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Wondering what to wear in Iceland in the summer? Find out how to be prepared for the unpredictable weather and the incredible activities!
What to Wear in Iceland: Summer
Written By: Niki Landry
During the summer, I spent an incredible few weeks traveling and trekking around Iceland. It’s a tricky country to pack for because Iceland seems to have unique weather quirks, and they are mostly impossible to predict.
Always, always, always, research the weather before your trip to Iceland. Once you’ve checked the weather forecast, you can focus on creating a travel capsule wardrobe for your trip.
I was happy with the clothing and wardrobe I brought, but I did learn a few things along the way. Keep reading for my wardrobe, planning, and packing tips and learn what to wear in Iceland in summer.
Jeans | Button Down Shirt | Sneaker
City
The vast majority of travelers who visit Iceland pass through the capital city of Reykjavik. It makes a great base for exploring the rest of Iceland, and it is worth a few days visit. Since tourists outnumber residents in the summer, you will see a ton of people walking around in hiking gear.
As you consider what to wear in Iceland, keep in mind that locals in Reykjavik dress casually but smart. While technical gear is acceptable and very common in bars and restaurants, bring a couple of pieces that can be worn in the evening or when spending some time in the city.
I went the jeans, sneakers, and button-down shirt approach. I knew my hiking shoes and pants would be getting a ton of wear, and I just wanted to look a little bit more stylish on my few days in the city.
Don’t forget to pack a bathing suit for the stunning blue lagoon! These one-piece swimsuits are currently trending!
Daypack
I brought the same items with me in my daypack every day, and they always came in handy. Use a packing cube in your bag to keep your belongings organized. The weather changes so quickly, and I was constantly pulling layers on and off.
I carried my sunscreen, lip balm, water bottle, camera, scarf, raincoat, gloves, and hat. I also always kept a hairbrush in my daypack to detangle the mess created by the strong winds. Water is super clean and free everywhere so carry a refillable bottle with you.
Find out the best day pack for travel!
Ultralight Down Jacket | Switchback II Jacket
National Parks
When planning what to wear in Iceland, these are the best items for outdoor activities: performance leggings, layered tops, fleece, and hiking shoes. They’re usually the uniform of choice when traveling outside the city.
Depending on how strenuous the activity, alter your wardrobe accordingly. In addition to the fleece, I brought a light, insulated jacket and my raincoat. These shifted from my body to my daypack throughout the day.
For a complete packing list for an overnight trek, check out this post on Trekking Iceland.
Garmin GPS with City Navigator Europe Map
Driving
Renting a car is the best way to truly see the most that Iceland has to offer. If you already own a GPS you can bring it along instead of renting one. Mine is loaded with all of the European maps.
Also consider picking up groceries the day you head out from Reykjavik. I packed my stainless steel spork and Ziploc bags to assist in packing lunches for the day.
Bedding
Check to ensure your lodging provides bedding before you leave. It’s common for hostels and guesthouses to charge extra for bedding, and it may be smart to bring along a sleeping bag or liner. I packed a lightweight liner and used it during my trek.
Find out why we love to use sleeping bag liners as travel sheets!
Laundry
On most of my longer trips, I wash my clothes as I go. Usually, I hand wash the small stuff and bring everything to get laundered mid-trip. I assumed Iceland would be no different.
What I failed to remember is that I would be moving from place to place every day, with little time to wait for my clothes to be laundered. It also took a long time for clothing to dry due to the weather, so hand washing my large items was not an option.
I ended up having enough clothes to make it through the trip, but keep this in mind if you have a similar itinerary.
Read why re-wearing clothes is the secret for many smart packers!
Tarriss Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale
Budget Airlines
Many people who visit Iceland are taking advantage of affordable flights offered by the budget airline WOW Air. While the tickets are cheap, the baggage fees are not, so make sure you know the baggage allowances before you fly.
Prepack everything a few days ahead of time and weigh your bags. If you need to check a bag, save some money by paying the bag fees prior to heading to the airport.
Learn more about how to pack carryon only under 7kg!
What are your tips on what to wear in Iceland during the summer? Share in the comments!
For more Europe packing lists, please read:
- 10 Step Packing Guide for Europe
- 10 Step Packing Guide for Italy
- 10 Step Packing Guide for Paris
- How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather
Suggested travel resources:
- Lonely Planet Europe on a shoestring
- Lonely Planet Iceland (Country Guide)
- Travel Shoes for Europe
- The Best Carry-on Suitcases for Europe
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Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs.
We are stopping over in Iceland for 36 hours on our way to Stockholm. Trying to pack minimally but Iceland is throwing me off. Can we get away with comfortable athletic shoes for our time in Iceland and not hiking/weatherproof boots? I don’t see us needing those the rest of the trip so I don’t what to have to carry the extra items. Thank you! btw- we are a family traveling with two teenage boys.
Hello TFG,
Would you consider updating the Iceland Guide to include Merino wool? I am 67 and going on a Viking cruise around Iceland with 3 days pre cruise days in the Capital. We are active seniors and plan to participate in the adventure tours offered. I am interested in purchasing some merino wool ( currently live in NC) and trying to figure out which items to purchase/bring. I don’t want items to sit in my closet after the trip….what do you suggest for adventure clothing and cruising attire.
Hi Mary, it’s great to hear form you!
If you’re interested in merino wool, this is the article for you: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/best-merino-wool-clothing-for-women/
Then for specific items of clothing check out these roundups to discover popular options recommended by our community:
▪️ Dresses: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/merino-wool-dress/
▪️ T-Shirts: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/best-merino-wool-t-shirt/
▪️ Sweaters: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/best-merino-wool-sweaters/
▪️ Leggings: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/best-merino-wool-leggings/
If you haven’t already done so, I would also highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post any questions you have there – it’s a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that love to share their travel advice and recommendations: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirl
Hope this all helps. Have an amazing time!
This post was so helpful when I went to Iceland in the summer. Hope to go again sometime. It’s so beautiful.
This is super helpful! Can’t wait to use this list when I go to Iceland next month 😀
hey!! i’m going on a cruise to iceland! is the cruise gonna be warm, like while i’m on the boat?
Hi Sofia, wow! How exciting!
To get the best advice I would highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/ Its a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that love to share their advice and experiences.
Have the most incredible time on your cruise!
I’m coming to Iceland July 5th for a week. We have 3 evenings where we have to attend corporate dinners for my husbands work. What on earth should I wear? Do people dress more in summer clothes or fall “ish” clothes? I’m 45 years old-want to look fashionable. And advice would be appreciated!
Hi Natalie, thank you for your comment! Check the weather forecast close to your travel date so that you can ensure your packing best reflects the weather! I have published your question on TFG’s facebook page to ensure that we can get you the best advice possible. Our readers have the best tips so keep an eye out for their replies from Saturday: https://www.facebook.com/TravelFashionGirl/ Hope this helps! Have a fantastic trip! 🙂
I’ve been to Iceland in June and your tips are great! I wish I had access to your tips before I went because I did not prepare well… LOL…now i know
Awww, hopefully you had a good time in Iceland 🙂
I’m traveling to Iceland this July for 9 days (plus 2 travel days.) We will travel in a clockwise direction around the Island. Aside from 2 days on the front and 1 day on the end touring Reykjavik, we will be doing outdoor activities like rafting, whale watching, glacier walking, horseback riding, hiking etc. I’ve gathered 5 pants (Athleta Polartek, Athleta leggings, grey jeans, Kuhl grey stretch pants, Mountain Hardwear black summerweight pants) and 1 pair of shorts. For tops, 1 white button down shirt, 1 white cotton tee, 2 s/s wool Tees, 1 3/4 sleeve wool Henley, and 3 quarter zips. For outer-wear, 1 thick zip fleece, 1 fleece vest, 1 raincoat. Plus trimmings like hat, scarf, gloves, underwear, swimsuit, socks, and long underwear to layer as needed or wear as pajamas. I also have hiking boots, tennies, slip-ons, flip-flops. We won’t have access or time for laundry but it seems like too much. After all, some room for souvenirs is good. Any suggestions for what to remove? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Lots of good tips! I’m going to Iceland at the end of September – any tips for packing for fall weather in Reykjavik?
Thanks for commenting Whitney! I am actually going to include your question on the Travel Fashion Girl Facebook Page to get more feedback for you, so please keep an eye out there for even more tips! Enjoy your trip!
Interesting about Iceland as I had mistakenly thought Norway’s weather would be similar but it wasn’t when I was there in July. We were told to expect rain every day and cold. We had a tiny bit of rain but mostly warm weather. We were told by travelers who went the week before, it was cold and wet every day.
It can be so unpredictable, so it is best to be prepared for different climates. Layers are key!