25 Best Things to Put on Your Iceland Packing List

February 2, 2024 Michelle Joy

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.

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