[Quick Summary]
Buying alcohol at the Keflavík Airport arrival duty-free is the only way to avoid 50–100% markups—or accidentally buying non-alcoholic beer.
This guide covers only what actually matters:
- The 6-unit allowance system: How to max out your limit.
- The supermarket “fake beer” trap: Don’t waste money on 2.25% ABV.
- 2026 Price Reality: Clear cost comparisons (Airport vs. City).
Not a bar list. Not a drinking guide. Just a decision that prevents regret.
Not ideal for: Travelers who do not drink at all.
The First Rule of Iceland: Don’t Exit the Airport Empty-Handed
Most travelers are trained to buy alcohol before departure.
Iceland works in reverse.
In Iceland, the only discounted alcohol is sold after you land but before you clear customs.
This Iceland alcohol guide exists for one fork-in-the-road decision:
- Buy once at the airport
- Or pay a permanent “convenience tax” for the rest of the trip
On a 10–14 day trip, this choice alone can save hundreds of dollars.
1. The Supermarket Trap: Watch Out for “Fake Beer”
Many first-time travelers assume they can grab beer at
Bónus or Krónan.
The reality
- Supermarkets cannot sell alcohol above 2.25% ABV
- Shelves are full of familiar-looking cans
- Most are low-alcohol or non-alcoholic substitutes
Yes, they look like beer.
No, they will not do what you expect.
Once you leave the airport, real alcohol is sold only at
Vínbúðin — state-run, limited hours, higher prices.
2. Understanding the 6-Unit Allowance (2026 Update)
Each adult traveler (18+) is allowed 6 total units, mix-and-match.
1 unit equals
- 1L spirits
- 1 bottle of wine (750 ml)
- 6 cans of beer (up to 500 ml)
Common combinations
- 1L spirits + 1 wine + 6 beers
- 2 wines + 12 beers
- 1L spirits + 18 beers
Traveling as a couple?
That’s 12 units, which comfortably covers a full road trip.
3. 2026 Cost Reality: Airport vs. City
| Item | Duty-Free (Arrival) | City / Bar |
| Local Craft Beer (500ml) | $3–5 | $10–14 |
| Bottle of Wine | $15–25 | $50+ |
| Spirits (1L) | $30–50 | $15+ per glass |
Trade-off: carrying extra weight.
Payoff: not paying restaurant prices every time you want a drink.
If you drink more than once, the math is already done.
4. Logistics & Practical Tips
- Apps: Happy-hour apps help if you skip duty-free
- Public drinking: Generally tolerated outdoors in good weather
- Payment: Cards accepted everywhere, including arrival duty-free
Alcohol will still be expensive — just slightly less painful.
Final Take
Iceland isn’t expensive everywhere.
Alcohol is the exception — always.
Among all Iceland travel logistics, this one decision prevents the fastest budget leak:
Buy once, at arrival, and move on.
