What to Pack for Iceland in the Summer
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What’s the Weather like in Iceland in the Summer?
While Iceland is “the green one” and Greenland is “the icy one,” that doesn’t mean Iceland is warm during the summer! The only reason this Iceland packing list includes a swimsuit is so you can soak in the natural thermal springs throughout the land of fire and ice. The daily highs in the summer hover around 54 F (12 C) in the southern part of Iceland, and in the northern part, it is a few degrees less. The weather is intense and unpredictable, and while you may have clear skies and sun one hour, the next you can be stuck in the middle of a downpour. It might also feel colder due to the wind chill, especially as you near the coast!
During the summer, there are nearly 24 hours of daylight as well. It’s absolutely wild to see the sun approaching midnight, and even more so when you wander around Reykjavik at 1:30 AM snapping photos with incredible lighting and no people.
What should you wear in Iceland?
While the locals in Iceland will dress in shorts and a t-shirt, I don’t recommend adding only those items of clothing to your Iceland packing list! From the wind alone, you’ll need to wear a thick, windproof jacket nearly every time you step foot outside. Layers and long sleeves and pants will be your best friend in Iceland during the summer.
Pro tip - Opt for a brightly colored jacket so you really pop against the landscapes and waterfalls you’ll encounter throughout Iceland when taking photos. Yellow, red, and orange are popular choices, but if you’re an all-black type of person like me, that’s totally fine too. You just blend in with the surroundings!
Even a muted color stands out against the mighty Skogafoss!
Dressing Tips for Iceland
Exploring Reykjavik
In Reykavik, the style is more dressy casual, with sweaters, jeans, and nicer shoes more common on the streets. There are a ton of nice restaurants and bars to visit, though it is still windy and cold even in the heart of the city.
Exploring the countryside
For everywhere outside of the capital region, you’ll want sturdy hiking shoes or tennis shoes, a thick jacket, and possibly gloves and a hat. Most days, I wore jeans (sometimes with fleece-lined leggings beneath, depending on the weather), a long-sleeved t-shirt, and my favorite Colombia thermal jacket. Just a heads up, if you’re around the lupine fields, or really just outside, you’re going to be constantly attacked by flies. Idk where they come from, but they were incredibly annoying. If you have some secret to keeping them off of you, let me know so I can add it here 🤣
Iceland Packing List
Without further ado, here’s your Iceland packing list for summer!
Shoes + Boots
For Iceland, I recommend packing at least two pairs of shoes. The first pair is comfortable walking shoes, like tennis shoes, to explore the city and wear around the more popular tourist destinations like the big waterfalls. The second pair is hiking shoes/boots for exploring more off-the-beaten-path destinations like ice caves and waterfalls that require a hike. Both pairs should be waterproof since you’ll never know when the rain is going to hit! I also recommend packing warm socks because your toes will go numb with how bitter the wind can get. My husband wore these hiking boots pretty much our whole trip, while I wore these fur lined boots.
Jeans + Pants
Long pants are definitely a requirement on a summer Iceland packing list. Whether you want to wear jeans, leggings, or other pants, make sure they are warm! Check the weather before you go to make sure you are layering properly. For a few days, I wore fleece-lined leggings under my jeans to make sure I would stay warm. My favorite fleece-lined leggings are these, and they fit perfectly under my American Eagle jeans. My rule of thumb for a packing list is one pair of jeans for every 5 days of a trip, and one pair of leggings for every 2 days.
Tops + Sweaters
For your Iceland packing list, you’re definitely going to want to layer your tops. Your outermost layer should be a warm jacket, like this Colombia insulated jacket that will also protect you from the violent wind when it strikes. On a few warm days, I wore my favorite leather jacket, which if you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you’ve seen dozens of times. Beneath that, long-sleeved t-shirts, sweaters, or other shirts that are comfortable for all-day wear are appropriate. You’re likely not going to see what’s beneath your jacket unless you stop at a restaurant anyway! On my packing lists for colder climates, I mix in both long and short-sleeved t-shirts, a sweatshirt, and a handful of tank tops so I have options depending on the weather. I brought one nicer sweater to wear to dinner, but I ended up not wearing it because I was too tired at the end of the day to dress up for our nightly dinners!
Lacey at Bruarfoss
Accessories
Your Iceland packing list absolutely needs a hat and gloves. A cute knit beanie makes for the perfect accessory to any outfit and looks great in photos as well. If you like scarves, they are a great addition as well. Pull them up over your nose and mouth to prevent chapped lips when the wind blows! If you want to use your camera or phone with gloves on, check out this pair of gloves meant for just that. Otherwise, your hands might go numb from the cold when you’re snapping away at the epic Icelandic landscapes.
Don’t forget a swimsuit or two for visiting the geothermal springs Iceland is famous for! Whether you choose the Blue Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, or new Sky Lagoon, you want to look your best for those photos of you chilling and kicking back on vacation.
Toiletries
This item is an absolute must-have — sleeping mask. During the summer, the sun never really sets, so it’s going to be light while you sleep, even if your hotel has decent curtains. Save yourself the trouble of finagling an eye mask out of t-shirts or towels by bringing one with you. I’m obsessed with this weighted eye mask that lets in zero light and gives my face a nice massage while I sleep. Outside of your essential eye mask, pack your usual toiletries, especially conditioner if you use it. Neither hotel we stayed in provided it. The water in Iceland is so pure, you can drink straight from the tap, so you have no worries about brushing your teeth with the local water.
Electronics
Electronics you need on your Iceland packing list include a camera (+all its accessories), travel adapter, and charging chords. Since you’ll be driving around a lot, make sure to bring an extra to keep in the car! The car we rented had Apple CarPlay, which made navigating super convenient so long as we had our phones plugged in. This travel adapter will cover all your charging needs, though note it does not convert power, so you’ll want to keep an eye on your things as they charge if you worry about that. Additionally, you’ll need entertainment like a book, Kindle, or other tablet, and headphones (these noise cancelling ones are my favorite). I’ve been getting into Audiobooks lately to save my eyes while on vacation, so click this link to try Audible Premium Plus and get up to two free audiobooks!
Iceland Outfit Ideas
If you’re a visual person like me, you want to see what other people are wearing to put together your Iceland packing list. Here are some of my outfits from the trip. Keep in mind, I’m usually wearing a different shirt beneath my jacket, but like I said above, you’re likely not going to see them most of the time!
Final Thoughts on What to Wear in Iceland in Summer
I hope this Iceland packing list for summer has helped you decide what to bring with you to Iceland. It is such a beautiful country, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! If you’re interested in more Iceland content, I have an Epic Southeast Iceland 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary and a guide to the Westman Islands (where you can see puffins!).