Iceland with children

Make sure that kids and adults alike get plenty to eat at breakfast, for you’ll need the energy on the exciting day of whale watching that awaits! You begin by walking or driving to Reykjavik harbour where you will step on board a comfortable boat for an impressive experience on the open sea where you will hopefully get a close look at dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales and even orcas whales! And if conditions are right you may even have the chance to come face to face with the largest animal on the planet, the mighty blue whale!

After lunch you can enjoy a visit to the recreational area of Laugardalur. This area offers plenty to choose between, from an adventure park and a zoo full of Icelandic animals through to a botanical garden and the largest outdoor bathing facility in the country. We recommend enjoying a coffee at Flora Café, which is located right next to the luscious botanical garden. Entrance is included with the Reykjavik Welcome Card. If you visit Reykjavík in the winter months, you will have the option to visit the ice rink for some skating.

After all the excitement and adventure of day two we hope you will have enjoyed a good night’s sleep, for today you will visit the exotic Blue Lagoon which is just half an hour away from Reykjavík by car. This famous lagoon receives its light blue, mineral-rich water directly from geothermal sources as far as 2,000 metres underground and maintains an inviting temperature of 36–39°C all year round. While the adults recharge in the revitalising waters or enjoy a drink at one of the waterside bars, younger visitors can explore compelling tunnels and enchanting caves – the Blue Lagoon is a real hit for all ages.

In the afternoon you can take the tempo down a notch and explore Reykjavík at your leisure. The dome-shaped Perlan building is just outside the city and home to a rotating restaurant and the Saga Museum, which uses wax figures to tell the history of Iceland. Within the city limits, kids are sure to enjoy a visit to the tower of Hallgrímskirkja Church, which at 70 metres high is the tallest building in Iceland.

Or if you are visiting in the summer and have good luck with the weather, you can instead opt for a short ferry ride over to the interesting island of Viðey. Among other things, this little island is home to Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower. There is also art in the form of sculptures and paintings by both Icelandic and international artists. Visitors can rent a bicycle, sip a coffee at Viðeyjarstofa Café or even just sit back on the grass and enjoy a picnic.

Today it’s time to explore the so-called Golden Circle and enjoy some of the most famous sights Iceland has to offer! You will begin by heading north-west out of Reykjavík towards the majestic waterfall of Gullfoss – also known as the Golden Waterfall and widely regarded as the most beautiful in Iceland. The waterfall has two stages and offers visitors the chance to get up close to the huge bodies of water that come crashing down over its edge and into the ravine below. The area is also home to Gullfosskaffi, which is a great place to stop for lunch.  

Just a short drive from Gullfoss lies the geothermal area of Geysir with all of its hot springs and the most active geyser in Iceland, Strokkur, which launches a mighty column of water 30 metres up into the air at intervals of around every five minutes. You can wander around bubbling mud pools and steaming underground hot springs – and simply feel the power of the earth coursing right beneath your feet. An almost extraterrestrial experience.  

You can then continue onwards to Thingvellir National Park. This was once the site of the Icelandic Althing, the oldest parliament in the world dating back to the 900s. Iceland lies right on the fracture between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and it is in Thingvellir National Park where the effects of this geological phenomenon are most clear to see.

If you have chosen a four-night trip then today is the day you head home. You will drive from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport (approximately 45 minutes) and return the car before taking your flight.

If you have chosen a longer trip, then you will have another exciting day of adventure ahead of you. We recommend using your fifth day to explore Iceland’s beautiful south coast. Begin by driving towards Hveragerði where you can meet some Icelandic horses at Eldhestar Farm. Then continue your journey along to Seljandsfoss, a waterfall in magical surroundings where, weather permitting, you can creep in behind the cascade. Alternatively, head north east and visit the Secret Lagoon in the small town of Fludir. This is the oldest geothermal pool in Iceland (built in 1891) and even today it still retains a relatively natural form that guarantees a unique hot spring experience.

For your next stop we would recommend the Eyjafjallajökull Centre, which is a small visitor’s centre where you can watch a fascinating video about the volcanic eruption that paralysed Europe’s air traffic back in 2010. Very interesting for all ages. The next stop along the way is the Skógarfoss Waterfall. Visitors to this mighty cascade can climb up to its top and experience its thundering power from above. There are also a few spots in the area where you can buy something to eat. Nearby is a museum about the history of Iceland.  

Your last stop of the day is the town of Vík where we recommend taking a walk along the famous black lava beaches and enjoying a coffee at Sudur-Vik Restaurant before heading back towards Reykjavík.

Today it is time to go home including for those of you on a five-night trip. You will drive from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport (approximately 45 minutes) and return the car before taking your flight.