A first weekend in Akureyri: art, Old Town and the fjord
Akureyrarkirkja: the church, stairway and a hillside walk
Akureyri harbour and whale watching: choosing a fjord outingAn example packing list for Akureyri in December
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Thermal base layer
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Hooded windproof waterproof shell
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Weather-resistant walking shoes or boots with grip
- Warm socks
- Swimwear (for a planned pool or bathing visit)
- Waterproof overtrousers (for exposed outdoor outings)
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport or accepted travel ID
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
Monthly weather and packing notes
December needs warm layers and weather-resistant footwear, with short daylight shaping the route. Check Christmas and New Year museum closures; the garden remains accessible but its public toilets are closed during winter.
- Daytime
- -1–3°C
- Evenings
- -6–-2°C
- Rain
- Rain, sleet or snow possible
- Daylight
- Plan outdoor stops around the actual sunrise and sunset.
- Packing style
- Removable warmth, a weatherproof shell and comfortable shoes with grip
Packtricia calculated December Akureyri-area ERA5 reanalysis averages via Open-Meteo for 1991–2020: mean daily high 1.4°C, mean daily low -3.7°C and mean monthly precipitation 124.9mm. Thirty complete year-months contribute equally using daily high/low means and precipitation sums. Requested coordinates 65.6885,-18.1262 returned grid 65.75,-18.25 at 56m model elevation. These regional gridded estimates are not station normals or forecasts. Display bands extend rounded means by 2°C either way and do not bound extremes. Precipitation includes snow water equivalent and is not a daily rain probability. Wind, footing and actual-date forecasts require separate checks; these city estimates do not establish conditions at sea or on mountain roads and paths.
Outfit ideas for your outings
Central streets, cafés and the Art Museum
- Thermal base layer
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Hooded windproof waterproof shell
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
Church stairs, Old Town and garden paths
- Thermal base layer
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Hooded windproof waterproof shell
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Weather-resistant shoes with grip
Harbour walk or a booked whale-watching trip
- Thermal base layer
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Hooded windproof waterproof shell
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Warmer insulating layer (for a boat outing)
- Suitable footwear following operator guidance
What to leave behind
- Only light summer clothing: cool and exposed pauses can need extra warmth.
- Slippery shoes for wet or icy paths and stairs.
- Specialist boat or mountain equipment without a suitable booked activity and current advice.
Reviewed 2026-10-16
Open-Meteo historical weather methodology · Reproducible Akureyri-area ERA5 query · Icelandic Met Office: actual forecasts and warnings · Akureyri Botanic Garden: year-round access and seasonal toilet closure · Akureyri Museum: current Icelandic opening calendar and holiday closures