Grocery Shopping at Kronan: A Local's Guide to an Icelandic Supermarket

If you're wondering what to buy at a supermarket in Iceland, this is exactly what I'd put in your basket. I'm taking you through my go-to grocery store to show you the Icelandic foods, road-trip snacks, and easy local staples actually worth trying.

When friends visit Iceland and head out on self-drive trips, I always tell them to make one proper stop at an Icelandic supermarket before leaving Reykjavik.

Supermarkets in Iceland are one of the best ways for travelers to save money, get supplies on a budget, and experience everyday Icelandic food culture, especially as restaurants in Iceland can be expensive.

You’ll find several supermarket chains across Iceland, including Bónus, Nettó, and Krónan. While each has its strengths, Krónan offers a great balance of low prices, selection, and quality, which is why it’s my personal go-to for weekly grocery shopping.

There’s a strong range of organic and eco-friendly products, and if you’re looking for plant-based options, Krónan has one of the best vegan food options in Iceland.

This is exactly what I’d show you if we popped into Krónan together before heading out on a road trip in Iceland with a handy rental car. Read on and learn what to buy in Icelandic supermarkets!

Good Things to Know About Krónan

• Krónan is one of the best grocery stores in Iceland for travelers looking for affordable groceries and a good variety of local foods.

• Many Icelandic snacks, candy bars, and drinks are easiest to find in supermarkets.

• Skyr, flat breads, volcano rye bread, and smoked lamb make simple but very Icelandic foods.

• Stockfish is the most traditional Icelandic hiking snack and a great source of protein.

• If you're shopping on a budget, look for the yellow “Ódýrt” label, which marks the cheapest product in each category. Krónan also has rotating discounts on different items each month.

• You can get bags of mixed fruit for cheap and discounted produce nearing expiration.

• Many stores also have a surprisingly good cosmetics section with brands like e.l.f., Maybelline, Rimmel, and Max Factor.

• Krónan carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, reflecting its focus on sustainability.

• You'll find Krónan locations throughout Reykjavik and across Iceland, including in Keflavik, Selfoss, Vik, and Akureyri, making it an easy supermarket stop during Ring Road trips.

• Most Krónan stores generally open between 8 and 9 AM, and close late at 8 or 9 PM.

Why Supermarkets Are the Best Way to Save Money on Food in Iceland

Food in Iceland is famously expensive, especially when eating at restaurants in Reykjavik every day. A simple way to save money in Iceland is by shopping at Icelandic supermarkets and preparing simple meals or picnic lunches.

Most travelers stop at grocery stores like Krónan, Bónus, or Nettó to pick up breakfast, snacks, and easy foods for long drives. It’s common to grab things like skyr, sandwiches, fruit, or bread for quick meals between the top things to do.

If you're planning a road trip around Iceland, stocking up at a supermarket at the start of budget self-drive trips is one of the simplest ways to keep costs under control.

If you're curious about grocery prices in Iceland before arriving, Krónan also has an online store where you can browse the full supermarket selection and see real Icelandic prices.

The website is currently only available in Icelandic, but using a browser translation tool like the Google Translate extension makes it easy to navigate and get a realistic idea of what everyday groceries cost in Iceland.

Skyr: The Icelandic Superfood

So, do Icelanders actually eat skyr, or is it mostly a tourist thing?

We absolutely do!

Skyr is technically a cultured dairy product, but the easiest comparison is a thicker, more filling yogurt. It’s high in protein, not overly sweet, and extremely convenient when traveling. A small tub is filling enough to keep you going between Ring Road attractions, and it doesn’t feel heavy during hiking trips.

I grab a tub nearly every week. It works as breakfast, a road-trip snack, or a quick late-night fridge visit when you realize you want “something extra.”

If you're heading out for the day, you can easily toss a tub into your backpack. Like any dairy product, it shouldn’t sit in warm temperatures for too long, but in Iceland’s generally cool climate, skyr will normally stay perfectly fresh for a few hours while exploring outdoors.

I usually grab one of the flavored tubs for breakfast or a late-night treat. The strawberry and white chocolate, crème brûlée, and coffee-vanilla ones are dangerously good.

Plain skyr is tangy and unsweetened, perfect if you want to add fruit, granola, or honey. The most traditional way to eat it is with a little sugar and a splash of cream or milk, often with fresh blueberries.

If you're looking into fall trips to Iceland, you might even be able to pick the berries yourself out in nature.

After taking in the wall of skyr in the dairy section, the next stop is one of Iceland’s most beloved foods: the humble hot dog.

Icelandic Hot Dogs: The Grocery Store Version

Icelandic hot dogs are actually made with a mix of lamb, beef, and pork, which is part of what makes them taste a little different from hot dogs elsewhere. Visiting the iconic Reykjavik hot dog stand is on many travelers’ to-do lists, but you can actually recreate the same experience for much cheaper.

If you have access to a fridge and simple cooking facilities, pick up a pack of Icelandic hot dogs and buns at the supermarket.

You can grill or boil the hot dogs. I’ve done this many times before heading out on a weekend road trip, and usually stop in an N1 gas station on the way to pick up a single-use travel grill.

A homemade Icelandic hot dog eaten somewhere scenic tastes even better!

To recreate the classic Icelandic hot dog experience, grab the main toppings: crispy fried onions, sweet brown mustard, remoulade sauce, and ketchup.

If you want the authentic hot-dog-stand flavor, look for “Vals Tómatsósa,” the ketchup used at the famous stands in downtown Reykjavik.

With your Bæjarins Beztu hot dogs and toppings in hand, head over to the bakery section, where you can pick up your 5-pack of hot dog buns and more.

Breads and Baked Goods to Try

Krónan always has a fresh-baked section with pastries, cookies, and breads. Their chocolate chip cookies are a personal weakness of mine and dangerously easy to snack on.

When it comes to Icelandic breads, there are two classics I always recommend: flatkökur and rúgbrauð.

Flatkökur are soft, thin rye flatbreads traditionally served with butter and smoked lamb (hangikjöt). It’s one of those very simple combinations that always works.

Rúgbrauð, often called Icelandic rye bread or “volcano bread,” is dense, dark, and slightly sweet. Historically, it was baked underground using geothermal heat, something you can still see demonstrated on this geothermal rye bread tour in the Golden Circle area.

An underrated option is skonsa, a thick Icelandic pancake-like bread. When I go on shorter weekend hikes, I sometimes grab a pack of skonsa, a tub of Skyr, and a banana and call it lunch.

For more ready-to-go lunches, let’s head over to the refrigerated section, where you can find pre-made sandwiches, wraps, and other easy companions on a road trip.

Quick Lunch Options for Road Trips

For longer drives or hikes, I often grab one of the ready-made sandwiches from the refrigerated section. There’s usually a good variety of wraps, subs, and sandwiches, including vegan options.

The smoked lamb and bean salad sandwiches are particularly Icelandic, but I also enjoy the tikka masala wraps made in collaboration with the Reykjavik restaurant Hraðlestin.

I usually grab one of these before heading out of Reykjavik, so I can stop wherever I'd like to enjoy lunch along the way.

You’ll also find fresh sushi trays and onigiri if you’re looking for something lighter, though these are best eaten right away.

Of course, no grocery store visit is complete without a sweet treat, and you'll need dessert after your lunch, so next up is the candy section!

Must-Try Icelandic Candy, Chips, and Sweet Treats

If you want a quick cultural test, grab a chocolate bar with licorice filling. Icelanders absolutely love licorice, especially when paired with chocolate.

Supermarkets are the best place to explore Icelandic candy and snacks, and here are a few that I recommend trying, with or without licorice.

• Eitt Sett - A classic chocolate and licorice combo that almost every Icelander recognizes instantly. The newer bagged versions with small chocolate-covered licorice pieces are dangerously easy to snack on, and it's my go-to snack for road trips and movie nights.

• Prins Póló - An iconic chocolate wafer bar that has been a staple snack in Iceland for decades. They actually originate from Poland, but they’re so embedded in Icelandic snack culture that many people assume they’re local.

• Póló Kex - Thin coconut biscuits topped with chocolate. They’re light, crispy, and almost too easy to eat, especially with a cup of coffee during an afternoon break.

• Freyju Rís and Draumur - Rís is a crunchy chocolate bar filled with puffed rice and a safe choice if you’re unsure about licorice. Draumur, on the other hand, goes all in with the classic Icelandic chocolate-and-licorice combo.

• Hraun - Chocolate-covered crunchy pieces named after Icelandic lava. They’re irregular, crunchy, and come in boxes with a bag inside, which makes them easy snacks on road trips.

• Þristur - Another classic chocolate-and-licorice candy bar that many Icelanders grew up with and still swear by. The mini bags are especially good for road trips.

• Omnom Chocolate - If you want to try premium Icelandic chocolate, Omnom is the brand to look for. The Reykjavik-based company is known for creative flavors and beautiful packaging, which also makes their bars one of the more popular Icelandic souvenirs.

• Partý Mix - There’s almost no Icelandic party without a giant bag of Partý Mix. These chips come in different shapes, with the more popular options being salt and pepper or paprika flavors.

• Paprikustjörnur - These star-shaped paprika snacks are another Icelandic classic. They’re light, crunchy, and instantly recognizable.

Icelandic Drinks to Try

The drink aisle is generally next to the candy, and well worth exploring, as Iceland has quite a few unique drinks that you won’t always see elsewhere. Krónan has a good selection of classic sodas but also more specialty drinks, and this is usually where I end up lingering longer than I planned.

One thing you won’t find in any Icelandic supermarket is alcohol, as beer, wine, and spirits are only sold at government-run Vínbúðin stores and a few online shops. However, you can find a lot of good alcohol-free beers, wines, and ciders, such as Bríó and Bóndi.

Here are a few drinks I always recommend travelers try.

• Appelsín - Iceland’s classic orange soda and a must-try. It’s been around since the mid-20th century and is still hugely popular. If you're visiting around Christmas, locals mix it with malt to make the traditional holiday drink Malt og Appelsín.

• Kristal - A popular Icelandic sparkling water that comes in several fruit flavors, but the classic lemon and lime ones are the most common.

• Collab - A lightly sparkling Icelandic drink infused with collagen. It's marketed as a healthier alternative to soda, and there are quite a few fruity flavors to choose from.

• Yuzulaði - A refreshing soda made with Japanese yuzu citrus and one of my personal favorites. It isn’t stocked everywhere, but larger Krónan stores usually carry it, so it’s worth grabbing if you see it.

• Kókómjólk - Iceland’s beloved chocolate milk, instantly recognizable by the cartoon cat on the carton. Many Icelanders grew up drinking this, and it’s still a nostalgic favorite. It’s also a great option if you’re traveling to Iceland with kids.

Final Thoughts: A Supermarket Stop That Improves Your Trip

Grocery stores like Krónan might not seem like a highlight of a trip to Iceland, but they can become one of the most useful stops on your itinerary. They're great for trying local snacks, getting to know the food culture, and making a trip to Iceland more affordable.

Stock up before those long summer self-drives, keep snacks in the car, and try a few Icelandic staples while you’re at it. It makes your trip easier, cheaper, and a little closer to everyday life in Iceland!

Conclusion: A quick stop at Krónan is one of the simplest ways to experience everyday Icelandic food culture. Get things like skyr, Icelandic hot dogs, local candy, drinks, and easy road-trip lunches. Browse the aisles, try something new, and you might discover a favorite Icelandic snack before you even leave the parking lot.