Iceland With Kids: The Ultimate 14 Day Itinerary
I want to go to Iceland with kids but I don’t know where to start! don’t worry, start your planning right here! I’ve done all of the research so you don’t have to.
Our Trip to Iceland with Kids
We visited Iceland when our children were 7- and 1-years old. Iceland had been on my bucket-list for years but life kept getting in the way. Initially meant to be a celebratory trip for finishing my PhD, we ended up in Iceland three years later on our 10th wedding anniversary (with our kids and my father-in-law! HA!).
Iceland is easily the best family vacation that we’ve ever been on. Don’t keep reading if you don’t want to be absolutely sold on taking your family to Iceland! You’ve been warned.
When should i go to iceland?
This is the first huge decision you have to make. Iceland couldn’t be more different in winter than summer. If this is your first time in Iceland, I recommend visiting during the summer. You’ll maximize your hiking options and I can’t stress enough how gorgeous the country is. You are going to want to do quite a bit of hiking! We chose to go in July so our toddler could fly before his second birthday and for free. If you haven’t seen my tips for flying with young children, be sure to check it. I would definitely buy him a seat next time!
How long do i need in iceland?
This is very dependent on how much you want to see! Obviously more time is better. If you are going to Iceland with kids and hoping to check off the majority of the major ‘must-see’ sights, I recommend two weeks. Traveling kids requires you to slow it down. You’ll see most travelers recommend 10-days to complete the ring road. If you are traveling with young children, or don’t enjoy being rushed, I recommend 14-days to complete the Southern half of the ring road. This includes travel days.
To camper van or not to camper van?
I started planning our trip to Iceland with the goal of renting an RV. There are certainly some pro’s to traveling this way. Many of the campgrounds are close to the must-see sites and set you up for being the first person there so you can beat the crowd. You’ll also save some money because campgrounds in Iceland are very inexpensive. However, RV rentals are not so you’ll get most bang for your buck if you plan on renting a camper van.
After my father-in-law decided to come we decided to rent a car and stay in hotels. In the end, I think this was definitely the right choice for our family. Two weeks would have been a long time for us to be in a camper van or RV together. I would definitely recommend renting a car even if you decide to stay in hotels. Iceland is all about getting into the countryside and you are going to want your own vehicle to do that well.
Will my kids get bored in iceland?
Only if they don’t like fun! Iceland is magical for children. From wild-life spotting to picturesque hikes there is so much to captivate a child’s imagination. Not to mention the amazing opportunities for family quality time you’ll find in Iceland. If you are looking for some suggestions on what to do in Iceland with kids, check out my post on why you should take your kids to Iceland.
Ok! you’ve sold me on going to iceland with my kids for two weeks. what do we do?!
Day 1: Getting to iceland with kids
If you are flying from the US you will likely arrive very early in the morning, around 6-7am. While most solo travelers will recommend heading straight to the Blue Lagoon, I recommend you head into Reykjavik and your hotel. Little travelers need care and rest. Today you are going to recover from your red-eye and adjust a bit to the new time zone.
Arrange with your hotel to check in early or book an extra night so you can get into your room early. I know one of the keys to combatting jet lag is to not take a nap but 7am is early. Plan on checking into your hotel around 10am and taking a quick nap before walking around Reykjavik.
Bonus: if you are really up for some adventure check out the Bridge between Continents, which is only 21 minutes away from the airport. Its a quick stop where you can stretch your legs before heading into town.
After you are rested you are going to hit the major sites in Reykjavik! Make sure to stroll past the Sun Voyager on your way to the Harpa Concert Hall. From there I would walk along Laugevagur Street on my way to HallgrÃmskirkja Church.
Day 2: Blue Lagoon
If you are hoping to avoid crowds then an early time at the Blue Lagoon is recommended. However, you’ll also see almost every website recommend you go straight from the airport and most flights arrive before 7am. I decided that meant the Blue Lagoon is probably crowded all day and we should just go when suited us.
The Blue Lagoon is 45-60 minutes outside of Reykjavik depending on where your hotel is. I recommend making an entire day of it, especially because your children will still be adjusting to the new time zone.
Day 3: Golden Circle
One of my favorite days in Iceland! The Golden Circle has quite a few famous tourist areas but a few hidden gems as well.
We opted to skip Thingvellir because we felt other sites spoke more to us and I read the gnats can be terrible in the summer. I can’t say I made the right choice because I haven’t been there but I had a fantastic day without it! If you are really interested in snorkeling between two tectonic plates then this should be a don’t miss for you.
Our stops along the Golden Circle (in order):
- Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Hot Spring and Rye Bread Making. The absolute highlight of our day was lounging in the warm water overlooking the lake. We preferred Laugarvatn Fontana to the touristy Blue Lagoon, and shared all of our reasons why here. I would, however, skip the bread making with young children if I were to do it over again. The hot springs were much more fun for our family! But do make sure you eat some of the bread, it was fantastic.
- Geysir. I wasn’t going to do it after seeing Old Faithful in Yellowstone but am so glad we did. Geysir erupts approximately every 10-minutes so it is absolutely perfect with children.
- Fridheimer Greenhouse for a late lunch/early dinner. Fridheimer is a complete gem. A working greenhouse where you can dine amongst the foliage. There is a full tomato-based menu but our favorite was the tomato soup buffet. If you are truly adventurous try the tomato ice cream!
- Gulfoss. You can’t go to Iceland without visiting this spectacular waterfall. At this point in your day it is getting late but make sure to budget at least an hour here to see it from a few different vantage points.
Finish your day by checking into Midgard Basecamp. Your next homebase for Icelandic adventures!
Day 5: Hiking in Thorsmork
Have you ever seen a place in photos and just knew you had to get there? For me that place is Thorsmork. I immediately fell in love and knew I had to see it for myself.
Thorsmork is located about an hour and a half away from Midgard Basecamp on Icelandic F-roads. Road is often used very generously when referring to F-roads. These ‘roads’ require 4-wheel drive and frequently cross small streams or rivers. I strongly recommend you utilize one of the amazing tour guides from Midgard Basecamp.
You can read more about our day adventuring in Thorsmork in our best hikes. The two you are going to want to do in Thorsmork are the Stakkholtsgjá Slot Canyon and Thorsmork Panorama.
Check out my post on some of our favorite Icelandic hikes with kids for more info on hiking in Thorsmork!
Day 6: More hiking! This time in Landmannalaugar
Remember those F-roads I mentioned? This time you are going to take them further into the Icelandic highlands to Landmannalaugar. This area is famed for its painted mountains and is for the more intrepid traveler.
You’ll travel over two hours each way so make sure you are prepared for a long trip on very bumpy ‘roads’. And bring a few extra layers! The temperature can be as much as ten degrees less Fahrenheit in Landmannalaugar and you are sure to see snow.
Spend the day hiking through a solidified lava field on the Laugahraun Loop.
Day 7: Chasing Waterfalls
En route to Vik you are going to stop at two of Iceland’s most famed waterfalls, Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss.
Start off by walking behind Seljalandfoss. Make sure you bring your raincoat! Nearby Seljalandfoss is the lesser known Gljufrabu. These two waterfalls are separated by a paved walkway but most tourists don’t venture over. Make sure you do! You’ll have to wade through water or pick your stepping stones carefully but the view of a waterfall in a cavernous slot canyon is absolutely worth it.
Then its on to my favorite Icelandic waterfall, Skogafoss. You will not only want to spend some time enjoying this waterfall from the ground, you’ll want to see it from above as well. You’ll have to go up nearly 400 steps but the view is absolutely worth it. This is also the start of the Waterfall Way hike. While the hike is a multi-day trek, you can go just a mile or two and feel like you are in another world away from the other tourists. You’ll also see dozens of waterfalls!
Make sure to grab some lunch at Mia’s Fish and Chips before heading onto Vik.
Day 8: Black Sand!
Spend the morning at Reynisfjara Beach taking in the basalt columns and black sand. Take care with young children. This beach is known for sneaker waves and a quick search on the internet will pull up dozens of videos of tourists being knocked over by waves. Play it safe and stay away from the waterline.
In the afternoon head out on a tour with Katlatrack to explore a naturally made ice cave. Words can not describe how stunning this landscape is. It’s lush green meets the stark black of volcanic ash meets a glacier. Truly out of this world! I’d recommend this activity for children of all ages but if you have a little one under 6-years old you will need to book a private tour
Day 9: Drive to the eastern fjords
Iceland is one of those exceptional countries where just driving to your next destination can be a trip in itself. The drive from Vik to your next homebase, near Vatnajokull National Park, is just under 2-hours but is absolutely spectacular!
You are going to want to take a few pit-stops. The two I would recommend are: Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and Foss Midway Li La Lo. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a stunning slot canyon that affords you the opportunity to hike along the upper rim of a slot canyon. It is truly spectacular but be sure to stay on the trails. This area has suffered due to over-tourism and was recently closed. Your next stop is the charming Foss Midway Li La Lo. This little waterfall is the perfect place for kids to just be kids. Ours enjoyed skipping rocks and splashing in the shallow water. There was even a small playground located by the on-site campground.
Pro tip: make sure to get groceries before you head out towards the east coast as you’ll find the options very limited!
Lodging recommendation: Don’t let the unique name fool you, stay at the Potato Storage. It is right on the doorstep of Vatnajokull National Park and not far from Diamond Beach. It was by far our favorite stay in all of Iceland!
Day 10: Ice, Ice, Baby
Today head to Jokulsarlon Lagoon and Diamond Beach. You might think you can check this destination off in just a few hours but you would be underestimating how majestic the area really is. There was something so captivating about the washed up ice for my children. The enjoyed sitting on it, stacking it, playing hide and seek behind it. It was truly one of my favorite experiences while in Iceland with my kids.
I’d also recommend getting out into Jokulsarlon Lagoon through one of the boat tours. If you are traveling with particularly young children as I was then opt for one of the shorter tours. We were on the boat for 30-minutes and that was more than enough for my toddler.
Day 11: Hiking in Vatnajokull National Park
After taking a few days off from hiking, it is time to hit the trails again! My personal favorite hike in Vatnajokull was out to the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. This hike is nice and easy, perfect for little toddler legs. It’s a flat hike that is just over two-miles round trip. You’ll walk along a gravel path until you end up at the glacier tongue. It’s truly magical to be up close with something so massive. Make sure to give yourself time to really enjoy the glacier before heading back towards the visitor center and trail head.
The second hike you should take is one to Svartifoss. The hike to the waterfall is just over 3-miles round trip and rated as easy on most websites. However, having spent over a week hiking with young children we found this hike to be a bit of a challenge. As with most hikes in Iceland, there is absolutely no tree cover and we got lucky with a perfectly sunny and warm day. We made it to the upper viewing point for Svartifoss before both of my kids gassed out and asked to go home (Potato Storage) to see the horses. And we did.
Day 12: Drive back to Reykjavik
It’s almost time to say goodbye to Iceland. The drive from the Vatnajokull area to Reykjavik is approximately four and a half hours so I don’t recommend stacking it with your flight back home. That is a long day for anyone, especially young children! There are plenty of excellent stops along the way. You could chose to spend more time in Vik or go for a little trek into a lava tunnel.
Day 13: Homeward bound!
Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to return your rental car and make it through customs before boarding your flight. We arrived two hours early and it was cutting it close. They ended up holding flights because the customs line was a complete mess.
Wait! You said 14-days….
Don’t forget you’ll have a red eye to Iceland so technically day 1 is really day 2. This is a full two-week itinerary as promised!
I hope I’ve convinced you to visit Iceland with kids! It was a truly perfect family vacation. A perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and family bonding.
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