Iceland with Kids: Tips & Can’t Miss Stops
Iceland is such a wonderful place to explore with kids. Incredible landscapes, majestic waterfalls, amazing animals, and natural wonders surround you.
Exploring Iceland with kids involves car travel as well as hiking, which is such a great combination with the family. Wear them out hiking and exploring outside, and then let them rest as you drive to the next stop! Don’t forget the stop for coffee from a school bus, black crust pizza, or delicious ice cream!
Keep reading for some of our top tips & can’t-miss stops.
Find a great Airbnb to live like a local
This advice is probably extra true as a family of 6, but I love the experience of staying in a home vs a hotel, especially in places like Iceland. During our visit to Iceland we rented both an apartment in Reykjavík and a guest home on the way to Vik. This allowed us to have a home base and explore around both areas.
The best part about the home in South Iceland was that it was a guest house on a farm. The owners were incredibly friendly, we got to visit the horses, bottle feed lambs, and were greeted each morning by the family sheepdog. You honestly cannot get these experiences in a hotel!
Read more about why & how to find the best rental home for your family here.
Bring car snacks but don’t miss local food
Iceland is unlike any place I’ve ever driven, which makes a road trip a truly incredible experience. There are not many places to stop for food, so especially if you’re traveling with kids, plan ahead! Pack accordingly (think a carry on full of snacks) or stop near Reykjavík to stock up. We all know there’s nothing worse than 2 hours left in a drive with hangry kids!
That said, there are a few spots that did not disappoint for coffee, food & treats. Know the location ahead of time and plan your stops accordingly!
In Reykjavík:
Hygge Coffee & Micro Bakery – a perfect first morning stop for coffee, pastries & toast. It was just as delicious as it looks.
Ísbúð Huppu – Of course we had to stop for ice cream & this didn’t disappoint.
We also stopped for an Icelandic hot dog just to say we tried it. Pylsu Vagninn was fine. Honestly I prefer American hot dogs, but the fries were great!
As you head south toward Vik, Kaffi Krús is such a delightful, cozy lunch or dinner stop with an excellent kids menu!
Vik favorites:
Skool Beans – Delightful coffee, hot chocolate and more – served in a school bus!
Black Crust Pizzeria – Nothing better than black crust pizza on black sand beaches, right?!
Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
Of all the things to see in Iceland, this is the spot that I’d go back to again and again. Both Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon are absolutely incredible, breathtaking and totally worth the drive. All 6 of us agreed it was our favorite spot of the whole trip!
So many people have told me they didn’t take time to drive to the Eastern coast, but I promise it is worth it. The drive alone is fascinating because of the different terrain you pass, glaciers you can see from the road, and the feel you get for this country. At times it truly looked like we were driving on the moon!
Walk between tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park
I think our 2nd favorite thing we did the whole trip was walking between the tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park, which is just as mind-blowing as it sounds.
There is so much to explore in this National Park, but the Almannagjá Gorge (where the North American & Eurasian plates are diverging) is incredible. Walk along the edge of the North American plate and be amazed!
Explore waterfalls – Seljalandsfoss & Gullfoss especially.
There are so many natural wonders to see in Iceland, and no shortage of waterfalls. Two of our favorites were the majestic Gullfoss waterfall and Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind!
It’s important to note that there is no “maybe we won’t get super wet” when walking behind Seljalandsfoss. Either come prepared in a rain suit, be okay with getting absolutely soaking wet (and have a change of clothes in the car), or enjoy the view from the front of the falls.
Also, these are our favorite hiking / rain / snow / all-terrain boots, both for kids and adults. Highly recommend for this trip!
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Iceland is one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been and we all can’t wait to go back! There is so much left to explore – let us know what we can’t miss next time!
Don’t miss our other favorite Scandinavian spots to explore with kids:
