Iceland

11 Magical Things to Do in Iceland with Kids

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Are you considering taking a trip to Iceland with kids? Do it! Iceland is the darling jewel of travel destinations these days and as such it has come to the forefront as an ideal family destination. With an abundance of amazing things to do in Iceland with kids from dramatic waterfalls, erupting geysers and other fabulous natural wonders, it’s no wonder it has soared to popularity. 

That said, planning a trip to Iceland can also prove to be overwhelming. The sheer amount of information on the internet combined with the fact that very few of the names are even remotely pronounceable can make it frustrating to plan a trip there.

After weeks and weeks of sorting through blog posts and visiting the country ourselves a few times, we have come up with the ultimate guide to Iceland with the best things to do in Iceland with kids or without! Many of these things can be done throughout the country depending on your itinerary which is nice since you don’t have to drive all over the place to do a few amazing things. While some activities require kids to be older, most are things all families can enjoy together. Read on for our top things to do in Iceland with kids along with suggestions on where to stay and how to get around.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

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Icelandic Rye Bread – Geothermal Baking at Fontana

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One of the coolest aspects of Iceland is the insane amount of volcanic activity happening on the island. It is often called the land of fire and ice due to the more than 30 active volcanoes as well as the many glaciers dotting the landscape.

As one of the most active volcanic regions in the world, it is not surprising that it also has a great deal of geothermal activity. From geysers to hot springs and boiling sand pits; Iceland has so much happening under the ground! This hydrothermal activity is one of the ways that help make Iceland habitable. They have been able to harness this amazing power of the earth by generating 30% of its electricity from geothermal water.

The popular tourist circuit, the Golden Circle is largely centered around the different geothermal and hydrothermal properties that Iceland is known for. In this region, visitors can see a geyser erupt, soak in hot springs as well as see the awe-inspiring and powerful Gulfoss waterfall.

An additional sight on the Golden Circle worth stopping at is Laugarvatn, which is a town that lies on a hot spot, aka an active geothermal area. In the village and on the lake, boiling water erupts into several hot springs. The hot springs have been used for cooking, bathing and house heating since 1929. Even today, the entire town gets all of its electricity from the hot springs.

There are a multitude of amazing things to do in Iceland with kids, but every itinerary should include a visit to Laugarvatn which can also be done as a day trip from Reykjavik. This unique stop on the Golden Circle allows visitors the chance to soak in beautiful thermal hot springs as well as see and taste Icelandic rye bread baked in the ground in hot boiling”lava” sand.

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Is the Blue Lagoon Reykjavik really worth it?

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Heading to Iceland? And the Blue Lagoon? But you are wondering, is the Blue Lagoon Reykjavik really worth it? Read on for our pros and cons of visiting this iconic Iceland landmark.

If you read my post on flying to Europe with WOW Air, you know that we took that flight to check out the popular budget airline, but also for the ability to have a quick stopover in Iceland en route to Ireland.  Knowing we had very little time, I had only one thing on my to do list – go to the Blue Lagoon.

Yes, I know it’s touristy, but sometimes tourist attractions are that way because they are awesome. And I’m not one to be scared away from something just because it might be crowded or disappointing. My motto  – it’s better to have tried something and regret it than regret not doing it!

With that in mind, we decided to use our 1 day layover wisely with a quick stop to Reykjavik to pick up Icelandic wool, chocolate and local coins before heading to the Blue Lagoon for our scheduled entry time.

The Blue Lagoon, with its majestic blue water contrasting with the surrounding volcanic rock is one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions. But due to the immense popularity, it leaves some to wonder is it all hype or is it worth it? Below are our pros and cons to help you decide if it’s worth it for you.

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