Iceland Summer Packing List: What I Packed for My Trip in July

Figuring out what to pack for Iceland can be tricky, but no worries—I’ve got you covered with a full list of everything I brought with me for my July 2024 trip!

I’ve also added a few extra tips on items I wish I had packed so you don’t make the same mistakes as me!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I will get a commission if you decide to purchase through those links, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

The Weather in Iceland During Summer

Iceland does not have your typical hot and sunny weather during the summer months (June through August).

So, the typical summer clothes, like shorts and tank tops are not needed.

In mid-July, the temperature stayed in the mid 50s°F (10–13°C) during the day, and dropped to the low 40s°F (5–7°C) at night.

The strong wind made it feel even colder at times, so layering is the key to staying warm!

You’ll want to pack warm, waterproof clothing to handle the pop-up rain showers and strong winds.

➡️ Check out my 4-Day Iceland itinerary where I cover everything I did during my trip in July 2024!

The bright green mossy-covered landscapes surrounding the Kvernufoss waterfall creating such a spectacular sight. — **Kvernufoss Waterfall**

Iceland Summer Packing List

First, here is a quick overview of all of the things I packed for my trip to Iceland this past July.

My Packing List:

1 Pair of Water-Resistant Hiking Pants
5 Pairs of Leggings/Hiking Pants (I prefer to wear leggings everyday over hiking pants. If I got cold or it was raining, I would put my water-resistant hiking pants over my leggings.)
1 Rain Jacket with a Hood
1 Warm Jacket
2 Long Sleeve Shirts (I would bring shirts made out of merino wool since they keep you warmer, are moisture wicking, and odor-resistant so you can rewear them.)
2 Crewneck Long Sleeves (just a warmer shirt to wear over your long sleeve for layering)
1 Sweatshirt (I like wearing a sweatshirt while on the plane or just while lounging at the accommodations.)
1 Pair of Pajamas (I usually just rewear the same pair each night to save space in my luggage.)
1 Swimsuit (if you’re visiting hot springs or the lagoons)
Undergarments
6 Pairs of Socks (preferably ankle high wool socks) – I like to pack a few extra since your socks might get wet from the rain, and I don’t like to rewear my socks.
Hiking Boots (These are a must for hiking in Iceland to keep your feet dry and warm.)
Tennis Shoes (to wear on the plane and for casual activities)
Slides/Flip-Flops (not a necessity if you don’t have room but nice to have when visiting hot springs/lagoons and to wear around your accommodations)
Pair of Gloves
A Warm Hat (I did not bring one since I don’t like to wear hats, and I just used the hood on my jacket. I would bring a warm hat if you do like to wear them!)
Microfiber Quick-Dry Towel (perfect for drying off after visiting waterfalls)
Backpack (to carry on day hikes and while sightseeing)
Portable Phone Charger
Plug Adapter
Reusable Water Bottle
Sleep Mask
Face Sunscreen
Lip Balm with SPF
Wash Cloths (At all of the Airbnbs we stayed in, there were no wash cloths provided so I would pack some if you like to use them.)
Mini Fan (I did not pack this, but it would have been helpful in one of our Airbnbs that got pretty hot at night.)

Now, let’s get into more specifics and the reasoning behind why I packed these items!

➡️ Curious about how much a trip to Iceland costs? Check out my blog post where I cover exactly how much my 5-day trip to Iceland cost!

The beautiful sunset casting an orange and blue glow behind the Dyrhólaey arch rock formation setting out over the blue ocean water. — **Dyrhólaey**

Water-Resistant Hiking Pants

I really recommend bringing at least one pair of water-resistant hiking pants.

They are great if you want a more durable and warmer option than leggings. I usually would wear them over my leggings for added warmth.

They are great to wear on long hikes, glacier tours, and while visiting waterfalls to keep your legs dry from the waterfall’s mist.

I really liked these Baleaf Hiking Pants. They are lightweight, water-resistant, and easy to wear over my leggings. They were easy to take on or off and store in my backpack.

Comfortable Hiking Pants and/or Leggings

I prefer wearing leggings over hiking pants, so I mostly wore leggings everyday.

But, if I got cold or it was raining, I would wear my hiking pants over my leggings for extra warmth.

Fleece-lined leggings could be a good option especially if you’re visiting in the colder months as they would be easy to wear under your hiking pants.

But, if you don’t prefer leggings, I recommend packing two to three durable hiking pants for everyday wear. I think you could get away with rewearing them to help save some space in your luggage.

Since I was trying to pack light, I did not pack any jeans and did not see a reason to unless you would like to wear them out for dinner.

The fashion scene in Iceland and in downtown Reykjavik seemed pretty casual and even at the nicer restaurants, it seemed like most people were wearing casual clothes.

We saw plenty of people in their hiking attire from whatever activities they did that day.

So, I wouldn’t bother packing a “nicer” outfit unless you want to dress up or go to a fancy dinner.

Waterproof Jacket with Hood

Iceland’s rain and wind can be intense, so a waterproof jacket is essential!

I prefer a more lightweight rain jacket that has a hood to keep me dry during popup rain showers or while getting up close to the waterfalls as the mist from those can be intense.

This is the rain jacket I have and it was perfect for me! Not too heavy and kept me warm and dry.

I would usually keep it in my backpack while hiking so I could quickly put it on when it started to rain or as I was approaching the waterfalls.

Warm Jacket

Even though it is summer in Iceland, a warm jacket is definitely still needed, especially for the chilly mornings and evenings.

It doesn’t need to be a full-on winter coat or knee-length parka though. I did not pack a “traditional” winter coat.

I packed one of my fleece jackets to wear instead of my rain coat when it wasn’t raining.

Warm Long Sleeve Shirts

I recommend packing a few warm layers, like long sleeve shirts and warm crewnecks, that are lightweight to wear under a jacket but still keep you warm.

Merino wool long sleeve shirts are a great option as they are lightweight but still keep you warm, are moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant so they can be reworn.

I would usually wear one long-sleeve shirt, a light-weight crewneck sweatshirt over top, and then a waterproof jacket over top if it was raining or if not, a warm jacket.

I personally didn’t pack any t-shirts or tank tops as it was never warm enough to just wear that on its own.

Swimsuit

Iceland has some amazing local natural hot springs as well as the more popular spots like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon.

We personally visited the Sky Lagoon during our trip, and I highly recommend going there.

Even if you’re not planning on visiting a hot spring or lagoon, I recommend packing one swimsuit just in case you decide to spontaneously while on your trip!

Wool Ankle-Length Socks

I am usually a short sock length girl, but for this trip to Iceland, I packed higher ankle-length socks to prevent me from getting blisters while wearing my taller hiking boots.

I highly recommend wearing higher-length socks in Iceland to keep your feet warm and to prevent blisters caused by your hiking boots rubbing against your heels.

Also, I prefer wool socks as they are warmer, moisture-wicking, and dried faster after getting wet from the rain.

Here are the wool socks I purchased from Amazon, and I highly recommend them!

Hiking Boots and Tennis Shoes

I packed two pairs of shoes for our trip – hiking boots and tennis shoes.

Unfortunately, hiking boots take up a lot of space in your luggage, but they are essential in Iceland while walking along the rugged terrain and to help keep your feet warm and dry.

To save space, you can wear them on the flight, but I try to avoid this when possible since they are a pretty heavy shoe to be wearing on a long flight.

I love using this backpack as my personal item—it fits under the airplane seat, holds my hiking boots perfectly in the main compartment, and still has room for plenty of other stuff.

I got the x-large size and it still fits under the airplane seat!

If you have the space in your luggage, I would recommend packing a pair of slides/flip flops for any hot springs/lagoons you visit or just to wear around your accommodations.

Gloves/Hat

Even in summer, a hat and gloves are great for those chilly mornings or windy days.

I personally did not pack a hat as I do not like wearing them and my rain jacket had a hood. But, a hat/beanie would be good if you like to wear them as it would help keep you warm.

I liked having gloves for some of our early mornings and during our glacier hike when it was cold.

Packable Quick-Dry Microfiber Towel

A quick-dry microfiber towel also came in handy to dry off after walking near the waterfalls or after a pop-up rain shower before getting in the car.

I got this microfiber towel from Amazon that folded down quite small to easily fit into my luggage.

Day Backpack with Rain Cover

I recommend bringing a small backpack to carry your belongings, water, and snacks during your hikes or while sightseeing.

I really like this backpack that actually collapses down into a small bag – making it easy to pack in your suitcase without it taking up too much space.

I would recommend getting a rain cover for your backpack as well since it will most likely get wet being misted by waterfalls or if you get caught in a rain shower.

Portable Phone Charger

Since the summer days are so long in Iceland, the sun doesn’t really set, so you will have a lot of time on your hands to be out on the road sightseeing.

You will most likely have a rental car with a USB plug to charge your phone, but if you’re traveling with multiple people or on a long day hike, a portable phone charger is a great thing to bring to make sure your phone never dies.

Plug Adapter

Iceland uses the standard European 220V plugs, so bring a plug adapter if needed.

We didn’t do enough research and thought the plug adapter we bought to use in Ireland would work in Iceland, but it did not.

Luckily our friend we were traveling with brought extras, but you could always buy some at the store in Iceland if you forget.

Reusable Water Bottle

A reusable water bottle is a must!

Not only is it convenient to fill up at the airport before your flight so you don’t have to pay $10 for a plastic water bottle 😂, but also the tap water in Iceland is super clean and delicious!

So, you can fill up your water bottle easily without having to purchase any plastic water bottles.

Sleep Eye Mask

With nearly 24 hours of daylight in summer, a sleep mask is helpful to help you fall asleep at night easier.

The Airbnbs we stayed in did have blackout curtains in the rooms so the daylight was not an issue for us.

Skincare

The wind and cold temperatures can dry out your skin, so pack a good moisturizer and lip balm with SPF.

The sun can be surprisingly strong in Iceland, especially on long hikes or glacier hikes.

I brought a face sunscreen to wear each day. I didn’t bother with sunscreen for my body since it was covered.

The stunning basalt column backdrop behind the tall and powerful Svartifoss waterfall in Iceland. — **Svartifoss Waterfall**

Packing Tips for Iceland

I fit all of my clothing for a 5-day trip to Iceland into a carry-on size suitcase and a personal item travel backpack.

I prefer not to check luggage to avoid the extra fees and save time at the airport—especially on the way home as the line to check bags was very long.

Here are some packing tips I use to help me save space while packing.

Also, be sure to check out my blog post where I cover my 40 carry-on packing tips!

Use Packing Cubes

I religiously use packing cubes, and I will never go back!

They make organizing your clothes easier, and I always find I can pack more clothes into my suitcase using them versus when I do not use them.

Roll Your Clothes

I choose to roll my clothes instead of folding, and I feel like it maximizes the space in the packing cubes more.

It does kind of depend on the item though, with bulkier items like jackets, it seems like it is more efficient to fold it.

Utilize Your Shoes as Additional Storage

I always stuff the socks I am packing inside of my shoes to save on some space.

Hard-Shelled Suitcase

I always prefer a hard-shelled suitcase over a soft-shelled one.

They are more durable, and I find that it is easier to fit more into a hard-shelled suitcase, and it still stays its shape so it can fit in the overhead bins on the plane.

When I used to pack my soft-shelled suitcase to the brim, it would cause the top of it to bulge out, making it harder to fit in the overhead bin on the plane.

Travel Backpack as Personal Item

I love this travel backpack to use as my personal item on flights!

It always fit under the seat in front of me, and it fits so much stuff – much more than if I was to use a traditional backpack.

The backpacks specifically designed for travel tend to be more efficient with space.

The biggest compartment opens like a suitcase, making it able to fit a decent amount of stuff in there.

It fits my pair of hiking boots with room left over to spare in the biggest compartment, and there are plenty of other smaller compartments in the backpack as well.

I once packed for a 5-day trip to Zion National Park just in this travel backpack!

Mini Portable Fan

The lack of air conditioning sometime made us hot while sleeping.

A mini fan would have been nice to clip onto the headboard of the bed or somewhere near to help cool us off.

Conclusion

When you’re creating your Iceland summer packing list, focus on water-resistant clothing, warm layers, and comfortable clothing, and you’ll be all set!

I hope this list makes packing for your trip easier. Have an amazing time in Iceland!

Check out my other Iceland blog posts to help you plan your trip!

Iceland Summer Packing List: What I Packed for My Trip in July

The Weather in Iceland During Summer