Where to explore Iceland with Kids

With dramatic landscapes and beautiful nature, Iceland is known for being the “Land of Fire and Ice” Winter days are filled with only a few hours of daylight. In stark contrast, you’ll experience long Summer days with up to 24 hours of sunshine. This gives you time to experience all that Iceland has to offer.

Iceland may not be on your radar to visit with kids but it is in fact very family-friendly.

The country’s capital of Reykjavik is safe and clean. It’s easily navigatable on foot and there are lots of open spaces/playgrounds for children. You may wish to rent a car in Iceland to be able to explore further afield and make the most of your stay.

Here are just some of the family-friendly things you can do and places you can go.

The Blue Lagoon

One of Iceland’s most famous attractions, The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa known for helping people who suffer from skin conditions like Psoriasis.

Children aged 2 and over are welcome and enter for free when accompanied by an adult. All children aged 8 and under are required to wear inflatable armbands which are provided.

Kids will love swimming in this huge pool whilst the adults get to enjoy the mud masks and massaging waterfalls.

Whale Watching

Being able to see these beautiful creatures up close is an amazing thing to be able to do. Summer is the best time of year for Whale Watching and there are specialist family tours available with expert guides. Most tours offer a guarantee so should you be unlucky not to spot any whales you’ll get to go again for free. The recommended age for Whale Watching is from aged 7 but this may vary.

The Northern Lights

This stunning natural phenomenon is formed in the sky by particles emitted from the sun during solar explosions. When combined with the atmosphere in the earth’s magnetic field, energy is released which creates these amazing green streaks across the sky.

Going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights from the UK is probably one of the most convenient and affordable locations. The best time to see the lights in Iceland is from September – mid-April.

Location is also key in your pursuit to enjoy northern lights watching with the family. The best places to see the northern lights in Iceland are Thingvellir, Vík, and many more. Read this Iceland northern lights post to find out the rest of the best places and get ideas for your itinerary.

When taking kids you have to be prepared and you have to, of course, be mindful of how they will cope with waiting – especially young children. Older children will probably be more likely to join you in anticipation of seeing this amazing natural light show.

Puffin Tour

Puffins are nicknamed “clowns of the sea” and Iceland is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world. On a tour, you get to see them in their natural habitat. You can buy tickets for your Puffin Tour in Reykjavik harbour.

Gullfoss

70 miles from Reykjavik in South West Iceland is Gullfoss (meaning Golden Waterfall) – an iconic waterfall of Iceland. It’s surrounded by spectacular views of nature. The water plummets in two stages 32 meters deep and is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls.

If you aren’t arriving by car, any Golden Circle bus tour will stop at Gullfoss.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón is one of the most amazing natural wonders of the world.  It’s a large glacial lake in South East Iceland (around 235 miles from Reykjavik) which is now one of the deepest lakes in the country, It’s also famous for having appeared in numerous movies. Notably, James Bond movies: A View To A Kill and Die Another Day as well as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

There are two types of boat trips that go out on the glacier lagoon. If you are travelling with kids under the age of 10 you’ll be on the larger boat. For kids 10 or over you have the option of going on a smaller boat which gives you the advantage of having a more personalised experience as well as being able to get closer to the ice.

The Great Geysir

Another favourite attraction from the Golden Circle is this popular hot spring area with boiling mud pits. This geyser was dormant for many years before it re-awoke following an earthquake in 2000. It now erupts irregularly and would be such a cool thing to take your kids to see.

You can get to Geysir either by car, on one of the Golden Circle tours or by bus from Reykjavik.

Have you ever been to Iceland before? Where would you recommend as a good place to go with kids?

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17 Comments

  1. Love your travel posts so much. Iceland sounds wonderful.

    #KCACOLS

  2. Just yesterday I was looking at Iceland trips! I didn’t consider taking my children. I still probably won’t but it is something to think about. #KCACOLS

  3. Lisa (mumdadplus4)

    Oh my I really want to go and see the northern lights and that pool looks amazing it certainly on our bucket list of places to visit. #KCACOLS

  4. I’d absolutely love to go to Iceland – this looks just fabulous! #KCACOLS

  5. Ive never been but it looks amazing, although i dont think i’d go until my kids were older and could appreciate it more #kcacols

  6. Oh wow, looks amazing. I’d love to go to Iceland one day, when Snappy is older. #kcacols

  7. I would love to go to Iceland but never really thought of it as being child friendly! How wrong I was! This looks amazing! #kcacols

  8. Iceland is on my hit list of places I’d love to go to and it’s great to hear it’s kid friendly. I love your guides to breaks with ideas of what to do with the kids. Keep them coming! Excuse for you to do some more travelling! #KCACOLS

  9. Oh this has been on my bucket list for a long time now and I need to actually do it!:) this has helped:)
    Mainy
    #KCACOLS

  10. One of my friends went to Iceland last year and she said it was amazing! word of warning though, the cameras on IPhones won’t pic up the northern lights! We’re still unsure if she actually saw them because all her pictures just look like she’s stood in the dark

    #KCACOLS

  11. I’ve never been but it looks such a beautiful place to visit 🙂 #KCACOLS

  12. So interesting. I’ve never been – it looks lovely! I’d love to see the Northern Lights. #KCACOLS

  13. Iceland seems a great holiday destination and would love to go there one day. Thank you for sharing. #kcacols

  14. Those photos are amazing! It looks so beautiful and I had no idea Iceland was this beautiful. How wheelchair accessible is it though? That is always my first need.

  15. Never been to Iceland but looks like a beautiful place and memorable to take children #kcacols

  16. Nicola wiggins

    Wow that looks so amazing! Iceland has never been on my list for holidays but I think you may have made a contest of me!! Great pics #kcacols

  17. ohmummymia

    oh wow what a gorgeous photos! I would like to visit Iceland I need to speak about it with my husband but I’m sure he will say yes when he will see those pics
    #KCACOLS

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