If you’re planning a road trip around Iceland, you’ll almost certainly need to visit a supermarket.
Whether you’re buying breakfast for your campervan, stocking up on snacks for the Ring Road or trying to keep your food budget under control, choosing the right supermarket can save you a surprising amount of money.
We’ve shopped in supermarkets all over Iceland during our road trips, and while they’re all good, each one has its own strengths.
Here’s our guide to Iceland’s biggest supermarket chains and which one is best for your trip.
Quick Comparison
| Supermarket | Best For | Price | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bónus | Budget shopping | ⭐ Cheapest | Shorter hours |
| Krónan | Great all-round choice | ⭐⭐ Good value | Good |
| Nettó | Convenience & longer hours | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | Usually longer |
| Hagkaup | Biggest selection | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Most expensive | Often longest |
If you’re looking to save money, Bónus is usually our first choice.
Bónus
If you’ve done any research about Iceland, you’ve probably seen the famous pink pig logo.
Bónus is widely regarded as Iceland’s cheapest supermarket and is where we do most of our shopping.
Best For
- Saving money
- Weekly food shopping
- Campervan trips
- Self-catering holidays
You’ll Find
- Fresh food
- Sandwich ingredients
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Frozen food
- Household essentials
- Icelandic treats
The only downside is that stores don’t usually stay open as late as some competitors.
Krónan
Krónan offers a great balance between price and convenience.
Prices are generally a little higher than Bónus, but the stores are modern, well stocked and often easier to find.
If there isn’t a Bónus nearby, Krónan is an excellent alternative.
Nettó
Nettó is one of Iceland’s most convenient supermarkets.
Many branches stay open later than Bónus, making them ideal if you’re arriving late or finishing a long day exploring.
Prices tend to be slightly higher, but the convenience is often worth it.
Hagkaup
Think of Hagkaup as Iceland’s larger supermarket and department store.
Alongside groceries, you’ll also find:
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Homeware
- Cosmetics
- Gifts
It’s a great place if you need more than just food.
However, prices are generally the highest of the four supermarkets.
Which Supermarket is Cheapest?
In our experience:
🥇 Bónus
🥈 Krónan
🥉 Nettó
🏅 Hagkaup
If you’re travelling around Iceland for a week or more, shopping mainly at Bónus can noticeably reduce your food costs.
What Should You Buy?
Some of our regular supermarket purchases include:
- Sandwich ingredients
- Fresh fruit
- Yoghurts
- Skyr
- Breakfast cereals
- Crisps
- Chocolate
- Soft drinks
- Bottled water (although Icelandic tap water is perfectly safe!)
- Instant noodles
- Pasta
- Ready meals
Buying lunch from supermarkets rather than cafés can save a significant amount of money.
Is Icelandic Tap Water Safe?
Absolutely.
In fact, Iceland has some of the cleanest tap water in the world.
We always carry a reusable water bottle and refill it throughout our trip instead of buying bottled water.
It’s free, tastes fantastic and helps reduce plastic waste.
Can You Pay by Card?
Yes.
Like most businesses in Iceland, supermarkets are almost entirely cashless.
We’ve always paid using:
- Debit card
- Credit card
- Apple Pay
There’s rarely any need to carry cash.
Shopping During a Ring Road Trip
If you’re driving the Ring Road, we’d recommend stocking up whenever you reach a larger town.
Some of the best places include:
- Reykjavík
- Selfoss
- Vík
- Höfn
- Egilsstaðir
- Akureyri
- Borgarnes
Once you head into more remote areas, supermarkets become much less frequent.
Hiring a Car Makes Shopping Easier
Having your own car means you can stock up on food whenever it’s convenient rather than relying on expensive service stations.
We’ve always had excellent experiences with Blue Car Rental, making supermarket stops easy throughout our Iceland road trips.
🚗 Hire your car here:
https://www.bluecarrental.is/?affiliate=IcelandicAdventure
Campervan Travellers
If you’re exploring Iceland by campervan, supermarket shopping becomes even more important.
Cooking your own meals can save hundreds of pounds over the course of a longer trip.
We travelled with CampEasy, and having our own kitchen meant supermarket visits became part of the adventure.
Book through our link and you’ll also receive an exclusive FREE Easy Start Pack.
🚐 Book your CampEasy campervan here:
https://campeasy.com/?tap_a=107011-a856e5&tap_s=8902128-1989f0
Stay Connected
Having reliable mobile data makes it easy to:
- Find nearby supermarkets.
- Check opening hours.
- Navigate between towns.
We always use Saily eSIM.
📱 Save 10% here:
https://go.saily.site/aff_c?offer_id=101&aff_id=15717
Our Supermarket Tips
- Shop at Bónus where possible.
- Refill a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.
- Buy lunch from supermarkets to save money.
- Stock up before heading into remote areas.
- Don’t leave shopping until late evening if you’re relying on Bónus.
Final Thoughts
Supermarkets play a surprisingly important role in keeping the cost of an Iceland trip under control.
While all four major chains are good, we usually find ourselves heading straight for Bónus whenever we see the famous pink pig logo.
A few supermarket stops can save a lot of money over the course of your holiday, leaving you with more to spend on unforgettable experiences like geothermal lagoons, glacier hikes and whale watching.
Happy shopping—and enjoy your Iceland adventure!
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