Six questions, in the order they matter: when, how long, who with, budget, car or tours, where to sleep. We point you to the answer for each one.
What to Pack for Iceland
Practical advice from someone who watches tourists freeze, overheat, and get blown sideways — every month of the year
Two ways to use this page
Just want the list?
Open the interactive packing checklist. Tick off what you have, see what you need. Done in two minutes.
Open the checklist →Want to understand why?
Keep scrolling. This page is the reasoning behind the list. Wind, layers, what to skip, what visitors always forget.
You're already here.Before the layers, before the lists, these are the three things I watch tourists get wrong almost every week. If you only remember three things from this page, make it these.
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 looks warm on Instagram will fail you in five minutes on the South Coast if the wind cuts through it.
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, and you will look and feel better than the people in cute outfits shivering on the bus back.
Most people overpack by at least half. 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.
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 sweating 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. Pack for both summers in one trip.
You don't need to get everything perfect. Most of what you already own will work. Just make sure the outer layer of everything is waterproof. Jacket, pants, shoes. If water can't get in, you'll be comfortable in almost any weather Iceland throws at you. Everything else on this page is a bonus.
Iceland's weather changes fast, and wind matters more than temperature. The good news is you don't need expensive gear or a massive suitcase. You need the right layers, one good jacket, and a few small things most people forget.
Some tips on this page come from personal experience living in Iceland. They work for me, but your mileage may vary.
Whether you're walking downtown, hiking a trail, or heading to dinner, the same basic system works. You just adjust the thickness.
Wait, what is a "layer"?
Everyone in Iceland keeps saying "layers", "layers", "layers", and it sounds like a secret club. It is not. A layer is just a piece of clothing that sits on top of another piece of clothing. That's it. Three layers means three pieces, one on top of the other. You can add or remove them through the day as the weather shifts.
Picture an onion, or a sandwich. From your skin outward:
When you walk into a warm cafe, you take off layer 3 and maybe layer 2. When you step out into wind and rain, you put them back on. That is the whole trick. The rest of this page just tells you what each layer should actually be, top and bottom.
Merino wool or a thermal top sits against your skin and holds warmth without bulk. This works for everything, from city days to mountain hikes. Avoid cotton as a base layer. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it against your skin. Once it gets damp from sweat, rain, or waterfall mist, it stays wet and pulls heat away from your body. In Icelandic wind, that can go from uncomfortable to genuinely cold very quickly.
A fleece or light down jacket goes over the base. In summer, a thin fleece is usually enough. In winter, go thicker. This is the layer you add or remove throughout the day depending on what you're doing.
If you invest in one piece of clothing for Iceland, make it the jacket. You want something fully waterproof and windproof, insulated rather than just a shell, with a hood that actually stays on in strong wind. Snug and adjustable. Make sure it's long enough to cover your hips.
One good jacket like this replaces a rain layer, an umbrella, and half your wardrobe. It works for walking, hiking, going out for dinner. Everything.
Victoria's Tip
Get it in black. One black jacket goes with everything. You wear it hiking, walking around the city, and out to dinner. Black doesn't fight anything. You pack one jacket and you're done. No matching, no second jacket, no thinking. But if you're visiting in winter, add a small reflector clip or reflective band. It gets dark early and drivers need to see you.
Victoria's Field Note
I learned this the hard way at the waterfalls. I was wearing full waterproof pants and shoes on the bottom. But on top, I had a water resistant down jacket under a waterproof shell that had a hood, but the hood was not windproof. The spray from the waterfall flies at you fast and sideways. My outer jacket got soaked through the hood area within minutes. The only thing that saved me was the water resistant layer underneath. If that had been a regular fleece, I would have been cold and wet for the rest of the day. So when we say windproof and waterproof, we mean every part of the jacket, especially the hood. Water resistant is not the same thing.
See what windproof actually does
I made a short video showing the difference a proper windproof jacket makes in real Icelandic wind. It is the easiest way to understand why this matters more than warmth alone.
Watch the 30 second demo on YouTubeOpens YouTube in a new tab.
What counts as "waterproof enough"
If you've never bought outdoor gear before, the labels are confusing on purpose. Here's the plain version, no brand recommendations or paid placement.
If you already own something and the label is unclear, pour a tablespoon of water on it at home. If it beads and rolls off after a minute, it'll probably hold for short stops. If it soaks in, it won't hold up here.
Bottom layers, explained
Most packing advice focuses on the top half. Readers ask about legs all the time, especially the mid and outer layers. Here is the plain version.
For late June and early July with Golden Circle, ice cave, and waterfalls: hiking pants or jeans most days, merino bottoms in your day bag for the ice cave, and waterproof shell pants on top for waterfalls and the tour. That covers everything.
The layering system stays the same. What changes is how thick you go and what extras you add.
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.
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–April), sunglasses (daylight increases rapidly in April–May, up to 17–20 hours). Pack layers you can add and remove quickly — you may do it five times in a single day.
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.
Victoria's Field Note
I spent an entire day last week in a summer dress walking around the city. No layers, no fleece, just the dress and sunglasses. It was one of those rare still days where the sun actually warms your skin. But I had my black jacket in my bag, and sure enough, the wind showed up around 6 p.m. and the temperature dropped. I put it on and kept walking. That is the whole trick. Bring the light stuff. Just never leave the hotel without the jacket.
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.
In Iceland the number that ruins or saves your day is usually the wind, not the temperature. The forecast on vedur.is (the official Icelandic Met Office) gives wind in metres per second. Here is roughly what those numbers feel like on the ground, so you can decide what to wear and whether to change your plan.
Under 5 m/s: calm
A gentle day. On sunny summer days like this you can genuinely walk around in a light dress or t-shirt. Keep the jacket in your bag, the wind can still show up later.
5 to 10 m/s: breezy
Noticeable wind. Zip the shell, put your hood up near the coast and at waterfalls. Normal sightseeing is fine.
10 to 15 m/s: strong
Now it matters. Hold your car door with both hands when you open it, wind can bend a door back and it is not covered by most rental insurance. Cheap umbrellas die here. Layers stay on all day.
15 to 20 m/s: hard going
Walking straight gets difficult and small or high sided cars feel unstable on open roads. Slow down, hold the wheel firmly, and skip exposed cliff edges. Check road.is before driving out of the city.
20 m/s and above: stay put
This is a genuine storm. Car doors can be torn off, driving is dangerous, and roads often close. The honest move is to change your plan, stay in town, and wait it out. No view is worth it.
These are rough, everyday guides, not official thresholds. Wind gusts can be far higher than the average shown, and conditions change fast. Always check vedur.is for warnings and road.is for road conditions on the day.
Two field-tested checklists to help you pack right and land feeling steady.
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.
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.
If you're planning serious hikes or glacier walks, proper hiking boots are worth it. But for most visitors, waterproof sneakers and good socks cover everything.
People remember the jacket but forget about their skin. Iceland's wind and dry air are relentless.
Lip balm. The wind dries your lips out fast, even in summer. Bring more than one.
Moisturizer. The air is dry and skin cracks quickly, especially hands and face.
Sunscreen. Summer sun reflects off water and snow. People don't expect to need it in Iceland, but they do.
Hand warmers. Small, cheap, and they genuinely make cold days manageable. Easy to slip into gloves or pockets.
Victoria's Tip
Buy the small tube versions of lip balm and hand lotion. Poke a small hole in the cap and clip them to your keychain or jacket zipper. That way you always have them on you. No digging through bags, no forgetting them at the hotel.
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. A cheap bag keeps your electronics safe.
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 microfiber cloth in your jacket pocket so you can quickly wipe your screen dry between shots. I saw a lot of people at the waterfalls struggling with wet phones and no way to dry them. Tissues are small, weigh nothing, and solve a real problem.
Battery bank. Cold weather drains phone batteries fast. If you are out chasing Northern Lights, hiking, or on a long drive, your phone can drop from 60% to dead in under an hour. 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. Pharmacies (Apótek) close at night, and you will need it at night. Bring the basics from home.
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 over the counter in Iceland. It sits behind the pharmacy counter, 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.
Iceland uses the European two round pin socket, Type C and Type F, at 230V and 50Hz. Almost every modern phone, laptop and camera charger is rated 100V to 240V, so you need a plug adapter, not a voltage converter. Check the small print on your charger: if it says 100 to 240V, you are fine.
United States and Canada. Yes, you need an adapter, Type A or B to Type C. Your laptop and phone chargers handle 230V without a converter. Hair dryers, curling irons and travel kettles bought for 110V often do not, and they burn out. Leave them home, hotels here have hair dryers.
United Kingdom and Ireland. Yes, an adapter, Type G to Type C. Voltage is the same as home, so nothing else changes.
Most of mainland Europe. No adapter needed. Your plug already fits.
China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most of Asia. Yes, an adapter, Type A, I or B to Type C. Japan runs at 100V at home, so anything with a heating element bought there may struggle here even though it will physically plug in.
India, Middle East and much of Africa. Usually an adapter, Type D, M or G to Type C. Voltage is already 220V to 240V, so chargers are fine.
Victoria's Tip
Bring one adapter with several USB ports instead of several single adapters. Rooms here often have one free socket behind a bed, and in winter you will be charging a phone, a camera, a battery bank and a headtorch on the same night. If you forget one, Elko at Grandi and the airport shops sell them, but you will pay a lot more than at home.
We don't know what you're coming to Iceland for. A photo shoot, a wedding, a proposal, a long romantic dinner, a birthday. Bring whatever you need for that. This isn't a list of things to leave at home. It's a list of things that won't work well for specific outdoor activities. Pack them if you need them, just don't wear them on the wrong day.
Jeans on a glacier hike, waterfall walk, or long outdoor day. Jeans get wet from spray or rain, stay wet, and pull heat away from your body. Wear quick-dry pants or waterproof trousers for those days. Save the jeans for the city, dinner, or your day off.
Cotton t-shirts or hoodies as your only warm layer outdoors. Cotton holds moisture against your skin. In wind, that goes from uncomfortable to cold quickly. Wear merino or synthetic base layers under your jacket. Cotton is fine for indoors, sleeping, or relaxing at the hotel.
Umbrellas at waterfalls, cliffs, or anywhere exposed. The wind flips them inside out within seconds. A jacket hood that actually stays on does the job. If you want one for a city walk on a calm rainy day, fine, but it likely won't survive a real Icelandic wind day.
Your own heavy coat under a whale watching or RIB overall. Most operators lend a full flotation suit that is already insulation. Wearing your own thick puffer underneath can trap heat on a mild day and cause nausea or heat exhaustion that feels like seasickness. Dress in light, breathable layers you can open or remove, and tell the guide the moment you feel unwell.
Dressy leather shoes for sightseeing days. Wet pavements, gravel car parks, uneven ground. They'll be ruined by the end of the day. Bring them for the dinner or the event, then change back into your waterproof shoes.
A bag too big to carry over uneven ground. If you're road tripping or moving between hotels, a giant hard suitcase is awkward in gravel car parks and small guesthouse stairs. A second carry-on or duffel makes life easier. But if you're staying in one hotel the whole trip, ignore this.
The point
Bring whatever your trip needs. The long dress, the leather boots, the photo shoot outfits, the suit. None of that is wrong. Just have one outdoor outfit ready for the days when the weather is the main event.
Most packing lists treat Iceland like an Arctic expedition. Reality: you also want to sit at a café on Laugavegur, go to dinner, take photos you actually like. You can stay warm and still look put together. Icelanders do it every day.
The local uniform. Dark colours (black, charcoal, deep green, navy, rust). Slim or straight cuts, not baggy. A neutral wool jumper, dark jeans or wool trousers, and clean waterproof boots will get you into any restaurant in the city without a second look.
What screams "tourist". Bright primary colour ski jackets (electric blue, neon orange), full hi-vis hiking trousers worn into a wine bar, head-to-toe brand-new technical gear with the tags barely off, white sneakers in winter. None of it is wrong. It just stands out.
One outfit shift is enough. You don't need a second wardrobe. Pack one nicer top (a fitted knit, a button-down, a simple dress), one pair of jeans or trousers that aren't hiking pants, and one pair of clean leather or suede boots that handle a bit of rain. That's it. You can layer everything else underneath.
Accessories do most of the work. A wool scarf in a rich colour, a knitted hat that isn't a fleece beanie, leather gloves over the city, a small structured bag instead of a daypack at dinner. Small swaps. Big difference.
A few small things, for your photos. If you take a lot of photos, it helps to bring two or three small items that change your look without taking up space. A second hat in a different colour, an extra scarf, a pair of statement earrings, a different pair of sunglasses. Your outer jacket will probably stay the same, especially in winter, but a small swap underneath or on top means you don't come home with forty photos in the same outfit across completely different landscapes. Optional, not essential. Just something a reader mentioned regretting, and it stuck with me.
The lopapeysa question. Yes, the traditional Icelandic wool sweater looks great and works in real weather. If you want one, buy it from Handknitting Association of Iceland (Skólavörðustígur 19) where each one is made by a named knitter. Avoid the machine-knit imports sold in souvenir shops. Locals can tell.
Victoria's Field Note
Honestly, nobody cares what you wear. Icelanders are not judging your jacket. But people do feel better in their photos, and they feel more relaxed walking into a nice restaurant if they're not in full waterproof trousers. If that matters to you, one extra outfit takes up almost no space. If it doesn't, ignore this whole section.
This is one of the questions I get most often: "we are coming with the kids, what do they actually need?" The honest answer is comforting. Children do not need a separate system from you. They need the same three layers, just sized down, and a bit more backup. A cold, wet child ends a day faster than any storm, so the goal is simple: keep them dry, keep them warm, and carry spares.
Base layer: merino or thermal tops and leggings against the skin. Mid layer: a fleece for warmth. Outer layer: a waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood that stays up, plus waterproof trousers for tour days and waterfalls. Skip cotton for the same reason adults should: once it gets damp it stays cold. Children feel that faster than we do.
Two or three pairs of wool socks per child, spare gloves, and a second hat. Little hands and feet get wet at waterfalls and pools, and a dry pair of socks can rescue an afternoon. Hats that cover the ears matter more than thick coats here, because the wind is the real problem, not the temperature.
A windproof, waterproof pram cover or a warm footmuff makes a real difference, since it is the wind that chills them, not just the cold. Bring any specific formula, baby food, snacks, or medicine from home. Brands here are different and rural shops are few and far apart, so do not count on finding your usual things on the road.
Pack a swimsuit for every child. The geothermal pools are warm, cheap, and one of the easiest wins of the whole trip for families. After a long, windy day outside, a warm pool resets everyone. Buy swimsuits at home, as they are expensive here.
Victoria's Tip
If you are renting a car, book the child seat at the same time you book the car. Rental companies do rent them, but supply is limited and it is not something you want to be sorting out at the airport with tired children. This is from what families tell me, so confirm the exact seat and price directly with your rental company.
This is general guidance from a resident, not a checklist of rules. Your children, your trip, and your route will shape what you actually need.
You leave the ship with a day bag, not a suitcase. Pack for wind, walking, and the chance that the weather turns.
The biggest packing mistake on a cruise day is treating it like a sea day. In Iceland the wind and rain can arrive within an hour, even in summer, and you are often walking farther than the shore excursion description suggests. Keep the day bag light, but do not skip the layers.
Victoria's Tip
Leave one clean outfit on the ship. If you get soaked at a waterfall or caught in sleet, coming back to dry clothes feels like luxury. And set a phone alarm for "all aboard" minus 90 minutes before you leave the ship, so you are not checking your watch all day.
No amount of photos or videos can do justice to what you actually experience in Iceland. What you do not see in pictures is the sound of a waterfall hitting rock from 60 metres up, or the water spraying your face before you even get close. You do not feel the wind pushing you sideways or the sheer scale of everything around you.
Nobody prepared me for how white the ice cave landscape would be. It was so white, so vast, so quiet. Beautiful beyond anything I expected, but also disorienting after a while. If you are doing an ice cave tour, know that you will spend a long time in that environment. Bring snacks, stay hydrated, and pace yourself.
Pack for the experience, not the photo. Your jacket, your layers, your snacks, and your energy level matter more than your camera settings. The memories you take home will be about how it felt, not how it looked on a screen.
If you are worried about not having a proper camera: your phone is enough. I used my iPhone for everything and came home with photos and videos I am genuinely happy with. I cannot compare to a dedicated camera because I have never used one, but I can say my phone did the job. Just make sure your back camera lens is clean and clear before you head out. Waterfall spray, wind, and cold fingers mean you will be wiping it constantly.
If you have a full day tour or early departure, a little prep the night before goes a long way.
Victoria's Field Note: This is just what worked for me. I packed the night before: dark chocolate broken into pieces, nuts, cucumber, and red bell peppers. The bell peppers were surprisingly perfect. Refreshing and hydrating, and they balanced out everything else. You do not have to buy any of these things. But a little prep, whatever you choose, goes a long way.
Packing lists for Iceland often read like a sales pitch. They are not. Plenty of the gear people panic-buy before the trip is either unnecessary, cheaper to get here, or genuinely wrong for the climate. A few honest ones:
None of this is here to sell you anything. The point of this page is to help you pack lighter, spend less, and still be comfortable.
Iceland doesn't require a special wardrobe. It requires a little awareness. Layer well, protect your skin, and bring the wool socks. You'll be fine.
When you are closer to your trip, open Local Notes. I keep it current the week you arrive: weather, what is open, and anything happening on the ground that a packing list cannot tell you.
Winter is close
In winter the two questions that decide your day are: is the road safe right now, and how much light do I actually get. Both are free, both work on your phone, and you can save them to your home screen.
The three checks, in this order
Your next step
You know what to bring. The next question is what the weather will actually do while you are here.
Iceland weather, and what it feels like outsideWhich forecast window to trust, and what those numbers mean for your clothes.Not yet? Then:
The week you travel, open Local Notes. That is where I put what is happening on the ground.
Start Here, the whole trip in order
Packing is one stage. This is the ordered path from booking to leaving.
How Many Days Do You Need?
Still working out trip length? Honest answer by trip type
Iceland by Month
What to expect and pack for your travel month
What Can I Do Today?
Live conditions turned into a plan for today
South Coast
The exposed drive, paced for anxious first-timers
Camping in Iceland
Gear, rules, and what camping actually costs
Pool Etiquette
What to bring and expect at Icelandic pools
Arrival Checklist
Your first 24 hours in Iceland