Guide To Iceland Supermarkets & Grocery Stores

 

Among questions like ‘is Iceland expensive’ is a question like what is the food like or where can I buy groceries in Iceland. Well, wonder no more as that is exactly what we will be diving into below as I guide you on the best grocery stores in Iceland.

Traveling or staying in Iceland is an experience by itself. Ranked among the top three happiest places in the world, Iceland is enticing enough for anyone planning to visit or relocate here.

The country’s capital city, Reykjavik, and its neighboring towns are where most of the population live. Living here can be on the steep side if you are not cautious about where you shop from for your essentials.

 

The locals use several hacks and shop only from local grocery stores or supermarkets, many of which are beside a gas station. Look for N1 Gas stations, and you will never be going hungry even if you drive out of Reykjavik.

There are a few standalone grocery stores as well. Icelanders eat a lot of fish as you would guess being an island country.

Local favorites, seafood is much preferred, and since it has many local types of fish available, it is worth the try. While Iceland may veer towards the expensive side, I have share tips on the cheapest places to eat in Reykjavik.

 

People invest more in fresh foods and whole foods in Iceland. A wide variety of fruits, berries, and vegetables are available in frozen forms. Additionally, you can also come across blends of different berries and fruits. Also note that supermarkets and grocery stores in Iceland mostly offer reusable shopping bags so to avoid paying for them, bring your own. 

 

 

 

List Of Supermarkets And Grocery Stores In Reykjavik And Around Iceland

Iceland grocery stores are plentiful and dotted around the capital and surrounding cities. When you leave Reykavik, you will find that many of the supermarkets are smaller but most will offer plenty of opportunities for you to check out the best products to buy in Iceland and bring back to friends and family. I have shared tips on the most authentic gifts from Iceland.

 

I should also mention that, if you are going to be exploring Iceland by campervan like we did, you will most likely need to store by one of the supermarkets in Iceland to stock up on food and snacks for the road ahead.

If you don’t, you will be limited to gas station stores, some of which may be closed or not offer enough of a variety. We struck luck during our first day when our Airbnb host took us to the Bonus supermarket in Reykjavik to stock up on food, this is before we started our drive on the ring road. Below many of the Iceland grocery stores, you might come across in addition to typical prices for food in Iceland.

 

Supermarket Kronan

Kronan is the most common chain of budget grocery stores found across various places in Iceland. Food bags for families and food boxes for single or double people are also available at the store.

This means you do not get to waste or buy less. Fruits like core-free mini watermelons come at 20 kr/kg, fresh cabbage, asparagus, and raspberry in ash comes at 20 kr/kg. Bread comes at 20 kr/kg, on average, and cookies at 2 for 28 kr.

The national favorite yogurt comes for 2 for 28 kr to as high as 679 kr, and sour cream per package comes at 20 kr. Bacon slices fresh from turkey comes at 12 kr per piece and large steak slices of 2 for BBQ come for 59.90 kr/kg. Bigger packages come for as much as 289 kr. Even processed meat is available at 100 or 150gm in packages. You can get 2 for 38 kr.

 

Supermarket Bonus

Another common brand of the supermarket is Bonus. You can spot a Bonus anywhere and everywhere quite easily (there are 31 of these stores), though most of these low-cost grocery stores are on the western side of Reykjavik.

The stores allow you to shop for fresh farm produce and eatables at lower prices than Kronan too. Generally, they are open from 10, or 11 am to 6 or 7 pm throughout the week. The stores in Smaratorg and Skeifan are open for longer hours.

You can easily get Icelandic special farm and dairy products in Bonus at a low cost. Bonus brand products are made and packaged in Iceland itself.

You get products from Euro Shopper at unbelievable discounts. You also get the Himneskt range of organic products guaranteeing foods from the farm to the store. In Bonus, you get vegan brands like Anamma, Beyond Meat, and Toflurky.

Fitness-conscious people can seek the best gluten-free snacks and food ingredients from the Semper range. Bonus also became the first carbon-neutral supermarket in the whole of Iceland.

 

 

 

Netto Grocery Store

Just like the other supermarket grocery stores, Netto is spread across Iceland. The first Netto came up in 1989 in Akureyri, and the brand of Samkaupa owns it.

There are seven Netto stores in entire Iceland, with six of them in the city of Reykjavik alone. The stores at Mjodd and Grandi are open 24 hours a day to help the buyers.

Select the zip code to get your stock of fresh foods and popular brands of foods at your doorstep. Let us have a look at the prices of staples listed here for your convenience.

Get bananas at the rate of 289 kr per kg, pear at 369 kr/kg, wine sausages between 430 kr and 726 kr. 1-liter of whole milk comes at 161 kr, and 1-liter cream comes at 1088 kr. Their range of bread comes at 518 kr/kg and BO Croissant at 1863 kr/kg. They predominately feature many snack items for you to binge!

 

Vinbudin Liqure Store

Vinbudin is the name of the legally permitted alcohol stores. The stores here operate without any drive to make profits. Therefore, there are strict guidelines to follow, even for those visiting here.

The legal drinking age is 20 years. The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland operate the liquor shops with a logo of three red grapes on them.

These off-license stores have wines, beer, and other alcoholic drinks on offer. The stores are open from Monday to Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm, Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm. The stores are closed on weekends.

The red wine on offer is Glen Claustro, Chateau Beychevelle Saint Julien, and more. The spirits on offer include Beluga Noble priced at 8940 kr, Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost House Stark Game of Thrones range of whiskey at 12,999 kr and Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve Rum at 7,890 kr.

These Vinbudin stores have strict regulations on a home brewery and prevent young people or intoxicated people from buying more alcohol.

 

Hagkaup Supermarket

Hagkaup, with its origin in 1959, the hypermarket chain came up offering food, clothes, electronics, and more. The grocery store has around 30,000 products, including seasonal food items at affordable prices.

The brand possesses nine stores, with six of them in the main city of Reykjavik alone. Two of these stores, the ones in Skeifan and Garðabær, are opened 24 hours a day.

Since these stores are quite spacious, the customers can seek some entertainment and variety. Though the prices of foods are higher than Bonus, still, you get the same and more. Get cosmetics and clothes too from the store along with other lifestyle items.

 

10/11 Grocery Store

The line of the 24-hour grocery store offers mid-range products to a slightly higher range. There is an outlet near Keflavik Airport and a few near the Reykjavik city center.

The store offers foods and perishable foods, along with health and hygiene products. Vegans and vegetarians can also receive suitable snacks and ready meals on offer though at a not very affordable price.

In Reykjavik, you have the 10-11 grocery stores across four locations and one in Reykjanesbaer. The store has become a go-to spot for the locals for its vast collection of fresh stock of vegetables and bread. Home essentials and décor items are also available here for the shoppers. The prices are quite competitive.

 

 

Kassinn Supermarket

The supermarket is located in Olafsvik, Nordurtangi, and it offers foods and drinks at the medium budget range. The working hours are from 9 am to 6 pm from Monday to Thursday.

On Friday, it is open from 9 am to 8 pm. Saturday and Sunday, it is open from 1 pm to 5 pm. The store offers locally produced and packaged foods exclusive to Iceland.

 

Samkaup Supermarket

This supermarket chain has around 60 stores around Iceland. They own the other retail supermarkets across the country and many other brands, including Netto, Krambygg, and more near popular spots in Reykjavik.

Look for dry and farm-fresh products here at Samkaup. The brand ensures to offer quality products at affordable prices. The home essentials are also available besides the grocery and snacks.

 

 

Holabud Supermarket

Holabud in Reykholar Iceland is attached to a gas station and packs in a treat for any tired and hungry traveler. The supermarket has its café for a quick bite and with a great view too.

An affordable range of snacks and beverages is commonly available. Don’t miss out on the fish and chips, the cheese sandwiches, and fresh hot cup of coffee to revive back as you shop from the store here.

 

Fjarðarkaup Supermarket

Fjarðarkaup is a mid-range grocery supermarket is located in Hafnarfjörður. The store offers discounts on food and snacks. Therefore, it sees a lot of footfall most of the day.

The store is open from Monday to Wednesday between 9 am and 6 pm, Thursday 9 am to 6:30 pm, Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday is closed.

The supermarket is where you can shop everything from grocery to clothes to craft items and more. You also get to enjoy ready to make recipes here and get the ingredients for the same here too.

Their Rokka or Rock store specializes in fashionable clothes and other environment-friendly products. The Seeds is the in-house health department or quality control section working for the last 15 years on the same.

 

 

Kjarval

Located at Hella and Klaustur, the Kjarval is a popular store offering staples from fruits and vegetables to dairy and meat, along with bread and cakes, as well as cosmetics and hygiene products.

The store gets its products manufactured in the South of Iceland and hence offers products at an affordable range. The store in Kjarval Hella is open from 9 am to 8 pm from Mondays to Fridays.

On Saturdays, it is open from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays between 9 am and 5 pm. The other outlet is open from 10 am to 6 pm from Mondays to Thursdays, Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. The store is closed on Sundays.

 

Krambud Grocery Store

Krambud is a 24-hour grocery store in Iceland. It is near the popular tourist destination of the Hallgrimskirkja church on Skolavordustigur.

The store draws many customers who are keen on getting confectionaries and sweets, candies, and chocolates in a large variety. Get the best of locally made and the dairy products and bread too along with some ready to eat foods like pasta, wraps, and more.

If you are looking for vegan foods, the store will not disappoint, too, with a vast collection of vegan and vegetarian supplies like whole fruits and vegetables. Though this store is not as big as Bonus or Kronan, it is still one of the local favorites.

 

Iceland offers a large variety of options for you in terms of brands of groceries and bread. The Icelanders have a fascination for ice cream, and they eat it all through the year.

One look at these top Icelandic shopping hubs, and you realize they are generous on offers and attractive prices. You will inadvertently notice a drastic price change from one supermarket chain to the other. The liquor shops, however, follow their own rules and regulations.

The Icelandic folks also love their locally brewed spirits, and hence, you get the best and some of the authentic ones from Vinbudin alone. People prefer cold drinks here along with ice creams, which is quite a surprising aspect to note in a country closest to the Arctic.

 

Heading To Iceland? Also Read:

• The Perfect 3 Day Iceland Itinerary
• The Best Black Sand Beaches In Iceland
• Guide To Top Iceland Sights Not To Miss
• Tips On Renting A Car In Iceland
• Guide To Vik Iceland
• The Best Restaurants In Iceland