Shopping in Reykjavik

Reykjavik may not sound as a likely place to shop for high fashion items or designer wear but the fact is that there is quite a good selection of high-quality fashion clothing and other exciting merchandise, from both sides of the Atlantic, to be found there. The standard of living is very high in Iceland and people want quality and are very fashion-conscious. There may even be some products that have not yet been introduced elsewhere, as some big manufacturers use the small but demanding Icelandic market for testing their new products. Look for world-known designer labels in clothing, shoes, giftware and spectacles, among other things.
Iceland has a reputation for being expensive but the prices of these goods are quite comparable with New York � or, in the case of designer wear, often more reasonable. Overhead costs are not so high and the markup is usually considerably lower than in NY. And then there is the tax-free refund for tourists, which is approximately 15% of the price, minimum purchase 4,000 ISK (around $50) on one sales slip, although individual items do not have to to amount to the minimum figure. Price tags in Iceland always include the sales tax. There are three main shopping areas: Besides downtown Reykjavik, there are two major shopping malls, Kringlan and Smaralind.

Downtown Reykjavik, which includes the old city center, Laugavegur and the surrounding streets, has many top stores within a short walking distance of each other. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant and the geographical surroundings are beautiful.
Laugavegur is Reykjaviks main shopping street and the starting point, if you want to make your way westward, towards the old city center, is the bus station at Hlemmur.