Words by

Elín Traustadóttir

Photo by

Elín Traustadóttir

Seven stylish Xmas presents for less than 3,000 ISK

Get some Yule Lads!
Jólabúðin, Laugavegur 4

This lovely Christmas shop on Laugavegur (open year round!) offers a wide range of cool, Iceland-specific Christmas crap your friends back home will totally appreciate (a lot of it’s on the cheap side, too). For a safe bet, go for one of the sweet Icelandic Yule Lad figurines. We’re talking lovingly hand-crafted miniatures of all your favourites, from Sheep-Cote Clod to Doorway-Sniffer, presented in all their kitschy glory. A quirky present if there ever was one.

Stay warm!
Gyllti kötturinn, Austurstræti 8

Who wouldn’t love to get a pair of Christmas socks as a present, or a knitted Christmas hat? In Iceland, a pair of warm socks and a hat are never not useful, especially during the holiday season. Warm someone’s heart, head and feet this Christmas, why don’t you?

Sheep it up!
Eymundsson, Austurstræti 18

Icelanders love everything about their sheep: the cute, fluffy lambs; their tender, juicy meat; and their delicious faces (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it). This sheep brooch is surely the thing this Christmas—as it’s available in a range of colours, you can safely give one to all your friends. Alternatively, get the hairclips. Everyone loves hairclips.

Chocolove
Ostabúðin, Skólavörðustígur 8

If you’re looking for a small edible thing to top the perfect Christmas present, head to Ostabúðin for one of the delicious chocolate treats on offer. Complete your gift with a few of the yummy chocolate stars or pretzels, and make someone very happy.

Get quirky!
Minja, Skólavörðustígur 12

Minja on Skólavörðustígur offers a lot of quirky, adorable stuff at affordable prices. Whether it’s a carrot sharpener, hand-painted cups, beautifully decorated glasses or trendy wall stickers, their loot is guaranteed to satisfy any receiver.

Treasure hunt at Tiger
Tiger, Laugavegur 13

Make sure to make a stop at Tiger on Laugavegur during your Xmas shopping sojourn. You’ll often find the most unexpected and affordable gems there, at prices that can’t be beat. For instance, the cute penguin and polar bear lunch boxes are the perfect size for any school bag. They can also be used as a tin for Christmas biscuits, and if you top it with a ribbon and some candy, you’ve just crafted an original gift.

Around Iceland
Laugavegur 18

This cool store has some exquisite stuff to to give to someone who has everything. For instance, check out the luxurious vegan soaps—the herbal aromas are sure to fill every home with peace and tranquillity. Plus, they’re vegan.