Exploring Iceland with kids has always been something that we’ve wanted to do. Our oldest just graduated high school, and for this soon-to-be geology major, there was no better classroom than Iceland. It’s also easy to travel to and great for families – a perfect adventure!

So, after several years of putting it off, we finally set our sights on Iceland in 2023. Many of our friends have visited and shared their stories of incredible waterfalls and Iceland’s unbelievable beauty. It became too hard to ignore, so we made plans and set off to the land of fire and ice.

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We found Iceland to be just like our friends described it and more – glaciers, volcanoes, great food, friendly people – the list goes on and on.

If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, we hope our 7-day Iceland itinerary with kids is helpful for you. We think seven days is about the minimum you would want to spend here, and it is a great starting place if you want to stay longer. We’ll show you what we did, where we stayed, and the highlights of each day. Don’t put off Iceland – you’re going to love it!

Exploring Iceland with kids

Day 1: Reykjanes, Iceland’s Southwest Peninsula

We decided to save the capital of Reykjavik for the end of our trip, so we spent our first day exploring Reykjanes as we made our way south and east. In order to fight the jet lag, the plan for day one was to keep moving and not stay in the car for too long at a time. After picking up our rental car, we drove around the southern part of the country, stopping at waterfalls, parks, and other cool things we found. Without too much structure, it turned out to be a great day, and we even tried to chase down an actively erupting volcano. Sadly, the road was blocked and the only way to see it was a 17 km hike, which was a no-go for us.

Bridge Between Continents

Our first stop was the Bridge Between Two Continents (Brú Milli Heimsálfa). Iceland is unique in that it’s one of the few places on Earth where you can actually see and touch the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Not only that, but you can literally touch the inside walls of them. These are usually hidden well below the Atlantic ocean, but Iceland is situated in a way that makes this possible.

The site has a bridge (of course) spanning both walls and has some informational signs that fill you in on all the science and geology at work here. You can also walk down into the rift for some pretty cool pictures.

The Geothermal Park Hveragerði / Hveragarðurinn

Next, we caught Highway 1 (aka Ring Road) and began our drive east towards the town of Selfoss. Just before arriving, there is a small town that contains a little geothermal park called The Geothermal Park Hveragerði / Hveragarðurinn. For a small fee, you can explore the geysers and hot springs as well as the shop and greenhouse. Inside they grow organic produce like grapes and tomatoes that you can eat right off the vine. We actually found it by plugging ‘waterfalls’ into the GPS, and that got us to the park.

It’s a nice place to stop and stretch your legs, and it’s much less crowded than the more famous geysers. If you’re visiting Iceland with children younger than ours, this is a fun place to let them watch the geysers without the crowds of Geysir.

Reykjafoss and Hveragerði Public Park

We also made a couple of unplanned stops here at the Reykjafoss Waterfall and Hveragerði Public Park – both worth your time. The park is well kept, and the waterfall is just a short walk from the parking lot. It was a nice detour that didn’t take long at all.

 

Urriðafoss

Our last stop of the day was Urriðafoss. Just off the highway, Urriðafoss is easy to get to, and looking back, is like a smaller version of Gullfoss. If you have the time, it’s worth a quick stop.

Where we stayed

Landhótel – Our original booking at Legendary Hotel Hella was overbooked for the room we had selected, so they rebooked us at the Landhótel.

On the one hand, we were tired and had to drive another 30 minutes, but the hotel was MUCH nicer. If you have the budget, Landhótel is great. It’s a little off the beaten path, but the restaurant was excellent, serving farm-to-table fare, the rooms comfortable, and the staff very helpful. We stayed in 1 room with 2 queen beds for the four of us, which was nice. Hot breakfast was included.

If you need a great place to stay in Iceland for families, this is it.

 

Compare area hotels on TripAdvisor here.
Check the latest prices for Landhótel here.

Day 2: Westman Islands – Vestmannaeyjar

For our second day in Iceland, our plans took us to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). If you want to see puffins, then this is for you! While you can technically fly here, the far more easy and economical way is by ferry. Book your ticket in advance here and bring your car so that you can explore the island.

Exploring Vestmannaeyjabær

The main island of Vestmannaeyjabær is easily explored in a day. It’s a combination of quaint little town and some very interesting nature that you’ll want to get out and explore.

Puffin Viewing

Drive south up the mountain to the southern point of the island (GPS works fine here). From there, you can take short hikes along the cliffs to view the millions of puffins that call this home. Around 10 million puffins nest here on the islands – more than anywhere else on the planet. It’s a great place to sit for a while and just enjoy.

Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary / Sæheimar Aquarium

For a small fee, take a tour around the aquarium where you’ll get to see their two beluga whales that live in the nearby bay.

Eldheimar

In 1973, the island of Vestmannaeyjabær was decimated by a volcano that erupted. The museum Eldheimar tells that story and has some very interesting history. It’s actually built around a home that was engulfed in lava.

Places to eat in Vestmannaeyjabær

Gott – Downtown has several little cafes, so we just picked one and gave it a shot. Gott was delicious. Andrew and I had monkfish for the first time, and it was excellent.
Pizzagerðin – We always like to try another country’s take on pizza. Sometimes it’s great, and sometimes we wish we hadn’t, but Pizzagerðin nailed it! Brick oven, Neapolitan-style with fantastic ingredients. Can’t go wrong here.
Eydís Ísbúð – For something sweet, pop across the street from Gott and try some homemade gelato and ice cream.

Seljalandsfoss

Back on the mainland, Seljalandsfoss is a unique waterfall just off Ring Road where you can walk behind it for some unique views. Put on your rain jacket and scamper around on the paved trail to enjoy some cool views of this waterfall. If you can make it here in the late evening when the sun is low and the light is golden, even better. Stopping here after getting off the Westman Islands Ferry turned out great, as the sun was setting (even though it was getting late) and the crowds were thinning out.

Where we stayed

Black Beach Suites – These are very nice condo-style rooms that can accommodate four, which was great for all of us. We booked a family suite that had two full beds, a dining area, small kitchenette with cook space and dishes, and seating area. There is also a hostel on site, as well as a bar and restaurant serving small bites. It’s very close to the town of Vik where we enjoyed a good breakfast before setting off to the ice lagoon. The suites are also very close to many landmarks like the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Sólheimajökull Glacier, and Reynisfjara Beach.

Compare area hotels on TripAdvisor here.
Check the latest prices for Black Beach Suites here.

Day 3: Jökulsárlón and Vatnajökull National Park

Day three was all about ice as we made our way east towards Jökulsárlón and the Ice Lagoon. The drive was 2.5 hours each way from our hotel which made for a long day, but guest houses closer to the lagoon were already booked up. If you’re making this a part of your trip (and you should!) lock in your accommodations early.

Jökulsárlón and the Ice Lagoon

Vatnajökull National Park encompasses the massive Vatnajökull glacier as well as several surrounding areas, including Jökulsárlón and the Ice Lagoon. Visiting Jökulsárlón was the one thing on our itinerary that we were all most excited about doing, and it definitely did not disappoint! The Ice Lagoon is located on the southeastern side of Iceland and is a large bay that meets up with a tongue of the massive Vatnajökull glacier – the largest in all of Europe. For comparison, it’s quite a bit larger in area than the entire state of Delaware.

To experience a glacier this close is awesome to see, and we would recommend making the trip out here if you can. Make reservations online early and especially try and find some accommodation as soon as you can, because there just isn’t a whole lot nearby. We drove about 2.5 hours each direction because everything closer was booked up.

Logistics aside, Jökulsárlón was a highlight of our trip, and you can easily spend a day visiting the lagoon and then walking over to Diamond Beach. Restrooms, a gift shop, and several food trucks make it convenient to stay and enjoy the day.

We were mesmerized by the blue ice which is ‘new’ ice that has just been exposed. This particular iceberg had just flipped over a few hours prior and had not yet been exposed to the air which will start to turn it white. It was spectacular!

Zodiac Boat Tours

We booked our tour with Zodiac Boat Tours and it was so much fun. While there are other tours available, Zodiac is the only one that can take you out on smaller Zodiac-style boats which allow you to really get close to the glaciers and icebergs. Plus, they’re just a lot of fun with the cool air blasting your face as you zip around the icy blue monoliths floating in the bay. Our guide was very knowledgeable and interacted well with the guests.

Book your tour here

Diamond Beach

Just across the highway from the parking lot to Jökulsárlón is parking for Diamond Beach, named for the crystal-clear ice that washes up and resembles shiny diamonds. Here you can enjoy watching the ice flow out to the ocean, dip your toes in the black sand, and just watch the waves roll in. We even saw a seal playing in the water just offshore.

Katla Geopark

Katla UNESCO Global Geopark was established and is recognized as one of the most volcanically active regions of Iceland and is significant for its geological heritage and value. If you’re visiting southeast Iceland, chances are you’ve visited parts of the park. It includes the town of Vik, as well as towering waterfalls like Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, massive glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Sólheimajökull, sweeping lava fields from the Katla caldera and Laufskálavarða, and beautiful black-sand beaches at Reynisfjara. If you’re driving on highway 1 to and from the ice lagoon, you’ll pass many of these sites along the way.

Reynisfjara Beach

We were lucky to be staying close by, so it was easy to pop down to the beach at dusk and check out the awesome scenery.

It’s also good for viewing some pretty interesting geologic structures like natural arches, a giant cave, and towering basalt columns very similar to Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. The tall cliffs are also home to puffins, and we were always mesmerized by watching them fly overhead with mouths full of fish.

 

If you wanted to stay for a while, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal, or just bring your own picnic.

Where we stayed

Black Beach Suites

Compare area hotels on TripAdvisor here.
Check the latest prices for Black Beach Suites here.

Day 4: The Golden Circle

Day four of our trip sent us back west towards the Golden Circle. This is certainly Iceland’s most popular day trip because of its proximity to Reykjavik and because many of Iceland’s most famous features can be seen in a short amount of time.

Skógafoss

Before making it to the Golden Circle, we stopped at the massive Skógafoss.

Located in the south near the Sólheimajökull glacier, this was a favorite of ours and is highly recommended. It’s easy to get to (can be seen from the highway) and is one of the tallest waterfalls in the country. This one was really awesome!

 

Iceland’s Golden Circle

Geysir

Iceland’s famous geothermal area full of active geysers, geothermal pools, and gurgling hot springs.

Gullfoss

Probably Iceland’s most famous falls, Gullfoss spills enormous amounts of water over cascading falls. It can take a little effort to make it down and back to the viewing areas, but it’s worth it.

Thingvellir National Park

Þingvellir – This park is home to several cool features, both culturally and geologically. Lögberg is the ancient location where the Viking Parliament met and settled law and also gathered socially. Almannagjá is the fissure that has been created as the two tectonic plates that Iceland rests on spread apart. Similar to the Bridge Across Continents, there is a path where you can walk between and see the plates from the inside – something that’s usually not possible to do.

Where we stayed

ION Adventure Hotel – For this night we decided to splurge on the ION Adventure Hotel. We had seen this hotel on a TV program or two and decided it would be a cool place to stay. It definitely was! We did have to book two rooms here as they didn’t have rooms that would accommodate all four of us, so keep that in mind.

We made reservations in advance for dinner at Silfra which was delicious. The Nordic cuisine was a step above what we enjoyed at other restaurants, but if you have picky eaters you may want to eat somewhere else – it is pricey. We loved the cool lounge area where we enjoyed some drinks and played card games in the evening. We also took a swim in the heated pool, which offered up some pretty nice views of the countryside.

ION hotels are now part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, so it is possible to redeem points for free nights here. We paid cash this time, but if you have the points, use them.

Compare area hotels on TripAdvisor here.
Check the latest prices for ION Adventure Hotel here.

Day 5: Reykjavik

Day five took us into Reykjavik to explore Iceland’s capital city. We loved the mix of culture, shops, and cool architecture. The food was good everywhere we ate, and we found things to be perfectly walkable, safe, and clean.

Harpa

Once downtown, the Harpa concert hall is hard to miss.

Take in the cool paneled glass and stunning architecture, but don’t forget to take a peek inside as well. During our visit, there was an interesting exhibition on display called Cir­culeight. It was a 20-minute, real-time interactive light show inspired by eight elements: lava, basalt, glacier, water, flora, algae, microorganism, and volcanic gas.

The National Museum of Iceland

Learn about the amazing history and culture of Iceland. The unique blend of Vikings, along with European, politics makes Iceland’s story pretty interesting. Also, ‘antique’ video games.

The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið)

A walk along the waterfront just down from Harpa will bring you to the sculpture of The Sun Voyager by Jón Gunnar Árnason. Take a few selfies and enjoy the views.

Where to eat in Reykjavik

Hot Dogs at Bæjarins Beztu – Make your way down to the Bæjarins Beztu stand for a world famous hot dog. This is the stand that made them famous. Order one with everything – Icelandic mustard, remolaði sauce, fried onions, raw onions, Iceland style ketchup. If the line is long, don’t worry – it’s always long, but it moves quick!

Hard Rock Cafe – As per our family’s tradition, we always pop in to the HRC for a Legendary Burger and some swag from the shop.
Kattakaffihúsið Cat Cafe – If you need a little something sweet, stop in to this fun cat cafe for a slice of cake and some pets for the furry residents. Win win.

Where we stayed in Reykjavik

Hilton Reykjavik Nordica – The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica is a typical ‘business’ Hilton, but it was clean and nice with a hearty breakfast buffet included for Honors Diamond members, which isn’t always the case anymore. It’s about a 5 minute drive from here to the downtown shops, but we didn’t find it a problem at all.

Compare area hotels on TripAdvisor here.
Check the latest prices for Hilton Reykjavik Nordica here.

Day 6: Reykjavik

Day six of exploring the capital took us to more museums and finally a soak at the famous Blue Lagoon. We finished up some shopping and prepared to say our goodbyes to this fantastic country.

Whales of Iceland

The Whales of Iceland Museum contains 23 life-sized models of whales found in Icelandic waters. The exhibits describe each species in detail and give you a sense of the enormity of them all. Perhaps the best part of the museum is the feature film they show regarding sonic pollution in our seas and oceans and how it affects marine life.

FlyOver Iceland

If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World and experienced the Soarin’ Around the World ride, then you’ll be familiar with this attraction. Once you’re strapped in, you take off on an aerial tour of some of Iceland’s most famous and beautiful natural wonders. If you’re looking for a way to see Iceland in a unique way but can’t afford the private helicopter option, this is it.

Viking World Museum

Explore the Icelander – a handmade ship sailed to New York by Icelanders (mostly from the Westman Islands) in 2000 to celebrate Leifur Eiríksson’s journey a thousand years earlier. The museum also tells the stories of Vikings throughout Iceland’s history and their expansion across the North Atlantic. It’s a small museum, so it won’t take long to visit, but it’s pretty interesting and very close to the airport.

Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘N’ Roll

If you’re like us, Björk might be the only Icelandic artist you know by name, but that’s OK – this museum will help you navigate all the rest. It’s only 5 minutes from the Keflavik airport, so if you’ve got an hour or so to spare, drop by. It’s a fun journey through rock history.

Blue Lagoon

Iceland’s most famous attraction brings in visitors from all over the world to soak in the hot, mineral-rich water.

We saved this one for last since our AirBnB was close to the airport, and we could stay out late. Pros: beautiful blue water and relaxing mud masks. Also, a swim-up bar for drinks and refreshments. Cons: Crowded, plus awkward showers and changing rooms. We recommend visiting just because it’s such a unique experience, but if visiting again, we’d choose to visit one of the local community pools instead to avoid the crowds.

Where we stayed

AirBnB. Since hotel rooms in Europe are nearly impossible to find for four people, we chose AirBnB. It worked out great and put us closer to the airport for our early departure.

Compare nearby hotels on TripAdvisor

Getting to Iceland

Iceland’s main international airport is located in Keflavik, about 30 minutes southwest from Reykjavik. It’s not a large airport and was fairly efficient in our experience. Several carriers and cities in the US offer non-stop flights to KEF. We flew on Air Canada for this trip from Montreal.

Getting Around Iceland

If your plan is to stay in and around Reykjavik and just tour the Golden Circle, then using cabs and tour companies may be all you need. However, we recommend renting a car. Iceland is easy to get around in, phone GPS works just fine, and it’s not really crowded enough to be worried about traffic. We rented an SUV and were upgraded to a large Toyota Land Cruiser, which was more than enough to hold our luggage and be comfortable.

Once you get out of the capital, there is really only one main road – Ring Road #1 – that will literally get you around the entire country. Keep tabs on where highway 1 is, and you’ll be fine. From there, many of the main sights and viewpoints are just quick exits off the highway. Because Iceland isn’t that big, fuel isn’t too much of a concern, and there are plenty of gas stations spread out around. Set up Apple Pay (or similar) on your phone before you leave, and you can use that at the pump to pay. Easy peasy. Use it around the rest of the country for easy payment with no signature required.

Phone service

Most US carriers have an overseas plan that will kick in, but check before you go. Ours was $10/day for data and voice. I find that it’s just easier to do that than mess with extra sim cards. We just had the kids run on airplane mode until we hit free wi-fi. We didn’t have any issues getting around using Google Maps and had good service in almost every place we visited. Wi-Fi was also good in most public areas.

Have you visited Iceland?

What were some of your favorite things to do in this incredible country. Let us know in the comments! If you’re planning a family trip to Iceland, let us know how we can help.

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