Good to know
Good to Know
- Laugavegur is the walkable, central spine for shopping — mornings are quieter for browsing since the street gets busy with both shoppers and the bar crowd later in the day.
- Kringlan and Smáralind are proper indoor malls used heavily by locals (not just tourist stops) and are a good rainy/cold-day option, but both require a bus, taxi, or car — neither is a walk-in-from-downtown distance for most visitors.
- Tourists can claim a VAT refund on purchases over 12,000 ISK at participating stores, which is worth doing for larger wool-sweater or design purchases.
- If you want an authentic Icelandic souvenir rather than a mass-produced one, locals commonly point to the Handknitting Association of Iceland and similar specialty shops over generic souvenir stores on Laugavegur.
- Kolaportið flea market only runs on weekends, so plan around that if bargain-hunting or vintage shopping is on your list.
- There is no official Apple Store in Reykjavik or anywhere in Iceland — Epli on Laugavegur is the Apple Authorized Service Provider and reseller nomads should use for repairs or purchases.
- If you rely on Amazon.com for electronics or gadgets, be prepared for 'cannot be shipped to your selected location' messages on higher-value items; a US package-forwarding address solves this but adds cost and a few extra days.
- Budget for Icelandic customs/VAT on imported packages above the duty-free threshold — this is charged on top of the item price and isn't shown at checkout on most foreign sites.
- AliExpress and eBay tend to ship to Iceland without needing a forwarder, which can be simpler than the Amazon workaround for small non-urgent items.
Apple Service
- Official Apple Store In City
- No
Other Resellers
Tölvutek
- Note
- Sells Apple products and offers an Apple retail section, located at Mörkin 3, 108 Reykjavík
Nearest Equivalent
- Name
- Epli
- Type
- Apple Authorized Service Provider and Apple Reseller (Apple VAD Iceland) — there is no official Apple retail store in Iceland, so Epli functions as the de facto Apple presence in Reykjavik
- Address
- Laugavegur 182, 105 Reykjavík
- Caveats
- Some devices may only be eligible for service in their original country of purchase, per Apple's authorized-service-provider policy
- Services
- iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch repair using genuine Apple parts and Apple-certified technicians; in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs
- Walk In Hours
- Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00
- Typical Turnaround
- Most repairs completed in 3–5 business days; add 2–3 business days if parts must be ordered from Apple; a paid Priority Service option is available for faster handling
Online Shopping Reliability
- Delivery Speed
- Express couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) typically deliver in a few business days; standard/economy international shipping (including forwarder consolidation) commonly takes 1–3 weeks depending on origin and method.
- Customs And Duties
- Incoming international packages are subject to Icelandic VAT and customs duties depending on declared value and product category, collected on delivery or clearance rather than at checkout on most non-EU sites.
Local Platforms
- Domestic Post
- Pósturinn (Iceland Post) is the main national postal/logistics operator handling parcel delivery and customs clearance for incoming international packages.
- Note
- Iceland does not have a dedicated local Amazon site or major domestic e-commerce marketplace equivalent to those in larger markets; most Icelanders and nomads rely on local retailer webshops (electronics chains, grocery delivery apps) plus international sites.
International Platforms
- Amazon
- Amazon does not operate a dedicated Iceland storefront, and Amazon.com itself blocks shipping on many items (electronics, higher-value goods) to Icelandic addresses, though it does ship some categories like clothing and home goods directly.
- Workaround
- Many residents and nomads use US/UK package-forwarding services (e.g. Planet Express, Global Shopaholics-style forwarders) to receive Amazon/eBay orders at a US or UK address and have them reshipped to Iceland; this adds forwarding fees and several extra shipping days but is a well-established workaround.
- Aliexpress eBay
- AliExpress and eBay generally ship directly to Iceland without needing a forwarder, though delivery from Asia can take longer and is subject to customs review.
Malls And Districts
Laugavegur (and the 101/Miðborg Downtown Core)
- Area
- City center, 101 district
- Type
- Shopping district
- Highlights
- Icelandic clothing brands and design boutiques, vintage/second-hand shops, souvenir shops, the Handknitting Association of Iceland (wool sweaters), bookstores like Mál og Menning, and Reykjavik's densest concentration of cafés, bars and street art.
- Pedestrianized
- The lower section of Laugavegur has been pedestrianized in recent years.
- Connected Streets
- Skólavörðustígur (a short, design- and jewelry-focused street running uphill from Laugavegur to Hallgrímskirkja Church) and Aðalstræti/Vesturgata in the old town, described as Reykjavík's oldest street, with small shops, a museum and a perfume shop near Ingólfstorg square.
- Description
- Laugavegur is Reykjavik's main shopping and cultural artery, running through the historic downtown. It is described as the natural starting point for exploring downtown Reykjavik on foot, running through the heart of the 101 postal district. It stretches from near the Kringlan mall at Kringlumýrarbraut through to Bankastræti in the old downtown, a distance described as running roughly 1.2 miles (2 km) through the historic 101 district.
Kringlan
- Area
- Kringlumýri, Reykjavik (roughly 10 minutes' drive / ~2.5 km from Hallgrímskirkja / downtown; about a 30–40 minute walk)
- Type
- mall
- Amenities
- A cinema (Sambio), a food court called Kumen (opened 2023) on the 3rd floor, sit-down restaurants, a public library, and free parking. A free shuttle bus reportedly runs from City Hall to the mall.
- Anchor Tenants
- H&M, Hagkaup supermarket, Bónus, Next, and Icelandic outdoor brand 66°North.
- Description
- Kringlan is Reykjavik's largest indoor shopping mall, built in 1987 as the first indoor mall in Iceland. It sits on one of the busiest traffic intersections in the city, with the Reykjavík City Theatre and a public library located inside/adjacent to it.
- Store Count Note
- Sources give differing counts — the mall's own site cites over 120 shops and over 20 eateries, while travel guides cite figures ranging from 150 to over 180 shops and restaurants.
Smáralind
- Area
- Kópavogur (roughly a 15-minute drive from central Reykjavik, and about 6.5 km / 4 miles from Kringlan)
- Type
- mall
- Amenities
- A multi-screen cinema, a gym, a pharmacy, an ice cream parlour, and chain restaurants including Subway, Pizza Hut, and T.G.I. Friday's.
- Anchor Tenants
- Hagkaup and H&M are the main anchor tenants, alongside Zara and SmáraTívolí, a children's entertainment centre.
- Description
- Smáralind is Iceland's largest shopping mall, opened in October 2001 and designed by BDP. It sits just outside Reykjavik proper in the neighboring town of Kópavogur.
- Store Count Note
- Reported at over 90 shops, restaurants and services across three floors.
Hafnartorg
- Area
- Old Harbour waterfront, downtown Reykjavik
- Type
- Shopping district
- Highlights
- Hafnartorg Gallery, a curated selection of Icelandic food-and-drink retailers.
- Description
- A newer, upscale retail and dining development on the old harbour bank, close to the city's main attractions and museums. It offers over 30 stores and restaurants, blending international brands with unique local design and cuisine, and is accessible via an underground car park.
Glæsibær Shopping Centre
- Area
- Roughly a 10-minute drive from the city centre
- Type
- mall
- Note
- More of a neighborhood/local-errands centre than a tourist shopping destination.
- Description
- A smaller, local-feeling shopping centre with restaurants, a bakery, a pharmacy, and stores such as the eyewear retailer Sjón.
Kolaportið Flea Market
- Area
- Downtown/old harbour area, Reykjavik
- Type
- market
- Highlights
- Second-hand books and vinyl records, hand-knitted Icelandic sweaters, handcrafted jewelry, and traditional Icelandic foods including fermented shark.
- Description
- Reykjavik's well-known weekend indoor flea market, open on weekends, and noted as the one place locally where haggling is expected, especially late on Sundays when vendors want to clear stock.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
This section has no cited sources.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.