So you’re headed to Iceland – or maybe you’ve just booked your trip – and you have NO idea what to pack. Don’t worry, I didn’t either. I literally chanced it with what I packed. Luckily, I took my risks and I can now tell you exactly what to pack if you’re headed to the land of ice and fire in the month of September.
My one trick for guessing how the weather will be before I embark on any trip is pretty simple, actually. A few days leading up to your trip, check the locations of where you’re headed on Instagram plus the forecasted weather for that area. That way you can not only see the forecast for that week, but also see how people are dressing in real time so you’ll have a better sense of what to bring. This is a tip helpful for whoever you go!
Outerwear
We decided collectively as a group to not pack our parkas. Although I never found myself to be FREEZING… my parka would have been helpful. Instead, I layered up – which was the original plan. I brought tank tops, long sleeves, sweatshirts, and my raincoat. My torso was plenty warm, but my leggings let wind through them on breezy days. Also, the weather changed every 15 minutes so just expected to be soaking wet the entire time.
My Columbia Rain Coat was truly my saving grace. Although it’s not the warmest, it was able to keep me very dry throughout the duration of my stay. I recommend a longer-style raincoat just to keep your bum dry – seriously! Do you know how uncomfortable it is to sit on a wet bench by accident and have to walk around with a soaking tush? I’m just saying.
Here are a few jackets I recommend packing if you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in the fall:
Patagonia Women’s Downdrift Jacket $157-$329
Athleta RainOut Sutro Trench $169
Footwear
As for footwear, I wore a pair of comfortable waterproof boots, like Blundstone boots, the entire trip. This included exploring Reykjavik and even going out to dinner one night. I suggest boots because of the amount of walking and climbing through wet grass and mud you’ll be doing.
If you’re not feeling boots, any type of trail or walking sneaker that you don’t mind getting dirty will be fine. But beware of them getting wet! I had a few friends just wear sneakers on this trip, and they successfully avoided puddles. But it would’ve been quite the pain if their shoes had gotten soaked, especially with how chilly it already was!
Here are some shoe options that I think will be best for Iceland:
Blundstone Original 1351 High-Top Boot $219
Northface Oxeye Shoes $119
Clothing I Packed
I toured all day in my leggings from Lululemon. I only wore jeans when I explored downtown Reykjavik because I wanted to look fairly decent. But when I was out exploring, comfort was the only thing I had in mind. You’ll be moving around a lot, climbing hills and stairs, so think functional activewear.
I wore a beanie at every moment. This may be the result of a bad hair experience at the Blue Lagoon, to which I discuss in my travel diary (RIP to my hair), but these beanies also kept my head WARM. I actually got a few of these fellas on major sale over the summer, so buy buy buy during the offseason!
PRO TIP: If you plan on swimming in the Blue Lagoon, do NOT get your hair wet. We couldn’t brush our hair for the entire duration of the trip after the Blue Lagoon.
Here are a few ideas of what you could pack for yourself if you’re headed to Iceland this fall:
Athleta Rainier Tight $109
Everlane Women’s Cotton Turtleneck $40
Everlane Women’s Alpaca Oversized Turtleneck $53-$175
Have you ever been to Iceland? Are you planning a trip? Either way, let me know! Leave a comment down below or message me on my Instagram! I love sharing my experiences with other people!
xo, sjv
This post was written in 2018, and was updated in August of 2023.
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