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Iceland Packing Guide: What to Pack for Iceland in the Fall + How to Do It Carry-On Only

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Step aside every other destination I’ve ever packed for – Iceland was officially my biggest challenge! Due to its often unpredictable weather (especially in the fall and winter seasons), Iceland can be a very difficult destination to pack for, especially if you pack carry-on only like me.

Visiting in the fall, you might wonder – Is it going to rain? Is it going to snow? Will we have sunny days? Will the ground be icy? Will it be windy? Is it going to be freezing cold? The answer is a resounding yes to all of the above, as we experienced on our first trip to Iceland.

Pack for the worst and hope for the best!

This Iceland packing guide primarily covers what to pack for Iceland in the fall with a specific focus on packing carry-on only for up to one week.

You will find a lot of similarities to my Ireland fall packing guide as we did use a lot of the same items that we packed for that trip. However, Iceland was much more challenging to pack for than Ireland. The weather in Iceland is far more unpredictable and colder!

For a quick reference to everything I packed for a fall trip to Iceland, check out my Amazon Storefront for my Iceland Essentials and Toiletries lists.

Layer, Layer, Layer

When it comes to packing for a fall trip to Iceland, you need to be prepared for anything and everything when it comes to the weather. That means layers are going to be your best friend! And most importantly, make sure you have waterproof gear from head to toe.

Some things you should know about the weather for fall in Iceland:

  • It can get pretty cold – average temps are 45°F in September and 41°F in October
  • The end of October is actually the start of winter!
  • The wind will be insane at times, which makes everything feel even colder
  • It could snow, it will probably rain, sometimes the sun will be out – you just never know what you’re gonna get

With all of that in mind, here’s everything I packed for a week in Iceland carry-on only with detailed breakdowns for each category.

🏔️ Ready to Plan Your Iceland Adventure?🏔️

Here’s everything you need to plan a trip to Iceland!

  • One-Week Iceland Itinerary: Experience the highlights of Reykjavík, Snæfellsness Peninsula, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast in one week
  • Iceland Travel Tips: A “know-before-you-go” list of general Iceland travel tips – especially if doing a self-drive road trip
  • Iceland Food Guide: A list of my favorite places to eat around Iceland, whether in Reykjavík or one of the many towns around the country

Luggage for Our Iceland Trip

My husband and I have been traveling carry-on only for several years now. It just makes travel so much easier! As a non-fashion girlie, I just enjoy simplified packing and minimal outfit choices. This is the perfect packing style for Iceland anyway – focus on comfort and practicality above all else!

Traveling carry-on only also lowers the chance of our luggage getting lost in transit, which is always a concern especially when we have a connection to make.

For our first fall trip to Iceland, we each took a hardshell carry-on suitcase and one backpack, along with waterproof backpack covers just in case the rain got too intense.

We took:

If you’re traveling solo, I’d recommend one carry-on roller bag plus a waterproof backpack (the Beis expandable is not waterproof).

Hardshell Carry-Ons

We’ve been using the Monos Carry-On Rollers for a few years and they are my current go-to for international travel due to their size. We had no issues with our carry-on sizing with Icelandair, nor did we on American Air for our trip to Ireland or Air France to Spain.

I gravitate toward hard-shell luggage since they are more water-resistant than a fabric bag. If you have to wheel your luggage across the parking lot at Keflavík airport (like we did to get our rental car) or on the streets of Reykjavík, you may want some extra protection from potential rain or snow.

Monos vs. Beis carry on bags
Monos vs. my other favorite carry-on (Beis) that’s too large for international travel

Backpacks

I love having a good backpack and hate carrying purses. I even use backpacks as my “purse” for everyday life back at home! These are the two we took to Iceland:

When I travel during winter or to a rainy destination, I also carry a plastic bag just in case I need to throw wet clothes in or if I get worried about extra protection for my camera gear.

beis expandable

One of my favorite personal items has been the Beis expandable backpack. It’s not waterproof but you can get through a light rain with no issues. Having a backpack cover as a backup gave me peace of mind just in case heavy rains decided to bless us with their presence in Iceland.

This Beis backpack is small enough to be considered a personal item for most planes and has enough space for a 15″ laptop (I’ve actually fit two laptops in here). As its name suggests, this backpack also expands to add an extra inch or two of space if needed (keep in mind that will make it more difficult to stuff under an airplane seat though).

Beis Expandable backpack

I have since started using the Beis Ultimate Travel Duffel in place of this backpack and love it so far.

Amazon “Fashion” Backpack

My current favorite backpack for travel (and life in general) is this Brown Faux Leather backpack that I bought on Amazon, which also just happens to be the perfect color for fall! I actually bought this for Ireland and have run it into the ground (I’m due for a refresh).

This backpack is labeled as “waterproof” but I’d hesitate to call it so simply because it’s not really meant for prolonged exposure to rain. However, I can tell you that I have tested this in some pretty heavy rain in both Iceland and Ireland and it has kept my items inside dry.

You do have to consider the fact that there are zippers on these. At some point, water is bound to seep in if exposed to rain for too long.

Brown backpack in the wild at Gullfoss

This backpack is also anti-theft with the main pocket against your back. It will be really hard for a pick pocket to get into the main compartment of this, unless you leave it unattended for some reason. Just don’t place valuables on the side pockets (like your phone) because those are exposed.

Backpack Covers

Because I’m never confident that anything is truly waterproof, I bought a couple of backpack covers specifically for our first trip to Iceland. Thankfully, it didn’t rain as much as I thought it would. My brown backpack held up fine for a rainy walking day around Reykjavík and I never ending up using them. Our friends did actually use them and they worked great.

Packing Cubes

I normally always use as many packing cubes as possible, but for Iceland, I only used a couple smaller ones since it was tricky getting everything I wanted to take in our carry-ons. Carry-on packing is an art ya’ll!

Every nook and cranny of our carry-ons were used to stuff things in (using the rolling method), which packing cubes can sometimes limit. For undergarment organization, I just used a couple of the smaller cubes from this set.

They see me rollin…

Clothing & Accessories for Iceland

As I mentioned at the outset of this post, the key to packing clothes for Iceland is to think in terms of layers. You also need to make sure you’re packing the right layers.

When traveling to Iceland in autumn/fall, you’re dealing with cold temperatures, sometimes rain, sometimes snow, and definitely lots of wind. You definitely want to take enough clothing to keep you warm and insulated! But you know what? The sun could also say hello and if you’re doing any hiking, you might want to peel off a layer or two.

Thankfully, Iceland is also a pretty casual destination so unless you plan on attending fancy dinners, focus on functionality and comfort above all else.

My stack of Iceland clothing

Women’s Iceland Packing List

Here’s all the clothing I packed for our first fall trip to Iceland, with detailed clothing packing list notes to follow:

  • 4 x fleece-lined leggings (I would actually have been fine with just three, re-wearing them a couple times each)
  • 6 x long sleeve base layers (I brought 4 x of these thermals and 2 x these regular long-sleeved shirts)
  • 2 x nice sweaters for city walking/dinners out (but I really only needed one since I basically just wore what I wore all day out to most dinners)
  • 2 x thermal leggings for a base layer
  • 2 x short-sleeved shirts for travel days (it can get warm on the airplane especially if you are flying with Icelandair)
  • 1 x fleece jacket
  • 2 x beanie hats (in case one gets wet) – I took one of these (moisture-wicking for rainy days, but they no longer have the cream color) and one of these (best for non-rainy days)
  • 1 x neck warmer (I found this much less fussy than a scarf)
  • 9 x pairs of wool socks (packed an extra pair just in case some got wet) – I took several pairs of these and these
  • 2 x pair of pajamas (two bottoms, two tops)
  • 1 x pair of rain pants
  • 1 x vest – great for keeping your core temp up
  • 1 x long waterproof rain jacket – I do recommend a longer rain jacket for extra protection
  • 1 x swimsuit (for the lagoons & hot springs!)
  • 1 x pair waterproof boots
  • 1 x pair windproof/waterproof gloves
  • Bras/underwear (I think this is a very personal choice on how much to pack, lol)
Doing my best to showcase my layers!

Men’s Iceland Packing List

My husband is a little more simple than me when it comes to packing for travel – he’s a t-shirt guy through and through! Plus, he doesn’t get as cold as I do so his list is a little lighter than mine.

Here’s everything my husband packed for Iceland in the fall:

Detailed Packing List Breakdowns

Here are the detailed breakdowns on everything from our packing lists above – what worked and what didn’t.

Rain Jackets

One of the most important items of clothing you can pack for Iceland is a waterproof jacket to use as your outer shell. If you’re dressing in layers, this doesn’t need to be a heavy jacket – it just needs to be waterproof and have a hood.

Why a hood? You’re not really going to want an umbrella in Iceland – one gust of arctic wind will tell you why. You could use an umbrella in Reykjavík if the wind is calm, but I really just recommend a good rain jacket with a hood.

Even if it’s not raining, a rain jacket acts as a windbreaker, which helps insulate your body heat.

Grateful for my rain jacket to shield me from the wind here!

I bought a longer version of my favorite rain jacket to give me a little extra coverage from wind and rain. I would definitely size up so that you can fit layers underneath. For size reference, I’m 5’7″ and was about 170 pounds in the photo above and am wearing a large.

Underneath my rain jacket, I was able to wear a thin thermal base layer, a vest, and a fleece and was able to zip up my rain jacket. If I’m being honest, it was a little tight and I probably could have sized up to an XL. I need to stop eating so many burritos…

Men’s Rain Jacket

My husband used his trusty Columbia Men’s Watertight II Rain Jacket. He has used this both in Ireland and Iceland now with no complaints.

Rain in Reykjavík? No problem.

Fleece Jacket

In addition to my rain jacket, I wore a fleece jacket layer. I love these for layering as they aren’t too heavy but do keep me warm.

I bought this fleece from Amazon and love it more than my black Amazon-brand fleece I bought for Ireland. It’s much thicker and higher quality.

When fully zipped up, the fleece jacket covers your entire neck (which is an essential feature to help block out Icelandic wind).

Wearing fleece for city walking

Men’s Jacket

Instead of a fleece for this trip, my husband took a heavier jacket to have less layers. I think he got it at Kohl’s at some point and I can’t even tell what brand it is, lol.

He’s not as into layering as me and his body temp runs a lot higher, so he wore a short-sleeved t-shirt underneath his main jacket and put on his waterproof rain jacket for when we were near waterfalls, were in the rain, or when he just needed some extra wind break.

His layers: t-shirt, thicker jacket & rain jacket

Tops

Here’s a rundown of all the tops we took, from t-shirts to base layers.

T-Shirts & Base Layers

For our travel days, I wore two short-sleeved basic t-shirts from Old Navy as my only base layer under my fleece. This is because we were traveling on Icelandair and I had heard so many people complain about the heat in the cabins! And they were right – it did get pretty warm at times and a t-shirt was all I needed.

And of course, like he wore every day, my husband’s base layer was a regular old t-shirt.

T-shirt time on Icelandair

In terms of long-sleeved shirts, I packed two of these thinner long-sleeved t-shirts to wear for our Reykjavík days and days where we would be in the car a lot more than out of it.

For days where we were out of the car more exploring the sights, I wore these thermal base layers. These thermals are pretty snug (they are compression shirts) so I would recommend sizing up for a more comfortable fit. I got both large and XL and liked the fit of the XL more.

Thermal base layers I took to Iceland

Vest

Much like our Ireland trip, a vest was the perfect addition to my daily layering. I wore it every day other than the day we landed in Iceland. A vest helps to keep my core warm and I also like how it covers up the midsection when I’ve indulged in a bit too much of the local cuisine (which is all the time).

Also, my favorite fleece-lined leggings can tend to get a little snug around the midsection, so this vest is definitely a “security blanket” for me.

Wearing my vest with a long-sleeved shirt about to slam this boot ‘o beer

Sweaters

For my fall Iceland trip, I packed two of my favorite crewneck sweaters that I have in multiple colors (and also wore in Ireland). They are relatively thick and are decent quality and come in a lot of great fall colors (I have the green, rust, and beige).

I brought these mainly to wear for dinners out in Reykjavík but I really only needed to pack one. Iceland is not a hot destination so sweating is unlikely unless you’re doing a lot of strenuous hiking. That means it’s easier to rewear clothing, especially in my case where sweaters were just for the evening.

Crewneck sweater in green

I wish I would have only packed one and left that space in my suitcase to buy a pretty Icelandic wool sweater instead!

Pants & Base Layers

Pants were something I struggled a little with for Iceland. Did I want to use my trusty fleece-lined leggings? Did I want some waterproof hiking pants? What about rain pants? So many decisions!

In the end, my husband and I decided to use our already-existing water-resistant leggings (for me) and cargo pants (for him) and purchased rain pants as our waterproof outer layer.

Fleece-Lined Leggings

For Iceland clothing, I think comfort should come first over fashion. I packed four pairs of the same fleece-lined (water-resistant) leggings – all in black. Not only are a pair of black leggings versatile (anything matches with them!), they are comfortable for all-day wear.

And even though I took four pairs, I could have totally gotten away with packing just three pairs for a one-week trip.

Legging Features

These leggings come with two pockets on each leg, with the inner pocket being deep enough to hide a cell phone completely. I find it very convenient to be able to reach in and quickly grab my phone for photos rather than digging through my backpack.

That being said, I do remain vigilant and check it constantly, and also keep my hand close to my pocket when it’s in there. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, but I do see increasing reports of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas.

Fleece-lined leggings on a rainy day in Reykjavík

While these leggings are water resistant, they are not waterproof – this is where rain paints come in. You can get through a light rain just fine, but if you get caught in a heavy downpour, these will get a little wet. I found they do dry relatively quickly though. And the fleece lining really does help keep you keep nice and warm!

Men’s Water-Resistant Pants

My husband has really been digging these cargo pants for travel – they are lightweight, functional, and have a water-resistant quality to them. Since these aren’t waterproof though, rain pants are a necessity.

Men’s cargo pants in the wild

Thermal Base Layer

Even though I love my fleece-lined leggings, they aren’t always going to provide enough warmth for Iceland’s temperatures, especially in the fall or early winter. So, I made sure to have a couple of thermal base layers for colder days when we were out of the car more.

I actually ended up wearing my base layer most days and these are thin enough to pull my fleece-lined leggings over them. I got these in size large.

My husband bought two of this set and did not end up using them.

Reminder to size up on clothing that you will be layering with (i.e. I wear a large in the fleece-lined leggings and I could probably size up to an XL for layering situations…that perpetual burrito baby, man).

Rain Pants

You need waterproof pants when traveling to Iceland in the fall. For one, it’s most likely going to rain at some point. Two, if you want to get close to some of the major waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss (where you can walk behind it) or Skogafoss, you will get wet.

Because our everyday-wear pants/leggings were not fully waterproof, we both got a pair of rain pants to pull over our clothes when we needed them (women’s/men’s).

Head-to-toe waterproof gear behind Seljalandsfoss

Not only will rain pants help keep you dry, they are an extra layer of protection from wind!

I personally liked having rain pants as opposed to waterproof hiking pants so I could take them off when I didn’t feel like wearing something thicker. They were easy enough to pull over my shoes (with button snaps at the bottom of the legs) and over my leggings. Same for my husband.

I did attempt to look for some waterproof hiking or snow pants while shopping for this trip but didn’t find anything that jumped out at me. If you have a rec for this, I’d love to try them.

Try everything on completely layered at home before you leave on your trip to get the right sizing for everything. Ask yourselves if you can also sit comfortably with everything on.

Waterproof Shoes

Now here’s one area where I could have used a little improvement. The only pair of shoes I took on this trip were my Timberland waterproof boots (the same ones I used for our Ireland trip), which I absolutely love. Waterproof – no problem! City walking – great. Light hiking – they work well.

These boots have a high ankle, which are especially good for rainy weather. They always keep my feet and ankles nice and dry!

My boot style is no longer available, but here’s a link to something similar.

However, the grip on these when things get icy is not super great as I so ungraciously found out.

Places where these did not serve me right: Seljalandsfoss (walking up the icy path behind the waterfall); Gljúfrabúi (where I legit slipped and fell on my butt just standing in line outside of the cave); and the boardwalk leading to the Öxarárfoss waterfall in Thingvellir National Park (another slip and fall where my backpack broke my fall, thankfully).

Öxarárfoss Boardwalk
Ice at Seljalandsfoss

What would I do differently?

I would either take a different pair of shoes or boots with better grip for potential icy situations (it’s cold in the fall guys!) or pack a pair of NANOspikes or EXOspikes just something to give me a little better grip in a few situations. These are not cheap though!

For fall in Iceland, I wouldn’t think that full-on crampons are needed – although, we did see some signs up for the season as a warning.

If you wear any spikes on your shoes, you do need to take them off when entering shops and restaurants so as to not damage the floors (they say NANO and EXOspikes are safe to keep on, but you might get told otherwise).

Crampon warning sign at Gullfoss

Men’s Shoes

My husband took his waterproof Merrill Moab boots (here’s a link to the current style) and didn’t have any slip issues. It is incredibly hard to find good waterproof shoes for my husband as he wears a size 14 double wide! Options are very limited.

If buying Merrill shoes, I always recommend looking for a Merrill outlet store because these can be very expensive.

He’s happy to report that these are pretty comfortable all around. He wore them every day in all weather situations, from flying and city walking to light hiking and driving.

Merrill GORE-TEX Waterproof Boots for Men

I’m always in search of waterproof shoe options for men, so if you have any suggestions for big guys, lemme know!

Wool Socks

Both my husband and I took wool socks for this trip, with most of them being moisture-wicking Merino wool. When preparing for this trip, I had both cold and rainy days in mind and wanted to make sure our feet stayed warm and dry.

Merino wool is also a fabric known for being odor resistant, which is always a quality you want when it comes to socks!

Swimsuits

If you plan to go in any of the lagoons or hot springs, you will of course want to pack a swimsuit or swim shorts. Any swimsuit will do!

Beanie Hats

Keep those heads and ears warm with a nice, warm beanie! The Icelandic wind can be absolutely brutal sometimes and you need as much protection as possible.

If not a beanie, you could also wear a headband that covers your ears – like if you want to put your hair up in a bun or ponytail and not have to worry about a beanie if the weather is nice out.

I packed two beanie hats each for us in case one got wet. For him, two of these. For me, I got a cute hat with a ball on top for times I didn’t need my hood on and also took one of these as my spare. Sadly, they don’t currently have the cream color in stock but you can get a similar color in this brand we also like.

For wetter weather, I do recommend a moisture-wicking Merino wool hat like these.

Neck Warmer or Scarf

One additional clothing item I was super glad to have was a neck warmer. I did think about packing a scarf as an alternative, but it’s so windy in Iceland that having the neck warmer was less fussy. I didn’t ever have to worry about it blowing in the wind, it kept our necks nice and warm, and we could easily pull it up over our faces.

My husband and I both used the same one, which is great since they come in a two-pack!

Neck warmer coming in handy!

Water & Windproof Gloves

Do not skip on gloves! Make sure you pack a good windproof and waterproof pair. The pair I purchased (unisex) are soft and fuzzy on the inside and waterproof/windproof.

They are also decent for touchscreen capability on phones (not perfect, but better than another pair I tested).

Cold drink in Iceland? No prob!

Accessories for Iceland

Outside of clothing items, these are additional accessories that I recommend for Iceland:

Sunglasses

Believe it or not, it can be sunny in Iceland in the fall! Of course, there are no guarantees, but you should definitely take a pair of sunglasses just in case.

Blue skies and sun at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon!

Ice Scraper

As the weather gets colder (fall and winter), you might want an ice scraper if you’re doing a self-drive trip. This is mostly going to be for the cool mornings after dew has settled on your car overnight and/or if it happens to snow during your trip.

We actually had to use our ice scraper once when we left our hotel in Vík headed to the Golden Circle! It’s a cheap accessory that does not take up much room in your bag. You’ll be glad to have it just in case!

For travel safety reasons, I went with a completely plastic scraper so they wouldn’t confiscate it from me at security.

Quick-Dry Towel

A thin quick-dry towel can be useful in a multitude of situations in Iceland! If you’re visiting any hot springs, pools, or lagoons where towels are not provided, this is an item you’ll definitely want to have.

I brought one more specifically to help dry things off if we got caught in a rain and/or after walking around some of the heavier waterfalls. These microfiber towels are very lightweight and easy to whip out to dry off your jacket or bags quickly before getting back in the car.

This towel is pretty compact and easy to pack as well. I only brought one to share with my husband since we didn’t plan on visiting any hot springs on our first Iceland trip outside of the Blue Lagoon.

Reusable Water Bottle

Iceland has some of the purest tap water in the world – bring a reusable water bottle! I filled ours up with tap water from our hotel bathroom sinks and the water is so cold and clean tasting. The best I’ve ever had.

It’s really unnecessary to buy bottled water, though we did buy one at the airport when we landed because my water bottle was packed away in my carry-on and I was super thirsty.

Waterproof Phone Case

These are essential if you want to take photos in the lagoons or hot springs. Keep those phones dry! You can also use waterproof phone cases near the heavier waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss or Skogafoss where waterfall spray can get you soaking wet.

I have a Google Pixel Pro and my phone fit pretty snug in here (I do also have it in a separate case). Phones are so big these days!

Essential for taking pics in the lagoons

Wet Bag

If you’re planning any lagoon, pool, or hot spring visits, you should also bring a wet bag for your wet clothes. You could just bring a plastic bag, but this wet bag is reusable (and cute!). I would recommend bringing one per person.

Electronics for Iceland

Here’s everything I packed in terms of electronics for our fall trip to Iceland. You can also check out my Iceland essentials list and my electronics favorites on my Amazon Storefront if you don’t want to click through the links below.

Pro-tip: always keep your electronics and valuables in your personal item in case you have to check your carry-on bag.

Toiletries

This list may seem a little long, but most items are travel-sized and I’ve gotten to be an expert at packing everything I need.

For easier shopping, check out my toiletries list in my Amazon Storefront.

What I’d Change On My Packing List

I’m not a perfect packer and I will be the first to admit that! I spend entirely too much time researching “what to wear” for literally ever trip I take. The only way for me to really perfect a packing list is by testing things out myself.

Here are my notes on all the things I’d do differently for packing for a fall trip to Iceland:

Shoes: I detailed above that my boots got me in some slippery situations. So, I would either pack different shoes altogether (got any recs?) or take some NANO or EXOspikes (not crampons since I think those would have been too excessive for fall travel).

Sweaters: I wish I would have only packed one “going out” sweater and instead my extra rain jacket in a different color to change up what I’m wearing in all my photos. That also would have left more room in my bag for a potential Icelandic wool sweater purchase!

Sizing Up On Clothing: I probably could have sized up on my rain jacket to give me a little more breathing room for layering. I could have also applied this same logic to my fleece-lined leggings; however, I already had these in my closet and didn’t want to buy more.

Other than that, I think I did pretty well for packing for my first trip to Iceland! I loved traveling in the fall season. We had pretty good weather overall and I would totally go back in this same season. If I do, I’ll be sure to update this packing guide with more tidbits!

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