Iceland Winter Packing List: What to Pack and Wear

For Iceland in winter, pack a windproof and waterproof outer shell, wool or fleece mid layers, moisture-wicking base layers, waterproof snow boots, and accessories built for wind and rain rather than for extreme cold. Iceland’s south coast rarely drops far below freezing, but it gets hit by strong wind, horizontal rain, and, in December, under five hours of daylight.

This list is based on a week spent driving the south coast of Iceland in February with my dad, plus what other winter visitors have told me about the months either side of that. Find the one-week itinerary that trip followed here.

How Cold Does Iceland Get in Winter?

Reykjavík’s winter temperatures average close to freezing rather than deeply below it, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals.

During the February trip above, daytime temperatures held between 4 and 10°C (39 to 50°F), close to the long-term average. Inland roads run colder and mostly close for the season, which is part of why nearly all winter visitors stay on the coast. The south coast also sits closest to the Gulf Stream, so it avoids the harsher cold that reaches northern Norway or Finland at the same latitude.

Iceland’s Real Winter Challenge Is Wind and Rain, Not Cold

Wind, not temperature, is what makes packing for Iceland different from packing for most of Europe. Reykjavík’s average wind speed runs around 21 to 26 km/h (13 to 16 mph) through the winter months, and storm gusts regularly pass 90 km/h (56 mph), based on Icelandic Meteorological Office records. That wind turns ordinary rain sideways, which is why a jacket alone will not keep you dry and an umbrella is close to useless.

Daylight is the second factor to plan around. Day length drops below five hours between 2 December and 10 January, when the sun climbs only about 3 degrees above the horizon, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. By the end of January, daylight stretches back out to around seven hours. Weather also changes fast: Icelanders describe their winter as having four seasons in one day, and a trip can move from sun to grey skies to heavy rain and snow within a few hours.

What to Wear in Iceland in Winter

Layering handles Iceland’s quick weather swings better than one heavy coat, because you can add or remove a layer as the wind and rain change through the day. The layers, from skin out, are listed below.

1. Base layer: a merino wool long-sleeve top and leggings, because wool keeps insulating even when damp with sweat, while cotton holds moisture against the skin and leaves you cold. Two base-layer sets are enough for most travellers on a week-long trip. I wore this long-sleeve top from Arc’teryx and this one from Icebreaker on top, with these Icebreaker leggings underneath my ski trousers rather than long johns.
2. Mid layer: fleece or wool tops, layered one or two at a time depending on how easily you feel the cold, because fleece is light, thin, and still insulates well when slightly damp.
3. Outer shell: a wind and waterproof jacket, ideally a long parka such as the Arc’teryx Patera Parka, because a short jacket leaves your lower back exposed to wind-driven rain. A warm down jacket works too if you pair it with a separate wind and waterproof shell on top, since down alone is rarely waterproof.
4. Legwear: wind and waterproof trousers or ski pants worn over your base layer, because wind cuts through thin rain trousers and sideways rain gets through anything less.
5. Footwear: warm hiking socks with wool in them, plus waterproof, insulated snow boots such as Salomon Snowtrip boots, because you will cross gravel roads, hiking trails and icy patches, not just pavements.
6. Accessories: a warm, close-fitting hat, because a loose one blows off in the wind and does not fit under a hood; a fleece buff rather than a scarf, because it stays dry inside your jacket when a scarf would not; and gloves, useful once temperatures sit near freezing, ideally a pair with fold-back fingertips so you can use a phone or camera without removing them.

A few extra items round out the wardrobe: swimwear and flip flops for Iceland’s hot springs and town pools, regular trousers for the hotel, warm sneakers or boots you are happy to wear on travel days, sunglasses for when the low winter sun glares off snow, and compression socks for flights over three hours.

Luggage for an Iceland Winter Trip

A hard-sided suitcase works better than a backpack for most winter visitors, because renting a car or booking day trips from a hotel is more common than backpacking between hostels. I travelled with a Thule Subterra, which has two compartments and big wheels that roll easily over hotel car parks in the snow. Packing cubes help too, not just for clean clothes but for dirty laundry: Eagle Creek packing cubes keep a week’s worth of worn layers separate from the clean ones.

Anything carried outside the car needs to handle rain, so bring either a genuinely waterproof daypack or a rain cover for a water-resistant backpack. Many visitors leave daypacks in the car between stops instead, since car break-ins are uncommon on Iceland’s south coast. A small anti-theft handbag, such as the Pacsafe Citysafe 100 GII (full review here), is useful for keeping a phone and cash out of a jacket pocket at breakfast.

Electronics to Pack for Iceland in Winter

Most hotels along the south coast have working WiFi, but a mobile hotspot is worth carrying as a backup for checking storm and road conditions when a hotel’s connection fails. A camera or smartphone covers most photography needs; I took nearly every photo on my phone rather than my camera, since I did not want to carry the extra weight, and a current flagship such as an iPhone 17 Pro Max makes that choice easier still. Anyone chasing the northern lights should add a tripod, since a long-exposure shot is not possible handheld.

Iceland uses plug types C and F, both with two round pins, running on 230V and 50Hz, so a universal adapter is only needed for devices built for a different voltage or frequency, such as some hair dryers; most laptop and camera chargers already handle 110 to 240V. A small power strip, a car charger for road days, and a spare power bank round out the electronics list, useful for keeping a phone charged for both photos and navigation.

Other Essentials for Iceland in Winter

1. Crampons (also called ice cleats or stabilicers): slip these over your boots for icy paths, because not every trail to a waterfall or viewpoint gets cleared in winter, and packed snow turns to solid ice underfoot.
2. Quick-drying towel: pack one for hot springs and for drying off after a day of horizontal rain, since a full day outdoors can leave you soaked through even in a good jacket.
3. Reusable water bottle or thermos: Icelandic tap water is safe to drink everywhere, so a refillable bottle, or one that doubles as a thermos for coffee on a scenic stop, saves buying bottled water.
4. Hand and toe warmers: single-use ones such as HotHands need no reheating, which matters if you are out taking photos all day and cannot get back to a kettle.
5. Lip balm and facial cream: Iceland’s wind dries out skin and lips quickly, more than the temperature alone would suggest.
6. Ice scraper: many rental cars in Iceland do not come with one, so bringing your own saves waiting for the car’s heater to clear a frosted windscreen.
7. First aid kit: bring any prescription medication in its original packaging, along with basics like pain relief and blister plasters. Basic medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are sold only in pharmacies (apótek) in Iceland, not in supermarkets or petrol stations, and pharmacies in smaller towns often close on Sundays.
8. Flashlight or headlamp: useful for setting up a tripod and camera in the dark if you are driving out to look for the northern lights, away from any town’s light pollution.

Buy Your Iceland Winter Gear in Advance

Shop for anything on this list before you fly rather than in Reykjavík, since prices there run higher and the selection is smaller than at home. Amazon covers most of this list, especially for US and UK shoppers, and Bol.com is a solid option for Belgian and Dutch readers buying electronics or smaller items.

Book Your Iceland Winter Trip

Hotels in small south-coast towns book out fast once winter storms reroute other travellers’ plans, so compare rooms early through BookingIceland. Check flight fares from your home airport with skyscannerIceland before locking in your travel dates, since winter fares can shift depending on the week. For driving conditions once you land, see what winter driving in Iceland is really like here.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the first-hand notes in this post come from her week-long February road trip along Iceland’s south coast with her dad. The team covers Iceland for independent travellers, including the packing gear, tours and travel insurance worth booking for a winter trip, and updates this page when prices and conditions change.