Local’s Guide to Shopping at Kronan: Icelandic Supermarket Tips

Grocery shopping in Iceland is genuinely one of the better ways to get a feel for the country — and if you’re wondering what to grab before heading out on the road, I’ve got you covered. Here’s what I’d throw into your basket at my favourite supermarket, from must-try Icelandic foods to road-trip snacks and everyday local staples.

Every time friends visit Iceland and head off on a self-drive trip, I tell them the same thing: stop at a supermarket before you leave Reykjavik. It’s not just about stocking up. Walking the aisles of an Icelandic supermarket gives you a real sense of everyday life here. Eating out adds up fast, so having a decent stash of supermarket food makes a big difference to both your wallet and your trip.

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Iceland has a handful of supermarket chains — Bónus, Nettó, and Krónan are the main ones you’ll come across. Each has its own character, but Krónan is the one I keep coming back to. The prices are reasonable, the range is solid, and the quality is consistently good. It’s where I do most of my weekly shopping.

Krónan carries a strong selection of organic and eco-friendly products and has some of the best vegan options of any supermarket in the country — something both locals and visitors tend to appreciate.

So, if we were walking into Krónan together before a road trip, here’s exactly what I’d be pointing out.

Noteworthy Highlights of Krónan

• Krónan is one of the better grocery stores in Iceland if you’re after decent prices and a good range of local products.

  

• You’ll find Icelandic snacks, candy bars, and drinks here that are genuinely hard to track down anywhere else.

• Skyr, flatbreads, volcanic rye bread, and smoked lamb are simple, quintessential Icelandic foods — all stocked here.

• Stockfish is a traditional hiking snack, high in protein and popular with locals heading into the hills.

• If budget is on your mind, look for the yellow “Ódýrt” labels — they flag the most affordable option in each category. Krónan also runs rotating monthly discounts on selected products.

• Bags of mixed fruit and discounted produce nearing its use-by date are worth picking up for great value.

• Many locations have a surprisingly well-stocked cosmetics section, with brands like e.l.f., Maybelline, Rimmel, and Max Factor.

• Krónan carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, reflecting a genuine commitment to sustainability.

• There are multiple locations across Reykjavik and beyond — including Keflavik, Selfoss, Vik, and Akureyri — so it’s easy to stop in along the Ring Road.

• Most Krónan locations open between 8 and 9 AM and close by 8 or 9 PM.

Why Shopping at Supermarkets is Your Best Bet for Saving Money in Iceland

Food costs in Iceland are no joke, especially if you’re eating out regularly in Reykjavik. Supermarkets are the practical fix — you can put together simple meals, pack picnic lunches, and get through the day without spending a fortune.

Most travellers stop at Krónan, Bónus, or Nettó to pick up breakfast things, snacks, and easy food for long drives. Skyr, sandwiches, and fruit are the classics — quick, filling, and easy to eat between stops.

If you’re planning a full Ring Road trip, stocking up before you leave is one of the most sensible things you can do for your travel budget.

Curious about prices before you arrive? Krónan has an online store where you can browse the full range and see what things actually cost. The website is in Icelandic, but a browser translation tool handles it well enough.

Discovering Skyr: Iceland’s Culinary Jewel

Do Icelanders actually eat skyr, or is it just something they put out for tourists?

Absolutely the former.

Skyr is a cultured dairy product — thick, high in protein, and not very sweet. Think of it as somewhere between yogurt and soft cheese. It travels well, fills you up, and is perfectly suited to a day on the road or a hike.

It’s a regular in my own shopping basket. I’ll eat it for breakfast, throw a tub in my bag before a day out, or have it as a late-night snack. In Iceland’s cool climate, skyr stays fresh for several hours outside the fridge, which is handy.

My favourite flavours are strawberry and white chocolate, crème brûlée, and coffee-vanilla — all dangerously easy to get through. Plain skyr works brilliantly with fruit, granola, or a little honey. Traditionally it’s eaten with sugar and a splash of cream or milk, topped with fresh blueberries — and if you’re visiting in autumn, you might even be able to pick your own.

Once you’ve had a look at the dairy section, head over to one of the other great Icelandic staples: the hot dog.

Icelandic Hot Dogs: Supermarket Style

Icelandic hot dogs are made from a mix of lamb, beef, and pork, which gives them a flavour you won’t find anywhere else. Queuing at the famous Reykjavik hot dog stand is a rite of passage for many visitors, but you can recreate the experience at home for a fraction of the price using supermarket ingredients.

If you’ve got a fridge and basic cooking gear, pick up a pack of Icelandic hot dogs and some buns. I often do this before weekend trips — stopping at an N1 gas station along the way to grab a single-use travel grill.

There’s something genuinely satisfying about eating a homemade Icelandic hot dog somewhere beautiful.

For the proper experience, get the toppings right: crispy fried onions, sweet brown mustard, remoulade sauce, and ketchup. And if you want the authentic flavour, look for “Vals Tómatsósa” — the ketchup used at Reykjavik’s iconic hot dog stands.

While you’re at it, grab a pack of buns from the bakery section to round it all out.

Breads and Baked Goods Worth Exploring

Krónan’s fresh-baked section is worth spending a few minutes in. The pastries, cookies, and breads are consistently good — and their chocolate chip cookies have caught me off-guard more than once.

For traditional Icelandic breads, there are two I always point people towards: flatkökur and rúgbrauð.

Flatkökur are thin rye flatbreads. Eat them with butter and smoked lamb — hangikjöt — and you’ve got one of those simple combinations that just works every time.

Rúgbrauð, often called Icelandic rye bread or “volcano bread,” is dense, dark, and slightly sweet. Traditionally it was baked underground using geothermal heat, a technique still demonstrated on geothermal rye bread tours in the Golden Circle area.

Don’t skip skonsa either — a thick, pancake-style bread. On shorter hikes, I’ll often pack a few pieces with some skyr and a banana. It’s an easy, decent lunch.

If you want something ready to eat, the refrigerated section has pre-made sandwiches, wraps, and other grab-and-go options worth checking out.

Quick Lunch Options for Your Road Adventures

On longer days out, a ready-made sandwich from the fridge is often my first stop. There’s usually a decent selection — wraps, subs, sandwiches — with some vegan choices mixed in.

The smoked lamb and bean salad sandwiches are particularly Icelandic. The tikka masala wraps, made in collaboration with the Reykjavik restaurant Hraðlestin, are a personal favourite of mine.

I like to pick one up before leaving Reykjavik so I can stop wherever looks good and eat properly rather than rushing.

If you want something lighter, fresh sushi trays and onigiri occasionally show up — though these are best eaten straight away rather than saved for later.

Now, the part most people are actually waiting for: the candy aisle.

Must-Try Icelandic Candies, Chips, and Sweet Delights

If you want a quick window into Icelandic taste preferences, pick up a chocolate bar with a licorice filling. Icelanders love licorice — especially with chocolate — and it’s everywhere.

Here are some things worth grabbing, whether or not licorice is your thing:

• Eitt Sett – Almost every Icelander knows this chocolate-and-licorice combination. The bagged versions with chocolate-covered licorice pieces are dangerously easy to work through on a long drive or a movie night.

• Prins Póló – An iconic chocolate wafer bar that’s been around in Iceland for decades. It originally came from Poland, but it’s become so embedded in Icelandic snack culture that plenty of people assume it’s local.

• Póló Kex – Thin coconut biscuits with a chocolate topping. Light, crispy, and very good with a coffee during a midday stop.

• Freyju Rís and Draumur – Freyju Rís is a crispy chocolate bar with puffed rice — a good pick if you’re not keen on licorice. Draumur goes the other way and leans fully into the chocolate-and-licorice pairing.

• Hraun – Chocolate-covered crunchy bites named after Icelandic lava, packaged in a convenient inner bag. Great for road trips.

• Þristur – A nostalgic chocolate-and-licorice bar that many Icelanders have strong feelings about, particularly in the mini bag format on long journeys.

• Omnom Chocolate – For premium Icelandic chocolate, Omnom is the one to look for. This Reykjavik-based brand is known for interesting flavours and beautiful packaging — the bars make excellent souvenirs.

• Partý Mix – A bag of mixed chips in flavours like paprika and salt-and-pepper. You’ll find these at pretty much every Icelandic gathering.

• Paprikustjörnur – Star-shaped paprika snacks with a flavour that’s immediately recognisable. Light, crunchy, and thoroughly Icelandic.

Drinks to Savor in Iceland

The drinks aisle at Krónan has some genuine surprises. You’ll find both well-known sodas and more unusual local options, and it’s easy to spend longer here than you planned.

Worth knowing: you won’t find alcohol in any Icelandic supermarket. Beer, wine, and spirits are only sold at government-run Vínbúðin stores. That said, alcohol-free beers, wines, and ciders — including Bríó and Bóndi — are on the shelves.

Here’s what I’d recommend trying:

• Appelsín – Iceland’s orange soda. It’s been around since the mid-20th century and is completely embedded in local culture. Around Christmas, locals mix it with malt to make the traditional holiday drink Malt og Appelsín.

• Kristal – A popular Icelandic sparkling water in several fruit flavours, with classic lemon and lime being the most common.

• Collab – A lightly sparkling Icelandic drink with added collagen, positioned as a healthier alternative to soda. Comes in a range of fruity flavours.

• Yuzulaði – A soda made with Japanese yuzu citrus and one of my personal favourites. Not everywhere, but larger Krónan locations usually stock it — worth seeking out.

• Kókómjólk – Iceland’s chocolate milk, instantly recognisable by the cartoon cat on the carton. Most Icelanders grew up with it, and it’s a solid choice if you’re travelling with kids.

Final Thoughts: A Supermarket Stop Enhancing Your Iceland Experience

A supermarket stop probably isn’t the first thing that comes up when you’re planning an Iceland trip, but it genuinely makes a difference. You get to try local snacks, pick up a sense of everyday food culture, and keep your costs in check — all in one visit.

Before your next road trip, make time to stop at Krónan and stock up properly. You’ll travel better for it, and you’ll come away knowing a little more about how people actually eat here.

A quick trip to Krónan is a low-effort way to experience real Icelandic food culture. From skyr and Icelandic hot dogs to local sweets and drinks worth trying, browse the aisles and pick up something unfamiliar — you might find your new favourite snack before you’ve even left the car park.