy when you can buy an actual puffin.
6. Liquorice and Chocolate
Chocolate and Liquorice is a really common combination in Iceland as a sweet treat for the locals. But tourists always seem to love it too!
There is liquorice in so many sweets and candy in Iceland, for reasons that no one is really sure of except because sweets didn’t use to be imported as much, so they stuck liquorice in everything.
But if you’re not a fan of liquorice, don’t worry, you can get chocolate without it in it. There are lots of flavours of “Iceland Chocolate” which you can buy in every souvenir shop.
Top Tip: It’s cheaper to buy Iceland Chocolate in the airport as it is Duty Free, and almost all flights from Keflavik are duty-free flights meaning you can bring an extra bag onboard.
7. Icelandic Glacial Water
Iceland has some of the safest tap water in the world, and it’s not only safe to drink, it’s very good for you.
In fact, you can drink any water in Iceland whether it’s from a stream, waterfall, or anywhere. The water is so pure and tastes really fresh.
But unfortunately, you can’t bring a tap home with you, so bringing home a bottle of Icelandic glacial water is a unique souvenir.
It’s not recommended to buy for your trip as it is expensive, and tap water is (quite literally) the same water as it’s in the bottle, but it’s a good way of taking some refreshing Icelandic water home. Plus, the bottle is pretty cool too.
8. Icelandic Music CDs
Iceland has a surprisingly rich and diverse music scene for such a small country. Its music ranges from the ethereal soundscapes to indie folk melodies and even to the avant-garde and experimental.
Purchasing music CDs in Iceland can be a wonderful way to bring home a piece of its culture. These CDs often feature artwork and designs that are as unique and expressive as the music itself.
Though it might turn out to be more of a symbolic souvenir rather than a practical one, as it can be hard to come by a CD player these days.
9. Sea Salt
Icelandic sea salt is renowned for its quality and unique production methods. The salt is harvested using sustainable, geothermal energy, which is abundant in Iceland, as you will learn on the tours you have in the country.
The flavours are unique too – you can find varieties infused with Arctic thyme, birch, lava, or even seaweed. Each type offers a distinct taste of Iceland’s natural environment.
If you’re a foodie, it’s definitely something to bring home to help enhance any meals you make.
10. Brennivín
Brennivín, or Icelandic schnapps, is often dubbed as Iceland’s signature spirit and it is an aquavit type of liquor.
Its name translates to “burning wine”, which depending on what type of alcohol you like, could either sound amazing or awful.
But there’s no debating that Brennivín offers a taste of Iceland’s strong cultural traditions (it’s traditionally paired with shark but this is usually no longer the case).
11. Elf Statues
In Iceland, elves (known as “Huldufólk” or hidden people) are a significant part of folklore. Many Icelanders believe in their existence, or at least don’t deny it, with elves often thought to live in rocks and hills.
If you take a South Coast tour in Iceland such as to Seljalandsfoss, you will see lots of rock formations which are deemed to be for hidden people such as a rock which resembles a church.
Elf statues are a popular souvenir, reflecting this unique and enchanting aspect of Icelandic culture. Having an elf statue not only serves as a charming reminder of your trip to Iceland but also brings a piece of Icelandic mythology into your home.
12. Nature Condoms
Yes, you read that right. When I was in Iceland, I was quite confused by why every souvenir shop was selling nature condoms.
But when I researched it, apparently it’s just a thing? 😂
There’s not really any reason why these are a thing, but they just are. And it’s a unique way of remembering Iceland, that’s for sure.
You can buy condoms featuring six of Iceland’s spectacles: Geysir, Rock formation, Volcanic Eruption, Hengill steam, Þursaborgir, and the Northern lights.
They all have the tagline “High quality condom from the land of explosion” on them too.
13. Volcano and Glacier Soap
Another unique souvenir opportunity from Iceland and a much cleaner one (pun 100% intended) is some soap.
But not just any old soap, soap made up from two of Iceland’s most famous features: volcanos and glaciers.
You can buy soap with ash from Eyjafjallajökull, which is the volcano that erupted in 2010, and soap with ice from Snæfellsjökull, which is a 700,000-year-old glacier in Iceland.
And as an added bonus, the soap is 100% handmade, so it’s a really authentic souvenir, rather than something which is mass produced.
14. Icelandic Yarn
If you don’t want to buy a Lopapeysa, you may opt to buy some yarn so you can make your own sweater, scarf, hat, gloves, or whatever it is you decide to make.
If you knit or crochet, it’s a really nice souvenir from Iceland, as it will be much higher quality than anything you can get anywhere else. The only downside is, that it is expensive, but so is Iceland as a country.
You can get it in a wide variety of colours. If you are trying to make an authentic Lopapeysa for yourself, then you will need a few colours so you can make a pattern.
Again, like with the Lopapeysa, it may be itchy and rough, but after a few washes, it will soften up.
15. Icelandic Fiction & Icelandic Sagas
To pair with a statue of an elf or the hidden people, you might be interested in taking home a copy of one of the sagas themself.
The Icelandic sagas, written in the 13th and 14th centuries, are prose narratives that chronicle the lives of Icelandic settlers, including family feuds, heroics, and explorations. And of course, they feature some hidden people and other “mythical” characters.
These sagas are a cornerstone of Icelandic literature and offer insights into medieval Icelandic society. It’s possible to get copies in English too, which is pretty cool.
16. Harðfiskur
Another tasty food-based souvenir from Iceland to bring home from your trip is Harðfiskur.
Harðfiskur, or dried fish, is a traditional Icelandic snack, often made from haddock, cod, or ocean catfish.
It’s essentially fish that has been left to dry so it becomes crunchy. It’s dried outdoors in the clean, cold Icelandic air, which imparts a unique flavour.
When I was in Iceland, I bought some which came with crisps (chips) which were flavoured like chips (fries), so it was like Fish and Chips in a bag, and by the way, definitely have fish and chips in Iceland – it’s delicious, some of the best in the world in my opinion.
17. Reindeer Rugs
Most people assume reindeer are native to Iceland, but this is not the case. But they were brought to Iceland and some point and now there are some in the east of the country.
To give your home a Scandinavian feel, you can buy a Reindeer hide rug. They are very expensive but very soft too.
As the sign says below, you can get a tax refund. This applies to all souvenirs in Iceland costing more than 6000 ISK (Iceland currency).
Simply get a tax receipt and when you are at the airport, you can get a 12.5-14% tax refund depending on the product. Again, this only applies to souvenirs and things costing more than 6000 ISK.
18. Iceland Football Kit
If you’re a sports fan, you might remember Iceland’s famous win over England in the 2016 Euros.
You can buy lots of merchandise from the National Football Team including replica shirts, tracksuits, caps and more.
When I was younger, I used to buy a football top from every country I visited. However, since I travel full-time, I quickly had to stop this, but if you are a collector like I once was, then this is something to check out for sure.
They have a shop in the airport if you aren’t able to find shirts anywhere else.
19. Other Typical Souvenirs
Every souvenir on this list so far has been specific to Iceland and things that you can’t find anywhere else in the world, no “typical” souvenirs.
But sometimes, it is still nice to get standard souvenirs such as fridge magnets, keyrings, shot glasses, thimbles, or whatever you fancy.
One of my favourites I saw is this T-shirt which says “What part of Eyjafjallajökull don’t you understand?”. It’s the volcano that erupted in 2010 if you need a reminder, and it looks very scary to pronounce.
My girlfriend is a Geography student and she says that in their profession, they abbreviate it to E15, so I think that says enough!
Iceland Souvenirs: FAQ
Below are some questions related to souvenirs from Iceland along with my answers to each question.
There are lots of souvenirs from Iceland worth buying such as a Lopapeysa which is a traditional sweater made from Icelandic sheep wool. You can also buy some food and drink items such as sea salt, harðfiskur and brennivín.
You can take souvenirs home from Iceland such as a Lopapeysa which is a traditional sweater. You can also take food items such as Chocolate and Liquorice, a common mix in Iceland. But you cannot take rocks or sand home from Iceland as it is protected.
Tourists in Iceland commonly buy Lopapeysa, traditional Icelandic sheep sweaters. Many tourists also buy skincare products from the Blue Lagoon or treat themself to some traditional Icelandic foods such as Liquorice and Chocolate or harðfiskur.
No, you cannot take rocks from Iceland. Most of Iceland is a protected area meaning it is illegal to remove rocks, sand, pebbles or anything from the area. You can be stopped in the airport if they notice there are some rocks in your bag.
Wrap Up
And there you have it, a complete list of all of the best souvenirs from Iceland which you can get to remind you of your trip.
Whether you choose something to display in your house, something to eat or drink, or something to keep as a keepsake, you can find what you’re looking for in Iceland.
It’s an unbelievable country, and a country that deserves to be remembered by a souvenir you can only get in Iceland.
Are you planning your trip to Iceland in advance? Do you know how to get around? If you didn’t know already, there is no Uber in Iceland.
Read more about Iceland:
