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What to Pack for Iceland

Overwhelmed? Start here. Most of what you own will work. Just make the outer layer waterproof: jacket, trousers, shoes.

When are you coming?

Independent guidance, written by a resident. Some tips are personal experience.

Not sure which season fits your dates? Check your month →

Autumn packing, Sep to Oct

Autumn, September, October

The weather shifts quickly in autumn. September can still feel like late summer some days, but October is firmly cold and wet. Go back to the thicker mid layer and make sure your jacket is properly waterproof, not just water resistant. Wind picks up and daylight drops fast.

Key extras: Thicker fleece or light down jacket, waterproof pants, wool socks, a warm hat for October. Northern Lights season begins in September, pack dark clothing and a tripod if you want to photograph them. Daylight drops from 14 hours in September to 9 hours by late October.

Winter, November, December, January, February

Go warmer on every layer. A thicker mid layer, proper thermal base, and don't skip the wool socks. Hand warmers make a genuine difference on cold days. Shoe cleats are worth packing since black ice on sidewalks is common and easy to miss. A reflective clip or band is important because it gets dark early and drivers need to see you.

Key extras: Warm hat, scarf or buff, waterproof insulated gloves (bring a spare pair, they get wet at waterfalls), merino thermal base top and bottoms, thick fleece mid layer, wool socks (at least 3 pairs), shoe cleats, hand warmers, reflective clip or band. Temperatures range from −5°C to 5°C, but wind chill can make it feel much colder.

Spring, March, April, May

March is still winter in practice. Expect snow, ice, and serious wind. April is the most unpredictable month, you can get sunshine, sleet, and horizontal rain in the same afternoon. By May things ease up, but it's not warm. Keep the waterproof shell, bring a medium fleece, and don't ditch the wool socks yet. Shoe cleats are still useful in March and sometimes April.

Key extras: Medium weight fleece, waterproof pants for hikes, wool socks, shoe cleats (March to April), sunglasses (daylight increases rapidly in April and May, up to 17 to 20 hours). Pack layers you can add and remove quickly, you may do it five times in a single day.

Summer, June, July, August

Here's the part most packing lists get wrong: Icelandic summer can feel like real summer. On a warm, still day in July or August, 14°C to 16°C in direct sun with no wind is genuinely pleasant. You can walk around Reykjavík in a light dress, a t-shirt, or linen trousers and feel perfectly comfortable. Locals do this all the time. The catch is wind. If the wind picks up, that same temperature feels completely different. Pack your summer clothes, but keep a proper windproof jacket in your day bag. The weather can turn in ten minutes, and the jacket is what lets you enjoy the rest of the day instead of cutting it short.

Key extras: Eye mask for sleeping (midnight sun means near 24 hour daylight), sunscreen SPF 30+, light rain shell, shorts or light hiking pants for warmer days, a summer dress or light outfit for calm days in town, bug spray if visiting the highlands (midges appear in sheltered areas). Temperatures range from 8°C to 15°C, occasionally higher on still days.

Winter, November, December, January, FebruaryWinter, November, December, January, FebruaryWinter, November, December, January, FebruaryWinter, November, December, January, FebruarySpring, March, April, MaySpring, March, April, MaySpring, March, April, MaySummer, June, July, AugustSummer, June, July, AugustSummer, June, July, AugustAutumn, September, OctoberAutumn, September, October

How to layer, in one short video

Base, mid and outer layer, shown by Victoria. Plus the one jacket rule.

The three layers, shown by Victoria.

Layer 3, Outer: Blocks rain and wind

Waterproof, windproof jacket. Shell trousers on tour days.

Layer 2, Mid: Holds your body heat

Fleece, light puffer, thin wool jumper.

Layer 1, Base: Keeps you dry against the skin

Merino or thermal top and leggings. No cotton.

Outer at the top, skin at the bottom. Warm café: take off 3, maybe 2. Back outside: put them on again.

Diagram of the three layer system: base layer against the skin, mid layer for warmth, outer layer for rain and wind.

The one thing to get right: the jacket. Fully waterproof and windproof, with a hood that stays on in wind. Insulated jacket or shell over a fleece, both work. Use what you own.

Victoria's Field Note

I learned this the hard way at the waterfalls. My shell's hood was not windproof, and the spray soaked through it in minutes. Only the water resistant layer underneath saved me. Windproof and waterproof means every part of the jacket, especially the hood.

Victoria's personal preference, not safety advice

I get my jacket in black, it goes with everything. Colour does not matter for warmth. In winter, add a small reflector clip, because it gets dark early and drivers need to see you.

Which shoes to bring

For walking around Reykjavik and most day trips, waterproof sneakers work better than heavy boots. They're lighter, more comfortable for long days, and handle wet sidewalks just fine.

City days in Reykjavík

Waterproof trainers you already find comfortable.

Wet pavements, short walks, warm indoors. Heavy boots are more than you need.

Normal sightseeing, waterfalls, Golden Circle

Waterproof trainers or light waterproof boots, with wool socks.

Paths are wet, uneven and often gravel. Grip matters more than height.

Hiking, glacier or ice cave tours

Proper waterproof hiking boots with ankle support.

Crampons need a stiff boot. Check what your specific tour asks you to wear before you book.

Victoria's Tip

Buy your sneakers half a size up. If you wear a 38 (US 7), get a 38.5 (US 7.5). That way when you put on thick wool socks, your feet aren't squeezed and they stay warm all day. Comfortable feet make everything better.

Ready to pack? Tick it off

Season, layers, shoes, done. The checklist makes sure nothing is left on the bed.

Open the two minute packing checklist

Then, prepare for landing day.

Open the Arrival Checklist, your first 24 hours

Before you close the suitcase

Optional. Tap what you want to read.

4 packing mistakes to avoid

Wind over snow, waterproof over fashion, fewer clothes than you think, and summer can be warm.

1. Wind matters more than snow

People pack for cold temperatures and forget that the real problem here is wind. It is not unusual to have 20 m/s gusts on a "mild" day. Your jacket needs to block wind first, hold warmth second. A puffy down coat that is not windproof will feel far colder than it looks once the wind cuts through it on the South Coast.

2. Waterproof matters more than fashion

Iceland is not the trip to debut the new coat. The people you see looking comfortable at waterfalls and on glaciers are not better dressed, they are just drier. Pick boring, waterproof, and windproof every single time.

3. You will not need as many clothes as you think

Many visitors overpack. You will re-wear the same fleece, the same waterproof pants, and the same jacket every day. Pack fewer outfits and more of the right base layers and wool socks. Your suitcase, your back, and the rental car trunk will thank you.

4. Summer can actually be warm, pack light layers too

Most lists treat Iceland like it's freezing year round. It isn't. On a still, sunny day in June, July or August, Reykjavík can sit at 14°C to 18°C and feel genuinely lovely. Locals walk around in t-shirts, linen trousers, summer dresses, and regular sneakers. If you only pack thermals and fleece, you will be too warm and frustrated. Bring a light dress or shirt, a thin long sleeve, light trousers, and one pair of regular sneakers. Then keep the windproof jacket in your day bag for when the weather turns.

14 small things people forget to pack

Swimsuit, cleats, contact lens solution, battery bank and more.

Swimsuit. Public pools are a big part of daily life here. You'll want to visit at least one.

Shoe cleats. For winter visits. Black ice on sidewalks is common and locals wear them regularly.

Eye mask. If you're visiting in summer, the midnight sun can make sleeping difficult without one.

Reusable water bottle. Iceland's tap water is some of the cleanest in the world. Just use the cold tap to avoid the sulfur smell from the hot water system.

Ziploc bags. Tuck your phone, camera, and wallet into resealable bags whenever you are outdoors. Waterfall mist, horizontal rain, sea spray, and sudden downpours can soak everything in your pockets within seconds. This is not just for Seljalandsfoss. It applies to boat tours, beach walks, glacier hikes, and any time the wind picks up.

Tissues or a small towel. Even with a Ziploc bag, you will need to use your phone for photos. Keep a small pack of tissues or a microfibre cloth in your jacket pocket so you can quickly wipe your screen dry between shots.

Battery bank. Cold weather drains phone batteries faster than you expect, especially if you are outside for hours chasing Northern Lights or hiking. Bring a portable charger and keep it in an inside pocket close to your body so the cold does not drain it too.

Earplugs. If you are staying anywhere central in Reykjavík or Akureyri, the streets stay loud well past midnight, especially on weekends. Earplugs are tiny and save your sleep.

A small set of medical supplies. Bandaids, painkillers, cold medicine, stomach meds. Most of this is not sold in grocery stores. A few pharmacies in the capital area stay open late, for example Lyfja at Lágmúli and Smáratorg list 08:00 to midnight daily, but many pharmacies close earlier, especially outside the capital area. Hours change, so call the pharmacy before you travel across town. Bringing the basics from home saves the trip entirely.

Contact lens solution. Bring more than you think. This is one we hear about constantly, both from a frequent visitor on Reddit and from people walking into the local store I work at, panicking. Contact lens solution is not on the open shelf in Iceland. It sits behind the pharmacy counter, many pharmacies close early, weekend hours are limited, and even when one is open, stock is inconsistent. Pack a full size bottle, plus a backup, plus your glasses as a fallback. The same applies to specific saline, eye drops, or any niche personal care item you depend on daily.

A wet bag for your swimsuit. Not essential, but very nice to have. Pools are part of daily life, and a soggy swimsuit in your day bag gets old fast.

A waterproof bag cover. Your suitcase or backpack can get soaked sitting on the airport tarmac, on the way to your hotel, or on a hike. Either bring a waterproof bag or pack a cheap rain cover for it.

A phone case with a strap. Easy to drop a phone into a canyon, a river, or the sea. A wrist strap or lanyard case is cheap insurance.

One comfy outfit for around town. Jeans, joggers, whatever you actually relax in. After a few days in full hiking gear you will want to change into something normal for dinner or a walk down Laugavegur. Locals wear jeans out all the time.

Field Note from a Reader

These last few additions came from kristamn on r/VisitingIceland, a frequent visitor who took the time to share what she wished she had known. The earplugs, the small medical supplies, the wet bag, the phone strap, the comfy clothes for around town. All of it lived experience. Thank you, Krista. This page is better because of you.

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Frequently Asked Questions, Packing for Iceland

You might also need

Next: check your travel month

Daylight, weather and what is open in the month you arrive

Next: learn to read the forecast

Wind and rain numbers, and what they mean for your clothes

Next: see your whole trip in order

From booking to leaving, one step at a time