The 17 best things to do in Iceland with kids

My first trip to Iceland was just long enough to give me a taste of this fascinating country, to get me hooked and ready to head back asap, to discover more beyond Rekyjavik and the Golden Circle – especially with so many things to do in Iceland with kids.

contains affiliate links*

Because Iceland is perfect for a family holiday. As soon as kids are old enough to enjoy the adventure, there are waterfalls, geysers, sweeping landscapes, volcanic beaches and dramatic scenery (to run around in) – but also civilisation isn’t too far away.

And as I still haven’t seen the Northern Lights despite several trips to the far north, including Lapland, Canada and Iceland, when rain and cloud scuppered our chances, I’ve got another reason to venture back.

If you’re planning an Iceland road trip with kids, check out more tips here.

When to visit Iceland with kids

The first question is when to visit Iceland with kids. The summer months are warmest, with long days (including the midnight sun in June – not necessarily ideal with little ones who won’t sleep) but also the busiest and priciest.

But the long dark cold days in winter, when some areas of the country are inaccessible because of the road conditions, is perhaps an adventure too far with children. If you’re not confident driving in challenging weather conditions and the dark, you’re going to be very limited as to how far you can go if you’re visiting Iceland in midwinter.

So the best time to visit Iceland is often during the shoulder months for a good compromise of price and practicality – visiting outside the coldest winter months means there are still plenty of adventurous things to do in Iceland with kids but it’s a bit easier than January when outdoor activities are few and far between.

When I visited in October, we still got to see waterfalls frozen in the chill but it wasn’t so icy that we wanted to huddle indoors 24/7 and you could still fit plenty into the daylight hours.

For more ideas of things to pack for a holiday in Lapland or Iceland, check out this post.

There’s also a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights around the spring and autumn equinox (March often being easier than September when you’re working around school holidays).

If you’re hoping to see whales, April to October is a good period – a lot of boat tours won’t run outside these months, plus some of the whales only visit for part of the year. If you’re hoping to see humpback whales, this period is a great time to spot them around Akureyri in north Iceland.

You can also see puffins in Iceland, usually between April and early September, although the summer months are best for spotting the birds (unless you have very patient kids who are happy to hang around waiting).

The best things to do in Iceland with kids

One big bonus of a family holiday in Iceland is how much you can pack into a short trip, although it’s very easy to fill a longer trip if you’re happy to drive further afield.

In my first three-day visit alone, we managed to explore Reykjavik itself, including a bike tour, museums and seafood at the harbourside Saegreifinn, plus the highlights of the Golden Circle – the valley of Thingvellir, the falls of Gullfoss and the geysers at Geysir.

Last but not least, the famous Blue Lagoon, where the milky blue water is so warm, you don’t notice the fact you’re outdoors in Iceland in winter.

Although it’s the best known of the country’s geothermal hot pools, it’s very far from the only place to enjoy them too. So while those are some of the best-known highlights, that really is just the beginning, with my 17 of the best things to do in Iceland with kids.

Save money on a trip to Reykjavik with kids with a Reykjavik card for free entry and discounts

Take a tour of Reykjavik

This compact capital is easy to get around so you don’t need a guided tour to explore, although it’s a great introduction to the city.

We loved the city’s bike tour which would be great for older kids. For some fantastic views, take the lift up the Hallgrimskirkja along the way.

But there are some great walking tours to help you get to know the city. How about a walking tour led by a Viking? Or this small group tour packs lots into 2 1/2 hours.

Check out the themed walking tours of Rekyjavik too – the myths and monsters tour includes tales of magic, elves and trolls, while there’s also a foodie walking tour with tastings that’s suitable for all ages. You could even join a quirky cat-themed walking tour covering the myths and history of cats in Iceland as you explore the city.

The National Museum

The 2,000 exhibits at the National Museum take visitors on a journey through time from the first settlers on the island to the modern day, covering 1200 years of history.

Along with thousand-year-old artefacts, there are two very hands-on rooms to explore and a family room with objects from the museum’s collection, as well as games and colouring. There are also orienteering games to help kids explore the museum displays, which you can pick up on entry, as well as a children’s audioguide.

Don’t miss the figure of Thor, which is over 1,000 years old. You can also book tickets with free cancellation.

Reykjavik 871: The Settlement Exhibition

Stop in at The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavik 871 10 minutes away from the National Museum telling the tale of the early settlers near where they’d have made landfall.

It was only in 2001 when construction discovered archaeological remains, which turned out to date from around 871, the oldest evidence of human settlement in the city, along with a 10th century hall or longhouse.

The exhibition was created around the genuine archaeological site to learn more about the earliest days of what would become Iceland’s capital city.

Reykjavik Saga Museum

Want to bring Iceland’s Viking past to life? Head to the Saga Museum in Rekyjavik, a waxwork museum covering the days of the earliest settlers in the country.

You can dress up as a Viking yourself, hear some of the key stories in Iceland’s culture, and see 20 important moments in the country’s history, from those early settlers who gave Reykjavik its name, to the founding of Parliament nand more.

Bathe in a geothermal pool

These volcanic hot pools and hot springs are dotted all around the country, with 18 in Reykjavik alone, including the Nautholsvik beach.

The most famous of the geothermal baths is the Blue Lagoon – check out these tips for visiting with kids as well as discovering the Secret Lagoon in Iceland with kids.

You’re advised not to take younger children into the geothermal pools, and some of the bigger ones won’t accept under-twos anyway. Younger kids may also need to wear some kind of floatation aid, even if they can swim.

As a bonus beach day trip, Reynisfjara black sand beach has volcanic black sand, and is one of the easiest black sand beaches in Iceland to reach – it’s a couple of hours from the Westman Islands, or you can stop on in this part of South Iceland on a self-drive tour. Diamond Beach is another option, right by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 

Gaze on Gullfoss

Probably the most popular waterfall to visit in Iceland with kids, Gulfoss is part of the classic Golden Circle tour.

A spectacular 32 metres of cascading waterfalls, you can see rainbows reflecting in the sunshine, or part of the cascades halted mid flow as it turns into eerily frozen icicles in winter.

Definitely somewhere to keep tight hold of littler ones…

See icebergs

At Jokulsarlon glacial lake, in Iceland’s south east, thousand-year-old ice floats across the lagoon in eerie glittering blue and white shapes.

There are boat tours to get a close-up view of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, including Zodiac tours which can bring you closest to the ice, and you might even spot seals – definitely a temptation for my daughter.

During the winter months, you can also visit the ice caves here – this is only one to try with older kids though, there’s usually a minimum age of around 13 depending on the excursion you go for. Definitely not something to attempt alone.

Walk through Thingvellir

The dramatic landscape at Thingvellir National Park is caused by the meeting of two tectonic plates, plus it’s also the site of the world’s oldest existing parliament.

Another of the standard stops on the Golden Circle tour, the scenery is fascinating year-round as well as giving you chance to learn more about the country’s history.

With older teens, you can even snorkel and dive (in dry suits) between the tectonic plates. This is one stop which is likely to be more interesting to older kids than a three-year-old, but you can enjoy wandering around here at any age.

Step into history

Arbaer outdoor museum has more than 20 buildings showing how life would have been lived in the country, from a farm to turf roofed houses in the village, with most buildings brought from Reykjavik.

Guides wear traditional dress too and this living history museum is a perfect way to introduce the culture of Iceland to kids.

See a geyser erupt

The final, unmissable stop on the Golden Circle tour is the geysers at Strokkur – the Great Geysir is the one which gave its name to geysers around the world.

There are various ones of different sizes, but you’re guaranteed an eruption of water from Strokkur itself, which blasts water around 15-20m into the air like clockwork every five to 10 minutes, although it can gush higher, as much as 40m at times.

The others are less predictable but equally impressive too.

Discover Iceland’s animals

Reykjavik’s zoo might be small but you can see reindeer and seals here which is sure to delight – and a good option if you’re not venturing too far off the beaten track.

There are arctic foxes, and a small number of exotic animals as well as farm animals and play areas, including a summer funfair.

Entry to Reykjavik Zoo is included in the Reykjavik card

See puffins

More than 60% of the world’s puffins head to Iceland between late April and August, to mate and lay their eggs, with pufflings hatching mostly during July and August.

There are several places to see the birds, with their famously colourful beaks, around Iceland but one fo the best options is to take a boat trip to the Westman islands to spot them (from a safe distance).

There are day tours from Reykjavik for age 4+ (although it’s a long day) or you can stay closer to pick up the ferry and tour of the Westman Islands.

Go whale-watching

You can also take whale watching trips to see some of the different species which come to Iceland’s waters, including humpback whales in the north around Akureyri and Husavik from April to September, as well as orcas in Snaefellsnes from February/March to June/July.

One of the easiest ways to go whale-watching in Iceland with kids is to pick up one of the many boats in Rekyjavik harbour, which is a good option with younger children – if you’re heading further off the beaten track, it’s better with older ones. Most whale-watching tours in Reykjavik run from around April to October.

Or visit the Whales of Iceland Museum to learn more about the different species, with life-size models of the 23 types of whale which visit Iceland’s waters.

Discover Reykjavik’s ‘pearl’ 

The Perlan building sits on a hill just over a mile beyond the city with artificial geysers, fantastic views and a mirrored finish to make kids think of spaceships.

It’s a great place to get a taste of some of Iceland’s dramatic landscape with young kids who can’t venture into the real thing (as well as older kids who’d prefer not to!) You can discover how glaciers are formed and travel through sub-zero tunnels to learn more about ice caves and their ecosystems.

There’s also a planetarium built inside one of Perlan’s hot water tanks, for guaranteed views of the northern lights, and some fantastic 360-degree views from the observation deck.

See the Northern Lights

Those magical dancing green lights are still on my own wishlist, after chasing them in Iceland, Finland and Canada (so far!) But despite my own bad luck, Iceland is a great place to spot the aurora borealis.

Specialist tours will check the best places for sightings, although with long drives out from the city and late nights, they’re usually better for older children.

Alternatively, check into a hotel with a Northern Lights wake-up services, so you’ll be told if they’re shining. There are also Aurora apps to download, so you can get an idea of whether it’s a good night to step out and scan the skies.

Go off-road

Buggy and 4×4 trips run around the island if you want to get out of the city, and even off the country’s famous ‘ring road’, with a whole series of adrenaline thrills.

And there’s even the chance to try horse riding on Iceland’s sturdy ponies which is going to tempt a lot of kids – how about riding through the lava fields, exploring an Icelandic valley on horseback as well as shorter horse riding excursions to give a taste. Most trips out on Icelandic horses have an age limit so they’re only for kids aged 6+, some 8+, and experience levels vary.

Follow the ring road

Over 830 miles of road stretching around the island, Iceland’s ring road is a world away from the average bypass.

Instead this circular route takes you to wild landscapes where you’ll start to believe the tales of giants, trolls and fairies who live there.

Check out my tips for what to do on an Iceland road trip with kids, including where to go and practical info about when to go, and what you’ll need to explore safely.

If you’re tempted by these ideas of things to do in Iceland with kids, check out these tips on saving money on a family trip to Iceland from Travelynn Family.

*First published 2015, updated 2026*

PIN FOR LATER: ICELAND WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Images courtesy Depositphotos

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER