WHAT TO PACK TO COME ICELAND
SEALS IN ICELAND
November 15, 2021
HOW DO BUSES IN REYKJAVIK AND SURROUNDINGS WORK?
November 22, 2021Packing to come to Iceland is rather a difficult moment to pass. The weather conditions here can be quite rough sometimes even during the summer time and unpredictable as the weather can suddenly change across the day. It can rain cats and dogs at 9am and one hour later, sun is here and one hour later, it is snowing, and this goes on and on during the whole day. That is why we are saying in Iceland if you are about to go out and you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes. Hence, we can imagine that packing to come here takes quite some time to think about what you should bring with you. So we have created a list for you of the main things you should take with you when coming here!
IN TERMS OF CLOTHES
You should definitely take warm, breathable, waterproof and comfy clothes whatever the season. Layers are very important here no matter if you visit in summer or winter. So here some recommendations:
- Windproof/waterproof/Shell jacket: Iceland can be extremely windy and rainy, in addition, if you plan on visiting some places with waterfalls, for sure you will need a waterproof jacket.
- Base thermique layers (top and bottom): you can find such clothes in many places here in Iceland, however, Iceland being a very expensive country, we recommend you to buy such technical clothes before coming. You can find some in merino wool, which will do the trick.
- Turtle neck: you can also use this as base layers, it is good to cover your neck to not get cold too easily with the rough weather.
- Pullover/sweater: to use above it as mid layers, it can also be the occasion for you to look for a traditional icelandic sweater named lopapeysa, handmade in sheep wool.
- Hiking pants: obviously for the hikes and excursions you might want to do here, it is better to have proper pants for it.
- Rain pants: can prove to be very much needed sometimes, you can put on top of your normal clothes when visiting waterfalls for instance and remove afterwards.
- Hiking boots: better if waterproof in case you need to cross rivers or if it is raining while you are on an excursion to keep your feet dry.
- Gloves: we would recommend to invest in good thermique gloves rather than the cheap gloves you can find in some famous clothing brands, you get easily cold by your extremities so it is important to keep them safely warm.
- Hat: you lose a lot of your heat through your head, so a warm hat is always a good idea to keep you warm.
- Good warm socks: whatever the material, wool or not, as long as you feel warm and comfy, bring them with you!
- Buff/scarf: even though the buff is more practical than a scarf, both are good to keep you warm.
- Swimsuit-towel-flip flops: as you have many hot springs in nature where to randomly stop by, better have all of these with you!
- Backpack: a good backpack for hikes is important and note that it is better for you if it is either waterproof or with a waterproof cover.
- Casual shoes: to walk around the cities and towns, no need for hiking shoes in those places and it is good to have extra shoes to feel comfy in it if your hiking shoes get wet.
For Winter:
- Winter Parka/ski jacket: it is better if the parka is long, covering at least your backside.
- Ski/snow shoes: it is important to keep your feet warm, especially during winter season, so ski or snow boots are the best solution in that situation.
- Ski pants/overall: if you plan to play in the snow or go skiing, you will need those!
- Wool sweaters: or something similar, to be very warm during the cold days.
- Snow gloves: or waterproof gloves, a must have when it snows.
For Summer:
- Shorts: it can happen on sunny days to be very warm here, so it is always nice to have a pair of shorts with you.
- Cap: it is always nice on sunny days to always protect your head, even though you are in Iceland, you can still get sunburn!
IN TERMS OF ACCESSORIES
- Reusable water bottle: in Iceland you can drink the tap water, everybody here will recommend you to because it is the purest water you will get the chance to taste! You can even refill directly in river streams if no towns are around, it is completely safe!
- Powerbank: as the population of Iceland is not the biggest in the world, it can happen you don’t see towns for quite some time and a powerbank can be a lifesaver.
- European plug adapter: if you are from Europe, you will not need this, but for non-European you will need to bring with you a plug adapter.
- Sunglasses: whatever the season, sunny days can show up at any time, so it is nice to always have your sunglasses with you.
- Waterproof pocket for the phone: in case you want to bring your phone with you in the spas such as the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon or in the hot springs to take incredible pictures.
For Winter:
- Ice cleats: sometimes the floor can freeze on cold days and it can be difficult to walk around if you don’t have the proper shoes, so it will be a bit better for you if you have such an item with you.
For Summer:
- Sleep mask: have you heard of the midnight sun? Well if you are not used to sleep with tonnes of light, better for you to take a sleep mask.
- Sunscreen: again, the sun in Iceland can make you get sunburn! better safe than sorry.
If you are fond of photography or video do not forget your material: Camera, Drone…
Iceland is the perfect place to shot the most spectacular landscapes and wildlife you will get the chance to see. If you are not into photography, you might discover yourself a new passion here!
