So, Icelandic souvenirs. It is inevitable to want to bring something from a country you’re visiting. For many, the memories and photos are enough, but others want something more tangible—some kind of souvenir.
Souvenirs are as varied as they are many, of course. But the best place in Reykjavik to fulfil your souvenir needs is Skólavörðustígur, the street that goes from Hallgrímskirkja church and down the hill.
Some people love their typical kitschy souvenirs, and we totally get that. It’s just fun. It can boil a whole city or a country into one piece of statue. And you will find that on Skólavörðustígur, along with clothing designers, jewelry stores, art galleries, and more.
Below you will find a list of our favorite stores in Skólavörðustígur to help you find the correct souvenir or memorabilia from Iceland.
The Handknitting Association of Iceland
- Skólavörðustígur 19
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00
Iceland is famous for its lopapeysa, and not without reason. Our sheep have two kinds of wool, tog and þel. Tog (rough wool) is the long, sturdy, coarse, and water-resistant hair, while þel (pronounced thel) is the short, soft, and warm hair. Our lopapeysa are all made with both hairs, which makes them exceptionally good for Icelandic weather (and other cold weather).
All sweaters for sale at the Handknitting Association of Iceland are hand-knitted by Icelandic women. The association was founded in 1977 when primarily women wanted to increase their income, and they have been going strong since then. No two sweaters are the same.
Rammagerðin
- Skólavörðustígur 12 and Skólavörðustígur 7
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Every day 10:00 – 18:00
Rammagerðin (translates as The Frame Workshop) is one of Iceland’s oldest gift shops. Established in 1940, its emphasis is selling Icelandic wool products and designs.
It was initially in Hafnarstræti in Reykjavik’s center, and the Christmas decorations in their large shop windows were a source of excitement for children of all ages. Rammagerðin still keeps up the tradition, so if you’re in Reykjavik in December, it is worth checking out.
Rammagerðin is also in a few other places: Kringlan Shopping mall, Harpa Concert Hall, Lava Centre Hvolsvöllur, and Keflavík International Airport.
The Viking
- Skólavörðustígur 3 and Skólavörðustígur 25
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Skólavörðustígur 25: Sun-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-21:00, Skólavörðustígur 3: Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00
Suppose you want something more traditional, a Viking statue or a puffin plushie. In that case, we recommend you check out The Viking souvenir stores. They also offer products made from horns and everything else you want to find in a souvenir store. Books, t-shirts, postcards, coasters, keychains, magnets, and more. It’s the quintessential Icelandic souvenirs store.
Fótógrafí
- Skólavörðustígur 22
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11:00 – 14:00
For the photography lover, Fótógrafí is a great place to check out. The store opened in 2007 and was the first of its kind in Iceland. All photos available in the store are taken in Iceland by Ari Sigvaldason and his friends.
There are usually some records playing during opening times – literal vinyl records for a cozy and fun atmosphere. There are also over 300 vintage film cameras hanging on the wall of the small shop to check out as well.
Kaolin Ceramic Gallery
- Skólavörðustígur 5
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat 11:00-16:00, Sun 12:00-16:00
For the ceramic lover, Kaolin is a great little gallery with handmade ceramics. It is a cooperative gallery owned by several ceramic artists and designers with unique styles. They offer everything from statues and candlesticks to homeware such as cups and plates.
The Kaolin artist association was founded in 2010 by a few ceramics who wanted to create a platform to introduce Icelandic ceramics and showcase and sell their work. They take turns tending the gallery to keep the prices down, so buyers will always meet one of the artists.
Orr Jewelry
- Skólavörðustígur 17b
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 13:00-17:00, Sat 13:00-16:00, Sun: occasionally
For the jewelry lover, Orr jewelry is an exclusive collection of handmade designer jewelry by Kjartan Örn Kjartansson and Guðbjörg Bárðardóttir. Their workshop is also located in the shop.
The materials they use are of the highest quality. The purity of the metals and diamonds is certified by themselves.
The materials they use and their markings are as follows:
- Silver marked “925 “contains 92.5% pure silver or more.
- Silver marked “999 “contains 99.9% pure silver or more.
- Gold marked “750 “(18k) contains 75% pure gold or more.
- Gold marked “585 “(14k) contains 58.5% pure gold or more.
- White gold marked “585 “(14k) contains 58.5% pure gold or more and 19% palladium.
- White gold marked “750 “(18k) contains 75% pure gold or more and 19% palladium.
- Platinum marked “950 “contains 95% pure platinum or more.
- The diamonds are almost exclusively F+ VVS diamonds of the highest quality.
Myrkraverk Gallery
- Skólavörðustígur 3
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Thu CLOSED, Fri 14:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-18:00
Myrkraverk gallery is an unusual artist-run space on the Rainbow Street section of Skólavörðustígur. In the gallery, you can get one-of-a-kind objects, oil paintings, prints, upcycled jewelry, and sculptures from young and promising artists. You can get quite different Icelandic souvenirs in this gallery.
12 tónar
- Skólavörðustígur 15
- 101 Reykjavik
- Opening hours: Mon-Tue 10:00-18:00, Wed-Thu 10:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-01:00, Sun 12:00-18:00
If music is more your jam, 12 tónar is one of the best music stores in town. If you also enjoy drinking beer, this is definitely a place you should check out.
12 tónar was established in 1998 as a record store and a label. They also regularly hold concerts in their beautiful backyard, giving you an immersive experience: Icelandic music, Icelandic beer, and locals.
They also have t-shirts, books, postcards, posters, and more for sale if you want something more.
We hope you liked our list of different Icelandic souvenirs. Skólavörðustígur is sometimes called the Art Street in Iceland as there are so many different art stores there, so it is well worth the visit and not just for Hallgrímskirkja church. There are many other stores, restaurants, and tattoo parlours on the street, so go check it out.
Please signup HERE for our newsletter for more fun facts and information about Iceland!
