IS ICELAND A GOOD FAMILY VACATION SPOT?

From iceberg-strewn beaches to ancient lava tunnels, gushing geysers, and crashing waterfalls, nature puts on an impressive show.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how to get the best out of a family trip to Iceland and offer practical tips for an enjoyable and stress-free vacation. This tiny nation extends a warm welcome to little people – and we don’t just mean elves. Here at Icelandia, we can suggest a multitude of tours, activities and other things to do in Iceland with children – there’s no end to the possibilities.

Whale Watching

Iceland is one of the world’s premier whale-watching destinations, and tours accessible to all ages depart year-round from places such as Reykjavík, Dalvik, Akureyri, and Húsavík. Humpbacks, sperm whales, minke whales, and orcas are commonly spotted close to the country’s shores. You’ll also often spot harbour porpoises and pods of playful dolphins. In the Westman Islands, it’s possible to visit a sanctuary that has rescued two delightful belugas.

Puffin-spotting

From late April to early August, huge numbers of puffins come ashore to nest and rear their young in cliffside burrows. Large colonies can be found seasonally in a range of locations across the country, some more child-friendly than others.

So, for instance, you might be wary about taking young children to the wild and untamed Látrabjarg cliffs in the Westfjords. But the spacious hides on the Westman Islands or further east at Borgarfjörður Eystri might be just the ticket as the little ones can watch these colourful and comical birds safely and up close.

Swimming pools

Many towns or villages in Iceland, even the smallest, have a municipal swimming pool. Even where these are outdoor only – and they often boast an indoor pool too – the water is heated, so if you’re planning to visit you aren’t confined to only the sunniest days.

With fun slides for the children and hot tubs in which supervising parents can relax, they’re ideal for an Iceland family vacation. Entrance charges are modest, so to save money it’s worth comparing the cost with that of upgrading your hotel to one that has a swimming pool on site.

Other facilities and activities

Children aged about eight or nine plus can experience the thrill of ziplining, buggy touring or and snowmobiling – both exhilarating rides.

Combining the art of frisbee throwing with the layout of a golf course, frisbee golf (or folf) is a popular pastime in Iceland. You can rent frisbees, so all you need to do is show up. There are designated skate parks in larger settlements such as Reykjavik and Akureyri. Bounce pads are a common sight, even in comparatively small villages.

Horseback riding

Watching the kids enjoy nature and try a new activity could go hand in hand if you book a horseback riding tour. Typically, the lower age limit tends to be about six or seven years old. If your children have never ridden before, this is a great place to start, as Icelandic horses are gentle beasts known for their calm temperament and sturdiness. It’s a family-friendly activity that everyone will enjoy, and the chance to explore black sand beaches, lupine-strewn meadows and lava fields.

Glacier Hiking and Ice Caving

Iceland's unique glaciers offer families fantastic educational adventure opportunities. With age limits as low as six years old for some ice caving tours, even young children can marvel at the breathtaking blue ice caves.

Glacier hiking typically requires participants to be at least eight years old, making it ideal for families with slightly older children. These adventures provide an unforgettable opportunity to explore the frozen landscapes, learn about glaciology, and bond over the excitement of navigating through ice tunnels and across pristine glacier surfaces.

Perlan

Perlan, in Reykjavik, consistently earns rave reviews for the quality and variety of its exhibits, which cover topics such as volcanoes and wildlife. That’s probably because interaction is at the heart of each themed section – this is definitely not a stuffy, old-fashioned museum.

Highlights include a manmade ice cave, the closest you’ll get to the real thing and an aurora show. It’s a good option for a rainy day, but regardless of the weather, grab an ice cream before you step out onto Perlan’s viewing platform to admire the 360° panorama of the city below.

Lava Show

While as a parent you might think twice about letting your children visit an erupting volcano, this entertaining and educational show is the next best thing – and nowhere near as unpredictable.

If you happen to be in Reykjavik or Vik, then this is one visitor attraction that will make the kids’ jaws drop. Suitable for all ages – though recommended for those over four – this is the only live lava show in the world. It recreates a volcanic eruption by heating real lava until it reaches a temperature of 1100°C.

Other Museums and Visitor Attractions

Numerous other museums and visitor attractions await those planning an Iceland family vacation. From quirky turf houses to museums devoted to curious and compelling topics such as witchcraft, willies and whales, there’s plenty to do and see that will be of interest to all the family, young and old.

Iceland’s family-friendly in any season, but there are certain advantages to coming at certain times of year. Winter is ideal for a short break. Go husky sledging in the snow or capitalise on the cold temperatures to go on an ice cave tour; some providers accept children as young as six. Although it gets dark early, this means your children won’t always need to stay up past bedtime to experience the magic of the Northern Lights.

Summer brings with it the possibility of mild days and daylight well into the evening. As the kids have an extended period off school at this time of year, make the most of the holidays with a longer trip. You’ll see more of the country but at an unhurried pace.

Tours and activities often run more frequently during the summer months, though to avoid disappointment, it still pays to book early if you have a particular tour in mind.

Iceland has a wealth of family-friendly accommodation. If you’re travelling with children, particularly if they are very young, you might prefer to base yourself in a single location rather than pack up and move on every few days. Ideally, you’ll want to be within walking distance of family-friendly eateries such as food halls, restaurants and fast food joints. Opt for a hotel where the room rate includes a buffet breakfast to make budgeting easier or if you have permanently hungry teens.

Opting to rent an apartment can tick a lot of boxes for those travelling to Iceland with kids, especially if it’s equipped with a washing machine or space to dry wet swimsuits. Another bonus is having a small kitchenette where you can self-cater and prepare packed lunches for the day ahead. If you’re hoping to cover more ground, consider renting a large camper van.

Older children especially will relish the freedom of being out in the countryside on a site where they can meet other youngsters of the same age. However, keep in mind that Iceland doesn't allow wild camping; everyone must use the designated campsites for overnight stays.

Dining out can be tiresome if your kid is a picky eater. That’s not such a concern in Iceland: many restaurants have dedicated children’s menus. The country’s most popular dishes are also likely to be kid-friendly. For instance, most children won’t say no to a plate of fish and chips, a tasty hot dog or a large ice cream piled high with toppings. If you’re more adventurous, then up the ante by challenging the kids to see who has the stomach for hákarl, harðfiskur or hangikjöt.

While your first thought might be to hire a car for your family trip to Iceland, there’s much to recommend taking tours. Instead of having to focus on the road, whoever usually takes care of the driving can share the excitement of spotting everything from roadside waterfalls to tölting horses.

There’ll be no frayed tempers as you hunt for a parking space in busy spots and no worrying about getting lost. On a tour, you can hand over that responsibility to the professionals as you concentrate only on enjoying yourselves.

Beware of sheer drops and uneven ground when outside

Many of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes are environments where you should exercise caution when travelling with youngsters. While accidents are fortunately rare, it pays to be particularly mindful of potential hazards when visiting glacial and geothermally active areas, high waterfalls and wild coastlines.

In summer, factor in black out blinds and eye masks

Iceland’s long summer days mean that sleep routines can easily go out of whack. If your children need to be in a dark room before they’ll be able to nod off, check in advance with accommodation providers to make sure there are blackout blinds fitted and consider trialling eye masks in the run up to your trip if not.

Pack a reusable water bottle for each family member

Iceland’s pure fresh water is ideal for keeping refillable bottles topped up and it’s a great example to set the kids as you limit your consumption of single-use plastic bottles. If your children prefer flavoured drinks, considering packing some travel-sized pouches of cordial in your luggage.

In town, make the most of the buses

In Reykjavik, city buses are cheap and straightforward to use. Tired little feet will also be grateful you bought them a ticket for the capital’s Hop on, Hop off sightseeing bus, which makes light work of getting between attractions. If you’re visiting northerly Akureyri, you could argue they go one better – all rides on city buses there are free of charge.

Don’t cram too much into your itinerary

This is probably the most important tip of all: less is more. As you pore over websites, maps and guides about Iceland’s myriad attractions it can take a huge amount of willpower not to try to cram as much as possible into your itinerary. If you are hoping for a successful Iceland family vacation, keep each day’s must-sees to a minimum so that your kids don’t get overloaded and over-tired.

Iceland is safe and English-speaking and offers a wide variety of tours that will excite all the family. When the great outdoors is this great, who needs tablets and smartphones? Iceland entices with incredible landscapes, abundant wildlife, quirky culture and a fascinating history. Is Iceland a good family vacation spot? Absolutely!