Last updated on May 18th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Some of the most common questions we get asked related to Iceland are – what to wear in Iceland? will it be cold there in summer? what do I pack for my Iceland trip? Now, we have already published our summer road trip itinerary and basic tips for Iceland travel, and to complete that series, here’s our packing list of things you cannot forget to carry along.
This packing guide for Iceland is primarily for the summer months of May, June, July, and August.
There is a popular expression in Iceland, ‘If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes’. Taking that into account, you need to pack for pretty much all four seasons, even if you are traveling in summer. When we went to Iceland in May, there we days we were dressed as if we were going skiing, and then there were days we strolled in our hoodies. Another important fact is that there will be a lot of walking involved even if you are making a road trip. Being outdoors for an extended period of time will definitely require appropriate dressing.
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What to Wear in Iceland
So having said all of that, let’s start with the most common question, what clothes to pack for your Iceland trip? We highly recommend throwing all of the below-mentioned items in your luggage unless you want to spend twice as much shopping in Iceland as Gaurav did (he had forgotten to pack his hat and gloves.. yes, you will need them!). TIP: Dressing up in layers is going to be very important for Icelandic weather.
1. Thermals
I don’t usually wear thermals in American winters but I was so thankful for carrying my thermals while hiking in Iceland.
2. Sweatshirts/Sweaters/Hoodies
Carry a couple of these as you might end up removing the outer layer if it starts getting warmer.
3. Warm Jacket/Parka
You don’t necessarily need the thickest parka for summers in Iceland but definitely, carry one warm jacket. I carried two warm jackets instead (one thicker and the other a lighter Uniqlo) and one thin waterproof jacket clubbing them together when needed. The reason why I stressed upon layers earlier, it’s so much easier to put on and take off as weather changes. Gaurav, on the other hand, carried just one thick winter water-resistant jacket.
4. Waterproof Jacket/ Raincoat
You need to have an outer layer that is water resistant or waterproof. You will thank me for recommending this. I bought myself a thin breathable water-resistant jacket from Edie Bauer which I could easily wear as a top layer when needed. Gaurav instead had a winter jacket which was waterproof.
5. Waterproof Pants
To be honest we only carried jeans with us to Iceland but it was a pain to dry them after a wet spell. I will highly recommend carrying water resistant hiking pants for that reason – you get to learn from our mistakes.
6. Scarfs, Gloves & Hats
These accessories are literally lifesavers. And I mean it. In fact, I’d say carry at least 2 of each. My gloves were completely wet on more than a few occasions and I was glad I carried 2 woolen caps to change it up because they were the first to get wet near a waterfall. Another advantage of changing accessories – you will not look like you are wearing the same outfit for all 7 days 😉
7. Hiking Boots and Warm Socks
Both of us invested in good hiking boots for our Iceland trip. Bonus points if they are water-proof. Not that we did any extreme water activities but to avoid your feet getting wet if it downpours you might want to invest in water-proof versions of these shoes. TIP: Make sure to pack long woolen socks to keep your feet warm.
8. Bathing Suit
Don’t be surprised, you read it right. And that too, after a speech on packing winter clothing. Iceland has plenty of opportunities for you to use your bathing suit being a land rich in geothermal pools. Whether it is in Blue Lagoon or a natural geothermal pool or just a hot tub in your hotel. Don’t forget to carry a bathing suit!
Travel Essentials to Pack
1. Packing Cubes
If you don’t already use the cubes you are missing out. Seriously, trust me and get these asap! Packing cubes have changed the game for us saving so much space in our carry-on. It is going to come very handy for Iceland since you will be packing a variety of clothes. It made life so much easier to pack all our thermals, accessories, sweaters etc all in their respective organizer cube.
2. Reusable Water Bottle
One of the biggest mistakes we made was not packing a water bottle. TIP: I don’t want you all to repeat our mistakes, so please be sure to pack a refillable water bottle (or bottles). You can read more about drinking glacier water straight from the tap on our Iceland tips post.
3. Sleep Eye Mask
Summertime in Iceland means midnight sun. What is that? Well, do not expect a nightfall at all. Yes, at midnight all you will see a faint twilight as the sun touches the horizon and then at around 3 am the sun begins to rise again. If you are a light sleeper you might definitely need sleeping masks. We were absolutely fine with the curtains closed in our hotel rooms. In fact, I loved peeking out to see Twilight at 3 am.
Must Carry Electronics
1. Waterproof Casing
I will highly recommend this for both cellphones and camera gear. I cannot stress how important this is if you want to come back with good pictures. We forgot a waterproof camera casing so had to create a makeshift with a plastic bag as you can see in the photo below.
2. Battery Backup For Cell Phone
If you are going to be hiking a lot then definitely carry a portable charger on you. You just never know when you will be able to get an electrical outlet in the wilderness next.
3. Extra Batteries and Memory Cards
This is another lesson learned from us, after taking a thousand photos we realized we were juicing way more battery than we anticipated. The last thing you want is to be at a breathtaking location and not be able to take any photos.
4. Universal Adapter
Put a reminder to pack this for sure!
5. Wide Angle Lens
If you are into photography do not forget to pack your wide lens for capturing gorgeous landscapes.
6. A Sturdy Tripod
Another big one for photographers. For quality landscape shots do invest in a sturdy but light travel tripod.
Last but not the least don’t forget to load some good music on your phone or iPod (who still uses them?). Or just carry a good book for the journey 🙂
These are some of the most important things you need to make sure you pack for that incredible summer trip to Iceland. As a matter of fact, some of the things like electronics and essentials can come in very handy in any given season.
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Happy Traveling!
Great list! I’m going at the end of May, and I didn’t realize it was going to be so wet! I guess I need some more waterproof clothing options!
We went end of May also! Yes you can expect it to rain anytime there and not to forget all the waterfalls you will visit will get you wet if you want to go closer to them. Very important to pack waterproof covers for yourself and your valuables 🙂