# What to pack for Iceland in winter: layers, boots, and the full list > What to pack for Iceland in winter: the layers that beat wind and sleet, boots with grip, a swimsuit for the lagoon, what to leave at home, and the weather. - URL: https://traypass.app/blog/what-to-pack-for-iceland-in-winter - By: Gonzalo Fuentes, Traypass - 2026-10-24 - [es](https://traypass.app/es/blog/que-llevar-a-islandia-en-invierno) · [fr](https://traypass.app/fr/blog/valise-islande-hiver) · [de](https://traypass.app/de/blog/packliste-island-winter) · [it](https://traypass.app/it/blog/valigia-islanda-inverno) · [ja](https://traypass.app/ja/blog/iceland-winter-clothing) ## In short - Reykjavík in winter sits **between about −2 °C and 3 °C** (28 °F to 37 °F), wet and windy. The wind, not the cold, decides what you wear. - Dress in **three layers**: a wool or synthetic base layer, a warm sweater or fleece, and a wind- and waterproof shell. Add rain pants. No cotton, no jeans. - Waterproof boots with grip, wool socks, and **ice cleats** for icy sidewalks, even in town. - A **swimsuit** for the Blue Lagoon and the pools, a headlamp for the long dark (**about 4 hours of daylight** in December), and a power bank, since the cold drains batteries. - Sockets are **types C and F at 230 V**: US plugs need an adapter, and 120 V-only devices a converter. Cards work almost everywhere. What to pack for Iceland in winter comes down to the wind more than the cold. Reykjavík rarely drops far below freezing, but rain, sleet, and gusts can all arrive in the same afternoon, and the days are short. Pack layers that keep out wind and water, boots that grip on ice, and a swimsuit. - Highs in Reykjavík: 3 °CAbout 37 °F, December to February - Lows: −2 °CAbout 28 °F; colder in the north - Daylight on December 21: 4 hSunrise about 11:20 a.m., sunset about 3:30 p.m. ## What the weather is like in winter Mild for the latitude, wet and windy. The table shows Reykjavík’s averages from the Icelandic Met Office (1991–2020) and roughly how much daylight each month has. February is the coldest and windiest month; the north, around Akureyri, is a few degrees colder and calmer, and the south coast near Vík gets two to three times as much rain. Month High Low Rain and snow Daylight November 4.6 °C (40 °F) −0.1 °C (32 °F) 87 mm 8 h on the 1st December 3.3 °C (38 °F) −1.6 °C (29 °F) 95 mm 4 h on the 21st January 3.2 °C (38 °F) −1.7 °C (29 °F) 87 mm About 5 h mid-month February 3.3 °C (38 °F) −1.9 °C (29 °F) 91 mm 7 h on the 1st March 4.2 °C (40 °F) −1.3 °C (30 °F) 81 mm 10 h on the 1st The weather changes fast, so check the forecast at en.vedur.is every day, and the road conditions at umferdin.is before any drive. The Met Office issues yellow, orange, and red warnings; on an orange day, change your plans rather than your clothes. ## The three layers Every list for an Icelandic winter starts the same way, and so does the advice from SafeTravel, Iceland’s safety service: a thin base layer of wool or synthetics, an insulating middle layer, and a shell that keeps out wind and water. - **Base**: a long-sleeved thermal top and leggings, merino wool if you can. Two sets are enough for a week. - **Middle**: a wool sweater or a fleece; a light down jacket on the coldest days. - **Outer**: a waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood, and rain pants to pull over the rest. Leave the cotton and the jeans at home: they stay wet and cold. In this sample packing list, the thermals, the wool sweaters, and the beanie are already packed; the shell, the rain pants, and the boots each carry the reason they’re on the list: wind and sleet, waterfall spray, icy paths. ![A packing list called Iceland in winter in Traypass, 5 of 18 packed: two thermal layers, two wool sweaters, and the beanie checked off; waterproof shell for wind and sleet, waterproof trousers for waterfall spray, hiking boots for icy paths, gloves, scarf, five pairs of wool socks, and a swimsuit for the Blue Lagoon still to pack; below, lip balm for cold, dry air, and ice cleats for icy pavements in Reykjavík](/_astro/is-packing-l.BIVnLZS-_j3BKQ.webp) ## What a December week looks like For a sample trip to Reykjavík in December, Traypass shows a week much like the averages: highs between 0 °C and 3 °C (32 °F to 37 °F), lows down to −4 °C (25 °F), snow on two days, rain on another, and one clear day. Every day in that week asks for the same three layers. Clear nights are the ones for the northern lights: often still, dark, and the coldest of the week, so wear everything you brought. ![Typical weather for a December week in Reykjavík in Traypass, under What it will be like: highs of 0° to 3° and lows of −4° to −1°, with snow on two days, rain on one, and one clear day; above it, the bag 27% packed and the Icelandair flight on Tuesday, December 8](/_astro/is-weather-l.731ycJQG_2rtMVt.webp) ## Plugs, power, and the number to call Icelandic sockets are types C and F at 230 V, the same as most of Europe, so US plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100–240 V work with just the adapter; a hair dryer or straightener made only for 120 V needs a voltage converter, so it is simpler to leave it at home. The cold drains phone batteries faster, and you will use the phone for maps, photos, and the aurora forecast. Bring a power bank and keep the phone in an inside pocket. The emergency number is 112, and the SafeTravel Iceland app can send your location to it. ![Plugs under Good to know in Traypass for Iceland: types C and F at 230 V, with the warning You'll need an adapter, compared with the United States; below, the emergency number 112](/_astro/is-dest-plugs-l.D8f3tLn__Z1pl8JJ.webp) ## What to book before you pack In winter, some things need booking ahead: the Blue Lagoon sells entry by time slot, and tours to the Golden Circle and the south coast fill up around the holidays. In this sample trip, those are the tasks in the weeks before leaving, alongside travel insurance and online check-in. If you drive, leave a travel plan on safetravel.is, keep your schedule flexible, and park facing into the wind, holding the door with both hands as you open it: a gust can bend it back on its hinges. ![The run-up to a winter trip to Iceland in Traypass, 45 days before leaving: travel insurance on Sunday, November 8, book the Blue Lagoon on Tuesday, November 17, book the Golden Circle and south coast tours on Tuesday, November 24, and online check-in for FI 597 on Monday, December 7](/_astro/is-prep-l.P8ivh-n3_Z2tziAv.webp) ## Boots, socks, and ice cleats Feet are where a winter trip goes wrong. Wear warm, waterproof boots with a deep tread that you have already broken in, and wool socks; carry a spare pair in your daypack. ![A street in central Reykjavík in winter, with snow and ice on the road and cars parked outside colorful houses](/_astro/photo-street.FgpZUdBh_1WBQxu.webp)[Nicolas J Leclercq · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/M8wG7IFy49U?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral) Sidewalks in Reykjavík can turn to sheet ice overnight. North Iceland’s tourist board recommends ice cleats even if you’re only staying in town, and Visit Iceland suggests them for icy trails. They slip over your boots, weigh almost nothing, and cost little. ## For the waterfalls and the black beach A day on the south coast means spray and wind. At Seljalandsfoss the spray carries far beyond the pool, so rain pants earn their place. ![Seljalandsfoss in winter, the waterfall falling over a dark cliff edged with ice](/_astro/photo-seljalandsfoss.BW7PdFy__Z17Cffe.webp)[Gigi · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/uCT3wn1PsK8?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral) At Reynisfjara, the black sand beach near Vík, the waves are the danger, not the cold: stay well back from the water, whatever the sea looks like. ![Reynisfjara black sand beach in Iceland in winter, with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks offshore and waves breaking on the sand](/_astro/photo-reynisfjara.CPC42SXS_Z6cGpV.webp)[Tim Trad · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/2QJkmPlrSLQ?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral) ## A swimsuit, even in December The Blue Lagoon and the geothermal pools are the best way to warm up after a cold day, and they are open all winter. ![The Blue Lagoon in Iceland, milky blue water steaming under clouds and dark lava hills](/_astro/photo-blue-lagoon.CPUdufPg_1vkH2.webp)[Owen Roth · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/glfxqgUmfrY?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral) Everyone showers without a swimsuit before going in; it is the rule in every Icelandic pool. At the Blue Lagoon, shower gel and conditioner are free, and the Comfort and Premium tickets include a towel. The silica in the water makes hair stiff, so put conditioner in first and tie long hair up. Keep your glasses out of the water. ## For the northern lights Aurora season runs from September to April, and winter gives you the longest nights. You need darkness and clear skies; the forecast at en.vedur.is shows both the cloud cover and the activity. ![Green northern lights over snowy mountains at Þórsmörk in Iceland, reflected in water](/_astro/photo-aurora.D7iHFbgJ_13mWWN.webp)[Jonatan Pie · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/EvKBHBGgaUo?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral) Waiting outside at midnight is the coldest thing you will do, so wear every layer, plus a hat, gloves, and a scarf or neck warmer. A headlamp keeps your hands free, and a small tripod helps if you want photos. If you drive out to see the lights, pull over only in a parking area, never on the road or its shoulder. ## The packing list Item Why 2 sets of thermal underwear Wool or synthetic, never cotton Wool sweater or fleece The middle layer Waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood Wind, rain, and sleet Rain pants Waterfalls, rain, snow Waterproof boots with grip Ice, slush, gravel Ice cleats Icy sidewalks and trails Wool socks One pair a day, plus a spare Hat, gloves, scarf The wind finds every gap Swimsuit The Blue Lagoon and the pools Headlamp About 4 hours of daylight in December Power bank The cold drains batteries Sunglasses Low sun on snow Lip balm and moisturizer Cold, dry air Water bottle Tap water is safe to drink Plug adapter for types C and F US plugs don’t fit ## What you don’t need to bring - **An umbrella.** The wind turns it inside out. A hood does the job. - **Jeans and cotton.** They stay wet. - **Much cash.** Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, and tipping is not expected. - **Bottled water.** Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Iceland. If you forget something, outdoor shops in Reykjavík sell and rent winter gear. In Traypass, the [packing list](/packing-list) builds itself from your trip’s weather and plans, and the [itinerary planner](/itinerary-planner) lays out your days around the daylight you have. Money in Good to know On October 23, $1 was worth 121.68 Icelandic krónur, so 1,000 krónur came to about $8.20. Tipping is not the custom, not even in a taxi. ![Currency under Good to know in Traypass for Iceland: 1 USD equals 121.68 ISK, so $10 is 1,217 ISK, from the European Central Bank on October 23; below, tipping is not the custom, and nothing is expected in a taxi](/_astro/is-dest-money-front.Db87Pr_S_Z1uqrjN.webp) ## Questions people ask ### How cold is Iceland in winter? Less cold than its name suggests, at least in Reykjavík: from December to February the average high is about 3 °C (37 °F) and the low about −2 °C (28 °F). The north is a few degrees colder. What makes it feel cold is the wind, the rain and sleet, and how short the days are. ### Can I wear jeans in Iceland in winter? Better not. Cotton stays wet and cold once it gets damp, which happens often in an Icelandic winter. Both Visit Iceland and SafeTravel advise against it: wear wool or synthetic layers, and rain pants over them outdoors. ### What shoes should I wear in Iceland in winter? Warm, waterproof boots with a good grip, ideally ones you have already walked in, with wool socks. Add ice cleats or microspikes for icy trails and sidewalks; they slip over your boots and weigh almost nothing. ### Do I need a swimsuit in Iceland in winter? Yes. The Blue Lagoon and the geothermal pools are open all winter. You shower without a swimsuit before you go in, and at the Blue Lagoon the Comfort and Premium tickets include a towel. ### Do I need cash in Iceland? Not really. Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere, and tipping is not expected. For larger card payments you may be asked for your PIN, so make sure you know it. --- Plan this trip in Traypass. Free to plan a trip, pack it and share it. iPhone, iOS 26. https://apps.apple.com/app/id6806640640