So you’ve booked yourself a trip to Iceland from one of the many cheap flight options available, and the time has finally come to fill your suitcase with outfits you plan to stunt on your trip.

After contemplating your life and why you booked flights to Iceland, you realize this is the kind of trip where you actually have to plan out your outfits so you don’t freeze to death.

Depending on the season you are traveling to this mystical country, you may need to order a few things depending on what you plan to do.

Read on to find out what to wear/pack for a trip to Iceland.

Know Before You Go to Iceland

Iceland is absolutely up and coming as one of the most highly sought-after destinations to visit in the world. With flawless vistas and adventuring like no other, Iceland is absolutely epic in every sense of the word. At its closest point, Iceland is only 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Greenland, so just take note you will probably be reaching the Northernmost point in your life. Iceland is probably the country where I felt the safest visiting, and its diversity and rather liberal population make it safe for people of all ethnicities and the LGBTQ+ populous. 

Icelandic people are very friendly but don't expect anyone to be impressed by you. This is a proud, taciturn people. Culturally they're probably nearest to the Norwegians, but I think both nations regard the others as a bunch of bores. Everybody is courteous, but only the Baristas and Bartenders MIGHT smile at you or laugh at your joke. When they're boozing, though, they're a 20-year-old at a house party.

Iceland is an amazing nation in pretty much every measurable metric–everyone is literate (seriously) nearly everyone is multilingual, they pride themselves on being capable of solving their problems themselves, the first female PM in the world, invented a parliamentary government, etc. They have harnessed their nation’s geothermal energy to be a completely self-sustaining and renewable energy source. Also, they were literally living in hand-dug earthen huts and burning peat for warmth 100 years ago in some parts of the country - you could argue they developed more rapidly than anyone in the Western World.  

Best Time to Visit Iceland

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish on your visit to Iceland, there are several “best” times to visit. We went in early October and it was just perfect. We found extremely cheap flights from Washington, DC ($300 round-trip–thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights). We also were able to do all the ‘summer’ hikes we wanted to and we even saw the Northern Lights one night from our hot tub in Vik. September or October is ideal for both outdoor activities and a chance to see the oh-so-special Aurora Borealis. If your main goal is to see as much of Iceland as possible, you will want to go in the summer as that is the safest time to complete the entire ‘Ring Road’ before the weather gets too crazy. The sun will be out so you can adventure late into the night, but just don’t expect to see the Northern Lights which is one thing that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

What NOT to Pack for Iceland

Here’s a list of things you should probably leave at home:

• Dresses

• Shorts (unless they are jammies)

• Jeans - you won’t need them

• Heels or fancy shoes

What to Wear in Iceland

What to Wear to the Blue Lagoon, Swimming Pools, and other hot springs

Let’s start with some outfit inspo for the places where you are probably most eager to visit. While the Blue Lagoon may certainly not be on everyone’s travel itinerary for Iceland, it absolutely was on mine and no trip to Iceland is complete without visiting a hot spring of some sort. Iceland takes swimming culture very seriously and it may take some adjusting for those of my more modest readers. Before any dip in a hot spring, you MUST shower…completely naked with strangers. You read that right, and boy is it weird the first time you do it. I personally accepted this custom freely because I thought it was funny, but I totally understand why this may freak a lot of Americans out.

Bathing Suit

This one may be a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many places we showed up to where people did not bring a bathing suit…to a pool. I recommend picking out something you feel confident in because the pictures of you holding a cider up in the Blue Lagoon will be something you will cherish forever. I wore this white one-piece and I am super glad I did because it really made the blue water pop in all my photos.

Flip flops

For every place we went to but the Blue Lagoon, we needed flip-flops for the shower areas. At the Blue Lagoon if you purchase the “Premium” package, it comes with free Blue Lagoon branded flip flops. I shamelessly wore these for the rest of the trip and I still occasionally wear them back home in Virginia lol. They’re not that cute, but they get the job done and if they were to go missing, I wouldn’t be too upset about that. If you aren’t going to the Blue Lagoon, I recommend bringing a pair of flops you don’t mind if they go missing.

Quick-dry towel

A quick dry towel was something I did not think I would need but being the overprepared travel monster that I am, I ordered this $6 one from Amazon and it worked great. I ended up using it at least five times on our trip to Iceland and I was glad to have brought it with us.

Hat

Even though your body may be super toasty below your head, your head will not feel the same and you are literally in Iceland, so wear a hat dammit! I recommend buying a couple cute hats that you can alternate between.

Waterproof Phone Case

You will want to record every second of your experience in the Blue Lagoon and definitely should bring a waterproof phone case so you can take your phone in the water.

What to Wear on a hike or on tour in Iceland

There is plenty to do in Iceland outside of the hiking thing, but nothing beats the treks you can do in Iceland. We planned two hikes for our trip: one big hike to climb Glymur Waterfall and one to see the active volcano (while praying we would see some lava that day). Both were the two best parts of our trips and I highly recommend getting out and challenging yourself at least once in this action-packed travel destination. Even if you aren’t a hiker, the majority of things to see in Iceland are in nature and Iceland’s climate is not for the faint of heart. In order to experience her beauty, you will have to expose yourself to the elements and in turn, may need to purchase a few things along the way. See what I would pack for an Iceland exploration below.

Waterproof gloves

Waterproof gloves were extremely helpful when we completed our Glymur Waterfall hike (still the best hike of my life and you should read about it here). They kept my hands toasty warm and it started raining every other hour or so, so I was extremely glad to have brought them with me. Here is the pair that saved my fingers.

Warm Scarf

A scarf is something I FORGOT and I totally regret not bringing it, so I am advising you all not to forget a scarf, especially if you find yourself in Iceland in the winter.

Waterproof Jacket

I did tons of research trying to find the best jacket to buy for Iceland. I wanted something that would be warm enough for the harsh Icelandic weather, but also waterproof in case it rained while we were there. I settled for The North Face Women's Westoak Hooded Waterproof City Trench Coat and it was absolutely perfect for our trip. It is very reasonably priced and kept me warm and dry for the entirety of our trip in October.

Rain pants

I had never heard of rain pants before traveling to Iceland, but I totally see the need to bring them after having gone to Iceland and bringing them. Rain pants will keep you dry when it rains (and it will rain), so you don’t have to get your thermal leggings or pants that you are wearing underneath completely soaked. Here is the link to ours from Colombia.

Thermal boot socks

These BOMBAS hiking socks were perfect for our trip to Iceland and I wear them like once a week now because they are so dang comfy. It is like walking on a cloud, and if you aren’t already on the BOMBAS sock train, let me convert you to the dark side. Because, once you go BOMBAS, you don’t go back.

Hiking boots

Everyone has their preference for hiking boots, and I am pretty picky with my hiking boot choice. I currently own this pair and they have climbed over 25 mountains, lasted for years, and are a great price for what you get. Hiking boots are a must in Iceland, so if you don’t bring anything else from my packing list guide, please at least bring hiking boots. You will thank me later. <3

Fleece lined leggings

If you are traveling to Iceland in the winter, I recommend wearing fleece-lined everything underneath your waterproof wear. During the summer and shoulder months, you can probably just wear regular leggings. I recommend this pair of quick-drying Lululemon leggings and these for fleece-lined leggings.

Backpack

Backpacks are important when you are spending all day out of your hotel and sometimes away from your rental car or van. I brought my Fjallraven to house my camera and other gear, but I regret it because the Fjallraven wasn’t 100% waterproof and some of my stuff would get wet when it was pouring. The next time I go to Iceland, I am going to buy this waterproof cutie.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles saved us on the two big hikes we went on. Especially while climbing the volcano, I was super grateful to have brought them with us. Any pair will do, and here is the pair we used for our treks. Hiking Poles are not necessary for casual sightseeing and will only be necessary for the big hikes in Iceland.

Waterbottles

This is also a no-brainer, but definitely don’t forget this. I drank soooo much water on our trip to Iceland and was so thankful to have a reusable bottle in the car for us when we got back from our tourist stop of the moment. Special shoutout to the glacier rivers with the freshest water I have ever tasted. If you fill your bottle up in the glacier runoff, you will never be the same.

Snacks

Food in Iceland is EXPENSIVE! And sometimes you are in the middle of nowhere and there are no places to eat. We always dine out for every meal on our trips, but in Iceland, sometimes this is not an option. We packed Cliff bars, Goldfish, and some other snacks for our road trip and it was perfect. We definitely saved hundreds of dollars by eating granola bars for lunch some days and for that, I am super grateful.

Tevas/Chacos (Optional)

Okay, these are totally optional, but EXTREMELY helpful when we hiked Glymur Waterfall. This waterfall hike has you crossing two glacier rivers, and when you have some traction on those slippery rocks as you are rushing through freezing glacier water, these Tevas saved the day.

What to Wear in Reykjavik

You can pretty much wear whatever in Reykjavik, but on the weekends and in the evenings, the locals will be dressed to the nines. There's a strong hipster culture here, but in the evenings the adults dress very nicely. Men in tailored suits without ties and women in sharp-looking dresses or fancy sweaters. It was one of the biggest culture shocks coming from DC. If you want to rock a sharp look in Reykjavik, you definitely can. It is also totally acceptable to wear your hiking boots, but you will look like a tourist.

Other Miscellaneous Items You May Need

Plug Converter

When in Europe, American outlets will not work, so you will need a universal plug converter. I use this one and have several that I take on all my trips. Even with a converter, it is NOT advisable to plug in hair tools like straighteners or hair dryers into a converter.

Extra SD Cards & Batteries for your Camera

Don’t forget to pack extra SD cards and batteries for your camera. Iceland is so beautiful, that you are sure to fill up an SD card or two with fabulous photos and videos.

USB Car Cigarette Lighter Plug

This is key! Driving around, you will be in your rental car or van a lot, and having a source of power for your phone is essential. Do not forget this item, as it will become extremely useful for your trip to Iceland. Here is the one we used.

Drone

I was so happy we brought our drone (we have the DJI Mavic Mini 2) on this trip. It was my goal to drone in some of the canyons and around the abandoned airplane, but most times, the wind was too strong to take flight.

Flashlight (Optional)

This is totally optional, but definitely necessary for hiking the volcano at night. Bring a small one like this just in case a volcano erupts on your trip.