Clothing
When visiting Iceland in winter, I personally live in thermal layers, Gore-tex pants, and my lopapeysu. Last year, I invested in a long waterproof parka to keep me warm, and it made all the difference when I was aurora hunting! I also recommend bringing something casual but nice to wear for dinners.
When out adventuring where I know I will be more physical, I ditch the parka and layer up with thermals, a sweater, a down jacket, and a waterproof top. The key to dressing in Iceland is layers, layers, layers! I am writing this because I was going nuts trying to figure out what to wear for these adventures. The parka doesn’t allow for enough movement so I found layers were better and kept me warm. And, of course, you can always bring another layer in a day pack, just in case. However you will need a good warm and long coat when sightseeing and walking around town.
If you have long hair, protect it with a good conditioner and braid it when venturing out. The toughest part about Iceland’s weather is the wind, which has wreaked havoc on my hair, so take my advice! And don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure!
- Medium wool base layers tops and bottoms. My favorites are by Smartwool.
- Waterproof pants such as this Gore-Tex pair.
- Waterproof and warm parka such as this one by Helly Hansen or similar.
- Waterproof shell jacket for layering and active activities
- Packable down jacket such as the Patagonia down sweater jacket
- Zip-up fleece as a mid-layer, such as this one by Patagonia
- Wool sweaters such as the Icelandic lopapeysu. Best to buy one there from a local knitter! Best investment for cold nights ever!
- Wool sports bra for the ladies. I love this one by Branwyn
- Bathing suit for hot springs
- Buff
- Scarf
- Dramamine if you are prone to car sickness and planning on doing tours
- Moisture wicking long sleeve tees for layering
- Comfy thermal leggings such as these
- Warm hat
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Nice pair of boots for evening/ dinner
- Plenty of warm socks
- Water shoes or flip-flops for hot springs
- A good pair of waterproof boots with ankle support for tours
- Thermal hand warmers
- First Aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Microspikes (parking lots and some walkways can be icy!)
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof case for phone
- Day pack for day hikes/ ventures such as Ice Cave or super Jeep tours
- Adapter for chargers
- Reusable water bottle ( do not buy bottled water in Iceland!)
- Nice sweater for dinner
- Jeans or a nice pair of nonadventure pants for a restaurant or going out in Reykjavik
- If you rent a car like this one, bring a good paper map of Iceland. Yes, most rental cars come with GPS, but I always bring a map just in case.
- Phone chargers (bring two, especially if renting a car)
- Apple pay/ credit and debit cards with PIN ( most places take cards, but gas stations usually require a PIN)
- Toiletries, medicines, and supplements taken daily
- Passport
- Passport and credit card holder
- Anything cozy for your flight, such as an eye mask and earbuds/ book.
Apps
- My Aurora Forecast app
- Vedur. Is
- Parka for parking
- Safe Travel
- All Trails ( I upgraded my plan for the offline version!)
For Photographers
- Tripod
- Thermal/waterproof jacket for camera
- Extra SD cards and spare batteries
- Lens protector
- If you are interested in drone piloting, please check out Iceland’s latest laws and regulations, which you can find here.You are required to register your drone with the Icelandic Transport Authority drone website.
Recommended Tours
Super Jeep tour through Thorsmork
3 or 4 Day Northern Lights Tour
Katla Ice Cave tour
