By now, Iceland should need no real introduction. The land of fire and ice has been drawing the tourist crowds for years now, all of whom are awed by it’s unique geology and the beguiling Northern Lights.
As a perma-winter destination* (ish), packing for Iceland can be tricky first timers. However, despite being located at such a high altitude, Iceland’s weather is considered mild and probably not as extreme as you may think. All you need is a little preparation on knowing what conditions you’re in for, so you can pack and plan accordingly – and the rest is pure bliss.
And, lucky for you, we’ve made that prep part easy. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide of what to pack for Iceland full of essential info, including a top 24-needs packing list and a breakdown of conditions and clothing suggestions by season.
After you’ve squared that all away, you’re ready for the ultimate backpacking adventure in Iceland, “The Land of Fire and Ice,” which is every bit as exciting as it sounds.
Make no mistake, you NEED to take your Iceland trip packing very seriously or risk ruining you whole trip.
So let’s get to it!
The Ultimate Iceland Packing List
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The Best Backpack For Iceland : Nomatic Travel Bag
Iceland’s varied landscape and weather conditions call for a travel bag that’s waterproof, durable and ultra functional. You’ll find all of this and more in the Nomatic Travel Bag. Its smart design with special pockets and compartments for all you could ever want, and its spacious yet carry-on size.
With this bag, you can choose between using it as either a backpack or duffel bag carry, and extra carrying comfort for your back thanks to its innovative strap system and detachable sternum strap. It’s stylish black, waterproof material is every bit sleek and modern as it is durable and tough. There is a reason why most Broke Backpacker staff swear by this backpack. Check out our Nomatic Travel Bag review if you’re keen to learn more.
Best Suitcase For Iceland: Nomatic Carry-On Pro
Backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro.
This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and comes with a handy tech compartment for transporting your laptop and other electronic bits. Nomatic has been an industry leader when it comes to travel gear and that reputation is reflected in the quality build design and functionality of the Carry-On Pro suitcase. Check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review to learn more about this epic suitcase.
Best Camera For Iceland: GoPro Hero9 Black
For most of us, our smartphones now feature cameras with stunning photo capabilities. But… if you are an aspiring photographer who wants to take next-level photos and video beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend going with an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black. Honestly, the road trips you will take on Iceland are epic and you will want an action camera in order to capture every last kilometre.
It does deliver pro-quality video and gives you a bunch of a different angle options and shooting speeds to work with for photos (including a selfie-mode).Think of a camera purchase like this as a long term investment that will have you capturing epic shots well beyond your time exploring here.If you are looking for something cheaper for video specifically, check out these epic GoPro Alternatives.
Packing Cubes For Iceland – Wandrd Packing Cubes
In case you have never used them, packing cubes are little compression cubes that allow you to neatly pack clothes in in order to help facilitate better packing. They allow you to pack more stuff, and to keep it all better organised.
For the longest time, I thought that packing cubes were a superfluous indulgence, but boy was I wrong. Now I never travel without a few.
These ones from WANDRD are great quality and excellent value for money. Get them on your Iceland packing list now!
Best Sim For Iceland – HolaFly eSIM
The good news about Iceland SIM cards is that there is extensive 4g and 5g Internet coverage, taxi apps and food delivery apps. The bad news is that your native SIM card will most probably not work and so you will not be able to access any of this online goodness until you rectify that particular situation.
You can waste time hanging around phone shops queuing to get a plastic SIM or you can simply install an eSIM onto your phone before you leave home. You just access the HolaFly site, choose the relevant package, download it and off you go – you are online the moment you land at the airport.
eSims are easier to set up and better than the environment than plastic sims. The downside is that not all phones are eSIM ready.
What to Pack for Iceland Checklist: Personal Gear
As the name suggests, Iceland is kinda cold all year round. However, whilst Winter’s can be bitterly cold, snowy & dangerous, summer is more akin to autumn in Northern Europe or the Northern US states. As such, you need to pack accordingly for the time of year you are visiting. As a rule of thumb, let’s say October – March will require proper cold weather gear (but not Scott of the Antarctic style) and March – September more like “normal” winter gear.
Iceland Checklist
We’re all adults so we’re not gonna tell you to bring underwear and deodorant. Instead we are going to focus on the items you will need specific to Iceland.
Best Summer Shoes For Iceland: Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero
Iceland is an outdoorsy destination (I mean – there is only 1 city!) so chances are you are gonna do some heavy work, even if you’re not planning on hiking in Iceland. Though you should – you won’t regret it.
Even walking through the streets of Reykjavik can get tiring, especially if it is snowy or icy underfoot.
We all know that most shoes that are also good for hiking are fucking ugly. But they are some of the most comfortable and deliver good ankle support for a long day of walking about town.
However, these are almost kind of stylish (in my humble opinion). Besides, we’re all getting to an age where comfort is more important than style. Check out the women’s Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero.
Best Winter Boots For Iceland: Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
If you are visiting during the long winter, then the above mentioned shoes may not cut it. If it snows, (which it probably will) then you will much better off in good quality boots.
These ones are awesome being warm, comfy, and enduring. They are suitable both for day hikes, the golden circle and for checking out the museums and bars in Reykjavik.
Just remember if you are doing some proper hiking in Iceland, especially if you’re heading to Iceland’s national parks, try to wear the boots in before your trip starts.
Best Jacket For Iceland: Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody
In case you are wondering what to wear in Iceland, yes you will need a jacket. Whatever time of year you visit, you will need a warm, wet proof jacket. We like this one because it offers exceptional warmth, whilst being light to pack and stylish enough for wearing around town. If you visit in summer, you may get away with wearing this unzipped with a t-shirt. If you visit in winter, put a thermal layer on close the zip and boom!
The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody truly is a jacket for all seasons and an essential Iceland packing piece.
Check out our best travel jackets article for more inspiration.
FYI If you visit in winter you will need a heavier, warmer, waterproof jacket. Check out our Patagonia winter jackets round up for some ideas.
Best Daypack For Iceland Hiking – Osprey Daylite Plus
The Osprey Daylite Plus has a mesh-covered panel to keep your back cool and fresh by minimizing contact with the back of the pack itself and allowing air to get between you and the pack.
Check out our full review of the Osprey Daylite plus for more details.
Additionally, you can attach it to other Osprey packs in case you want to add more capacity and carry just one piece of luggage… but the reviews on this feature are mixed.
Swimwear
Swimwear for Iceland? Have I gone insane?! Hell no! And no I am not suggesting that you get all Wim Hof and wander around the icy wastelands in your beach gear. But, Iceland is home to multiple natural hot springs and epic spa’s. If you plan on visiting the Blue Lagoon then you will need some swimwear (the Icelandics are not ready fr naked spa’s – Sweden is about 400km to the West if that’s your bag).
You may already have swim wear or you may wish to purchase some using the link below.
Travel Insurance From World Nomads
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Thermal Layer For Winter
It should now be pretty clear to you that Iceland get’s damned cold in winter! So much so that you will probably absolutely need a good thermal under-layer if you plan on staying outside for more than 30 minutes.
Seriously folks, I am from the North of England but even I could n0t have lasted more than 1 hour in the Icelandic February if not for my thermal base layer.
Don’t risk hypothermia, add this to your Iceland packing list.
Wool Socks
The key to staying warm is to keep our extremities warm. This means a good hat for the head, gloves for the hands and some decent thick wool socks to wear under your booths.
Even if you are visiting in summer these are still a good investment as you will definitely get some use out of them at some point in your life. I own 6 pairs of these and wear them between October and February in my home city of Liverpool.
Check out our guide to the best gloves and mittens on the markets for a few different options.
Planner/Travel Journal
Keeping a journal is one of the best things to do when traveling. The Drifter Leather Journal by Kodiak is our favorite, it works great for digital nomads and organized backpackers and can be used as planner or a dream diary – whatever you want!
Keep on track with your goals, travels and save those precious memories, especially the ones you do not want to share online. This one is bound in beautiful leather so it looks beautiful and will withstand life on the road.
Abaco Sunglasses
A reliable pair of sunglasses is undoubtedly one of your Iceland packing essentials. Our favorites are Abaco Polarized Sunglasses because they deliver on quality and style.
They’re built tough with triple-layer scratch-resistant lenses and trademarked Adventure-proof Frame Material. You can also customize them with your choice of lens and frame colors to reflect your own style.
Waterbottle – Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz.
Packing a reusable water bottle is probably the best thing you can personally do to combat single-use plastic bottle use whilst traveling. There is simply zero need to buy plastic water bottles.
We love the Hydroflask Vacum Bottle for its quality and because it keeps cold water cold for many hours and vice versa for hot beverages. This bottle is the ideal water bottle to get not just for your Iceland trip but for daily use. Please don’t be that person buying plastic water bottles. We are all judging you…especially mother earth.!
If you go with the Hydroflask, you’ll probably never need to buy another water-bottle again.
Sleep Eye Mask
If you visit Iceland in summer, expect long ENDLESS days. The sun rarely sets in June & July which can really mess with your sleeping pattern.
Trying to fall asleep in daylight, especially when it’s the middle of the night, can be challenging for most people. Packing a small, comfortable eye mask for sleeping may prove to be your saving grace!
Lip Balm
Iceland is a very windy country regardless of what season you decide to go. Of course, some days may be worse than others, but windy conditions are more likely than not.
A combination of cold and wind, or sun and wind, usually leads to dry lips. Even if you’re not prone to chapped lips, Iceland’s weather conditions will likely leave your lips feeling dry and cracked. A good lip balm will help keep them moisturized and healthy.
The Basic Stuff To Pack For Iceland
On top of the essential items listed above, here is an additional suggested checklist of what to pack for a trip to Iceland:
- 1-2 pairs of comfortable pants/jeans
- A few pairs of socks
- (Sexy) underwear x 2/3
- Ladies: a few dresses, pants, outfits, or desired lady apparel for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy!
- Dudes: A few collard shirts or something half-way decent for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy!
- Smartphone with a good camera for photos if you are not bringing an actual camera
- Portable power bank for charging your phone on the go
- Phone charger
- Amazon Kindle for reading by the pool
- Copy of your passport just in case
- Cash (not too much, there are ATM machines everywhere)
- Packable Towel
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Final Thoughts on What to Pack for Iceland
So now you know what to bring to Iceland. Your complete guide for what to pack for Iceland with our top-24 needs list, a seasonal breakdown with tips on how to pack accordingly, special packing tips for our female and male friends, what NOT to bother packing, and the best travel bag to get you through Iceland.
The ever-changing, unpredictable Icelandic conditions probably have you worried about fitting everything you need in on bag, but don’t fret. Stick to a few items in the layering tiers we discussed, get yourself an awesome multi-purpose weatherproof jacket, and a great pair of shoes. Then check off your most essential items from the packing list we provided, and you’re all set. Now get out there and enjoy some of those Nordic wonders!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
