What to wear in Akureyri

5 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

Visit North Iceland sums up the weather in the north as famously changeable and tells visitors to pack layers and a waterproof jacket even in summer. That is the core of any packing list for Akureyri. The rest depends on the season and on what you plan to do, because many tours lend you the heavy outer layer and leave the small items to you.

Summer, from June to August

Visit North Iceland gives 10 to 18 °C for summer days in Akureyri, and Visit Akureyri mentions peaks of up to 25 °C. July and August average roughly 11 °C over day and night. A base layer, a fleece or wool jumper and a windproof, waterproof shell cover most days. Walking shoes with grip matter more than heavy boots for town, Goðafoss and the paths around Mývatn.

At Lake Mývatn reviewers keep coming back to one item. The lake takes its name from its midges, and reviewers of several Mývatn day trips describe swarms at the lava sites and the caves between June and September. A light head net weighs almost nothing and makes those stops far more pleasant.

Autumn, winter and spring

From December to February the monthly average in Akureyri sits just below freezing. In January 2026 the average daily low was −3.5 °C, and the ski area on Hlíðarfjall lies between 500 and 1,000 metres above sea level. Wind changes everything: on 18 October 2026 Safetravel warned of storms across the whole country with winds of 15 to 25 metres per second. Bring a warm insulated jacket, a hat that covers your ears, gloves and a scarf or buff, plus waterproof trousers for snow and sleet.

Aurora tours mean standing still outside at night, often well away from town. Wear more than you think you need, with warm socks and boots. Spring and autumn sit in between, with snow possible on the mountains and rain more likely in the autumn months.

What the tours lend you

On the large whale watching ships from Akureyri harbour you get thermal overalls, also in children's sizes, and there is heated indoor seating. The speedboats are a different experience. The Húsavík RIB trips hand out water-resistant overalls and a raincoat if it rains, and the operator points out that the overalls are compulsory by law. Gloves and hats are not included, and neither are seasickness pills. Reviews of the Húsavík boats mention cold spray, rough seas and, on wet days, overalls that let the rain through. Hauganes puts it plainly in its tour notes: bring hats and gloves.

River rafting in Skagafjörður is done in drysuits, and the family trip on the West Glacial River includes helmet, booties and gloves as well. Wear thermal underwear or quick-drying layers underneath and bring a change of clothes for afterwards. Snowmobile tours at Mývatn provide a helmet and an overall. For the short horse rides at Hestasport near Varmahlíð you get overalls or rain gear and a helmet.

Swimwear for the lagoons

Pack swimwear in every season. The Forest Lagoon near Akureyri, the GeoSea sea baths in Húsavík and the Earth Lagoon at Mývatn (formerly the Mývatn Nature Baths) are all geothermal baths. Towels are a different story. The Forest Lagoon ticket offered on this site includes towel and a drink, while the Earth Lagoon ticket includes neither towel nor swimsuit. Day tours that stop at the Mývatn baths ask you to bring both, and one notes that towels can be rented there for an extra fee. A plastic bag for wet things on the way back is useful too.

Riding gear and the horse rules

If you plan to ride an Icelandic horse, think before packing your own equipment. The food and veterinary authority MAST bans the import of used saddles, bridles and other tack, and of used riding gloves. Used riding clothes and boots must be machine-washed or dry-cleaned before you travel. Anything that cannot go in the washing machine, helmets and boots included, has to be cleaned, sprayed with disinfectant and kept for at least five days before it comes near Icelandic horses, which are not vaccinated. The horse riding page lists rides near Akureyri, and the best time to visit page shows what each month brings.