What should I pack for Iceland in August?

[IcelandQuestion]

Have you been in summer? What did you pack/ wear?

We are going for 4 days in August. It's to visit family who will also be visiting, as it's almost half way between us. DH, myself and DC who will just be 5.

I've googled the average weather, temperatures etc. For some reason I can't really get my head round what we'll need - I know it shouldn't be that hard to work out! I veer between panicking we're going to freeze and whether I need to buy thermals, to thinking 'what if it's actually really warm and we should have had shorts and summer dresses'. I think the fact that we're only taking cabin bags is throwing me too.

For DC for example, I was thinking she'd be fine in leggings, long sleeve t-shirts with a hoodie/ jumper/ cardigan. But I'll also take a warmish but lightweight coat for her. Trainers/ walking shoes rather than sandals is that right? And similar things for us.

Standard tourist itinerary I'd imagine - nothing extreme, sightseeing and out for a few meals in the evening (not fancy ones probably with young kids in tow).

We got back last week. I mainly wore Jeans, fleece and a light rain jacket. Temperature was around 13 degrees.

And yes to trainers/walking shoes. And it's very expensive!!

I don't think they're fussy. I've seen people in there wearing pyjamas before. Make sure you remember your shopping bags now as they charge.

Edited to say ignore this. Just read your post properly. I can't help, I've never been. Sorry.

Everything! I went for 5 days in August. Some days were shorts and tshirts but the days we were in Reykjavik, my down jacket, bobble hat and gloves weren't enough. The wind was biting.

@Parky04 we’re braced for the expense!

@Whiteframe oh dear that sounds freezing! Good to know to cover all bases though.

I’ve always wanted to go but imagined a winter trip to see the lights if possible. This has fallen at an awkward time for us, and is going to be stressful for lots of different reasons not related to the destination but just the group dynamic and DC is not the easiest when it comes to long days sightseeing! I’m still trying to get excited about it though, at least if we’re clothed appropriately it will be a start!

Definitely not sandals. It will not be hot. I would take a T-shirt just in case it gets warm in the sun but yes to fleeces and a light jacket. Maybe a beanie too.

Layers. We went in April. When we were out of the wind it was lovely but the wind completely took me by surprise it was very cold and unpleasant. If I was packing for summer I think I’d go jeans/leggins. Walking shoes, T-shirts long and short sleeved and a fleece. Definitely a rain coat and maybe a hat.

We went last summer and wore leggings/jeans and sweatshirts/jumpers and sometimes a waterproof. Shorts wouldn’t have seen the light of day! But the year before it was apparently like 20+ degrees regularly, so I’d check the forecast right before you leave. And have a fab time - we loved it!

Just to add that based on my trips to Iceland and Scandinavia in the summer, it is always best to err on the side of caution and pack some warm things.

We went last summer. Wore mostly walking trousers with hiking boots or trainers. Layers on top - tshirt, light fleece and a waterproof jacket are needed. I did wear beanie a couple of days, and put gloves on one morning, but also a cap other days when the sun was out. No need for shorts or sandals. But also no need for thermals or big winter coats as long as you have a few layers.
It is amazing (and expensive), have a great time

We went in Aug and it was varied between horizontal rain, and blue skies. Amazing trip, so have fun

Definitely plan for all eventualities between freezing cold, especially if you want to go on a whale watching trip and quite mild, even warmish.

We went in September a couple of years ago and it was above average temperatures for the time of year and less wet/windy than it could have been, so possibly representative of August but some days wore everything we took (I remember having leggings and jeans on, plus base layer, t shirt, sweatshirt, my big waterproof and thick hat, gloves and scarf on) and other days maybe even being able to take the coat off and just have jeans and a hoody on.

Icelandic weather is variable and unpredictable, like a more extreme version of what we get in northern/western parts of the UK.

Have a great trip. You can always go back to see the northern lights, you can't see all that Iceland has to offer in one trip because you want to experience the long summer days and geysers/waterfalls/volcanic landscapes which will be limited if it's dark most of the time and less pleasant if the weather is awful. But the northern lights are more likely in winter, and the long dark nights will be a novel experience and there's loads of interesting museums in Reykjavik so you can have things to do without being outside all the time.

We went last June. The week before we went they had a blizzard that closed part of the ring road. Some days I was in a t-shirt and light hiking trousers. Some days I was in a waterproof jacket, a woollen jumper and thermals under my hiking trousers.

We also wore a bit of everything in June/July although only wore shorts a couple of times over 2.5 weeks so might be safe to leave them at home. We were in T-shirts some days but also needed gloves and a woolly hat other days. Layers rather than heavy coats. Trips like whale watching often provide warm suits if needed. Also bring swimwear for the hot pools and an eye mask as it will be light at night and most places don’t have blackout blinds.

Thanks all, this is really helpful.

Good should on the eye mask @wishIwasonholiday10 - I sleep with a bluetooth one and take it everywhere I go anyway, but I'll tell DH and possibly look at one for DC. The hotel does say it has blackout curtains, but the reviews vary as to whether they are effective! I did think about diffing out our old tommee tippee one from DD's baby days, am sure we've still got it. Though obviously no idea what size window we'll have so probably pointless.

Can I ask about the shoes then? Will we need proper walking shoes or should trainers cover it? Won't be doing any proper hiking, well DD and I won't anyway - we'll do a golden circle guided tour one day and one family member has requested a puffin watching boat tour another. The rest of the time I imagine we'll just be in Reykjavik given we're only there 4 days.

We haven't been, but I did research with the aim of going in summer time. I think high of 12 degrees is normal, colder obviously early and later in the day, I think leggings will be fine, legs always survive a bit of windchill and it's not ever going to be crazy hot if you hit a warmer spell. For the top half I would take 4 layers, so t-shirts, long sleeved thin thermal type layer, fleece type mid layer and a proper coat, then you are prepared for everything. We are hikers so we have this type of gear, but improvise with what you've got if you don't. Definitely have a hat and shove gloves in the coat pockets.

Unless it’s going to be really wet, trainers will be fine. You might do some climbs up beside waterfalls etc. which are wet from spray, so as long as they’re grippy …

I imagine and T-shirts best for 5 year old. Even if it’s say 24 and sunny they will be fine in leggings and t shirts.
Then take layers of thin jumpers and thick jumpers.

We live in cold climate in winter and one thing to bear in mind if it’s chilly is that most indoors places heat to furnace levels. So short sleeve tops underneath layers better as you can remove. Especially in hotels or cafes

h and m sells fleece kids lined leggings for about £5 if you want warmer option for 5 year old ( I just bought Ds some in sale for this autumn/ winter in next size

take waterproof trousers/ dungarees for daughter if you have

We went in September. We were advised to take gloves and hats - I thought I wouldn’t need them - but I did !

I'm going in July and it looks freezing....15 degrees max (this is cold to us, we live in a cold country)

I have fleece lined leggings, long sleeved tshirts, jumpers and a thick parka coat. Also waterproof trousers as apparently the spray from the waterfalls can be a menace.

Keeping a close eye on the weather...it has been raining non stop for weeks 🥺

Cold I can cope with, rain I am not so keen on!

Some friends of mine are there right now. There have been posting photos of themselves very well wrapped up in winter clothing.

Pack as if you are preparing for winter in the south of England. It is quite similar. When I go to England for Christmas I wear much the same stuff as I need throughout the Icelandic summer.

Waterproof trousers in heavy rain
Thin waterproof jacket
Woolly jumper (or fleece)
Thin hat and gloves
Waterproof trainers or walking boots

For your child, fleece trousers are good to go over leggings if it's chilly. Waterproof trainers are fine, but I would try to get waterproof as wet feet can ruin the mood like nothing else.

You're very unlikely to need shorts (it does happen though!) but you could easily get some t-shirt weather 🤞

The second half of August is really more autumn than summer for Iceland. It's not high summer like in other countries (though even high summer isn't hot of course).

Definitely no sandals. That would be like one day a year and I think we've already had it 😄

We are going next week. Taking layers. We are on a boat though and going out on zodiacs. We’ve been warned about midges! Taking hat, gloves, outer shell waterproofs, walking trousers, fleece, thinner base layers and thicker fleece jacket. Packable feather puffa. We are there for longer though.

We have been there before, in September. Had a blizzard one day. Heavy rain and high winds another. It’s very variable! There’s a puffin colony a short sail from Reykjavik. Late August the puffins will be leaving. Mid August you should see more.

Insect repellant! Some areas can be very midgy in the summer eg Myvatn.
Iceland is fantastic. We’ve been twice and would love to go again. Best holidays ever