9 Best Snacks To Take To Iceland

With beautiful waterfalls and incredible hikes, Iceland is a much-loved tourist destination visited by thousands of people every year. But everything in Iceland, from activities to transportation, is expensive! However, there are plenty of ways to save money during your trip, and one of our favourite ways is to take your own snacks.

What Snacks Can I Take To Iceland? 

You can take packaged snacks and dried food to Iceland, but you’re not allowed to export any meat, fish, dairy or fruit and vegetables.

Remember, due to TSA guidelines, you’re also unable to take most liquids of more than 100ml in hand baggage and instead will need to put these liquids into your suitcase in the hold (be sure to do so with caution, I speak from experience).

Best Snacks To Take To Iceland

With that in mind, these are the snacks we often pack in our luggage for a trip to Iceland to save on the cost of food;

1. Porridge Sachets

Porridge sachets are among the best, most filling snacks you can take to Iceland (or any other expensive country).

Most porridge sachets consist of some oats and flavouring and only require you to add boiling water.

We’ve found that porridge sachets are great if you’re staying in a hotel that doesn’t offer a complimentary breakfast. Better still, they are super lightweight and compact, perfect for packing into your luggage.

2. Oatcakes / Rice Cakes

Sadly, bread doesn’t travel very well, but you could pack some oatcakes into your hand baggage.

We don’t recommend putting oatcakes into your hold luggage, as these bags are thrown around a lot and you may end up with oatcake crumbs all over your clothes.

You can eat oatcakes or rice cakes with peanut butter or any other sauces, or even go ahead and purchase some fruit, cheese, meat or other products to put on them.

3. Peanut Butter

If you choose to purchase some bread once you get to Iceland, you can easily jazz up your sandwiches with a jar of peanut butter.

Peanut butter is a super-filling high-protein addition to any breakfast or snack, giving you plenty of energy to enjoy the highlights of Iceland!

While peanut butter traditionally comes in a jar, you can easily find it in pouches or go ahead and transfer the contents of the jar into a reusable pouch for travel.

4. Chocolate

There are no restrictions on taking chocolate in your hold baggage, although it’s a good idea to take bars wrapped in their original packaging.

If you think that you may want an in-flight chocolatey snack, take some small bars that you’ll finish in one sitting.

That way, when you go through customs in Iceland, all of your remaining chocolate bars will be fully sealed! 

5. Packet Noodles

Another great snack option when travelling to Iceland is packet instant noodles.

While you can sometimes get these noodles in a plastic cup, I suggest picking them up in a pack form and bringing a collapsable bowl to save on space and reduce single-use plastics.

6. Pringles

If you can’t live without crisps, Pringles are a great option. Their packaging is slightly tougher, so the crisps won’t get crushed during your flight. 

However, these tubes can be a bit awkward to pack, so we recommend that you only take one or two!

7. Cereal Bars 

With all the adventure that Iceland provides, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough energy! 

Oaty and fruity cereal bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or energy hit in the afternoon. 

They are fairly lightweight, which means you should be able to pack them in your hold or hand baggage.

8. Sauces

A spicy or otherwise flavoursome sauce can help you jazz up your Iceland snacks and dinners a lot!

However, keep in mind that if your sauce bottle is over 100 ml, it won’t be allowed in your hand baggage. Instead, you’ll need to make sure it’s well-padded and place it into your hold luggage! 

9. Soups

Powdered soups that you can make by adding boiling water are perfect for taking to Iceland, considering the cold climate.

Not only are they small and lightweight, but they also come in a range of flavours.

Other Food-Related Items To Bring To Iceland

Alongside food, you should consider bringing several other food-related items to Iceland to reduce costs, help with single waste plastics, and make your trip more convenient.

Water Bottle

You can drink the tap water in Iceland – most locals and tourists do. Therefore it’s a good idea to bring your own reusable water bottle to capitalise on the refill opportunities while adventuring on the island.

Collapsable Bowl

A collapsable bowl is the perfect lightweight and compact solution for eating out of when in Iceland.

We recommend bringing one along even if you don’t bring any food just in case you decide to shop at any of the grocery stores in Iceland instead of eating in restaurants during your trip.

Reusable Cutlery

You can easily cook noodles with a kettle and eat them out of a bowl, but you’ll still need some cutlery to eat them with. 

A reusable cutlery set will be useful if you’re taking lunch with you or staying somewhere without a kitchen. 

Reusable Sandwich Bags

These are a fantastic idea if you’re travelling with kids or if you have lots of larger items that you need to separate. 

You can use reusable sandwich bags to create smaller portions while still giving everyone their own food. 

Where To Buy Food In Iceland

There are a vast range of food stores in Iceland for fruit, vegetables, cheese and any other products that you can’t or don’t want to take with you.

We recommend doing a big food shop as soon as possible after you land, so you’re not tempted to eat out (as this is where you would undoubtedly spend the most money). 

It’s a good idea to find the nearest food store to your hotel or Airbnb in advance. Then, pin it on your map and work out how you will get there if you don’t have a car.