Reykjavík in December is less brutally cold than people expect. Average temperatures hover around freezing, but it's windy and wet, and in mid-December the sun rises after 11:00 and sets before 15:30.
Winter adventure gear is bulky, so this is the hardest trip to fit in a free bag. It works if you wear the shell, the boots and the thickest layer on the plane, and remember that you can rent outdoor gear locally.
The weather in Iceland (Reykjavík) in December
Shoulder months for comparison
| Station | November | December | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 4.7 °C / −0.1 °C40 °F / 32 °F · 86 mm | 3.3 °C / −1.6 °C38 °F / 29 °F · 95 mm | 3.2 °C / −1.7 °C38 °F / 29 °F · 87 mm |
Source: WMO 1991–2020 climate normals, published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI accession 0253808). Stations: Reykjavík (WMO 4030). Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast. Sunrise, sunset and daylight are calculated for the 15th of the month in 2026 (local time). °F and inches are converted from the metric figures. “n/a” means the station doesn’t report sunshine in this dataset.
- Around freezing: average highs just above 0 °C, lows just below. Wind makes it feel colder.
- Wet: about 15 days in a typical December get at least 1 mm of rain or snow.
- Very little light. About 4 hours of daylight in mid-December and only around 13 hours of sunshine in the whole month.
This week in Reykjavík
The outfit plan in this guide is built from 30-year averages for December. This panel is the real forecast for the next 7 days, turned into packing tips for your cabin baggage.
The live forecast needs JavaScript. Everything else in this guide works without it, and the climate-based plan above covers any December trip.
Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips.
Karen’s tipWeather changes fastLayer it up
Three thin layers from your capsule beat one thick coat in Iceland (Reykjavík) in December: add or peel them off as the day changes.
- Base · next to skin
- Thermal top and thermal leggings
- Mid · warmth
- Wool sweater or fleece/merino half-zip
- Outer · wind and rain
- Waterproof, windproof shell (plus waterproof trousers on tours)
☀ When it warms up: Hardly ever outdoors. On tour buses and in cafés, the mid layer comes off and the shell stays handy.
🎒 Stash it: Hat and gloves in the shell pockets; the half-zip packs flat in your day bag.
Check the live “This week” forecast above for big swings between morning and afternoon.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Karen’s tip On the plane
- Wear your heaviest items on travel day: coat, knit and your bulkiest shoes. They’d take the most space and weight in your bag.
- Planes can be cold with the air con, so take a jacket on board.
- An inflatable cushion that packs into its own small, discreet pouch: a head cushion on the flight and a pillow on beach sunbeds. You choose how much air goes in, so it’s as firm or soft as you like, which a foam neck pillow can’t do.
More comfort tips for flying economy → · Is a lounge worth it? →
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
What locals actually wear
Sourced tips summarise or quote the linked source; anything marked editorial is our own advice. We don’t make up “local” style tips.
- Visit Reykjavík's official winter list: a water- and windproof coat, a thermal base layer, a wool sweater, hat, scarf, gloves, thick socks and insulated boots.Source [1]: Visit Reykjavík (official city tourism)
- Pack a swimsuit for the geothermal pools, even in winter.Source [1]: Visit Reykjavík (official city tourism)
- "Don't bring or buy an umbrella." The wind makes them useless.Source [1]: Visit Reykjavík (official city tourism)
- You can rent coats and boots locally if you'd rather not carry them, and in late December you get about 4–5 hours of daylight.Source [1]: Visit Reykjavík (official city tourism)
3 outfit formulas
Your style: the best fit here is Relaxed sporty chic. Find your holiday style →
Day tour (Golden Circle or the south coast)
- Waterproof, windproof shell (or a rented one)
- Thermal top and leggings
- Wool sweater
- Waterproof trousers or thick leggings
- Insulated waterproof boots and wool socks
- Hat, scarf and gloves
Tip: Three layers (thermal, wool, shell) are warmer and pack smaller than one huge coat.
Reykjavík town day
- The shell
- Wool sweater
- Jeans over thermal leggings
- Insulated boots
- Beanie
Tip: Indoors is warm, so keep the thermal layer thin.
Pool and northern-lights evening
- Swimsuit (and a quick-dry towel if your pool doesn't provide one)
- Thermal set
- Wool sweater
- Shell
- Boots, hat and gloves
Tip: Aurora hunting means standing still in the dark, so add every layer you have.
Swatches are a colour guide for each formula, not product photos.
Day to night in Iceland (Reykjavík)
Same capsule, evening version: keep the base, swap one or two pieces. Every swap below stays cabin-bag friendly. How day-to-night swaps work →
01Day tour → Reykjavík dinner
- Base (stays the same)
- Wool sweater
- Insulated waterproof boots
- Thermal leggings underneath
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Waterproof shell
- Waterproof trousers
- Hat and gloves
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Jeans instead of waterproof trousers
- Soft scarf
- Statement earrings and a red lip
Pieces added to your bag: 1, statement earrings (keep the shell on top: it's still Iceland).
02Pool day → northern-lights evening, then a bar
- Base (stays the same)
- Thermal set
- Shell
- Boots, hat and gloves
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Swimsuit and quick-dry towel
- Fleece half-zip
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Wool sweater instead of the fleece
- Jeans over the thermal leggings
- Scarf
Pieces added to your bag: 0, nothing: it's all in the capsule.
Karen’s tipChange your hair, change the look
Swapping my hair from up in the day to down in the evening (or the other way round) gives the whole outfit a different look. Even one piece of jewellery I didn’t wear earlier does the same.
💡 It’s a free trick, and it saves packing extra outfits.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Preview note: placeholder links to each shop’s normal pages, with no affiliate tracking yet.
What’s underfoot
The ground
- Icy, snowy city pavements in Reykjavíkeditorial
- Wet, slippery rock and spray ice at waterfalls
- Black sand and pebble beaches (Reynisfjara)
- Volcanic lava fields and gravel paths
- Snow and ice on viewpoints and car parks
Lower mileage than city breaks (tours are by coach), but mostly on ice and uneven ground. About 8,000–15,000 stepseditorial estimate
Trouble spots
- Reynisfjara black sand beach: sneaker waves and rockfall. Follow the warning lights (orange means stay at least 25 m from the sea; red means the beach is closed). Don't climb icy basalt columns
- Seljalandsfoss: in winter, paths are slippery and large pieces of ice fall. The path behind the falls is particularly dangerous and is often closed; respect closures
- Gullfoss: the lower path is often closed in winter for sheet ice
- Slippery stones at cliffs and waterfalls (Visit Iceland/Safetravel)
☀ Day shoes
Waterproof, insulated hiking boots with ankle support and a deep-lug sole, plus pull-on ice grips or microspikes for waterfalls and icy paths.
☾ Evening shoes
Reykjavík evenings are casual. Wear the same boots, or pack light waterproof trainers or ankle boots. Nobody dresses up shoes here.
✕ Leave at home
Trainers with smooth soles, any heels, and fashion boots without tread.
Season notes: December has around 4–5 hours of daylight Ice grips are essential rather than optional. Check safetravel.is and the beach warning lights before setting out.
Karen’s tipHeels and cobbles don’t mix. Check the ground before you pack heels: thin heels catch between cobbles, so a wedge or block heel is steadier for evenings.
One pair, day to night: The best space-savers are a sleek waterproof leather ankle boot (Paris, London, Vienna & Prague, Amsterdam, Rome in December), a clean minimalist leather trainer or slip-on loafer (Tokyo, London), and a low block-heel sandal (cruise). Travel day: wear the heavier pair (see On the plane). Break in shoes before the trip.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: visiticeland.com · safetravel.is · visiticeland.com · south.is · reynisfjarabeach.org · gullfossiceland.com. Shoe recommendations are our own editorial advice based on these sources, checked 20 Oct 2026.
The free baggage packing list
Your bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm
Planned for 4 nights, using a soft backpack of about 20–24 litres made to the 40 × 30 × 20 cm size. The rule that makes it work: wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The dotted outline is easyJet’s bigger free bag.
Wear on the plane worn
In the bag 12 items
Karen’s tipRoll, don’t fold. I roll my clothes, stuff socks and small bits inside my shoes, and keep socks in a clear bag that comes home full of dirty laundry or wet swimming costumes. How I pack →
Karen’s tipPack a bag in a bag.A foldable shopping bag that folds into its own little pouch, for shopping, dirty laundry and pool towels. It saves buying a bag abroad.Why, and where to get one →
- An umbrella (official advice: don't bring or buy one)
- A long wool fashion coat (it isn't windproof)
- Bulky ski trousers (rent gear if a tour requires it)
Liquids: going vs coming home
UK airports vary. Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast International, Belfast City, Bournemouth, Southend allow containers up to 2 litres; most others, including Manchester, Stansted and Luton, are still 100 ml.
- 100 mlReykjavik Keflavik (KEF), in a 1 L clear bag
Pack your liquids to 100 ml for the whole trip.
Karen’s tipWater bottle: keep it full through a 2-litre UK airport, or take it empty through a 100 ml one. Flying home: Reykjavik Keflavik is 100 ml, so empty it and refill airside.Check your airport →
Karen’s tipDecant, don’t buy mini. I decant sun tan lotion into clear 100 ml spray bottles, and my day cream, night cream and cleanser into one squashy three-section silicone pot for trips of up to 4–5 days (separate pots if longer). Far cheaper than minis. How to do it →
Karen’s tip Check your room first
Read the hotel, Airbnb or hostel listing, or message the host, and ask whether they provide:
- Iron or steamer
- Hairdryer
- Toiletries: shampoo, shower gel (conditioner often isn’t supplied)
- Towels, plus beach or pool towels
- Washing machine or laundry service
- Plug adapters or USB sockets
- Kettle, tea and coffee
- Slippers and a robe
- A safe
Hostels often don’t provide towels or padlocks.
Karen’s tip Bring your own hair products. Most hotels supply shampoo but often not conditioner. Decant favourites into leak-proof travel bottles under 100 ml (fill them about ¾ full), or switch to solid bars, which don’t count as liquids. Amazon UK: Lericttor 100ml Silicone Travel Bottles ↗Check price · Amazon UK: Friendly Soap Travel Bar 95g (hair & body) ↗£4.72, price checked 20 Oct 2026 Every item they provide is one you don’t carry.
Karen’s tip No-iron packing
Pick fabrics that don’t crease. Woven cotton and linen crease; knits, merino, jersey and most polyester blends barely do.
- Hang creased clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
- Pack a small crease-release spray under 100 ml (it counts as a liquid).
- Roll clothes, and keep crease-prone pieces in a packing cube on top, not in a vacuum bag.
- Check whether your hotel or Airbnb has an iron.
Karen’s tip Buy it there?
Adding a checked bag typically costs around £60–80 return on a budget airline. So if your bag is full, buying bulky or liquid items when you arrive is often cheaper.
Think sun cream, full-size shampoo, insect repellent, a beach towel or flip-flops.
Probably not in this destination: Iceland is one of Europe’s most expensive countries, so bring what you need.
Tick items off as you pack (your ticks aren’t saved). Liquids rules depend on your departure airport and change from time to time. Check your airport’s current security rules before you decant your toiletries (see liquids rules by airport).
Flying there on Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz?
- On a 40 × 30 × 20 cm free bag (Ryanair or Wizz Air sizes), Iceland only works if you wear the shell, boots and sweater on board.
- With easyJet's 45 × 36 × 20 cm free bag you can pack a second warm layer.
- No room for a heavy coat? Visit Reykjavík notes that you can rent coats and boots locally.
Duty-free bag: Ryanair: extra bag allowed · easyJet: extra bag allowed · Wizz Air: extra bag allowed. It still has to fit under the seat or in a locker, and gate staff decide. Duty free and your free baggage →
Sizes come from each airline’s official page (see our free baggage reference for links). Rules change, so check your booking before you fly.
Baggage picks
The ticks compare each bag’s stated outer dimensions with each airline’s free-bag size. A struck-through name means the bag is too big for that airline. Soft bags squash a little; hard cases don’t. We haven’t tested these bags ourselves yet.
Want to fit more in? Compression cubes and packing cubes that store more in a free bag →
Pieces that fit the formulas
- M&S (Mountain Warehouse)Mountain Warehouse Pakka II Waterproof Hooded Jacket£32 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Feather & Down Padded Puffer Jacket£68 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- QuinceAustralian merino wool half-zip sweater
- M&SM&S Heatgen Maximum Thermal Crew Neck Top£22 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Knitted Beanie Hat£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S 2 Pack Heatgen Medium Thermal Socks with Wool£14 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- Amazon UKYaktrax Walk (Walker Traction Device)£14.05 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Ribbed Textured Scoop Neck Swimsuit£30 · checked 20 Oct 2026
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Prices are shown only where we confirmed them on the retailer’s page (checked 20 Oct 2026); otherwise check the current price.
Sources
- Reykjavík through the seasons: what to pack, wear and expect, Visit Reykjavík (official city tourism)
Airline free-bag sizes: see the free baggage reference. Climate: see the source under the weather table. Live forecast: weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips. Photos: Unsplash, credited on each image and on the photo credits page. Last checked October 2026.
