Packing for Iceland in March takes a little more strategy than your typical vacation. You are visiting at the edge of winter, which means you can experience snow, rain, wind, sunshine, and freezing temperatures all in the same day, sometimes all in the same hour. The key to enjoying your trip isn’t packing more, it’s packing smarter.
Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad preparation.
With the right layers, waterproof gear, and a few often-forgotten essentials, you can stay warm, dry, and comfortable while exploring waterfalls, glaciers, lava tunnels, and black sand beaches without feeling miserable or unprepared. Here’s exactly what to pack for Iceland in March so you can focus on the adventure instead of the weather.
Shoes and Boots
Iceland in March can mean wet streets, snow, ice, slush, or a combination of all of the above! Wear sturdy, waterproof, comfortable boots that allow you to navigate uneven terrain, slushy streets, rain, and ice. I like to bring more than one pair so I can rotate them, especially if they do get wet.
These Caroline Spice Boots were great – comfortable and water-resistant. The only time they got wet was when a huge wave came up over them.
You might also consider something like these Clarks Women’s Aveleigh Edge Mid Calf Boots if you want the ankle to go higher up. I have not worn these, but I swear by Clark boots for comfort.
Coats and Outerwear
Whenever I travel to a cold destination, I like to bring more than one coat. In Iceland I needed one very warm coat with a hood and a less bulky coat for warmer, less windy days. I also like to change my coat up in my photos!
I bought this CREATMO US Women’s Winter Snow Jacket especially for the trip, as I knew the color would look good against the terrain, and the hood would be practical and cute. The faux fur trim is removable, too.
The other coat I wore in the photos is 15 years old so no longer available; however, this Heavyweight Diamond Quilted Knee Length Winter Coat is a close substitute!
Swimsuit
Swimming pools are part of the culture in Iceland, so if you plan to visit the Blue Lagoon or one of the local pools, bring a swimsuit! The pools are filled with geothermal water, and swimming in March is wonderful! Be aware that the water contains silica and salt, so I advise bringing a suit that can take some wear and tear. Be perpared also to take a shower naked before entering the pool, as it’s required.
I like these suits for swimming in Iceland.
- Holipick Women’s One Piece Swimsuit with Tummy Control in red. Red will look GREAT against blue waters of Iceland.
- Ekouaer 2 Sarang Swimsuit Coverup – if you want a little cover-up, I recommend this, and they come in a two-pack.
- CUPSHE Women’s One Piece Swimsuit High Neck Tummy Control – I wore this on my Greek Island Princess Cruise, and you really can’t go wrong with a black swimsuit.
- Ekouaer 2 Sarang Swimsuit Coverup – this is the black version.
Pants
Thanks to my partnership with Kuhl, I had these warm and water-resistant leggings, which give me a slim profile and aren’t bulky at all under the coats. Plus they are great for the airplane ride and getting in and out of vehicles easily.
These water-resistant pull-on pants from Kuhl were perfect too! Again, they have a slim profile under a bulky coat. And remember that wave I told you about? These did not get wet.
In Iceland, I wore these OGL Max Warm turtlenecks in a variety of colors. They have a built-in bra and are perfect for layering as they are super warm, but have a slim profile. They are soft and comfortable, too. Trust me, you do not want bulky sweaters under a coat when you are traveling.
If you want another option other than leggings or slim pants (I know styles change) you could pack these fake jeans from Halara which look like the real thing even down to the distressing and the button, but they feel like fleece pants. Beware though, any pants with a wide leg have the chance of getting wet at the bottom as you drag them through the slush and snow in Iceland. I wore these pants for the airplane ride over, but stuck with slim profile pants for the trip.
Be sure to pack a knit headband like this one from Turtle Fur, a warm hat, or earmuffs. Bring along a couple of scarves, a rain poncho, gloves, and sunglasses, and you are ready for your trip to Iceland!
Read about my EF Go Ahead Tour to Iceland here – wait until you see the photos. You are going to want to go.
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Off Duty Traveler 