If you are planning a trip to Iceland at any time in the future, this episode of the All Things Iceland podcast will arm you with useful facts and tips that will make your preparation much smoother.


Prepare for Icelandic Weather
I’m going to start off with one of the most important things to keep in mind when you travel to Iceland - the weather! Regardless of the season, the weather in Iceland can vary wildly. In one minute, it can be raining and windy and in the next, the sun can be shining and it is a lot less windy. We’ve even had snow and hail during the summer. While snow and hail are rare in the summer, it is best to know that rain and strong winds are likely to show up during your trip.  Vedur.is is the weather website that most Icelandic people look at when they want to know what to expect weather wise.


What to pack for Summer & Winter in Iceland
Regardless of the season in Iceland, you will need to pack layers. The average temperature in Reykjavík during winter is freezing (32 degrees F or 0 degrees celsius), but it can be much colder in other parts of the country, especially north. During the summer, the temperature can range from 10 - 13 degrees Celsius or 50 - 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Check out my podcast episodes about summer and winter for more information. As I mentioned in the weather portion of this episode, one thing that is best to be prepared for is the varying weather conditions.

The list I am about to share is in no way all you should pack. These are items I feel that you should for sure pack. Clothes like underwear and toiletries are not mentioned because I assume you will have some. If you don’t, no judgement on my end.
For summer, definitely pack the following:

waterproof or water resistant jacket or coat with a hood- Goretex is your friend
waterproof or water resistant pants
Sweater - preferably a breathable material made from synthetic or natural fibers, like wool. If you are hiking, don’t wear cotton. It holds onto the moisture from your body and can make you feel wet and cold. No jeans while hiking either, but you can wear them around town or if you will mostly be in the car
A light shirt for underneath your sweater. If it gets quite warm, relatively warm for Iceland, it will be nice to have this layer
Sun protection in the form of a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun is very strong here and you can get burned or tan quickly.
Hiking boots with good grip, Vibram soles do the trick - this is especially needed for hiking, walking on uneven ground (which is everywhere outside of the city) and for ensuring that you won’t slip on wet surfaces. You can, of course, bring regular shoes or sneakers to wear in the city, but if you want to explore outside of urban areas, hiking boots is a must. Ones that go over the ankle are especially good for glacier walks and supporting your ankles on uneven or sloped terrain.
A swimsuit
Gloves
A buff, which can be used as a scarf, hat or to pull your hair back
Reusable water bottle. Icelandic water is delicious and you can drink it right out of the tap or from fresh water streams. You do not have to buy bottled water here, so reduce your use of plastic and save yourself some money by bringing a reusable bottle
Your camera - smartphones work just fine. The landscapes are gorgeous here.


For winter, definitely pack the following:

A warm winter coat with a good water resistant layer
Sweater - preferably a breathable material made from synthetic or natural fibers, like wool. Similar to hiking, if you are going on a glacier, don’t wear cotton, including jeans. It holds onto the moisture from your body and can make you feel wet and cold.
A warm hat, scarf and gloves (you can include warmers to put in your gloves if your hands get very cold)
Winter boots with good grip in the sole
Warm socks
Long johns or long underwear
Microspikes are optional but many paths in the city and out of town have a layer of ice on them