Packing list for Iceland, travel insurance for Iceland and taking your belongings

What to take to Iceland: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a valid identity card or passport is sufficient for travelers from the EU. Travelers from outside the EU might need a visa. Iceland uses the Icelandic króna (ISK). You will almost never need cash because even the smallest amounts are usually paid contactless.
• Clothing: the famous saying "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" is more than true in Iceland. Therefore, be sure to bring layers: thermal clothing, a fleece, a windproof and waterproof jacket, a hat, gloves and a scarf, and rain pants. Even in summer, it can be chilly and windy. When you are going into nature, it is better to leave cotton items, such as jeans, at home. These are life-threatening in the wrong conditions because they can stay wet forever and often cause hypothermia.
• Shoes: waterproof hiking boots with good grip are almost indispensable. Paths can be wet, muddy, or rocky, and the many waterfalls cause extra slipperiness. Flip-flops are essential for hot springs and swimming pools. For the cities, comfortable sneakers are sufficient.
  Care and hygiene: sunscreen and lip balm are important. Wind, cold, and dry air can severely dry out your skin, even when the sun doesn't seem bright.
• Packing and protection: a rain cover for your backpack and good dry bags for electronics. The combination of rain, fog, and waterfalls causes items to get wet quickly.
• Medicines and first-aid kit: a basic first-aid kit with blister plasters, ORS, painkillers, and personal medication. Are you going on a larger wilderness adventure? Then bring a more comprehensive first-aid kit.
• Outdoors and practicalities: a reusable water bottle, sunglasses, a hat or cap in the summer, and a daypack. Tap water is among the cleanest drinking water in the world.
• Technology and equipment: an international adapter for type C and F sockets and a powerbank is handy for long road trips or when your battery drains quickly in the cold.

To consider:

• Walking poles for longer hikes. Swimwear for the many geothermal baths.
• Binoculars for puffins, whales, and seals.
• A sleep mask if you are traveling in June or July; due to the midnight sun, it hardly gets dark.
• A thermos flask for walks.

Are there mosquitoes in Iceland?

• Until 2025, Iceland was always completely mosquito-free. Due to climate change, the first mosquitoes have since arrived, but they do not pose a problem for tourists.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Iceland?

• Sandflies do not occur in Iceland, but midges, small biting insects, do. These can really ruin your trip or stay due to the intense itching their bites can cause.
• They are mainly found in the summer months around lakes and streams.
• Fortunately, mosquito repellents and protective clothing work well against these little monsters.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Iceland?

• Yes, insect repellents are available at pharmacies, some supermarkets, outdoor shops, and gas stations.
• If you are going to the Mývatn area, a head net is sometimes more effective than mosquito repellent.
• Read more about DEET and other insect repellents.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Iceland, or bring it to Iceland?

• No, recreational use of cannabis is illegal in Iceland. Possession, use, and importation can lead to fines or criminal prosecution. Possession of small amounts of cannabis is prohibited, but it is not criminalized, which means that in these cases you will usually receive a (substantial) fine.
• Medical cannabis is legal under certain conditions.