25 Best Things to Put on Your Iceland Packing List
This Iceland packing list will help get you ready for your trip with ideas for jackets, boots, and other things you need to add to the suitcase.
Wondering what to wear in Iceland? The question alone makes me want to grab a sweater and some fuzzy socks! In the weeks leading up to my fall trip, I pored over endless Iceland packing lists, weather reports, Instagram photos and jacket reviews to try to nail down exactly what Iceland clothing I would and would not need.
And it was challenging, since I’d see some pictures of people bundled up in heavy parkas and earmuffs and others with just a flannel shirt and some cute boots. A pretty drastic difference!
Here's the thing, Iceland is not as frigid as it sounds. The temperature in the lowlands stays fairly mild throughout the year, topping out in the 50s in summer and mainly dropping below freezing only in winter (which, admittedly, is a very long season in Iceland).
It can feel drastically colder or warmer, though, depending on factors like whether the sun is out, how close you are to the coast, how windy it is, whether it’s raining, whether you're riding a boat on a glacial lagoon, or climbing to the top of an Iceland waterfall. And since all of these variables can change within a day, or even a few minutes, you always need to be prepared to shed and add layers accordingly. It was almost like a game every time we got out of the car to guess which jacket, hat and gloves combo I would need for each site.
I visited in early October and was blessed with scarce rain and several sunny days, which is not always the norm for what's typically considered "early winter." The items on this Iceland packing list should have you covered pretty well, though, whether you're visiting Iceland in spring, summer or fall. Read on for what to wear in Iceland.
Read Next: These are 50 of the Best Items for Your Road Trip Packing List
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What to Wear in Iceland Packing List
The Iceland packing list below is full of both practical items and outfit inspiration for your trip.
Coats and Jackets for Iceland
Parka | You'll want your outermost layer to be warm, waterproof and have a hood. If you already own a heavy-duty windproof and waterproof jacket (like The North Face) and a packable down or fleece to wear under it, you could get by without a parka, but if you're standing outside at night watching the Northern Lights or visiting in winter, you'll probably want something insulated.
I wore my Obermeyer parka a lot more than I anticipated and it was super handy to throw on when we were hopping in and out of the car a lot for photo stops, instead of bundling up with a lot of separate fleece/down/jacket layers. My parka has a waterproof rating of 10,000 mm (which this article helped me to understand) and it kept me dry just fine in the light rain and waterfall mist that we experienced.
I wore my Obermeyer parka a lot more than I anticipated and it was super handy to throw on when we were hopping in and out of the car a lot for photo stops, instead of bundling up with a lot of separate fleece/down/jacket layers. My parka has a waterproof rating of 10,000 mm (which this article helped me to understand) and it kept me dry just fine in the light rain and waterfall mist that we experienced.
Packable down jacket | Wear this when it's not as cold, or for longer hikes. Since it folds up small, you can throw it in your backpack when you warm up and pull it back out if the wind picks up (which happens a lot). I like that this puffer jacket has a bag you can roll it up and store it in.
Down vest | These are great for days when the sun is out and you want to shed your jacket, or as an extra layer that doesn't constrict your arms. Plus they're cute!
Boots for Iceland
Boots | If you only have room for one pair of boots for Iceland, make sure they are waterproof and comfortable enough to hike in. I decided on snow boots for the extra warmth and the look, and tried out two pairs. These suede leather Sorel boots with removable fleece lining (handy if they somehow get wet inside) were very comfortable and passed my bathtub waterproofness test, but I ultimately went with these ones in the wheat/black color instead since they cost less than $40 and I don't get to wear snow boots that often in Texas.
Paired with wool socks, they were extremely comfortable and I loved how light they felt on my foot. The side zipper made them really easy to get off and on, but unfortunately made them not completely waterproof either. I still recommend them though if you need something budget-friendly or aren't planning on doing any hiking through water, as they held up just fine in snow, rain and waterfall spray.
Paired with wool socks, they were extremely comfortable and I loved how light they felt on my foot. The side zipper made them really easy to get off and on, but unfortunately made them not completely waterproof either. I still recommend them though if you need something budget-friendly or aren't planning on doing any hiking through water, as they held up just fine in snow, rain and waterfall spray.
Extra shoes | No matter how well you plan, sometimes you end up walking through two feet of freezing cold ocean because you misjudged the tide, and in case that happens, you'll be really glad to have something not soaking wet to throw on your feet. If you have the room, pack a shorter pair of hiking boots for Iceland, and if not, at least a small pair of comfortable shoes you can throw on while your boots dry. (Pro tip: Take off your wet shoes in the car and blast the foot heating vents on them for a quick dry.)
Outfits and Sweaters for Iceland
Cozy sweaters | I brought a couple of oversized ones so that I could layer underneath them. Wool sweaters are popular Icelandic fashion, so next time I'll pack one of those, too. They also make a great (but pricey) souvenir if you want to buy one there.
Flannel shirts | These are perfect for layering and pack pretty light. I brought one in black and white that worked for layering, too, and in red to pop against the nature backdrops.
Fleece lined leggings | I took four pairs in a variety of colors and layered two each day. Not only are they super comfy and easy to adventure in, they're also nice and warm!
Waterproof pants | I basically lived in leggings, but we also were lucky to not have too much rain. To be safe, I'd bring along some hiking pants that are water resistant or quick drying. I packed a pair of insulated pants that ended up being a little too warm for most activities, but we also had pretty mild weather. If you're visiting in the middle of winter and doing Northern Lights tours or glacier walks, you might want to bring some of these along. They're so warm and come in petite, regular and tall lengths! (Pro tip: If you're under 5'7", you might fit the youth sizes that are a bit cheaper and come in some fun, bright colors.)
Dark jeans | You might want a pair of these if you're staying in Reykjavik or for going out to dinner at night. Stick to leggings or hiking pants for day trips though because no one wants to be stuck in wet jeans all day (and you'll be hanging out with lots of waterfalls).
Pajamas and Thermals for Iceland
Long sleeve tops | Layer these over your thermals and under a sweater on colder days.
Thermal tops and pants | You'll only need a couple of pairs because you can wash them out and let them dry overnight. I packed one black and one white thermal top. I skipped the bottoms and doubled up on fleece-lined leggings instead, but I'd recommend bringing thermal leggings for extra warmth. I would have been too cold in just my fleece ones some days but I had a long parka and taller boots that covered most of my legs.
Warm pajamas | You should have a heater at night if you're staying at a guest house or hotel, but if you're stuck with a broken one (like we were one night) or bunking down in a camper van, you'll be glad you brought some cozy PJs.
Wool socks | These were worth every penny for how warm and dry they kept my feet. I'm fully convinced they could make any pair of shoes comfortable too. I also snuck these ones in my cart because of how cute they are, even though I didn't bring them to Iceland.
Accessories for Iceland
Beanie | Fleece-lined knit caps give a little extra warmth, but mine weren't lined and worked just fine. Bring a couple of colors to easily mix up your look.
Gloves | Look for something waterproof and touchscreen compatible. I brought these ones along but they were a little too bulky for most activities (i.e. taking lots of pictures). They were very warm though and would be great for skiing and snowball fights! I ended up wearing my touchscreen pair much more, but since they aren't waterproof they would get quite damp at times. Luckily gloves dry out pretty quickly!
Sunglasses | Believe it or not, the sun occasionally makes an appearance in fall. Actually, we had three very sunny days in the week we were there. So definitely bring some sunglasses. You'll especially want them at the Blue Lagoon, where the sun reflects brightly off the water. I was dumb and left mine in my locker and regretted it the whole squinty time.
Backpack | If you plan to do any hiking, bring along a daypack for your snacks, water and all the layers you will inevitably want to shed. On our hike up the Glymur waterfall, I went from wearing fleece-lined everything and an insulated jacket, to wishing I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt two miles in with the sun beaming, to desperately bundling back up into my puffer and gloves when it started raining at the top.
Swimwear for Iceland
Bathing suit | If you know anything about Iceland, you probably have heard of the Blue Lagoon. You'll want to go there. Plus, there are other hot springs and public pools along the Ring Road where you might want to take a dip.
Quick dry towel | You can use this when you visit the Blue Lagoon, or for those days when the rain or a waterfall soaks you. You'll definitely need a towel if you're staying in a camper van and these microfiber ones pack lighter and dry faster than whatever you keep in your bathroom at home.
Extras
Water bottle | The water in Iceland is clean and so yummy, so no need to stock up on bottles at the store. Just bring a couple of refillable ones and enjoy all the free tap/spring water your heart desires.
Plug adapter | This one is my new favorite because you can charge three things in one outlet (one plug, two USB ports). It also has four internal plug adaptors, so it covers A LOT of countries. We also brought a car charger to make sure our phones stayed powered up on the go since I use mine instead of a camera all the time.
Memory card | We maxed out a 64 GB memory card with all the video we took on our GoPro so either take backups, a larger card or plan to do a lot of picture and video transferring at night.
Drone | This is the No. 1 item we wish we had brought with us to Iceland. I think we would have left our jackets behind to bring a drone instead, but we didn't own one yet. If you're thinking of buying a drone, definitely do it before you go to Iceland! And if you have one, leave your recommendation in the comments because we're shopping around.
