Iceland carry-on: Icelandair limits and pools
Icelandair's carry-on can be "21.6 inches (55 cm) tall, 15.7 inches (40 cm) wide, and 7.8 inches (20 cm) deep", including wheels and handles, with 10 kg on international flights and 6 kg on flights within Iceland. Our pick is a soft bag listed inside those numbers, packed to 6 kg if a domestic flight is on the plan, with a swimsuit and quick-dry towel in reach. The trade-off is less room for warm layers, so you wear the bulkiest ones.
Icelandair's carry-on, including the 6 kg domestic limit
Icelandair's baggage overview says each ticket includes a carry-on bag, "(2 if you book Saga Premium Flex!)". The size comes next, inches first: "The maximum size, including wheels and handles, is 21.6 inches (55 cm) tall, 15.7 inches (40 cm) wide, and 7.8 inches (20 cm) deep." Weight depends on where you fly: "The maximum weight is 22 lbs (10 kg) on international flights and 13 lbs (6 kg) on flights within Iceland and to and from Greenland and the Faroe Islands."
The cheapest fare keeps the carry-on: "Economy Light: No checked bag, 1 carry-on up to 22 lbs (10 kg), and 1 personal item that fits under the seat." That personal item "can be up to 11.8 inches (30 cm) tall, 15.7 inches (40 cm) wide, and 5.9 inches (15 cm) deep." If the cabin bag doesn't pass, the overview warns: "A gate fee, equivalent to the cost of excess baggage will apply if your carry-on is checked-in at the gate. See price table." The amount is in Icelandair's price table, and we don't repeat it here.
By our reading, the 6 kg line is the one to plan around. It covers flights within Iceland and to and from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, so if one of those legs is on the plan, that leg sets the packed weight for the whole trip. Depth is the other number to check. Measure your own bag packed, pockets full, against Icelandair's 20 cm; the airline cabin-bag table covers other carriers.
Reykjavík's pools: the shower rule and what it puts in the bag
The City of Reykjavík's safety and conduct rules for its swimming pools say swimmers "are required to shower thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pool." They add: "Swimmers must also wear clean, approved swimwear." That's the rule at Reykjavík's own pools (read 20 Oct 2026). Pools elsewhere in Iceland may set similar rules, but we only quote the city's.
In bag terms, by our reading, a pool day means three small things. A swimsuit, a quick-dry towel, and a small wet bag or pouch so the damp kit doesn't soak the rest of the pack on the way back. All three are light, and they're the items to keep near the top in any season.
October and November at Reykjavík and Akureyri
| Station | October: mean daily high / low °C | October: precipitation mm | November: mean daily high / low °C | November: precipitation mm | Bag change (our reading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 6.8 / 2.2 | 85.6 | 3.4 / −1.3 | 72.5 | October's 85.6 mm: a waterproof shell that also blocks wind |
| Akureyri | 5.9 / 0.4 | 58.0 | 2.6 / −3.5 | 54.2 | November's −3.5 °C low: hat and gloves if the north is on the route |
Wind isn't in these files, so we don't give a figure for it. A shell that keeps out wind and rain covers both; the rain jacket or umbrella guide compares the two.
Winter, briefly
This page doesn't cover the winter months with figures. Both stations' November lows in the table are already below freezing, and by our reading a winter trip adds layers, which on a 6 kg domestic leg are better worn than packed. Our cold-weather carry-on guide covers which layers to wear and which to pack.
Example: an international Icelandair arrival and a domestic leg to Akureyri
An example route to show where each limit applies, with our suggestions marked.
- Fly into Keflavík on Icelandair from abroad with the carry-on inside 55 × 40 × 20 cm and under the international 10 kg.
- If the domestic flight to Akureyri is with Icelandair, its 6 kg limit applies. Our suggestion is to wear the shell, the warm layer and the heaviest shoes on that day, and move the power bank and other dense things into the personal item, which Icelandair sizes at 30 × 40 × 15 cm.
- Pool day in Reykjavík: swimsuit, quick-dry towel and wet bag come out of the top of the pack.
- Flying home from Keflavík: its security page lists "Maximum 100ml per container." and "Total liquid volume shouldn't exceed 1 litre." Our liquids guide covers what counts.
Guides for the rest of the trip
- The under-seat bag on other airlines: personal-item sizes by airline.
- What rides in the personal item on the plane: personal item vs carry-on.
Sources, each read on 20 Oct 2026: Icelandair baggage overview · City of Reykjavík, rules on safety and conduct at its swimming pools · Keflavík Airport security check · Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) station averages, 1961–1990: Reykjavík, Akureyri.