Ultimate Guide to Packing For Iceland With Kids
Wondering what to pack for a family adventure trip? Packing for Iceland with kids doesn’t have to be stressful but it does have to be thoughtful. I did a lot of research before I zipped our suitcases up and I’m so glad I did! I’m sharing here the things we absolutely needed and some things that we could have left behind.
Keep in mind that you can experience multiple seasons in Iceland in one day, but that doesn’t mean Iceland doesn’t have very different seasons! This is the ultimate guide packing for Iceland with kids for a summer trip. Fall through spring are going to require much thicker layers!
What to Know Before you start Packing for iceland with kids
I think the hardest part about packing for Iceland with kids is knowing where to start. Is it every sunny? If its sunny and 50 will I be hot? Or still cold? Is it always windy? Will we ever need regular clothes? There is just something about packing for Iceland that feels like a bigger challenge than other countries I’ve been to. So first things first, here are so important tips for packing for Iceland with kids.
Bring Layers
You will need more layers than you think is even possible. Not necessarily because you will be cold in the summer but because sometimes it will be windy and sunny, or windy and rain, or just sunny, you get my point. Having a variety of layers that will keep you warm, dry, and the wind out are really important.
You Don’t need ‘regular’ clothes
I brought a pair of jeans that stayed in my suitcase the entire time. I’m guessing you aren’t coming to Iceland for its world-renowned cuisine, rather you are there for some epic adventures. You’ll feel totally comfortable in Reykjavik in hiking clothes so save the space in your suitcase.
Do i really need rain pants in Iceland?
Look, I must have googled every iteration of the question, ‘do I really need rain pants in Iceland?’ before our trip. I went back and forth a thousand times and decided to get some and return them if we never wore them. There were the single best purchase I have ever made. Period. Yes, you need rain pants for Iceland. And honestly, you probably just need rain pants for your every day life. If you don’t believe me check out my recent Instagram love-story post to rain pants.
Do I need Short Sleeved t-shirts in Iceland?
Yes, although you will rarely wear them. Looking back at our photos, we had one sunny and warm day when hiking. It was the kind of day where I almost regretted being in pants. We only had one of these days in a full 14-day trip but I was grateful I had short sleeve t-shirts for everyone to wear, especially the kids. You can always throw a sweater on over if its not enough.
Full Packing for Iceland with Kids Summer Packing List
These are the items I would absolutely bring. How many of them you need is dependent upon the duration of your trip, if you’ll have access to laundry, and how dirty you can handle being. I’ve left off necessities I assume you’ll bring like underwear.
Must haves for dealing with 24-hours of sun
Nothing can prepare you for the sun never setting if you haven’t experienced it before. While its amazing and makes for some unique sightseeing opportunities (you better believe I was out at 4am with a jetlagged toddler!), it can make sleeping a nightmare. These are the things that helped us survive a trip to Iceland in July.
Black Out Curtains
Not only do you need one, you need many. My experience was that most of the hotels in Iceland had a very liberal definition of a ‘black out curtain’. And yes, I emailed every single hotel to ask before arriving. I would recommend at least two per hotel room.
Eye Mask
This one is tricky if you have young children because it poses safety concerns. However, even with blackout curtains, I found that eye masks were necessary for older kids and adults.
White Noise Machine
I feel really strongly about sleep if you can’t tell. To be honest, we didn’t have the best experiences with hotels in Iceland, with the exception of the Potato Storage on the east coast. I always travel with a minimum of two sound machines for a hotel room, and was very glad I had them!
Outer Layers for Kids
You have a few different options here, you could go for a 3-in-1 jacket with a base layer and outer shell that zip togethers. Another option is to just buy the missing pieces you need an layer accordingly. That is what we did and I don’t think you can go wrong either way. Just make sure you have something light for warmer days, something heavier, and something to keep you dry and the wind out.
If you prefer separates, these are some of our favorites
Base Layers for Kids
These are another one of those purchases that you definitely need for Iceland but will also get a ton of use out of. We’ve tried both wool and polyester base layers and my kids tend to find the polyester base layers more comfortable so we tend to opt for those. I love how easy base layers make getting dressed! You know your kiddo will be nice and warm and we are pretty comfortable with them stripping down to just their base layer if needed.
Rain Pants
If you didn’t catch my blurb above, you absolutely need rain pants for the entire family for Iceland! Not just because it will rain while you are there but because you are going to be trekking through streams, behind waterfalls, and generally getting wet and dirty! If you are my kids you might even be sledding down a snow-hill on your bum (in July!!!). We’ve gotten a tremendous amount of use out of these rain pants on subsequent vacations and use them all the time as a wind breaker layer in windy Idaho.
You won’t need anything heavier than a rain pant and I recommend sizing up so you can easily throw these over their base layer or a pair of leggings.
Accessories for staying warm and dry
Wool Socks
My best piece of advice is planning on having two pairs of socks on you whenever you go hiking. We would ford little streams and while our genius guides were smart enough to be in waders, we’d be in regular hiking boots and very quickly have wet feet. I’d switch my socks out in the car and at least have dry feet for the ride back to the hotel!
Hats, Gloves, and Muffs
Right before we left, I had the fun task of trying to find a toddler a winter hat in the middle of summer. Thank goodness for the internet! To be honest, we didn’t need our hats or gloves outside of our hiking day in Landmannalaugar. If you aren’t visiting the Icelandic Highlands you might be able to skip packing your winter gear. If you do go, and you absolutely should, be aware that it is typically 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the surrounding areas and you will want to wear all of your jacket layers, a hat, gloves, and your rain pants. On a sunny day you can probably drop a layer or two. Check out this post if you are thinking about hiking Landmannalaugar with kids!
Hiking Boots
Check out my post here for my favorite hiking shoes for toddlers and big kids. You are definitely going to want a good pair for Iceland and I highly recommend something waterproof!
Packing for iceland with kids – what exactly should i put in my suitcase?
Assuming you will be traveling for 14 days and won’t have access to laundry this is my exact list for packing for Iceland with kids in the summer. Per child, I would pack:
- Waterproof coat
- Packable down jacket
- Thin fleece shell
- Hat and gloves
- 3 pairs wool socks
- 3 pairs regular socks
- 2 pairs of thermal underwear
- Rain pants
- 2 long sleeve shirts
- 1 short sleeve shirt
- 2 pairs of leggings or jogger type pants
- 1 pair of hiking boots
- 1 pair of regular sneakers
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 sound machine
- 1 blackout curtain
- 1 eye mask
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 3 pairs of pajamas
On the plane I would have them wearing one pair of leggings or joggers, a short sleeve shirt, and a hoodie. Make sure to pack some laundry detergent for washing things in your hotel sink and you are good to go!
Book that trip to Iceland so you can use this ultimate guide to packing for Iceland with kids! If you aren’t sure if your kids will love it check out this post. I promise you, it is one of the most magical trips you can take as a family!
