Thing to do
Thing to do in Iceland
Family friendly things to do
Iceland is one of the easiest countries in Europe to travel in with kids — here are the activities, sights and rest stops that work best for families.
Key facts
- Time needed
- Varies
- Best months
- may, jun, jul, aug, sep
- Seasons
- all-year
- Price level
- low
- Family friendly?
- Yes
- Good in rain?
- Yes
- Need a car?
- Yes
- Difficulty
- easy
Reliable wins
- Waterfalls. Short walks, dramatic scale, free.
- Local pools (sundlaugar). Cheap, warm, social.
- Whales of Iceland. Indoor, life-size, kids love it.
- Settlement Exhibition. Indoor Viking history with interactive exhibits.
- Jökulsárlón. Boats and floating ice — no walking needed.
What to avoid
- Long single-day drives.
- Exposed cliffs in wind (Dyrhólaey, Vestrahorn).
- Reynisfjara surf zone — always near the cliffs with kids.
- The Highlands.
Frequently asked questions
Are Icelandic pools good for kids?
Yes — they're the social hub of every town. Most have a children's pool, slides and warm "hot pots." Bring swimwear (rentals exist but are expensive).
Is the South Coast OK for kids?
Yes if you split it over 2–3 days. Doing Reykjavík → Jökulsárlón and back in one day is rough on adults and brutal on kids.