Iceland with Kids: Things to Do + Tips (2025)

Heading to Iceland with kids? You’re in the right place.

Iceland is a fantastic place to visit as a family. With tourism based around nature, exploring Iceland is all about spending time outdoors and appreciating an otherworldly beauty that can’t be found anywhere else.

Now, I’ll be honest –  my oldest daughter turned 7 during our trip to Iceland, and it wasn’t her favourite trip, for a few reasons:

1. There were a lot of long car rides
2. She enjoyed the beautiful landscapes, but wasn’t as captivated as we were. (A kid can only see so many waterfalls before it seems repetitive) 

We were travelling with my mom, and my brother, so our trip to Iceland wasn’t as kid-friendly as I’d recommend. I still believe that Iceland really is a great place to bring kids of any age, with a few modifications and things to keep in mind.

The natural beauty of Iceland is stunning and otherworldly, and if you’re a family who loves the outdoors then you surely be impressed

I’m going to share with you the things to do to plan the most fulfilling, breathtaking and memorable trip to Iceland for both you and your kids.

So, let’s jump in – tips and things to do in Iceland with kids!

14 Best Things to Do in Iceland with Kids

Here are the best things to do in Iceland with kids on a family vacation.

1. Meet Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses are a unique breed to Iceland. They’re the only type of horse thats allowed to live in Iceland, as the country doesn’t allow other breeds to move in. (And yes, they’re considered horses even though they’re closer to the size of a pony.)

During our road trip, we stopped along the side of the road whenever we saw these gorgeous Icelandic horses to allow my daughter to pet them. This is actually not what we’d recommend others do, now that we know better.

I found out after the fact that stopping along the road in Iceland to meet the horses isn’t the safest thing to do, for a few reasons. For one, farmers don’t want strangers constantly stopping to touch their animals. Also, many of the roads are only one lane, so pulling over is a hazard.

There are two much safer and fun options to spend some time with these adorable horses:

• Book an Icelandic horseback riding tour, such as this one out of Reykjavik for children 7+ years old.
• Horse Adventure in Vik provides horseback riding tours for families, children need to be 6+
• For children 2+ years old, there is a “Date the Icelandic Horse” experience offered by Hestasport

2. Spend some time in Reykjavik

I wouldn’t recommend staying in Reykjavik the entire time you’re in Iceland, but it is one of the best places to visit and I believe its worth it to give yourself 1-2 days to explore here; especially in Iceland with kids.

We chose to stay close to the Golden Circle, which was only a 1-hour drive into Reykjavik, so we were still able to take advantage of many of the family-friendly attractions.

Here are the things I’d recommend doing in Reykjavik as a family.

• The Whale Museum (pictured above) filled with life-size states of whales and learning exhibits
• The Settlers Exhibit – learn about the Vikings, and their early settlements in Iceland. There’s even a play area at the end.
• Perlin museum– Meet the Northern Lights, step into a fake Ice Cave and learn about protecting the planet
• Stroll through old town; there are many Icelandic souvenir shops, places to eat and stroller-friendly walks

For more ideas of things to do as a in Reykjavik, read my post on things to do in Reykjavik with kids.

3. Tour a real lava cave

A lava cave is a tunnel flowing through old, hardened and fossilized lava. Iceland has 30 tunnels flowing through lava caves, most of which were formed thousands of years ago.

One of the most famous lava tunnels in Iceland is located just outside Reykjavik, and known as “Raufarhólshellir.” Its one of the longest lava tunnel in Iceland, and is open year-round.

Raufarhólshellir and other lava tunnels are only accessible with a guided tour, as you need to wear the correct equipment and know how to move around safely. Tours of the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel are 1-hour long, so its perfect for kids who wouldn’t be happy on a longer tour.

The tour includes the headlamp with the flashlight so you can see where you’re going, and you’re given time at the end to explore on your own and take some pictures.

Book your 1-hour lava cave tour outside Reykjavik here

4. Spend some time in small villages

Small towns in Iceland are usually very small – even smaller than what many of us are used to. Usually they’re only inhabited by a few hundred people – or less.

These towns tend to be very walkable, and family friendly. Almost each small village in Iceland has a public swimming pool, many of them with waterslides. There is often a playground too.

We enjoyed visiting several small towns, even just strolling through to grab a pastry from the bakeries, or check the bookstores.

You will naturally stumble upon small towns in Iceland if you’re doing a road trip, as they’re all over the country. Here are the best Icelandic small towns to look out for.

Pro Tip: The best time of year to visit most small towns in Iceland is between spring and winter, because many activities are usually closed in the winter months. If you do decide to visit one of the town pools, I recommend reading about Icelandic pool etiquette.

5. Soak in a geothermal bath

Geothermal baths are one of the many natural phenomenas that exists in Iceland. They are essential large hot tubs in the ground that are heated naturally by geothermal energy. You could explain to kids that the bath is heated by a real volcano!

However, not all of the geothermal baths in Iceland are natural – a good number of them are man-made, but still provide that natural setting of sitting in a nature-based outdoor hot pool.

Personally, we only had the chance to visit a man-made bath while in Iceland. To be honest, I thought that it was natural. Even the man-made ones are purposely made to look as though they’re natural, so you can hardly tell the difference.

Here are the different hot springs you could visit in Iceland with kids, natural vs man-made.

6. Watch a geyser shoot out of the ground

Geyser’s are an exciting natural phenomena, in that you get to watch a large volume of water plunge out of the ground. There are only about 1,000 geysirs in the entire world.

The “Geysir” in Iceland is the most famous in Iceland and its found in the Golden Circle. One thing I like about this geysir, as a parent, is that its very predictable – water shoots out of the ground every 15 minutes or so. This is ideal for kids who don’t want to wait to long in between spurts.

The Geysir is about an hour and a half drive from Reykjavik. Aside from the Geysir, there are a few other notable things to see on the Golden Circle: the Gulfloss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and the crater lake.

I would plan a half day or full day to tour the Golden Circle and see the Geysir and other natural beauty.

I recommend this kid-friendly day tour (7 hours) from Reykjavik to see all three attractions on the Golden Circle, including the Geysir

7. Hike a real Glacier

There are a number of glacier hikes in Iceland. Its an opportunity to show children something they likely haven’t seen before, teach them about global warming and looking after our planet, as well get some breathtaking, otherworldly looking family photos.

Not all of the glacier tours in Iceland are kid friendly, but the ones that are are only available to older children. (The one we did actually, was only for ages 10+ but they luckily allowed my 7 year old to participate when we showed up. My brother had booked the tour without noticing the age requirement.)

Glaciers can only be visited with a guide, and you need to wear special equipment – helmet and special boots, or at least crampons. Guides visit the glacier regularly and know what the conditions and safest way to visit for the day would be.

Try this 3-hour kid-friendly tour for ages 8+ in a small group.

8. Explore waterfalls

There are so many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland that your kids may get sick of seeing them.

Most waterfalls have a parking lot that is quite close to the falls area, so you don’t have to walk too far. Some of them have wooden viewing decks and rails going around the falls.

Some of the best waterfalls in Iceland you will definitely not want to miss are Skogafoss and Seljandsfoss (pictured above.) Both of these are located 30-45 minutes west of Vik, and are the most popular waterfalls for tourists in Iceland (but for a good reason – they’re both incredible.)

Both Selkandsfoss and Skogafoss are located close to the car parks, and are safe to visit with kids. (I wouldn’t recommend a stroller at Seljandsfoss however.)

For the details on visiting more of the most captivating waterfalls in the country, read my post on the Best Waterfalls in Iceland.

9. Visit the ‘yoda cave’

Any kids familiar with Yoda, or parents who are Star Wars fans will get a kick out of this cave which is almost perfectly shaped like Yoda that its hard to believe it isn’t man-made.

The cave was almost undiscovered until Rogue 1 was filmed in Iceland. This cave was made of volcanic eruptions during an ice age. It doesn’t just look cool – its quite an impressive piece of natural phenomena. 

The official name of the Yoda cave is “Hjörleifshöfði” cave. Its located only about 20 minutes outside of the town of Vik. if you’re going to be in that area, read my post on other things to do in Vik.

You are going off the beaten track, quite literally and at first it will look like you’re driving into the middle of nowhere, but then there is a clearing where you can park your car. From there, it only takes a couple minutes to walk to the cave.

There were no other people when we were there, and we enjoyed sitting there in solitude. So if you’re lucky, you might have the Yoda cave all to yourself.

10. Go on a puffin tour

If you visit Iceland during the summer months, between May and August, then you have the opportunity to see puffins.

Puffins migrate to Iceland during the summer months, to nest and raise their young. A short boat ride from Reykjavik will take you to the shoreline where the puffins are hanging out.

The puffin express tour from Reykjavik is perfect for kids, because its only 1-hour in length. You’ll be taken right up to the Akurey Island’s jagged shore so you can see these adorable birds, and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

Book the Puffin Express tour from Reykjavik here

11. Grab a hot chocolate, and take a walk at Black Sand Beach

Blacksand Beach is a must-visit destination in Iceland. Its popular, but you’ll see why. It has the most otherworldly feel, with the charcoal coloured sand agains the ocean, and the famous Reynisdranger Cliffs.

You can park at the Black Sand Beach, or at the cliffs. We chose to park in the town of Vik, and from there we walked over to the Reynisdrangar Cliffs. (Its a walk that takes less than 10 minutes.)

The stacks are quite busy, and there is a visitor centre nearby with washroom, selling snacks, such as hotdogs. (The snacks are a bit pricey.)

Of course, be careful with small children near the cliffs (which look more like stacks.) They will naturally want to climb these stacks, as its almost a giant nature-made play structure. But just remind them not to go too high on the columns or lose control.

You can get some nice family pictures here, of the stacks and of the beach.

12. Chase the Northern Lights

Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland with kids will be fascinating and memorable, especially for older kids.

The best times to see the Northern Lights in Iceland are in the winter months (November through February) but its possible to see them anytime between September and April.

If you’re in Iceland in the summer, you might have to keep kids up pretty late in order to see the Northern Lights, which is another reason why winter is an easier time to see them with kids. However, if I saw them in the summer – that’s one thing that I think is worth waking the kids up for!

The Iceland Metrological Office has a special Aurora Borealis Forecast Checker, so you can check it to see what the chances are of seeing them each evening during your trip.

Click here to check the forecast for Northern Lights tonight, and bookmark this page so you can refer back to it during your trip to Iceland.

Pro Tip: Check out the kid-friendly exhibit at Perlin in Reykjavik about Aurora Borealis. You will ‘see’ them there too, in a planetarium. My daughter and I watched this presentation, and it was really well-done and engaging.

13. Visit Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach (which is right across from it ) are the kind of sights that people come to Iceland specifically to see. You can see these glaciers year round, summer or winter.

Seeing these real ice burgs was amazing for my daughter, who had never seen anything like it before

Conveniently, both Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach are located just across the road from each other. The Diamond Beach gets its ice (and the name, “diamonds”) from Glacier Lagoon.

You can walk from the shore of the Glacier Lagoon to the Diamond Beach in only 2 minutes, so its very easy to do with kids.

Driving from Reykjavik to Glacier Lagoon takes just under 5 hours by car (10 hours round trip) and you need about 2-3 hours there to make the visit worthwhile.

It can be a very long day for a child if you’re planning to do it in just one day from Reykjavik, but you could also add it to a Road 1 road trip to lower total daily driving time.

14. Go on a whale watching tour

There are different types of whales that hang out near the coast of Iceland, especially during the summer months – orcas, humpbacks, minke whales, fin whales, dolphins and a few others.

The most common place in Iceland where whale tours are done is a town called Husavik in northeast Iceland, which is just under 6 hours from Reykjavik. However, there are whale watching tours out of Reykjavik that you can do too.

Here are a few of the family-friendly whale tours in Iceland that you can do with kids:

• Classic Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik (all ages) –3 hours long
• Whale Watching on Traditional Ship from Husavik (all ages) – 3 hours long

Click here to see all your whale watching options in Iceland with kids

15. Learn all about vikings

One of the most fascinating things about Iceland is that it was settled by the Vikings.

Most kids will have seen cartoonish images of Vikings with horned helmets – but they can learn more about them in Iceland.

Here are some ways/places you can experience a bit of Iceland’s viking heritage:

• Visit the Settler’s Exhibition in Reykjavik, which was built on the ruins of a Viking house which was discovered in 2001. It’s very interactive and visual – my 7 year old really enjoyed it.
  
• Visit Vikings World, just outside Reykjavik (about a 45 minute drive east of Reykjavik, right next to the airport! I recommend squeezing it in before or after your flight.)

• See the Sun Voyager Sculpture along the harbour in Reykjavik, depicting a Viking ship. It’s just a short walk from Old Town
  
• Check out the a large rock depiction of Bardur Snaefellsnes on the Snaefullness peninsula (more on that below) great way to get your kids interested in the Icelandic sagas and norse mythology characters

16. Do a drive on the Snaefullness peninsula

The Snaefullness peninsula is undoubtedly one of the most scenic and beautiful drives in Iceland.

It’s just north of Iceland, and takes 1 day to explore the whole thing without stopping.

Depending on how long you’re in Iceland with kids, the Snaefullness is better to do with kids than the Ring Road, because you can see much more in a shorter time.

Here are some things to see on the Snaefullness Peninsula as a family:

• Bardur Snaefellsnes statue
• Try to spot seals at the Ytri Tunga beach
• Soak in the Lýsuhólslaug geothermal bath (summer only)
• Marvel at the Kirkjufell Mountain
• Se the Gerðuberg basalt cliffs (pictured below)

For more detail about things to do on the Snaefullness Peninsula, I recommend checking out this article.

3 Tips for Travelling to Iceland with Kids

Here are 3 tips for having the most successful trip to Ireland with your kids that is fun for them, but also fulfilling for you

1. Plan your itinerary so there isn’t too much driving in one day

After reading this article and having an idea of what you want to do, make sure you have an idea of driving distances so that you can minimize round trips.

Its easy to get excited about all the things there are to do, but Iceland is a relatively big country so the driving distances can add up.

Figure out if you are planning to stay around the Reykjavik area (or use the Reykjavik area as a home base while you travel around) or if you want to travel and stay in different around Iceland.

Here is a sample order of how you might be structure your trip to Iceland with kids.

1. Stay near Reykjavik for 3 days. See the city centre with museums, Golden Circle, do a horseback riding tour, lava cave, and/or whale watching
2. Drive out to Vik (90 minutes west of Iceland) and spend another 3 days there. See Black Sands Beach, waterfalls nearby, the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and Glacier Lagoon. Drive back to Reykjavik after and head home.

The total itinerary above would fill up 6 days in Iceland. If you have an extra day or two, I would recommend the Snaefullness Peninsula.

2. Book accommodations with space to move around, and ideally, a kitchen

If you’re spending a lot of time on the road, then neither you or your kids want to be cramped in a small hotel room for the entire trip.

Being all stuck in the same hotel room doesn’t give you or your children a lot of space, it can also be challenging sometimes sharing a sleeping area with kids for that length of time.

I recommend staying in places that have an outdoor area where they can play (bonus if there’s a playground!) and even a kitchen, so you can save money by cooking some of your own meals.

One of our favourite places that we stayed in Iceland at was Hellisholar Cottages. The cottages are about halfway between Reyjavik and Vik so they are good rest after finishing off in one place and heading to another. They have large grounds, a kid’s playground, and they’re also close to the Gullfloss waterfall.

We also enjoyed staying at this AirBnb near the Golden Circle. (Pictured above.) We had access to a canoe, hot tub, and even a play area for my daughter.

Staying at that Airbnb was a great home base for exploring both Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and Snaefullness Peninsula.

Pro Tip: Staying in Iceland accommodations that have a small kitchen is also a great way to save money, since Iceland isn’t the cheapest destination (especially for eating out.) Read more of my family travel budget tips for Iceland and other destinations

3. Keep in mind that there are not a lot of ‘danger’ signs

There are waterfalls, canyons, and beaches, and cliffs. Iceland is stunning. Keep in mind that the Icelandics don’t put a million ‘CAUTION’ signs like some of us are used to, depending on where you’re from.

Just because you don’t see signs, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t watch your step, keep an eye on children and be cautious.

The Icelandics have done their best to maintain the natural beauty and keep it looking natural. Wear decent shoes for walking, and assess the terrain before plunging in.

What to Bring to Iceland with Kids

Packing for Iceland can be tricky, because of different amounts of daylight, and the cold weather. Here is everything that you should make sure you have with you in Iceland with kids

• Waterproof footwear. Hiking boots, if they’re waterproof are suitable, even if you’re not doing hiking perse; the ground is sometimes wet from rain and extra warmth is worth it. I’d recommend this pair for men, or this one for women
• A rain coat or poncho
• A beanie or warm knitted hat
• Long-sleeved shirts, or a hoodie
• T-shirts to wear as your under-layer (even if you almost always have a layer overtop)
• Swimsuit (in case you want to visit a geothermal bath)
• If visiting in the summer, I’d recommend to something to help with the long hours of daylight, such as sleep masks or (if your doctor recommends it) melatonin

In addition: If your trip to Iceland is in the colder months (October through to April) then in addition to everything above, you’ll also need a warm winter coat, mitts, gloves and a scarf or neck warmer.

Iceland with Kids: FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about travelling to Iceland with kids

Is Iceland a good place to visit with children?

Iceland is a great place to visit with kids. For one, its one of the safest countries in the world. Two, most of the attractions involve discovering the natural world, or learning about it in interactive exhibits – this is highly educational, and fascinating for children. Iceland is also very child friendly, with a lot of amenities for babies and toddlers everywhere around the country.

How many days do you need in Iceland for kids?

To see almost everything in Iceland with kids, you should give yourself about one week. This gives you enough time to see all the highlights, and be able to take in the natural beauty without being rushed.

Can kids go to the Blue Lagoon?

Kids can absolutely visit the Blue Lagoon, but they need to be at least 2 years old. There are other geothermal baths in Iceland with no age limit, but the Blue Lagoon is conveniently located, being right next to the airport. Keep in mind, children under 13 are free at the Blue Lagoon, and kids 8 and younger must wear floaties.

Iceland with Kids: Final Thoughts

If you love natural beauty, then you’ll certainly want to put Iceland on your list with your kids. Natural beauty is one of the biggest draws to Iceland, but its also something that young children may not always appreciate to the same extent that we do.

Make sure that during the trip to Iceland with kids, you’re finding things to do that relate to what they’re interested in, and they’ll be more likely to engage with the other things they might not find as interesting at this age. I mixed up our trip a bit, and found it very doable and a overall a good family travel destination.

With that in mind, I hope that my list of the most fun child-friendly things to do in Iceland and tips for having the most amazing trip there with young travellers helps your family to have the most amazing time.

You won’t see any other country like Iceland anywhere, and it is still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.