Kolaportið Flea Market

Kolaportið Flea Market occupies a large indoor hall at Tryggvagata 19 beside Reykjavik's Old Harbour, and it is the only market of its kind in Iceland's capital. It operates on weekends only, which gives it a lively, slightly improvised character compared with the permanent shops of Laugavegur nearby. The goods on sale differ sharply from generic tourist shopping: most stalls are run by private individuals clearing out wardrobes, attics and bookshelves, so the stock is dominated by second-hand clothing, vintage items, secondhand books in Icelandic and English, vinyl records, toys, collectibles and household oddments. Alongside these sit stalls selling hand-knitted wool items such as sweaters, hats, mittens and socks, which are often made by Icelandic knitters rather than imported in bulk. The quality of vendors varies widely. Many sellers are locals offering genuine used goods at low prices, while a smaller number of stalls target visitors with souvenirs, so shoppers who look closely at labels and ask where a wool garment was made can usually separate authentic Icelandic work from imported trinkets. Bargaining is not a strong tradition in Iceland, but at a flea market such as this a polite request for a small reduction on used items, or a discount for buying several pieces, is generally accepted; fixed-price food stalls and new goods are normally paid at the sticker price. Many stallholders prefer cash in Icelandic krónur, although some accept cards and an ATM is available on site. Because the stalls are private sellers, tax-free refunds for visitors do not usually apply to second-hand purchases, and anyone expecting a VAT refund should buy new goods from registered shops instead. Atmosphere is busy on Saturdays, with locals browsing alongside cruise passengers and tourists, and quieter on Sundays. The food corner is one of the market's best-known features, with stalls selling traditional Icelandic products such as dried fish (harðfiskur), cured and fermented foods, flatbread, licorice and baked goods, plus coffee. Stalls are arranged in aisles across the hall, with books and records toward one side, clothing and wool in the middle and the food section forming a natural stop for tasting. Visitors interested in traditional foods should make the food stalls a priority, while collectors tend to spend the most time among the book and record tables.