What To Wear In Iceland With Handy Iceland Packing List

Iceland is a stunning, otherworldly destination, but its weather can be unpredictable, changing from sun to snow in a single day. That’s why knowing what to wear in Iceland is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

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Wondering if you need waterproof pants, how warm your jacket should be, or even whether to bring a swimsuit? This guide breaks down what to pack for Iceland by season, plus a full Iceland packing list with everything you need for your adventure – from essential clothing and gear to helpful travel items. Be prepared for the elements and make the most of your Iceland experience!

What To Wear In Iceland By Season

Due to how unpredictable Icelandic weather can be, the most important factor in deciding what to wear in Iceland is when you’re visiting.

Packing for Iceland in winter looks very different from packing for summer, and the shoulder seasons can be even trickier.

Below, you’ll find a seasonal breakdown of what to wear and exactly what to pack, including the essential layers, outerwear, footwear, and accessories you’ll need to stay warm, dry, and comfortable.

Keep reading to the end to find the more complete Iceland packing list with even more details of what we took with us on our trip.

OutDry Ex Gold II down jacket that I wore in September and all of my layers

Iceland Weather: What Makes It So Different?

One of the biggest surprises about Iceland is how unpredictable the weather is.

It’s completely normal to experience sun, rain, wind, and even snow — sometimes all in the same day. On our 8 day Iceland road trip in September, we saw extreme rain, bright rainbows, strong sunshine, and even northern lights within hours of each other.

Iceland’s weather isn’t just seasonal, it’s dynamic. It also varies dramatically depending on where you are.

The south coast (around Reykjavik and Vik) tends to be:

• Wetter
• Windier
• Slightly milder in winter

Meanwhile, northern areas like Mývatn, Akureyri, and Hornstrandir can be:

• Colder
• Snowier in winter
• More stable but harsher

Temperatures in the north can be 10°C colder than the south on the same day. In general, the south coast tends to be windier, wetter, and warmer whereas the north gets much more snow in the winter.

Most of the climate references in this guide are based around Reykjavik and the south coast, since that’s where most travelers spend their time.

Iceland Summer Season

• Mid-June – August

Summer is a very popular time to go because this is when the climate is the fairest and more comfortable. This also coincides with Iceland’s high season as a result.

Not only do you have the benefit of nice weather, you also get the midnight sun where the sunlight never really fully disappears. As a result, you have a lot more hours in the day to explore the beauty of its outdoors.

The peak temperatures are in July when average highs can be 13°C (55°F) and lows at 11°C (52°F). That said, some days could spike to higher temperatures too for those momentary t-shirt weather days.

Something to be aware of is that in June and August, temperatures can drop to average lows of 5.5°C (42°F) as that chilled, cool air sweeps in.

Precipitation is also quite low with an average of 20mm. This means that you might experience very light rain but nothing heavy.

From a travel perspective, while summer comes with a ton of benefits, the disadvantages are that the peak tourist season will draw larger crowds, higher prices, and activities selling out. With the long days, it also means that there is no chance of seeing the northern lights.

If you think about it, Iceland’s summer season is more like spring weather for most people minus the rain.

What To Wear In The Summer In Iceland

These are the warmest and longest days of the year but is by no stretch of the imagination hot.

The beauty of summer in Iceland is that the entire island is open to you including the northern passage of the ring road through Akureyri and of course, Westfjords.

You’re going to hear this a lot but layers are truly your best friend. When you get active, you’ll be able to wear a t-shirt but when temperatures drop, you’ll be able to slip on additional layers to stay warm.

What To pack For Summer In Iceland

• Light layers – Bring a nice mix of t-shirts and thin long-sleeved shirts.
• Base layer – For those chilly breezes, cold nights, and up at higher altitude, a breathable layer (technical tee) like one by Smartwool. Ladies, think active thermal leggings as well!
• Warm sweater or hoodie – Something wool or fleece that you can throw in and have ready inside the car is quite valuable like this full zip for men and women.
• Light outdoor pants – You’ll be relying on these to power through all of the hiking you’ll be doing. Ideally these are breathable and quick dry. I recently discovered convertible pants that are for the ultimate adventurer.
• Shorts – You won’t use these as much as you think but bring a pair in case you get those really warm days.
• Swimsuit – You’ll need this for Blue Lagoon, and smaller hot springs.
• Lightweight waterproof jacket with hood – The keyword is waterproof as you won’t really want to be travelling with an umbrella for a trip like this. This is something you can throw in your backpack without taking too much space and you can take out if you need the extra warmth or protection from rain. For women, the Marmot Precip Eco Jacket is also very good thanks to its armpit zippers and packability.
• Insulated jacket – If you get cold easily, you may want to opt for a thicker jacket.
• Hiking boots – You’re going to be walking on all sorts of terrain in Iceland that can range from uneven gravel, mud, black sand, canyons, and mountainous inclines. Wear the Keen Targhee II for Men and Women is highly recommended.
• Hat or beanie/toque – While this might feel overkill for summer, the evenings will get chilly. This is also useful if you end up doing anything at higher altitudes, explore any caves/tunnels, or get hit with any extreme weather.
• Gloves – Like the above, these will keep your hands warm when the temperature drops at night.

If you are doing something like the Landmannalaugar trek or any sort of overnight camping, you should also look to pack:

• Long johns – We’d suggest a full merino base layer.
• Warm insulated jacket – Instead of just a waterproof shell, wear something like this Mountain Hardwear jacket.

Iceland Spring & Fall Season

• Mid-May – mid-June & September – mid-October

In traditional destinations, there’s a sizeable shoulder season. In Iceland, this is the smallest window that has its pros and cons.

As with most shoulder seasons, this is a blend of the best of both primary seasons – the crowds dwindle, prices drop back down, you still get good sunlight, and there are good chances of seeing the northern lights.

Now if you thought summer wasn’t that hot, you’ll find these months to be chilly by most standards. The average high is 11°C (50°F) and the average low dives down to 2.2°C (36°F). At this point in the year, it’s pretty rare for the temperature to exceed 15°C (59°F)

On the precipitation front, there’s chance of rain and possibly even some snow (in September). In Reykjavik, average rainfall is approximately 42mm in May which isn’t that much. September however brings in low-pressure systems that can cause strong winds and rain (up to 71mm). Resembling hurricane winds, you could see horizontal rain coming through.

Overall, the weather is subject to extreme change and is quite unpredictable so you have to be prepared.

What To Wear In The Shoulder Season

Waterproof jacket is a must

A look at our inner layers

Chantelle’s set up

The same waterproof look every day

A look at what other people were wearing in September

Between winter and summer is a short shoulder season that brings in more volatile and changing weather conditions. In many ways, you need to be extra prepared during this time of the year when it comes to what to wear in Iceland.

What To Pack For Shoulder Season In Iceland

• Waterproof jacket – At the time, I wore an older version of the OutDry Ex Gold II Down Jacket which I still use today. It’s a superb down-insulated jacket that’s also waterproof.
• Layers – Beating a dead horse here but another reminder to have as many layer-able clothes as possible.
• Active pants – Having a good pair of hiking pants will be key.
• Waterproof pants – We experienced first-hand the intense rain that Iceland can pour. You 100% need to have waterproof pants (men/women) with you in case you need to power through crazy weather. For this season, these should be shells that you can slip on or off in the car.
• Waterproof gloves – This sounds like overkill, but wet and cold hands is not fun at all.
• BUFF – My go-to piece of travel gear is BUFF headwear. To find out why, make sure to read my full review of BUFF.

Iceland Winter Season

• Mid-October – mid-May

There’s something magical about visiting Iceland in the winter. Traditionally considered as the low season, you’ll be able to enjoy winter activities (such as these ice cave tours), hot springs, and brilliant displays of the aurora borealis.

The tradeoff of course is that these are the coldest months of the year, hovering around freezing. Gale force winds can blow through the island which feel very cold. Snow is also a factor, as well as rain.

From October to February, precipitation is at its highest, especially in the southern and western parts of the island.

In the coldest month of January, the average high is 2°C (36°F) and average low of -3°C (27°F). By the time April rolls around, temperatures increase to an average high of 5°C (41°F) and low of 0°C (32°F).

Daylight is also quite short in these months where you’ll have between 4 to 7 hours to work with in January. By May, this goes up to 20+ hours.

Typically, outside of the capital and the southwest region, roads will be closed and impassable unless you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Even then, maximum caution is required.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, warm weather helps keep the lower latitudes of Iceland from getting too cold. In fact, in looking at the average temperatures, you could say that what we get in Toronto or even in New York City in the winter is often worse than in Reykjavik.

That said, the winter season in Iceland isn’t something you want to mess with as you could get rain, sleet, or snow. You’ll most likely want to stick around the southern regions and drive very carefully.

What To Wear In The Winter

The key to enjoying travelling to Iceland in the winter is to stay not only warm but also dry.

As you would’ve seen from the breakdown of the seasons, you’ll know that Iceland doesn’t often drop below freezing but you’ll be faced with rain, snow, and cool winds that’ll make it feel colder than you think.

Layers are your best friend again in this season. Start with a warm merino base layer and keep adding on warmer clothes to suit what you’re doing.

Being the winter, snow and ice are all around, so you’ll need the right footwear to make sure you have good traction and don’t have any accidents.

It’s also worth noting that not all bookable activities in Iceland come with all of the gear you need, so pack appropriately if you’re doing something like snowmobiling, whale watching, or ice carving.

It’s much better to be over-prepared in the winter because there will be limited (affordable) options if you don’t have enough to stay warm.

TIP: Layer with wool base layers and add waterproof and windproof top layers.

What To Pack For Winter In Iceland

• Insulated waterproof and windproof jacket – There’s a reason why Canada Goose parkas are used in the Arctic but for something more affordable, this Helly-Hansen or Columbia jacket.
• Thermal top – Smartwool makes a 250 crew base layer of 100% Merino Wool that will be an essential thermal base layer.
• Thermal underwear – A thicker Smartwool Merino 250 base layer is absolutely necessary.
• Fleece sweaters – Even better than fleece is a wool sweater. Icewear is a brand you’ll find in Iceland that makes extremely warm sweaters.
• Skiing/snowboarding pants – Dust off your winter sports gear with pants like this insulated snowboard pant.
• Wool socks – Where you’ll feel the cold the most is in your feet. This is why you’ll want several heavy Smartwool socks.
• Waterproof boots – The difference with summer is that you need a proper boot like the Sorel Caribou for men and Winter Carnival for women.
• Ice cleats – Also known as ice grips, these slip over your shoes and gives you extra traction on snow and ice.
• Waterproof gloves – You’ll need seriously warm and waterproof gloves in Iceland. I recommend these Gore-Tex gloves by Burton (men/women). That said, keep a touchscreen friendly pair of gloves as well if you’ll be using the phone a lot or shooting northern lights at night.
• Neck gaiter – Instead of a traditional scarf, you need a polar BUFF.
• Beanie/toque – There are a ton of beanies/toques out there. Just find the one that you like and keeps you warm.
• Swimsuit – You’ll need this for Blue Lagoon, and smaller hot springs.
• Extra shoes – With all of the mud and melting snow on your boots, it’s a good idea to have an extra set to change into for your hotel or just as a back up.
• Casual clothes – Now this will be different for everyone but it’s a good idea to pack one set of clothes that you can wear at a restaurant or partying in Reykjavik.

TIP: Something that’s also worth noting is that car rentals don’t include ice scrapers or brushes. While not something you wear, it’s a good idea to pack a small ice-scraper and foldable shovel.

Our Tried & Tested Iceland Packing List

There’s what to wear in Iceland and then there’s everything else that accompanies the inner and outer wear. This packing list is less focused on the seasons and more on the gear you need to think about that applies all-year-round.

When you’re exploring a country that boasts geysers, waterfalls, lava fields, canyons, icebergs, and volcanoes, as we’ve stressed all along, you want to be super prepared.

In the “land of fire and ice,” you’ll spend some time in the capital Reykjavik, but the rest of the time will be on the road, which means you can’t easily buy something if you happened to forget.

Luggage & Packing Essentials

• Suitcase or backpack?

If you’re able to travel light, we recommend a spacious carry-on like Samsonite’s Tru-Frame which has built-in TSA combination locks. Their equivalent Tru-Frame medium check-in is also good if you’re packing more.

What you need on top of your suitcase is a good day pack to carry all of your camera gear, water, snacks, and other on-the-go things. For that, Peak Design’s Travel Backpack is my go-to. Otherwise, the Everyday Backpack 30L is excellent if you’re looking for something a tad smaller.

• Packing cubes

• Rain cover for your backpack

Tools & Gadgets For The Road

• Headlamp

• USB car charger

You’ll be spending a lot of time in your car and as much as having a power bank is useful, a USB car charger with dual ports that are capable of quick charge is actually even more important.

Since practically everything can be charged via USB, you’ll be able to charge not only your phones but also your camera, drone, and wifi hotspot such as Skyroam.

• Iceland power adapter

• Camera

For those that use a GoPro, think ahead about the type of mounts you’ll want to use for activities like Snorkeling Silfra or Ice Climbing.

If you plan on shooting any milky waterfalls or the northern lights, a tripod is a must. For that, we recommend the Peak Design Travel Tripod in carbon fiber.

Read next: Learn how to shoot the northern lights with your camera before you go.

• Drone

Swim & Relax

• Swimsuit and towel

TIP: The basic package at Blue Lagoon comes with a towel if that’s the only hot spring you visit.

• Flip flops

Sun & Skin Protection

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Chapstick and moisturizer

Iceland can get pretty dry and depending on how sensitive your skin is, you will start to feel it almost immediately upon landing. Burt’s Bees is our go-to.

Clothing Basics

• Moisture wicking underwear

Safety & Peace Of Mind

• Travel insurance for Iceland

If you’re too lazy to read it all, the gist of it is that World Nomads is going to be your best bet if you’re looking to do any adventure activities because their range of sports covered is so vast. You’ll then want to top up your insurance with something like MedJet. Lastly, don’t discount the travel insurance that comes with your credit card but make sure you read through what’s covered.

Read next: Find out which are the best Canadian credit cards for travel hackers.

Optional Extras

Thinking about some of the things we packed for our trip and all the various seasons, here are a couple things that you might want to consider!

• Snacks

We’re not going to lie; everything is expensive in Iceland including food and groceries. If you’re cost-conscious, we highly recommend that you load up all the extra space in your suitcase and backpack with snacks from home. This can be anything from trail mix, granola bars, and chocolate.

• Hand and toe warmers

• Sleeping mask

• Reusable bags and Ziploc

The best way to save money on food as we cover in our Iceland itinerary and guide is to buy your own groceries at the discount store, Bonus (just look for the pink piggy). Bags cost extra here so do the environment and your wallet a favor here.

Ziploc bags can be handy for when you make your own sandwiches. Pack a few of these from home in case you need them.

What Not To Pack For Iceland

Perhaps an easier approach to building an Iceland packing list is to break down things you should leave at home.

• Pack light: Overall, it’s always an advantage to bring less. Sure, you’ll have the advantage of a car as you explore Iceland but since yo’ll be likely on the move a lot, you’ll want the exercise of unpacking and re-packing into the car to be as simple as possible. Also, with all of the rugged outdoor things you’ll be doing, you can easily get away with wearing the same few layers over many days.
• Jewelry: Not that there’s a problem with theft here, this is less of a posh city experience and more of a trip where you’ll be either in the car driving or out hiking and facing the elements. My wife opted for basic jewelry and make up for this trip so leave the expensive things at home.
• Cash: Iceland is a credit-card friendly country. If you feel nervous about this, you can withdraw ISK in Reykjavik at the beginning of your trip (10,000 ISK at most) but there’s no need to do this beforehand.
• Umbrella: If you have the appropriate waterproof gear, there’s really no need to bring an umbrella which is really not useful with sideways windy rain and when you’re hiking.

Final Thoughts On What To Wear In Iceland

Epic glacier hiking and ice climbing experience

Hopefully we haven’t freaked you out but our aim for this piece was to really inform you on all the things we wish we knew in terms of what to wear in Iceland before we went.

Don’t make the same mistake we made where my wife literally had to fashion a waterproof skirt by cutting a clear plastic bag. The rain was that crazy in September!

This isn’t like your average trip to Europe so forget about being fashionable.

Be super prepared with lots of warm layers and full waterproofing.

Counter all of those thick layers by packing fewer multiples of each thing because you know a ton of those mid layers can be worn multiple times and hand wash your clothes along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions