- Icelandic wool
- Interesting decorations
- What kind of drinks and food can I bring from Iceland?
- Most popular souvenirs
Tourists will not have to puzzle over the question of what to bring from Iceland. A huge variety of goods can be found in shops and souvenir shops. However, you should be prepared for the fact that their cost is often quite high. Still, the state is one of the ten most expensive countries in the world.
Icelandic wool
One of the hallmarks of Iceland is wool knitwear: sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves. Unlike woolen clothes from other countries, Icelandic clothing is not only warm, but also extremely light and pleasant to the touch. And if you come to Iceland, then you can't go home without the famous Lapel sweater. A traditional sweater is knitted from black and white threads, has no locks, zippers or buttons. True, now in stores you can find models with these elements.
The most famous souvenir among modern tourists, lopapeis, has appeared on store shelves relatively recently. In the middle of the 20th century. the resourceful sheep wool producers decided to sell the surplus in this way. And they did not lose. A sweater bought in Iceland serves two purposes. Firstly, it retains heat well, thanks to a thin layer of soft wool. Secondly, it protects well from moisture. This is facilitated by coarser, long-pile yarns. Many Icelanders wear lopapeis even in wet weather without jackets and raincoats.
Interesting decorations
It is always pleasant to receive jewelry as a gift. Especially if they are made in an unusual technique. In Icelandic jewelry stores, you can see a wide range of gold and silver items. Probably nowhere else in the world will you be able to find such a variety of lava jewelry. On sale there are both exclusive expensive models and quite budget options. But this is more true for women's accessories.
Jewelry for men is much less common. And they are more expensive. But the quality and beauty will justify all the costs. The most original and expensive gift can be a watch with dusting from the ash of the Eyjafjallajokutl volcano. But they are only made to order. By the way, lava is used not only for making jewelry. In souvenir shops, you can often find just small pieces of rock, which are quickly sold out as a souvenir.
What kind of drinks and food can I bring from Iceland?
It is worth warning right away that alcoholic beverages are very expensive in this country and cannot be purchased everywhere. You can taste local cuisine and alcohol in bars and restaurants. And to buy as a gift - only in large specialized stores.
Icelandic vodka "Reika" is very popular among tourists. Due to special filtration, the drink has a smoky taste, quite unusual. It is better to buy alcohol in duty-free shops. Potato schnapps is considered a traditional home-made drink. The drink is infused with moss and herbs, and cumin is added as a flavoring. An excellent gift will be a bottle decorated in a national style: a knitted cover resembling a lopapeis.
The most unusual snack you can take with you is hakarl. Icelandic delicacy is made from shark meat. It is impossible to eat it raw, but after drying, the product becomes quite edible. True, its taste and smell are quite specific. Often they take with them the local mustard, which has an unusual and very pungent taste.
Most popular souvenirs
Iceland is the land of the Vikings. Therefore, everything related to this culture is in constant demand among tourists: Scandinavian attributes; pendants and charms; runes; troll figurines; items of clothing and much more.
A funny and very popular souvenir that is sold in any gift shop is a Viking beer mug. Although the choice of tourists is not limited. You can buy figurines of warriors, decor items in the form of weapons or ships, sets with toy warriors. Children will love the small wood figurines depicting whales or seals. And women will appreciate the glass and ceramic vases and dishes. All products are characterized by elegance and unusual color patterns.
You should definitely bring the local Blue Lagoon cosmetics from Iceland. Cosmetics made from ingredients extracted from the famous Blue Lagoon have amazing properties. Cosmetics, with natural ingredients in their composition, perfectly cleanse the skin, have a rejuvenating and healing effect. The assortment is wide enough: creams, lotions, gels and ointments.
In company stores in Reykjavik, you can buy clothes from world-famous designers and branded items at prices that are significantly lower than those of European stores. The malls and boutiques sell clothes from the collections of both local and foreign designers.
