Visiting Iceland is a dream for many travelers. The Land of Fire and Ice has some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, beaches and waterfalls. And despite being near the Arctic Circle, it’s actually a fantastic winter destination. Traveling in the colder months means seeing the Northern Lights, glacier hiking, and avoiding the tourist crowds. But if you’re planning a winter trip, you’re probably wondering what to wear in Iceland to stay warm and dry.
The perfect Iceland packing list for women
Packing for Iceland means being prepared for all kinds of horrible weather. It can be bright and sunny one moment, and sleeting and windy the next. My Iceland winter packing list focuses on moisture-wicking and quick-drying clothing. I kept each item as lightweight as possible so it would all fit in a carry-on.
I highly recommend seeking out good-quality Merino wool or Smartwool clothing. Modern wool is basically a magic fabric. It keeps you cool when the weather is hot, warm when the weather is cool, dry when it’s raining, and it doesn’t absorb odor. Buy a couple items for your Iceland trip and you’ll surely use them at home and on the rest of your travels too.
Unlike in European cities like Paris and Milan, locals dress casually in Iceland. In fact, they have a saying — “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Their fashion sense centers around what’s practical in windy, wet Reykjavik. So you’ll blend right in in your hat, coat and gloves.
What to wear in Iceland in winter
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Outerwear
The most important thing you bring on your trip to Iceland will be high-quality, waterproof, warm outerwear. It should be sturdy enough to last through short hikes. And it must be wind-resistant.
The good news is, you don’t need anything too bulky. Winter temperatures in Iceland aren’t actually that cold. Protection from all weather is more important. Within a few minutes of being outside, you can get sprayed by a waterfall, sleeted/snowed/iced on, and battered by gale-force winds.
When considering what to wear in Iceland as an outer layer, practicality matters more than fashion. I met more than one cold, wet, miserable Instagrammer who got great photos but basically ruined their trips. Here’s my recommended outerwear gear list:
- Columbia jacket with Omni Heat. The insulation is thin so the coat isn’t actually very bulky at all, but it keeps you warm in temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t want to buy a new one, any insulated or fleece lined waterproof jacket will work.
- Sturdy wool gloves. I’m a huge fan of these from J. Crew — they’re a wool blend so they dry quickly, and you can use your camera/phone while wearing them. If you plan to spend a lot of time outside and are sensitive to the cold, consider going with ski gloves.
- A warm wool hat. You lose tons of heat through your head, so you’re likely to be miserable the whole time you’re in Iceland in winter if you don’t have a hat. Go with a beanie to keep your ears toasty too. Merino wool is best for warmth and being weatherproof.
- If you’re a scarf person, you might want to pack a couple scarfs. I personally am not a fan of scarves so I don’t have one to recommend.
Tops
Whether you’re road tripping around the Golden Circle or exploring central Reykjavik, the best advice on what to wear in Iceland in winter I can give is to dress in layers. Sure, it’s freezing and miserable when you’re walking to the waterfall. But the moment you step back into your toasty car, you’ll be sweating. Cafes and guesthouses seem to crank up the heat all winter long, so you’ll want to be able to strip down when indoors.
Here are the basics to get you started. Adjust for the length of your trip:
- One very warm Merino wool sweater for when you’re in the city and want to dress up a bit more. Make sure you can easily fit another layer underneath it.
- One warm fleece. Again, Smartwool is best. You can use this under your jacket as an extra layer of water/wind protection when exploring the countryside. Here’s my favorite one.
- Several base layer shirts. A combination of long and short sleeves works best, so you can mix and match for weather conditions. This short-sleeved shirt is very dependable and surprisingly warm. Under Armor also makes great, lightweight base layers.
- One thermal undershirt. Even if you only sleep in it, you’ll be glad to have it as an extra-cozy layer of warmth.
Bottoms
Skip the cute skirts and dresses — if you’re wondering what to wear in Iceland to blend in, stick with long pants. It’s what the locals do.
A pair of jeans is handy for when you’re in Reykjavik. But go with something moisture-wicking for out in the countryside. Waterfall spray is strong and there’s nothing worse than sitting in a car for hours in soaking wet jeans.
Here are a few alternatives:
- One pair of Under Armor ColdGear leggings. Trust me on this — when it comes to keeping your legs warm and dry, this is my top recommendation for what to wear in Iceland. These leggings have gotten me through long bike rides in 20-degree-Fahrenheit weather and sleet at home, to the top of a high pass in Nepal, and all over Iceland. I’ve had the same pair for over five years and they still look good as new. I cannot rave about these pants enough.
- Hiking pants. This pair from Toad & Co looks nice if you want to wear it in Reykjavik, but dries super-fast and is comfortable enough to wear hiking.
- One pair of thermal underwear. If you plan to wear them out and about, pick up a pair that wicks moisture.
- If you’re planning on more snow-exposed activities like snowmobiling, hiking on a glacier, or simply doing any trekking, consider bringing rain pants or ski pants.
Underwear/socks
Underwear for Iceland is easy — just bring enough for your whole trip. (Laundry facilities are pricey.)
If you’re wondering what to wear in Iceland for Superjeep tours or other off-road activities, sports bras would be a good idea.
When it comes to socks, Smartwool is the best fabric. It dries quickly if you get your feet wet so you don’t get too cold, and it keeps you warm no matter what the temperature is outside. Bring one pair of medium-weight socks for each day of your trip. Then, add one pair of extra-heavy mountaineering socks to wear as a second layer. If that seems excessive, just remember that seeing the Northern Lights usually involves standing around outside for at least three hours in below-freezing weather.
Swimwear
I know it sounds crazy to have a swimsuit on this list of what to wear in Iceland in winter. But if you’re planning to visit the Blue Lagoon or one of the many other thermal pools around the country, you’ll need one.
Shoes
If you plan to leave Reykjavik during your Iceland travels, you’ll need walking shoes that work for all terrain. Even though most of Iceland’s top sights — especially on the Golden Circle, South Coast and along the Ring Road — are near roads, you often have to walk for a few minutes on trails to reach them. The trails may be icy, wet, slippery, uneven, and otherwise hazardous.
You’ll also want to make sure your shoes are waterproof. Even the best wool socks won’t help you if you step directly into a puddle or get caught in a torrential downpour.
I wore my trusty Merrill waterproof hiking boots the whole time I was in Iceland. They are truly indestructible, warm, and dry. A good pair of snow boots, or hiking shoes that don’t cover your ankles, would work just as well provided they have a decent grip.
If you’re staying in hostels or visiting the Blue Lagoon or other thermal pools, pack a pair of cheap flip-flops for the showers.
Toiletries
You don’t need to worry too much about bringing all the right toiletries to Iceland — if you forget something, you can always buy it there (expect to pay more). Hostels and simple, family-owned guesthouses don’t provide shampoo or soap. If you’re staying in a hostel, bring your own travel towel as well.
Here’s a list to get you started:
- A bar of Lush solid shampoo — it’s carry-on friendly
- Body wash or soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hairbrush and hair ties. Keep your hair up during the day to avoid snarls from the strong winds.
- Deodorant
- Makeup
- Chapstick (seriously, don’t forget this)
- Hand lotion/moisturizer
- Contact lenses (with at least two buffer pairs) and/or glasses if you need them
- Ibuprofin or other over-the-counter pain reliever
Electronics
You surely wouldn’t want to go all the way to Iceland without a camera or phone to capture the beautiful volcanic landscapes. And you can find good WiFi everywhere, so go ahead, bring whatever Internet devices you need.
You could get away with a pretty small gear kit:
- Camera and lenses. I use the Sony A6000, which packs super-light and takes gorgeous photos.
- Small tripod. You’ll need it to have any hope of capturing the Northern Lights. Plus it makes for great waterfall photos and it helps with the constantly low light in Iceland in winter.
- Camera charger, spare battery, and extra SD cards. Bring enough memory to shoot in RAW — you’ll thank me later when you have a bunch of low-light, underexposed shots or need to fix your Northern Lights pics.
- Phone and charger.
- Hard drive to back up your photos on, or a laptop to move them to the Cloud.
- Universal charger. Iceland uses European-style (two circular-pronged) plugs.
- Perhaps most importantly, bring a dry bag to store your electronics in when you’re outside. I know it seems excessive, but I really, really wished I had one when I was walking around Seljalandsfoss and getting soaked. I had to put my camera inside my coat to stop it from being destroyed by the spray.
Other miscellaneous items
Beyond what to wear in Iceland and your electronics, you’ll need a few additional things in your suitcase.
First, bring a reusable water bottle. Iceland has some of the cleanest tap water in the world. You have absolutely no excuse to contribute to plastic waste by buying bottled water — just fill up at the tap.
Second, bring a couple books or add some podcasts to your phone. Driving distances can be long, and if you have someone to share the driving with, you’ll want some entertainment to pass the time.
Third, if you’re backpacking Iceland on a budget, it’s a lot cheaper to bring some snacks from home than to buy them in Icelandic supermarkets. Bring granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, cookies, and other airplane-friendly snacks.
A good map is essential if you’re self-driving in Iceland. You don’t really need a GPS unless you’re going off-road.
Finally, a headlamp and sunglasses can both come in handy for when the sun is low in the horizon or when it sets early in winter.
Luggage
So now you know what to bring to Iceland in winter. But what should you carry all this winter gear in?
If you’re flying Iceland Air or a budget airline like WOW Air, you need to be really careful with your luggage allowance. Iceland Air allows one carry-on (no checked bags), while WOW charges for everything except a personal item.
The good news is, you can easily fit everything on this Iceland packing list into a carry-on-sized bag! Remember, the key is to bring layers — not three shirts per day, but three shirts that you can wear on multiple days each. This saves tons of room in your suitcase.
I’m a backpacker at heart, so I always travel with my Osprey 40 liter backpack. It’s sturdy as can be — I’ve tested the limits of mine with trips to Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Nepal and it’s held up perfectly.
I also swear by Osprey’s day packs. Again, they can take all manner of abuse. It’s a far better option than a handbag if you’re going to be walking around waterfalls and glaciers.
And that’s everything! With this list of things to bring and what to wear in Iceland, you’ll be prepared for the perfect trip. You’ll stay warm, dry and cozy whether you’re walking on the black sand beaches or holed up in a cafe in Reykjavik. Iceland is an unforgettable destination — don’t let your gear hold you back!
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