If you are planning a trip to the land of fire and ice, it’s no secret that you need to prepare for cold, windy weather. However, there are many items besides the obvious that you will probably want to pack as well. This Iceland packing list should help ensure you cover all your bases for your upcoming trip.
If you’re anything like me, you’re headed to Iceland with the intention of seeing amazing landscapes and natural outdoor wonders. One thing to keep in mind while planning your trip is how incredibly small and remote most towns in Iceland really are. As such, it’s important to prepare for outdoor trekking and simplistic lodging. You are also likely to end up with a rental vehicle that is on the smaller side, so packing efficiently is important.
While I’m usually an ultralight packer, I purposely packed a little heavier for my most recent trip because I was traveling to multiple countries. I decided to check a bag on the flight rather than just use carry-on luggage. I ended up using pretty much everything I packed, so I felt it was worth the hassle of waiting for my suitcase at baggage claim.
To keep all your items organized in your luggage, I highly recommend using packing cubes such as these ones by Eagle Creek. Seriously, they’re amazing. Without them, my packing looks like my suitcase barfed underwear and camera gear mixed with random charging cables wrapped around a sweater hiding from my hiking boots.
Those packing cubes are the difference between chaos and order for me.
Keeping the aforementioned logistics in mind, here are my Iceland essentials broken up into different categories. Like any list, use your best judgment and add and subtract as needed.
Going for ultralight? You can get away with only a pair of waterproof hiking shoes and flip flops. Want to bring multiple jackets? Wear one on the plane and pack the other one in your luggage. Have access to a washing machine? Perfect! Pack fewer tops, pants, underwear, and socks.
Iceland Packing List
Use this as a general guide, but check the weather right before you go while packing for Iceland. I’ve been there in both spring and summer, and both times it was very windy with a mix of rain and sunshine.
Outerwear
- Waterproof rain jacket – I like the Cloud Cap series by Eddie Bauer. They are ultralight, packable, and very waterproof. For something a little more heavy duty, I like this waterproof trench coat.
- Waterproof pants – These are helpful if you plan to visit one of the countless waterfalls and want to get anywhere near them. They’re also great for visiting glaciers and to keep you warm and dry in the rain and wind.
- Warm jacket – I get cold easily and was comfortable in my 650-fill down parka under a raincoat. I also brought an 800-fill down jacket that I stuffed in my luggage.
- Warm sweater – You need a mid layer to wear either by itself or under a jacket. I love my hoodie by Appalachian Gear Company. My sister brought a polar fleece sweater that also worked great.
- Scarf or neck gaiter – Bring a warm one. I brought both an infinity scarf and neck gaiter by Appalachian Gear Company and wore one every day.
- Beanie – One of the best ways to stay warm is to cover your head.
- Gloves – Wool ones are nice because they’re warm even when wet, but any pair you’re comfortable in should work.
Clothing
- Long-sleeved merino wool or tech tops – I like merino wool tops because I can wear them multiple times without them getting stinky (which is perfect if you want to pack light but don’t have access to a washer). My skin is sensitive, though, so I also like to bring antimicrobial tech tops.
- Short-sleeve base layer top – Depending on how warm you get, you may need more than one. I was relieved to have one on the flight home because the plane was uncomfortably warm.
- Hiking pants – I recommend a water resistant pair.
- Fleece-lined leggings or wool base layer pants– I ended up wearing the same pair of fleece-lined leggings most of the time I was there, and I wish I’d brought a second pair because I got caught in a downpour and they ended up soaked! Another option is a pair of wool leggings you can wear as a base layer.
- Pajamas – Or not. I don’t care if you sleep in your birthday suit.
- Underwear – Obviously.
- Socks – Wool or other non-cotton hiking socks are going to be your best friend. My favorite are Balega Blister Resist Socks and Swiftwick wool socks.
- Swimsuit – Don’t forget the swimsuit – it’s an Iceland essential! There are hot springs and lagoons, and you really need to visit one if you’re headed to Iceland.
Shoes
Tip: Wear your bulkiest pair of shoes on the plane.
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Comfortable walking or running shoes
- Chelsea boots – Skip these if you are packing ultralight, but I ended up wearing a waterproof pair by Blundstone every day when I wasn’t hiking.
- Flip flops – These are easy to pack and are great for hot springs. You will also want them if you are staying in a place with shared bathroom facilities.
Toiletries
These are the basics that I always bring when I travel. Obviously, add whatever other personal items you know you will need.
- Travel Shampoo & Conditioner
- Lotion
- Face wash
- Sunscreen – Yes, you can get a sunburn in Iceland!
- Travel-sized toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Floss
- Chapstick
- Makeup remover towel or wipes
- Hair ties
- Brush or comb
- Medications – In addition to prescriptions, it’s good to have Benadryl, Ibuprofen, and any vitamins you normally take.
- For people with periods: A menstrual cup is a great option for travel. If you’ve never used one, I recommend trying one before your trip so you can get used to it.
I’m not a big makeup wearer, but I do like to travel with few items in case my skin is irritated or I have a sleepless night and know my face is going to end up in a photo. These items usually work well when I travel and take up limited space in my toiletry bag.
- BareMinerals Complexion Rescue – I aways bring this tinted moisturizer with SPF. If I’m packing ultralight, it’s the only makeup item I bring.
- Brilliant Eye Brightener by Thrive Causemetics
- Melixir Vegan Lip Butter – tinted lip balm
- Mini Gold Rush Blush by Benefit – multiple other mini colors available
- Mini Gimme Brow by Benefit
- BadGal Bang Mini Mascara by Benefit
Miscellaneous Gear
In addition to clothing, your Iceland packing list should include all – or at least most – of these items.
- Packable waterproof backpack – I have this one by Arkadia and absolutely love it. I ended up using this as my personal item on the plane, and it was perfect for all the outdoor excursions I did.
- Sunglasses – it gets bright there, and I needed mine even on the cloudy days!
- Hiking/running hat
- Phone charger
- Watch charger
- Kindle/Tablet and charger or a good-old-fashioned book
- Earbuds/Headphones– Important: The international flights I took required headphones that I could plug into the seat back in front of me, so my bluetooth earbuds did not work. Luckily, I was able to purchase a pair on the flight for a few dollars.
- USB charging cable – You are going to want to charge your phone from the car if you are driving because a map is critical. Trust me on this.
- Adapter – If you plan to bring a curling iron or other appliance (such as a CPAP for sleep apnea), you will need an adapter that is also a converter. If you just plan to charge your phone, watch, and tablet, this one worked great for me.
- Headlamp – You will want one if you plan to hike late or extremely early during dark months.
- Backpacking meals – Food is expensive, and the towns are small with limited dining options. I was really relieved to have backpacking meals ready to heat up on more than one occasion.
- Camping spork – If you’re bringing backpacking meals, there’s a good chance you’ll need cutlery as well.
- Instant coffee or tea bags – This was a lifesaver for me because we ended up in multiple AirBnBs that did not have coffee makers. Anyone who knows me knows I can’t do life without coffee first. Also, if coffee or tea isn’t on your Iceland packing list, are you even human?
- Reusable Coffee Cup – Depending on your accommodations, you may want to consider bringing a reusable to-go cup for coffee or tea. I used this one and liked it for making instant coffee that I could bring on the go.
- Refillable water bottle – I love this expandable one by Platypus because it takes up almost no room when it’s empty and it’s super durable.
- Reusable shopping bag – The stores I went to did not always have bags available, especially the grocery stores.
- Backpacking towel – A lightweight microfiber towel is helpful if you end up soaking wet at waterfall or go on a rainy hike. It’s also good to have if you hike to a hot spring.
- Laundry detergent strips – I did not have access to a washing machine when I was in Iceland, so I was glad to have travel laundry detergent.
- Bandaids – You just never know when you might accidentally stab your finger with your camping spork like my sister did on our recent trip. True story *insert gut-busting laughter here*.
- Waterproof case for phone – This kind of thing is particularly helpful if you want to bring your phone into The Blue Lagoon to capture some awesome photos of you living it up in one of the most surreal places on Earth.
- Waterproof case for passport – If you plan to visit a rainy or extremely humid place, a waterproof sleeve can be extremely helpful.
Camera Gear (optional)
No Iceland packing list would be complete without camera gear! Even if photography isn’t one of your hobbies, expect to take A LOT of photos. My iPhone 12 Pro has a good enough camera that I ended up getting tons of great shots with it, so there is no need to break the bank on expensive gear if you don’t already have it.
In addition to my phone, I brought my DSLR Nikon camera and some other items I felt were useful. My camera gear is heavy, so I opted to bring only two lenses that I felt would be most versatile for the landscapes I planned to see.
Here is the camera gear I brought:
- GoPro – This was perfect for getting photos and videos at The Blue Lagoon.
- Phone Tripod – I did not use this as much as I thought I would, but it would have been great if I was solo traveling. A lightweight, inexpensive option is this one from Amazon.
- DSLR camera
- 18-300mm lens
- 24-70mm lens
- Tripod – I recommend bringing one if you plan to get long exposure shots of the northern lights or waterfalls. Full disclosure – I did not use one on this particular trip.
- Camera battery charger
- Extra SD Card
- Lens wipe – This was far more useful than I thought it would be due to the wind and rain.
- Remote shutter button – Honestly, I ended up not needing mine, but you will want one if you plan to get shots of the northern lights.
Hopefully, this Iceland packing list is helpful as you plan for your big trip. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment.
Overwhelmed trying to plan a trip to Iceland? ? My Five Day Iceland Itinerary is a great place to start!
For more travel packing tips, check out my cold weather backpacking essentials and my tropical vacation packing list!