October · Autumn · Subpolar oceanic — cool, wet, windy all year.
What to pack for Reykjavík in October
Cool and wet all year — even high summer averages just 13 °C. The headline is the wind: Atlantic gales make a 5 °C day feel like -5 °C, and weather can swing from sun to sleet inside an hour.
Travel month
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Climate at a glance · October
- Avg high
- 8°C · 46°F
- Avg low
- 3°C · 37°F
- Rain days
- 15
- Daylight
- 10h
Pack for Reykjavík in October
Anchored on Reykjavík's October climate.
0 of 9 packed
Base layers
Mid layers
Outer shell & accessories
Footwear
Local quirks & hazards
- Wind chill is the real story — gusts over 80 km/h are normal in winter.
- Horizontal rain: a hood that cinches beats any umbrella, which will not survive a block.
- Black ice on pavements October–April; the city sands but does not always salt.
- Midnight sun (May–July) and 4 hours of daylight in December — sleep masks earn their place.
Dress & culture in Reykjavík
- Locals wear technical outerwear (66°North, Cintamani) over jeans — fashion follows function.
- Swimsuits are essential year-round for geothermal pools and the Blue Lagoon; bring quick-dry.
- Shoes come off before entering most pools and many guesthouses — pack slip-ons.
Leave at home
- Any umbrella.
- Smart leather soles — useless on wet lava-rock pavements.
- Heavy cotton hoodies — they get wet and stay wet for the rest of the trip.
Reykjavík month by month
Average high / low and rainy days. Helpful for planning a trip outside this month.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3°C · 38°F | -1°C · 30°F | 13 |
| Feb | 4°C · 38°F | -1°C · 30°F | 12 |
| Mar | 4°C · 40°F | -1°C · 31°F | 14 |
| Apr | 7°C · 44°F | 1°C · 35°F | 12 |
| May | 10°C · 50°F | 5°C · 40°F | 11 |
| Jun | 13°C · 55°F | 8°C · 46°F | 11 |
| Jul | 15°C · 59°F | 10°C · 49°F | 11 |
| Aug | 14°C · 57°F | 9°C · 48°F | 12 |
| Sep | 11°C · 52°F | 6°C · 44°F | 14 |
| Oct | 8°C · 46°F | 3°C · 37°F | 15 |
| Nov | 5°C · 40°F | 0°C · 33°F | 14 |
| Dec | 3°C · 37°F | -1°C · 30°F | 14 |