Looking for what to wear in Iceland in Winter and how to dress in Iceland in winter?? I’ve got you covered after taking a group of ladies to Iceland in Winter and realising what we all did, and didn’t need!
Knowing what to pack for Iceland in Winter is probably the most stressful part of visiting Iceland in winter but honestly, it doesn’t have to be! You really don’t need that many items and it doesn’t have to be expensive, you just need some key items… and plenty of layers!
What to Wear in Iceland in Winter
In this Iceland travel blog, I’m going to give you a pretty minimal packing list for Iceland in winter and how to dress in Iceland in winter covering those super cold months of November, December, January & February.
My Clothing for Iceland in Winter
I went to Iceland for 4 days doing a range of activities and tours like seeing the South Coast, Northern Lights Chasing, the Blue Lagoon, an Ice Cave trip and wandering around Reykjavik city and this is what I wore and how I layered every day:
- Thermal Leggings
- Ski Trousers
- Waterproof Over-trousers
- Thermal Vest
- Long Sleeved Baselayer
- Second Long Sleeved Baselayer
- Fleece
- Ski Jacket
- Gloves
- Hat
- Neck Buff
- Thermal Socks
- Normal Socks
- Snow Boots
This layering kept me really toasty and totally dry through snowstorms and up to -15c temperatures. It also meant that when in cafes and on the tour bus it meant I could remove my Ski Jacket and Fleece and still feel comfortable and not too hot!
Iceland Winter Packing List
Below are the items I definitely recommend (and some are things to consider depending on the trip of winter trip in Iceland you’re doing) which will help you with what to wear in Iceland in winter starting from the outer layer.
Here’s a quick Iceland winter packing list list which you can copy and paste into your notes app to help you when buying winter items for Iceland and packing and I’ll explain each item more below:
- 1 x Thick Waterproof Winter Coat
- 1 x Down Jacket
- 1 x Fleece
- 2 x Baselayer Tops
- 1 x Therma Leggings
- 1 x Ski Trousers / Thick Hiking Trousers
- 1 x Waterproof Outer Trousers
- Normal Regular Socks
- 2 x Thermal Socks
- 1 x Gloves
- 1 x Hat
- 1 x Neck Buff
- 1-2 x Swimwear
- PJ’s & Underwear
- Day Pack
- Sunglasses
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Powerbank & Chargers
- European Plug Adapter
- Hand Warmers
- Headphones
- Lip Balm
- Passport
Thick Waterproof Winter Coat
I saw many tourists around Reykjavik city in a regular puffer or padded winter coat that they’d wear in a UK winter, which is ok, however these are generally not waterproof and if it rains, or snows, you will get wet and cold quickly.
I did a quick last minute panic buy of this Ski Jacket on Amazon before I went and I am SOO glad I did!! It’s a great colour and quality and kept me completely dry and warm despite walking for hours in a snowstorm!
Down Jacket
A down jacket depends how you plan to layer and what waterproof jacket you have. For me, in a ski jacket, I couldn’t fit a down jacket under and didn’t need it. However if your waterproof jacket for the outer layer isn’t that thick and padded, a down jacket will fit underneath and be a big help.
Fleece
A fleece is always a better option than a woolly jumper for winter packing and when doing activities because wool makes your body temperature get warm very quickly causing you to sweat and then the sweat cools causing you to get cold whereas a fleece helps trap heat and regulate the temperature.
However, I’d recommend packing for a nice jumper for when you’re walking around the city or going for dinner, if you have enough space, if not, a fleece will do you the whole trip!
2 x Baselayer Tops
A long sleeved round neck base layer which is either a thermal top like this or a material like merino wool like this is perfect as it will kept you warm, acts as a great layer but isn’t bulky under your other clothes (merino wool is more expensive though so an investment if you plan to do more winter trips).
I personally wore 2 types of base layer tops when I visited Iceland in February and I’m glad I did. I had a thermal round neck top like this on first and on top of this I had a half zip up long sleeved ski base layer like this which was perfect.
If you are only visiting Iceland in winter for 2-3 days I’d say you only need 1 of each as it’s unlikely you’ll get that sweaty and merino wool clothing is designed to not smell in this way. But if you’re going for 4-7 days then you can pack 2 or 3.
Thermal Leggings
An important item on your Iceland packing list for winter should be thermal leggings and this applies for women and men!
Thermal leggings, whether they’re ski ones like this or fashion ones like this are great for keeping that lower base layer warm without feeling bulky and as if you can’t walk!
Ski Trousers / Thick Hiking Pants
Honestly, Ski Trousers will save you for clothing in Iceland in winter as they have all the elements needed to keep you warm in Iceland
Whether you’re looking for what to wear in Iceland in November, December, January or February they will be invaluable and you only need to pack 1 pair as they clean and dry very easily!
If you’ve never been skiing or don’t have any winter clothing like this, Ski Trousers don’t have to be expensive. Ones like this from Mountain Warehouse on Amazon are great!
Waterproof Over Trousers
Ok yes, we really are going into 3 pairs of trousers now but honestly, they are needed!
Waterproof over trousers are perfect to have in your bag incase it starts raining, snowing or gets even colder than you expect because not only do they offer a waterproof layer but in most cases, they are windproof too!
Going to Iceland in February, I could notice the difference when I just wore my leggings and ski trousers without my waterproof over trousers so I wore them most of the time!
Again, you can get a more expensive pair with GoreTex like this so you know they are 100% waterproof but if you don’t think you’ll use them much after the trip, there are pairs like this on Amazon for a great price and will get the job done!
Wool Socks & Normal Socks
To keep your feet warm, you’ll need at least 2 pairs of socks. I’d recommend a regular cotton pair with a thermal pair like this on top.
This way, unless they get wet (which hopefully because of good footwear they won’t!) you don’t need a thermal pair of socks for everyday, just 1 or 2 pairs and you can keep changing your regular socks. If you get Merino wool socks this is especially true as they don’t create sweat and smell!
Winter Snow Boots / Walking Boots that are waterproof
I personally took these Snow Boots to Iceland which were fantastic at keeping my feel completely dry and warm!
I saw many people in Snow Boots like these which are more fashion boots. These looked ok for in the city but once out in the countryside with lots of snow, you need to ensure they are completely waterproof and they do look a bit hard to walk a distance in.
The alternative option is regular walking boots. A lady in my Iceland winter tour group wore walking shoes like this and although her ankles got a bit cold she was ok.
I would recommend walking boots that have ankle support like this though, not only for support but for more warmth and to ensure your feet don’t get as wet! These are good option if you have hiking boots already and don’t want to buy additional snow boots.
Thick Gloves / Ski Gloves
Gloves are a saviour when thinking of what to pack for Iceland in winter! I would recommend making sure you have some good quality thermal gloves because the ones you wear at home will not keep you warm enough in Iceland, especially if it is snowing and they get wet!
Thermal Gloves like this that are Coldproof but also touchscreen so you shouldn’t have to take them off when using your phone are perfect!
That being said, I bought a beautiful soft and fluffy pair of gloves in one of the souvenir shops in Reykjavik so remember with hats, gloves and neck wear, you can buy them there!
Hat
A Woolley hat / beanie hat is needed in Iceland, you won’t want to have your head out for long!
Neck Buff
Instead of a scarf, because you’ll have so many layers on already, I find neck buffs like this are perfect for what to wear in Iceland in winter because you can pull them up over your face for a face covering (which I needed many times during February in Iceland!) and they keep your neck warm without creating bulk.
Swimwear
A trip to a thermal pool like the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon or a more local pool in Iceland has to be a must on your Iceland itinerary so bring some swimwear for it!
I share more about my tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon here but I did find my swimwear went a bit funny because of the Silica in the water so if you plan to swim twice in Iceland and once more after the Blue Lagoon, bring a second pair, if you have room!
PJ’s
Don’t forget your pyjamas and underwear on this Iceland winter packing list!
I will say that I found the hotels in Iceland to be very warm. I took warm pyjamas and I was so hot so you really don’t need thick ones because Iceland is cold because inside, its hot!
Day Backpack
If you’re going to be going out on excursions in Iceland or renting a car and driving around Iceland, you’ll want to take a day pack for your drink, lunch, extra clothing, ear phones etc!
If you see the forecast for your winter trip to Iceland is snowing constant snow or rain, I’d recommend getting a waterproof cover for your backpack to ensure everything inside stays dry.
Hand Warmers
Someone gave me some hand warmers when we were out on our evening chasing the Northern Lights and I was soo thankful for them! Disposable Hand Warmers like this are relatively cheap to buy but make a big difference, especially at night, on day tours to frozen waterfalls or visiting Ice Caves!
Reusable Water Bottle
They say there are only 2 things that are free in Iceland, Wifi and Water! The water in Iceland is so good, even out of the taps and in some places, you can fill your bottle in glaciers and rivers so bring a re-usable bottle so you don’t spend money on bottled water!
Powerbank & Charger
The cold weather and long excursion days will drain your phone battery so bring a power bank. I did find that many of the day-tour buses had USB charging points but not all worked.
Sunglasses
The snow and the occasional flicker of sun can cause Iceland to be very bright and you might benefit from sunglasses, even when packing for winter in Iceland.
European Plug Adapter
It’s likely your hotel in Iceland will have USB charging points to charge your phone but for other items and chargers and incase it doesn’t have USB, you’ll need a European plug adapter.
Headphones
Journeys can be long in Iceland but the scenery in Iceland is amazing so I wouldn’t recommend packing a book as you’ll be wanting to look out of the window but headphones are a good idea.
Lip Balm
The cold can cause your lips to get extra dry so lip balm is a Iceland winter packing essential!
Passport
And finally, this one goes without saying!
One thing I want to point out is that if you are visiting Iceland for a long weekend, maybe even a week, you CAN pack a carry-on case for Iceland even in winter despite all the layers, and bulkier and warmer items you will need.
Tips for Packing for Iceland in Winter
Before we get fully into what to wear in Iceland in winter piece by piece, here are my top tips to help with your Iceland winter packing list!
One of most things is okay
You can pack and wear one pair of ski trousers, one pair of waterproofs, one pair of boots, one hat, one gloves and then 2-3 base-layers, because items may get wet but not really dirty and it’s unlikely you’ll be getting that sweaty so you don’t need lots especially if you’re just going for a few days.
Roll-by-Hand Vacuum Packs
If you’re worried about how to pack these bulkier items in your carry-on case, I recommend buying some ‘roll by hand’ vacuum packs. These act like packing cubes but suck the air out of the bags to help the items squish down and the best thing about winter wear like this is that it doesn’t matter if it’s creased from this!
Check out the current price on Amazon here with fast delivery!
Wear big outer layers on the plane
If you’re flying to Iceland from Europe in the winter, this is great as you’ll be likely coming from a cold country and can wear your big jacket and boots on the plane to save space in your luggage.
Layers are key
The thing about Iceland in Winter is that outside it is very cold yes, however inside, whether you’re in your hotel, a cafe, restaurant or tour bus, it is rather warm inside!! So you really want to ensure that not only are your layers good for ensuring you’re not too hot and sweat but also so you can de-layer when inside and easily put the layers back on before going outside.
No fancy clothes are needed in Iceland
Ok, well, if you plan to go for a really nice dinner in one of Reykjavik’s best restaurants or go out like a local one night, you might want a nicer outfit but generally, whether you go to Iceland in summer or winter, there’s no need for a fancy change of clothes, especially not in winter where you’ll be covered in thermals the whole time.
Restaurants are very relaxed, hiking wear in most restaurants around the country is totally fine and expected for lunch or dinner.
Jeans and Iceland do not go together!
Before running my first ladies group tour to Iceland our guide told me to tell the group not to pack jeans as they are so unappropriated for Iceland because once they are wet, they stay wet for so long and the likelihood of them getting wet, is high!
You could pack a pair of jeans for dinner but again, for what to wear in Iceland in winter, you’ll need even more layers on at night time and jeans only will be far too thin to wear!
Avoid bulky clothes
As you’ll see in my guide below on what to pack for Iceland in winter, I have recommended mainly ski-wear and ski-layers, this is because you don’t want lots of thick layers as they will make you feel bulky and be hard to wear. The right thin layers are still very effective as long as they are ‘thermal’ or ‘merino wool’ material.
One pair of shoes is enough
At first, when working out my clothing for Iceland in winter, I was thinking will I need trainers as well as my snow boots? But, I only took my snow boots and that’s all I needed. Even if you’re just popping down the road for dinner in Reykjavik from your hotel, when visiting Iceland in winter it will be very cold and possibly wet so your snow boots / hiking boots will be the best footwear at all times… which also saves room in your luggage.
Overall, as I hope you can tell from my Iceland winter packing list, outdoor clothing is key for Iceland, especially in winter. This type of clothing will keep you much warmer and dry than ‘fashion’ type clothing even if you are visiting Iceland for a city break in Reykjavik and ultimately help you to enjoy your trip as feeling cold and wet for days in a row isn’t going to give you an enjoyable trip!
I hope you have found this guide on what to wear in Iceland in winter helpful!
- For more of my posts see:
- 30 BEST Places to Visit in Europe in December – Christmas & non-Christmas Travel!
- Winter Packing List for Europe With Hand Luggage Only!
- Epic 4 Day Iceland Itinerary!
- Tips for Visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon!
- 10 AWESOME Things To Do in Reykjavik when it Rains!
- Visiting Iceland in May and June – What it’s Like, Weather & What to Pack!