Iceland with children is a good idea, or rather a very good idea. If you love nature and are a fan of road trips, the island of ice and fire is a brutal destination for family travel. Now, you have to be clear about the two factors you just read; that is, if you are a textbook city dweller and have an allergy to putting in miles in the car, Iceland is not the place for you. Look for a good rental car, I recommend doing it through DiscoverCars because it gives you many alternatives at a good price, map out your route on the map to find accommodation and enjoy!
Whether you are already sure that you are going to travel to Iceland with children, or if for now you are just looking for info to decide, here are a lot of plans and places to see in Iceland as a family to help you.
Pay attention as I am leaving you a list with some of the most recommended plans to do in Iceland with children so that they return asking “when are we going back”. I did almost all of them with my 5, 3 and 1-year-old children during a family trip to Iceland for two weeks between May and June. At the end I add those activities that I could not do, but that perhaps you can enjoy with your little ones or teenagers.
Going with such small children, knowing that in the event of any emergency or health question you can talk to a professional gives a lot of peace of mind. Take advantageWhere to sleep in Iceland with children
I have written a very complete article with reviews of all the hotels in Iceland where I stayed during the trip.
However, here are the ones I liked the most for going to Iceland with children:
–Hotel Laxarbakki A spacious cabin in a beautiful setting in the south, 15 minutes from Akranes. It had a small children’s play area, as well as a communal jacuzzi and sauna.
–Hafaldan Hi Hostel Old Hospital This hostel in Seydisfjordur convinced us when as soon as we entered we saw a lot of toys in a glass-enclosed gallery. They are very friendly with children, the communal kitchen is amazing and they have an apartment for families. The best thing is that opposite there is a great playground with a zip line and trampoline giant. Also in the basement there is a laundry room (ideal for those typical children’s stains) and a sauna for parents to relax.
–Bragdavellir Cottages. This wooden cabin, despite being small, was a huge hit because we were able to see wild reindeer from the large living room window. For that alone I recommend it for sleeping in Iceland with children.
–Lækjarhus Farm Holidays If before it was reindeer, now it’s horses. Sleeping in an apartment with a kitchen on a farm next to a horse riding center was another success that the kids enjoyed a lot. The location halfway between Vestrahorn and Jökulsárlón was also great.
And if your budget is tight, I recommend using home exchange. I spent 9 nights this way, saving a lot of money in Reykjavik and Akureyri.
What to do in Iceland with children
And now, I’ll tell you everything you can do in Iceland with children to get the most out of this very special island:
Whale watching
Seeing animals in the wild in their environment is one of the great incentives for traveling to Iceland as a family. A destination like this where nature is the protagonist will not stop giving you unforgettable moments spotting wildlife. And that is where the cetaceans become the kings of the island.
Undoubtedly, very high in the top ten of the activities to do in Iceland with children (or without them) is whale watching. In my case, I did the whale watching tour in Húsavik and we were lucky enough to see quite a few humpback whales swimming nearby while showing their majestic tails, as well as jumping dolphins and a solitary puffin.
Keep in mind that this boat trip to see whales in Iceland lasts about three hours. If the children are very small, it can become a bit tedious, so explain to them in advance how long it will last. Also make it clear to them that they might not see any and that it is not very difficult for them to jump in front of you (they will see many photos of jumping whales on the signs). Managing their expectations well will be part of the success of this special plan to do with children in Iceland.
Bring water and a light snack in case the little ones get hungry. Spoiler: at the end of the journey they will give you a comforting hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll. Anyway, if you or your little ones have a tendency to get seasick, it might be better not to eat anything or you might end up vomiting like my five-year-old son did. Don’t forget to bring a plastic bag just in case.
The price of whale watching is 10,990 Icelandic krona, about 78 euros, for adults. Children between 7 and 15 years old pay 4,000 krona, about 28 euros, while those under 7 get on the boat for free. The price goes up if you want to see whales on board a speedboat, an adventure that only children over 7 years old can join.
In any case, although Húsavik is the most famous whale watching spot in Iceland, it is not the only one. There are other places in Iceland to see whales with children such as nearby Akureyri, also in the north in Hauganes , on the Snaefellsnes peninsula you can do it in Ólafsvík and if you have few days, in the capital itself, in Reykjavik, among others.
Learn more about whales in a museum
To complete the previous activity, whether before or after, I recommend going with the children to a museum to learn more about these animals. The Húsavik Whale Museum has up to 11 real cetacean skeletons, including one 25 meters long belonging to a blue whale, the largest animal on the planet.
This interesting museum is located next to the port and, if you want to save a few euros, check your whale watching tour ticket because some companies like North Sailing offer a 20% discount on the entry. The good thing is that children and teenagers up to 17 years old enter for free.
In the capital, next to the Old Harbor, you can also visit the Whales of Iceland interactive exhibition, which I recommend for its originality. Although this Reykjavik whale museum is quite small, it is visually very attractive, which will leave children with their mouths open. The reason? Life-size reproductions of cetaceans hanging from the ceiling and illuminated by a particular blue light that gives a special atmosphere to this place. Although if you go with very small children, they might be intimidated by the setup at first, but they will soon want to walk among them and touch the screens.
The fact that it is interactive, as well as being able to see and look for differences between 23 types of species, is the key to the success of this activity to do in Iceland with children. If you are going to buy tickets for Whales of Iceland, bear in mind that there is a family pack where, for the price of two adults, up to two children of maximum 15 years old can also enter for free. Children under 7 do not pay.
Take advantage of this visit, as well as the boat trip, so that your children learn about the importance of taking care of the oceans and respecting nature.
Go in search of puffins
These small and friendly animals are the most iconic bird in the country. Approximately from mid-April to mid-August, puffins return to the cliffs to nest and mate. In those months, going in search of them is one of the best plans to do with children in Iceland.
There are several areas where it is easy to spot puffins without much effort. Of course, don’t forget to bring binoculars if you are going to see them on your own, as this bird is very small and, although it depends on luck, the most common thing is to see it from a distance. Once again, warn the children about this detail to avoid disappointments.
In the north, you can see them in Husavik. In this small town, famous for cetacean sightings, it is also easy to see these curious birds with colorful beaks, especially if you take the combined excursion to see whales and puffins.
If you are going with very young children, bear in mind that the sailing lasts a little over three hours, so it can get a bit long.
Another place where to see puffins with children in Iceland is in the East Fjords, specifically in Borgarfjördur where they have set up wooden walkways to safely get closer to the place where thousands of them nest every year. I wasn’t there, but they say it is one of the best places on the island to see them up close, completely for free and without the need to hire an excursion.
The second spot where I saw puffins was in the Dyrhólaey nature reserve, a spectacular promontory full of cliffs very close to the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach, in Vík. Access is free, although it is closed from 7:00 PM to 9:00 AM during the nesting season to protect these birds and guarantee their peace.
As the children couldn’t see them in Dyrhólaey because they stayed in the car due to the wind, we made one more attempt at the end of the trip: boat trip to see puffins in Reykjavik. From what is known as the Old Harbor of the country’s capital, we set sail on a two-level boat with an enclosed area (ideal if you are going with kids and it’s very windy or raining).
I really liked this small excursion because, in addition to seeing hundreds of puffins flying around the boat and also perched next to other birds on small islets, you enjoy beautiful views of Reykjavik. On the boat, they give you binoculars which are essential for watching these peculiar birds. Oh, and we were also lucky enough to see a baby seal.
Look for Rudolph among many reindeer
The animal world is always a hit with children, but if you add the incentive of seeing reindeer like those on Santa Claus’s sleigh, this plan to do in Iceland with children promises to be another success. The downside? Whether or not you succeed, once again, depends on the whims of nature. Take the opportunity to explain to your children the difference between seeing animals in the wild and seeing them enclosed in a zoo.
Reindeer are not native to the island, but were brought by Norwegians in the 18th century, and those that adapted now live in the East Fjords. I was lucky enough to see reindeer in Iceland not once, but several times near Djúpivogur.
The first time we saw them running in a herd next to the road. Later, right in front of our accommodation where they joined us both at dinner and breakfast time. The glass wall of the Bragdavellir Cottages became the best viewpoint to see reindeer in the wild in Iceland. The children couldn’t stop watching them graze and doze in front of us. It was a unique memory of the family trip to Iceland.
The next morning, we still found reindeer again when returning to the road to go towards Vestrahorn. However, not everyone has that luck, so if you want more chances to see them, a good option is to take the reindeer sighting tour in the Breiðdalsvík valley, just before arriving at the area where we saw them. In this activity, you will go in a 4×4 to the valley area where it is easier to see them and you will also be accompanied by a guide who will tell you a lot of things about these animals.
Sailing among icebergs, essential if you go to Iceland with children
As you can see, one of the plans to do in Iceland with children that you can repeat several times, but with different goals, is to go on a boat. On this occasion, I recommend sailing among icebergs in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
There are several options to explore this very special place. If you are going with babies or very young children, the only way to cross this glacier lagoon is to do it in an amphibious boat. This activity is ideal for the little ones because it lasts briefly, around half an hour, and doesn’t give much chance to get tired. Besides, the adventure of riding in a vehicle capable of going on land and water causes them a lot of curiosity.
Once on board, it will be fun to look for shapes in the icebergs, see seals resting on the ice or swimming in the water and be able to touch a piece of millenary ice.
During the summer, there are departures practically every half hour, yet I recommend booking far enough in advance. Adults pay 6,000 ISK (Icelandic krona), children between 6 and 12 years old pay 3,000 ISK and kids up to five years old included go for free.
In case your children are over 10 years old or taller than one meter thirty centimeters, I encourage you to do another activity: Riding a zodiac through the Jökulsárlón lagoon. This is a great plan to do in Iceland with older children. The excursion lasts longer (1 hour), brings you closer to the icebergs and obviously costs more. Adults and children over 13 years old will have to pay 11,000 ISK, while children from 10 to 12 years old will pay 5,800 ISK.
But watch out, you have a very attractive third option: the kayak tour through the Jökulsárlón lagoon. You can only do this if your children are at least 14 years old and even then they must be accompanied by an adult. I have already lived the brutal adventure of exploring the icy waters of a glacial lagoon by rowing in Alaska, which is why I wouldn’t have hesitated to choose this option if my children had been older.
Chipping ancient ice at Diamond Beach
One of the places in Iceland where I saw my 3 and 5-year-old children enjoy themselves the most was on the famous volcanic black sand beach where icebergs from the nearby Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon wash up. Running along Diamond Beach is one of the best free things to do in Iceland with children.
The little ones had a great time literally chipping ice with a stone in their hand. So my advice is not to forget to bring them gloves so they can enjoy it even more. Also, look for animal shapes or objects in the icebergs; older children will surely enjoy taking photos in such a special place as well.
Collecting waterfalls, a great plan on a trip to Iceland with children
One of the island’s greatest attractions is its waterfalls. There are all kinds and they all have something special that makes them worthwhile. During our road trip through Iceland in a rental car (we booked through DiscoverCars which gave us a good price and airport pickup) we visited the most famous ones, but also discovered others that we didn’t expect.
A good idea to motivate them and prevent them from saying “not another waterfall” is to prepare a travel journal or a fun passport for them with photos of the Icelandic waterfalls you plan to visit. Add some stickers so they can place them as they visit each one. You can also add a blank page at the end for them to draw and color the waterfall they liked the most.
One of my children’s favorite waterfalls was Skógafoss because they were able to ‘touch’ the double rainbow that forms at the base on sunny days. Another favorite of the children is Seljalandsfoss because you can walk behind the water curtain. Remember to bring raincoats and if possible rain pants if you don’t want them to end up soaked and even stained with mud.
Both are relatively close to each other in the south of the island. If you don’t have a rental car, I recommend taking the excursion from Reykjavik to the south coast and these waterfalls. Additionally, they will take you to spectacular places like Vík where the little ones will have a great time climbing the basalt columns of the famous Reynisfjara beach. And two more positive things about this tour: you are accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide and children under 12 go for free.
Practical class among volcanoes, lava fields, and geysers
Iceland’s volcanic activity and the landscape it causes, and has caused, is another of the country’s attractions. There are many areas scattered throughout this destination where you can understand why it is called the island of fire. While they play among lava fields and spot craters, you can explain a lot of concepts about geology, volcanology, and geothermal energy to them live.
Be sure to go to the Lake Mývatn area, which is a real volcano theme park. There they will be able to see a bit of everything, marvel at the turquoise color of the water in the Viti crater, run among fumaroles and bubbling mud in the Hverir, geothermal area, and take a short trek through the Leirhnjúkur lava field. And if you end up very tired, the best reward will be a warm dip in the Mývatn nature baths; I didn’t visit them, but if you do, keep in mind that they don’t admit babies under one year old.
Another of the places you cannot miss if you go to Iceland as a family is the Strokkur geyser in the Golden Circle . The children will be amazed when they see the jet of boiling water suddenly rise into the sky. Very nearby you also have the Kerið crater very striking because of the red sand and which you can see in a very quick stop.
Could there be a more fun way to learn without going to class?
Visiting the striking turf-roofed houses
There are some things to do in Iceland with children that might not particularly catch your eye, but that the little ones will find very amusing. The best example of this is going to see the famous houses with turf roofs found at various points on the island.
We visited the ones at the historic Keldur farm, located in the south of the island, taking a small detour from the Ring Road. Here you can see a row of small grass-roofed houses for free, a technique used to protect the houses from the cold in winter and the heat in summer, also saving energy.
To see the small museum and discover the interesting history of this ancient place, you can pay for a guided tour (from June 1 to August 31 they run daily at 11 am and 3 pm) and visit the small museum there. The price is 1,500 Icelandic króna, but it’s free for those under 18.
A curiosity of Keldur that will also catch the children’s attention is the secret tunnel underground, whose entrance is by the river in a tiny house, also with a turf roof. It was built around the 12th and 13th centuries and was used by Vikings to escape without being seen during times of conflict.
Jumping on giant trampolines
Watch out, this plan is also free and it’s fun not only for children, but also for adults. Forget your embarrassment at home, take off your shoes, and join your children in jumping on the giant trampolines found in parks all over the country.
No self-respecting town in Iceland is without a children’s area featuring one or two of these colorful air mats that leave the little ones wide-eyed the first time they see them. You’ll have them searching for the nearest park throughout the whole trip across Iceland.
For example, in the charming town of Seyðisfjörður, in the Eastfjords, they will jump in a privileged natural environment where there is also a zip line (the photo above). And to the north, in Akureyri, the trampolines are next to the municipal swimming pool with slides. What more could they want?
Bathing in the municipal swimming pools
And speaking of swimming pools, these deserve an exclusive section within this list of places to go in Iceland with children. While it’s true that the most typical thing is to go to thermal baths like the famous Blue Lagoon, I encourage you to give one, or several, chances to the municipal swimming pools of Iceland found all over the island.
Of course, in these pools the water is also warm, you can even choose how warm you want it, because most have pools and jacuzzis at different temperatures. Additionally, for children there is almost always a special children’s area and, in many of them, slides of different heights as if it were a water park. Almost all are outdoors, although many also have a small indoor area. As if that weren’t enough, they usually also have a steam room and even a sauna.
They are also much more economical than the geothermal baths. The price is around 1,100 ISK per adult, about 7-8 euros, and 270 ISK, about 2 euros, per child between 6 and 17 years old. Children under 6 get in free.
During my family trip to Iceland, I visited several, but I’ll leave you with the two that the children enjoyed the most. The swimming pool in Akureyri, in the north of the country, is very new and has become one of the best places in Iceland for a family-friendly and cheap thermal bath. One of its slides is the longest in the country, the facilities are very complete and the children’s area is great, very large and perfect for babies and small children.
In Reykjavik there are several municipal swimming pools, the most famous and largest is Laugardalslau. However, I was at Dalslaug (Úlfarsbraut, 122), a new one on the outskirts that my children loved because, despite not having slides for the moment, it had an indoor area with lots of water toys. And what made it special was the children’s library and play area that can also be enjoyed when paying for admission.
These facilities are very kid friendly, so if you go with babies you will find high chairs in the changing rooms to make it easier for you.
A quick tour of all of Iceland with children at the Perlan Museum
If you have enough time in Reykjavik, I recommend putting the Perlan Museum on your list of places to see in Iceland with children. Here they can touch, feel, and experience everything the island offers thanks to a very complete interactive exhibit. From watching puffins incubating eggs, to crossing the inside of a glacier thanks to the reproduction of an ice cave, to feeling the force of a volcano and even seeing the northern lights in its planetarium.
But besides ‘playing’ in the museum, the children will learn a lot of interesting things and become aware of the urgent need to take care of the planet. Buy your ticket for the Perlan Museum and ensure an educational and fun afternoon or morning with children in Iceland. Oh, and it’s also the perfect plan for when it rains.
From the dome, you have 360-degree views of Reykjavik that are well worth it. If your budget allows, you can eat at the glass restaurant upstairs or at least treat the kids to an ice cream at the museum’s ice cream parlor. If you don’t want to spend more money, I recommend you don’t let them look out the car window when you’re arriving at Perlan.
That way they won’t see Adventure Land, the giant inflatable attraction park outside the museum that they will definitely want to go to. In case you think you’ll end up giving in to this fun whim, I advise you to buy the ticket in advance because it’s timed and they sell out.
- Here is all the info about the Perlan Museum Iceland.
To the most special beach in Reykjavik!
Also in Reykjavik, next to the Perlan Museum, there is a very curious place that you cannot miss. It is the Nauthólsvík geothermal beach, a great free plan to do in Iceland with children. Note that access is only free from May 15th to August 15th, the rest of the year you have to pay 740 ISK.
Soaking in warm water is almost a national sport in this country, but doing it on a golden sand beach is not common at all. The whole family will enjoy a soak in a long jacuzzi at 38 degrees with views of the Atlantic and if you are very daring you can swim in the sea as the Icelanders do.
The facilities are very good, with changing rooms, showers, a barbecue area, and a restaurant. Additionally, there are two small thermal pools next to the shore and even a Turkish bath for those who like steam. The children had a great time both bathing and enjoying a picnic afterwards and playing in the small park behind.
Enjoy the best ice cream parlor in Reykjavik
Another simple plan to do in Iceland with children is eating ice cream! Yes, despite the cold that usually reigns in this destination, Icelanders love ice cream and that’s why you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy this sweet treat.
I suggest going to what, according to my HomeExchange hosts in Reykjavik, is one of the best ice cream parlors in the country. Be sure to stop by the colorful Valdis at number 10 Frakkastígur Street.
Additionally, this ice cream parlor is right next to the city’s most commercial and lively artery, Laugavegur, which you cannot miss to enjoy its atmosphere and its street art on walls and floors! Children will have a great time running over every piece of graffiti.
Another ice cream parlor in central Reykjavik highly recommended by locals is Gaeta Gelato at Aðalstræti, 6.
Eating Iceland’s most famous hot dog
Just like with ice cream, hot dogs are synonymous with success among children. For that reason, a plan as simple as going to try what they say are the best in the country (or at least the most famous) is never a bad idea.
In the heart of Reykjavik, specifically at number 1 Tryggvagata street, the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stall has been selling ‘pylsur’ (hot dogs in Icelandic) since 1937. Such is its fame that even Bill Clinton became a customer.
5 plans in Iceland with children that I couldn’t do and you perhaps can
The suggestions I’ve shared so far are the ones I experienced in person during my family trip to Iceland. However, this country offers many more interesting things to do with kids. Here are some of them that, in my case, I couldn’t enjoy because either my children were still very small, they happen during another time of year, or because when traveling with children it’s impossible to do everything:
- Seeing how the sky changes color with the Northern Lights
- Bathing in the middle of nature in the warm hot springs of the Blue Lagoon (children under 2 years old cannot enter) or the new Sky Lagoon (only those over 12) near Reykjavik. In the north of the country, the Mývatn Nature Baths are famous, and the Forest Lagoon in Akureyri is less crowded. Beware that some such as the
- Reaching the remote beach of Sólheimasandur to see the remains of the crashed plane aboard a quad bike (only for ages 8 and up).
- Feeling the ancient ice under your feet during a trek through the Vatnajökull glacier and ending up inside a blue ice cave (from 8 years old).
- Having more time in Reykjavik to learn how Icelanders lived in the past at the historic Árbæjarsafn open-air museum.
Do you know how home exchange works? If you've never heard of this cooperative accommodation model that lets you travel the world staying in other people's homes while someone else stays in yours, have a look at this in-depth article where I explain how home exchange works. I always use the HomeExchange platform: for the price of a yearly subscription, which in many cases is what one night in a hotel would cost you, you can make as many reciprocal exchanges as you like, or as many as your guestpoints allow. Check the current terms and sign up here.
If you have more doubts or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments; it will be a pleasure to help you.
