This family-tested, carry‑on–only checklist is tailored for Iceland in autumn: with around 8 hours of daylight and Northern Lights on the cards, you’ll need thermal layers, waterproof outerwear, warm hats and gloves, and even travel‑friendly car‑seat backpacks, all packed into compact bags for your Iceland October road trip
With fewer crowds and 8 hours of daylight, October is a great time to visit Iceland with kids. Plus, there is a good chance you will see the Northern Lights! Just be prepared for the cold.
We have been to Iceland in October twice. First on a 5 day Iceland road trip and then on a 7 day North Iceland itinerary. Both times we were armed with thermals, warm jackets, and woolly hats and gloves.
Here are our suggestions for what to pack for Iceland in October:
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READ: How to save money on a family trip to Iceland.
Luggage
I took my Thule Subterra Carry-on with it’s magical compression panel to squeeze in as many clothes as possible. Hubby took a standard 40L rucksack, which was also used as our day-pack.
For the boys, we had to consider car seats. Our options were to hire them in Iceland at an additional cost, or take ours from home and check them in to the hold at Luton (this seemed such a faff, especially with the guaranteed queues at Luton). Thankfully, there was an even better idea… the Trunki Boostapaks!
- Quickly Transforms – Kid’s backpack to portable car seat in seconds, can also be used as a booster…
- Lift Share – Always have a portable booster seat to hand for the school pickup or sports club no…
- Hand Luggage – 8-litre capacity bag for packing toys/games/stationery keeping children entertained…
- ECE R44.04 – EU Certified for Group 2 and 3 (girls and boys weighing 15kg-36kg approx. 4 – 12 years…
- Made in the UK – Our foldable car seat is now proudly made in Britain at the Trunki factory in…
Clothing
In the first few hours of arriving in Iceland, we experienced rain, sun, snow, hail, wind, and even saw a rainbow. The weather in Iceland is notoriously unpredictable and constantly changing. It’s best to be prepared by packing and wearing layers.
Waterproof jackets and trousers
These 3-in-1 waterproof jackets in the photo below from Mountain Warehouse were perfect for this trip. The waterproof outer-layer can easily be zipped off to reveal a fleece, or wear the waterproof separately. There is also a packable hood and lots of nicely sealed zips. Plus, these jackets are fully waterproof with taped seams and a double storm flap, and nicely breathable.
We also all packed waterproof trousers, again from Mountain Warehouse.
- Rip Stop Fabric – Stop rips with this heavy duty fabric, longlasting and durable
- Taped Seams – Waterproof tape runs across all stitched areas, making the item fully waterproof
- Anti-Pill – Prevents the fabric bobbling due to rubbing and abrasion
- Microfleece – Very lightweight fleece, provides warmth without weight. Ideal layer in cold weather
- Zipped pockets – For convenient and safe storage of your belongings
- IsoDry – Waterproof & breathable material allows moisture out & prevents rain getting in
- Taped Seams – All seams are taped to make this item fully waterproof
- Lightweight – Great for travelling, comfortable to wear and easy to pack
- Packaway Bag – This item comes with its own ‘stuff’ bag, perfect for light travel
- Ankle Opening – Touch strap/popper openings keep the elements out and easy to fit over walking boots
Layers underneath our coats
- 1 Long-sleeved thermal top and bottoms each (these ones are great for kids)
- 2 T-shirts each (wear one, pack one)
- 1 warm jumper each
- Tracksuit bottoms for the kids (2 pairs each – wear one, pack one)
- Winter hiking trousers for parents
- Underwear (enough for your stay to avoid hand washing)
- Warm socks
- Woolly hat and gloves (ideally fleeced lined) and scarf.
Hiking boots
Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots are a must for parents and also kids, especially if you want them to cover good distances (wellies will not do!) We all wear KEEN hiking boots.
Swimming gear
Don’t forget your swimwear and towels for those geothermal pools! Indeed a dip in a geothermal pool one of the best things to do in Iceland with kids!
If you’re flexible on packing space, a Dryrobe is actually really handy for Iceland, not only for keeping warm out of the pools, but for when you’re jumping out of the car for a viewpoint and need a warm and waterproof cover quickly. Now Dryrobes can be quite pricey, so check out these best Dryrobe alternatives.
Food
To save some money on grocery shopping, we packed food from the UK. The current ruling for taking foods into Iceland is that you may bring up to 3kg of food, but no raw eggs, raw meat, or milk. We packed biscuits, pot noodles, tortellini, cereal bars, lollies.
Electronics
You may also need a travel adaptor (Iceland uses 2-pin plugs).
- Universal Travel Adapter: Simplify your travels with this all in one travel adapter. Equipped with…
- Travel Plug Adapter Worldwide with 4 USB Ports: This high power adapter features 2 USB A and 2 USB C…
- Widely Compatible Travel Plug: This power travel adapter is compatible with various electronic…
- Multiple Safety Protections: This travel adapter is certified by FCC, CE, RoHS, and UKCA. It…
- Compact and Portable: Weighing only 147 grams and measuring 7.25 x 5.0 x 5.37 cm, this versatile…
Cameras
Obviously pack your camera, and ensure you have a spare battery and memory card (your camera will be getting a lot of use!) You may also want to pack a tripod for those epic shots of the Northern Lights.
However, for shots next to the spray of waterfalls or in geothermal pools, or when it’s raining or you’re taking part in something active, you will need an action camera and we love the GoPro for family travel adventures.
Stuff for the kids
We rarely pack toys for our boys; they take up valuable packing space and are played with for all of 5 minutes. But we always take some crafty things. For this short trip to Iceland we packed for them: coloured pens, glue, paper, a CBEEBIES magazine each, and their Amazon Fire Tablets loaded with books, TV shows and games.
Medical and toiletries
Remember that if travelling with carry-on only, all liquids need to be 100ml or less and in a clear plastic bag to go through airport security. If you’re staying in hotels or B&B, shower gel and shampoo will be provided. So you really only need toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush and any other personal items you deem necessary.
We always take a medical kit wherever we travel which includes Calpol, plasters, antiseptic cream, paracetamol and diarrhoea relief tablets. There are no mosquitoes in Iceland so repellent is not necessary.
Miscellaneous
The tap water in Iceland is safe to drink, so pack a reusable water bottle.
You will need to pay extra for shopping bags in supermarkets, so pack some reusable and foldable shopping bags.
You may also like to read:
5 day Iceland itinerary with kids
How to save money on a family trip to Iceland
Best things to do in Iceland with kids
Check out this post if you’re looking to head to Iceland in December.
