Iceland is a fascinating country, rich in unusual natural landscapes and a polar fauna hard to admire in other European countries.
Visiting Iceland is often dreamt by many, but it becomes more complicated when there are small children in the family. Nevertheless, Iceland is a family friendly country, where there are plenty of services aimed at children.
Iceland, a trip for families
Even though Iceland is an expensive country compared to other European places, it provides many services for families that make it an ideal destination for a family trip.
Iceland is a child-friendly country with many fairytale-like landscapes and activities loved by children. Proof of that is the fact that Iceland is the country where the famous "Lazy Town" show was born, a TV show beloved by children all over the world.
Even families with very small children can organize easily to find accommodation in Iceland and make many excursions.
Iceland is also a very safe country, and it’s not unusual to see Icelandic children playing outside without supervision. The criminal rate is very low, and this contributes to its family friendly reputation.
Iceland with children, what to do: the most beautiful attractions
During your trip to Iceland with your family, there are many interesting attractions for you and your children.
The capital Reykjavik is a quiet city, full of art, typical restaurants and playgrounds; the National Museum of Iceland is very interesting, and your children can have the chance to dress up as Vikings. Another interactive museum is the Árbær Open Air Museum, where children can explore different periods of icelandic history. In the capital there is also a small zoo where you can see local animals like reindeers, minks and the famous Icelandic horses. From Reykjavik you can quickly get to Haukadalur valley, where you can admire the incredible geysers.
At Vik, you can visit the Icelandic Lava Show, where the eruption of a volcano is reproduced by pouring lava in a room: an exciting show for your little ones!
Your children will have a lot of fun at the Blue Lagoon, a natural thermal pool located in a volcanic landscape. The water is warm and rich in healthy minerals for the skin; just remember to program some breaks for your children, since the water is very warm and salty. In Iceland there are a lot of swimming pools, a popular gathering place for families: almost all of them have slides and pools with shallow water suitable for children.
Perhaps one of the most exciting attraction for both children and adults is having an excursion in the nature, on a sightseeing hunt for puffins and whales. There are many day tours to sightsee whales, which depart from Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hùsavik and the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The famous puffins are mostly visible in summer, through boat excursions. You can also admire them passing through the southern coast or the Westfjords.
On the Vatnsnes peninsula you can even see seals, while they relax on the seashore. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try an excursion on a glacier, like the ones of Sólheimajökull and Vatnajökull.
A new but very popular activity is dog sledding, ideal for smaller children. During these excursions, children can meet some of the dog sledding breeds like Siberian Huskies and Greenland Dogs.
Lastly, we should mention the national parks of Iceland: the Thingvellir, Snæfellsjökull and Vatnajokull parks are marvelous places where you can admire natural Icelandic landscapes.
Iceland with small children: best periods
The ideal period to travel is the summer, when temperatures are milder, even though the months of April, May and September are still recommended to avoid the peak period.
Travelling in winter will allow you to see the famous polar lights and save on accommodation and transportation, but the climate tends to be a lot colder.
To discover more about the best period to travel to Iceland, read our article here.
Organizing a trip to Iceland: how to dress
When you travel with children, especially in cold countries like Iceland it’s important to bring thick clothes with you.
It’s necessary to dress up in layers, choosing isolating shirts and leggins under your clothes, and don’t forget hat, scarf and gloves. It’s fundamental to bring comfortable trekking shoes and a rain jacket.
We recommend you to travel with a big backpack to carry accessories and toys better. If your children are too small to have long excursions, it’s better to carry them with a special child carrying backpack or a sling.
Where to sleep and to eat in Iceland
Iceland is a country suitable for families: many hotels are equipped for children with specific beds, and their internal restaurants often have child-friendly menus.
Another alternative is renting an apartment or a holiday house.
Typical Icelandic food is different from most of what we’re used to eat, and this can be a challenge for children. Despite that difficulty, simple meals like chicken and French fries are always available.
If you want to let your children taste a typical delicacy, try Skyr: it’s a soft milk derivative, similar to yogurt, often paired with fruit. In many places it’s served as a milkshake.
The Kleina is a typical fried dough dessert made of flour, eggs, sugar and butter, while the Randabrauð is a layered dessert with sponge cake and jam. Icelandic cuisine isn’t very diverse, and is mostly based on fish, sheep meat and potatoes. It’s still possible to find alternatives more familiar to children in their restaurants.
Organized trip with children
Exploring Iceland with an organized trip or private tour is ideal, especially if you travel with small children.
Vivitravels offers customizable trips to satisfy your every need: request your tailored tour, created with your local partners.
