Must-pack items for a fabulous trip to Iceland

I was fortunate to visit Iceland with several friends in September 2016 and if you are planning a trip there, trust me the scenery will not disappoint! There were waterfalls, black sand beaches and sheep galore! I definitely plan to go back in a few years.

What do you need to pack to make it an awesome trip? Check out my list of essentials below to avoid over-packing or buying a bunch of things you don't need.

1. Rain jacket

You will get wet. I repeat, you will get wet and almost every day. There will be light rains and spray from waterfalls.

I bought this reasonably priced coat from Amazon and it kept me warm and dry through the whole trip! If you are traveling during a warmer season, you might look for something a little lighter but in fall/winter this jacket will keep you warm. Make sure any jacket you get, has a hood because then you don't need am umbrella.

But they don't have it in teal anymore!

2. Moisture wicking tops, bottoms

I packed 2 long-sleeve workout tops, 1 short-sleeve and 2 workout tanks and I wish I'd have packed more. I lived in these moisture wicking clothes for the whole 10-day trip. If you are planning to hike up to waterfalls, you will want to pack moisture wicking tops and bottoms not just because you'll sweat a little but because you will get rained on.

In addition to the tops I packed, I also bought these cheap snow-pants to wear over leggings on days when I knew were were going to get really wet! Like when we went white-water rafting or horseback riding in the rain. I also wore them for whale watching and was glad because it was chilly on the boat. I ended up wearing them more than I thought and was surprised at how well they performed for less than $40. I wore them over leggings so I could take them off if they were too hot in the car but also because the leggings added some extra warmth when out and about.

3. Cliff bars

You might think I'm crazy for this, but pack some Cliff bars. Food in Iceland is super expensive and these will keep you going when you're out exploring and you won't have to constantly hunt for reasonably priced food. Yes, you can buy granola bars at the grocery store in Iceland but they are pricey and if you take 6-7 Cliff bars you'll save a few bucks, they are more substantial and it won't take much room in your suitcase.

Near the blue lagoon

4. Quick dry towel

Are you noticing a theme here? Yeah, you'll get wet. Actually a quick dry towel is only necessary if you are going to any of the geothermal rivers that are cool enough for swimming or the Blue Lagoon (Btw, the Blue Lagoon was a splurge but we really enjoyed it!). You can use it when you come back for the gym or camping.

I bought this quick dry towel and I found it to be very functional. However, you might want to get a slightly larger one as this one (40 x 20 inches) couldn't quite go around my whole body, which would have been nice at times. A larger one (60 x 30 inches) might be worth the few extra bucks. I was being a little too cheap when I ordered it, unsure how much I really needed it.

5. Hiking Shoes or a good sturdy shoe.

We saw a lot of the country side, hiked up to waterfalls and really some beautiful sights. If you are planning to do more than ride on a tour bus, I suggest bringing some hiking shoes. At the recommendation of my fiance (then boyfriend), I did not get waterproof hiking shoes and I think it was a good decision. I did however get some new ones because mine were mesh on the sides and I wanted to keep my feet reasonably dry and my old ones also hurt my feet.

Now, hiking shoes can be spendy. I shopped around for a good deal and bought them in part, because I knew I'd use them more when I came home. If you are planning to do a lot of tours, you can skip this but if you are seeing some of the sights that require you to walk more (we hiked almost an hour one-way to a geothermal river one day...) I suggest the hiking shoes. If not, you can probably make do with some good walking shoes.

I bought these cute brown and pink Merrells for about $60 on Amazon, they were very comfortable and I've worn them hiking a few times since then. Merrells are a good brand for outdoor gear and normally kind of spendy, I felt like these were a really good deal!

Are you planning a trip to Iceland and wondering what to bring? If there is something you are unsure about let me know in the comments and I will try to help you!

This post contains some affiliate links to the products I personally purchased for my trip. These links are to provide examples and I felt that each of these products served me well during the trip!