Going to Iceland is an absolute dream come true no matter what time of year you’re visiting, but getting the green magic of the island during summer and shoulder season is INCREDIBLE. So now, it’s time to get to planning your actual trip. From setting up your itinerary (here’s one for you) to establishing your packing guide, it’s time to put together the ultimate Iceland packing list for spring, summer, and fall.
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The Short Version of What to Pack for Summer & Shoulder Season in Iceland
The Long Version of What to Pack for Summer and Shoulder Season in Iceland
Alright let’s dive into all the things I packed for my shoulder season and summer Iceland trip!
What to Wear
They say if you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait five minutes. And that can definitely be true. While Iceland doesn’t really get hot, what it will do is surprise you with rain, wind, and cold. So these clothes are going to be imperative for your Iceland packing list that will cover everything you may need to wear for summer and shoulder season.
Puffer Jacket
A puffer jacket is the ULTIMATE outerwear item to wear in Iceland in summer and shoulder season. It packs down tiny and can keep you warm without making you hot. I wore this thing ALL around Iceland and when I inevitably visit for a fourth time, my puffer jacket is going onto my Iceland packing list once again.
Rain Coat
You will 100,000% want a rain coat for your summer/shoulder season trip to Iceland. I wore this probably every other day whether it started raining or I was hanging out at a waterfall. I am absolutely beyond certain that no packing list for Iceland is complete without a rain coat.
Base Layer Shirt
A good base layer is going to be an imperative item to pack for Iceland. I’m a huge fan personally of merino wool, because it keeps you cool OR warm depending on what’s going on weather-wise. When people ask me what to wear in Iceland, I will always yell for them to pack a merino base layer shirt.
Waterproof Outer Pants &/or Hiking Pants
Whether they’re full hiking pants or an outer layer of waterproof pants to put over your pants/leggings, you’re absolutely going to want them. Every day I was in Iceland during summer/shoulder season, I wore a pair of leggings and my outer layer of waterproof pants. And even if it wasn’t raining, they were protecting from the wind which was still delightful. So this is a must-add to my Iceland packing list, for real!
Leggings/Long Underwear
Definitely add leggings or long underwear to your Iceland summer/shoulder season packing list, but whether you wear them or not is up to you. Like I said, I wore a pair of leggings with waterproof outerwear pants every single day. I was super comfortable and my legs were always warm, but never too hot. But if you tend to get cold, I might pack a pair of fleece-lined leggings as well just to be safe!
- Women’s standard leggings (on Amazon)
- Women’s fleece-lined leggings (on Amazon)
Waterproof or Water Resistant Boots
Hiking or comfortable walking boots are always going to be what I say to pack for Iceland when it comes to footwear. Something that is either waterproofed or water resistant is going to save you time and time again. So this Iceland packing guide 100% includes waterproof/water resistant boots, to keep you dry when you’re traipsing around hiking trails or standing in front of waterfalls.
Trekking/Hiking Socks
For your waterproof boots, you’ll want some comfy thick socks. I always wear a merino wool sock because they keep my feet temperature-regulated and they can be worn multiple times without getting super stinky. I’m a huge fan of the Smartwool trekking/mountaineering socks specifically, and are a non-negotiable item on my “what to wear in Iceland summer/shoulder season” guide.
Hat & Gloves
You may not need them, but I wore a beanie every day in Iceland in summer/shoulder season, so I’d recommend you pack one if you don’t want to buy one there.
Swimsuits
If you’re planning on hitting up any of the hot springs, such as the famous Blue Lagoon and/or Sky Lagoon, you’ll 100% want to bring yourself a swimsuit or two. Here are some of my favorites:
Road Trip Stuff
Some random items that are perfect for an Iceland road trip (my preferred way to travel Iceland) and therefore a mandatory for any Iceland packing guide:
- Quick dry towel for if you get wet anywhere (i.e. waterfalls) while out and about; this is SO nice to have when you get back in the car to help you dry off
- Car charging port if you’re going to be driving and have multiple things to plug in
- Portable wifi device to ensure you always have service; I rented mine from the car rental company however you can buy your own and always have it (which I should really do at this point)
Random Stuff
- Universal travel plugin adapter
- If you’re going to a hot spring, get yourself a couple of waterproof phone pouches so you don’t worry about damaging your phone(s)
- Mini hair bands for my long-haired travelers who don’t want to get birds’ nests built up on the back of your head under hat/scarf; I wore braids a lot
- Water bottle with filter, even though Iceland is one of the better places to get clean water consistently from, I still always bring my filter water bottle with me:
Day Pack
You’ll be exploring and wandering around all day, bopping from place to place and stacking your Iceland itinerary to the brim with amazing stops. So your summer/shoulder season Iceland packing list will absolutely need some sort of day pack to keep your stuff in, especially if you’re carrying camera gear and other items. Here are some of my favorites:
Camera Gear
IMPORTANT: if you don’t want to buy new camera equipment but want some you don’t have in your kit, go to LensRentals and save 15% using my code AMANDAWANDERS15!
Here is the camera gear that has been in my Iceland packing list for each of my trips to date:
- Camera
- I have the Sony a7IV and I absolutely love it
- Lens(es)
- Everyday lens: Tamron 28 – 200
- Wide angle lens: Sony 12 – 24
- Drone
- Drone shots in Iceland are beyond stunning and I brought my DJI Mini 3 Pro
And there you go, that’s my full shoulder season and summer Iceland packing list with everything I brought and loved having! Please feel free to reach out with any questions about this packing guide!
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