Ultimate Guide to Reykjavik with Kids

Iceland has been on our family travel bucket list for a long time. I am so lucky to have Melissa from A Little Time, and a Keyboard sharing her favorite things to do in Reykjavik with kids. After reading this post, I am ready to book a flight. Warning: after your read this, you’re going to want to book a ticket too!

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What to Do in Iceland with kids

Before our first trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, I was nervous that we would be in over our heads with a young child in tow. However, we were entirely entranced from the moment we arrived–so much so that we returned the following year.

Iceland is such a magical island full of unique landscapes and geological activity. How can you not be captivated?

What to Do in Reykjavik with kids

Iceland is all about exploration and Reykjavik is a magnificent place to start. We visited during summer when it is light around the clock. It was surreal to walk around at 10PM without a hint of darkness!

We loved walking through the capital taking in the scenery and interesting sculptures throughout. One of our favorite spots is the serene lake Tjörnin filled with plenty of ducks and swans!

There is a lot to do in the world’s northernmost capital city! One of our favorite excursions was to the Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo.

You will not find a huge range of animals in the zoo—which makes sense due to the climate. However, you will become familiar with animals typical to Iceland and the harsh climate.

We enjoyed visiting with the Icelandic horses and seals as well as exploring the petting zoo. The Family Park portion is a fun and active place for family play with plenty of places for kids to climb, jump and more! We loved a portion where we had to use ropes to pull ourselves across a stream!

Next to the zoo is the Reykjavik Botanical Garden. The garden is not overly huge but I was amazed by the range of plants that were present considering the island’s challenging climate and topography.

Many of the plants actually grew within rocks and bloomed brilliantly! The botanic garden is free, so how can you say no! Visiting the two attractions together make for a nice afternoon.

Vikings in Reykjavik

The  871 +/- 2 The Settlement Exhibition in Reykjavik was one of our favorite attractions. Iceland was originally settled by the Vikings. However, if you travel to Iceland in hopes of seeing Viking structures you will be disappointed. Constructed of peat, their structures did not survive.

However, some ruins have been discovered throughout the country. This particular exhibition shows the foundations of a Viking longhouse. The exhibit is interactive and engages you from the moment you step is using sound and light to enhance the ruins.

View Reykjavik from Hallgrimskirkja

One of the most prominent structures in the city is Hallgrimskirkja which is the largest church in Iceland. The church truly makes a graceful addition to Reykjavik panorama and the perfect perch for viewing the city.

My daughter enjoyed a few laughs while trying to peek from behind the church’s clock. Also on church grounds is a magnificent statue of Leif Erikson who was born in Iceland.

Visiting Reykjavik’s harbor

Although it can get quite nippy, walking along the harbor area is pleasant. The architecture is interesting—some brightly colored. Plus, you can take in views of the opera house, the iconic Viking Ship sculpture and the Hofdi House where Reagan and Gorbachev met for the 1986 Reykjavik Summit.

When in Reykjavik, you do need to experience sea life! Several Iceland tours are available at the harbor including Puffin Island visits and whale watching expeditions. Puffin Island was particularly memorable because you just feel like a swarm of these adorable birds are flying all around.

Because of their body structures, they need to flap their wings rapidly to stay in the air. Cute to see! Puffins are only found in nature a few places in the world, so a great experience!

If you are looking for a slice of a rural setting without really leaving Reykjavik, Videy Island is the place. We visited on a horse riding tour and the island’s landscape is breathtaking.

You can also visit for hikes on the island or maybe even enjoy a community event there. The island holds some art pieces including Imagine Peace by Yoko Ono. There is also a little café where you can enjoy a waffle and hot cocoa! Videy is a short ferry ride from Reykjavik.

Where to travel in Iceland

I recommend exploring outside of the city as well. The iconic Blue Lagoon is near Keflavik Airport so a range of tours can take you either right before or after a flight or even in the middle of your vacation.

If you prefer to explore on your own, use these tips for planning a visit to the Blue Lagoon. We actually took a one-day layover on our way to Paris once to get over our jet lag at the relaxing spa!

From Reykjavik, you can take all sorts of tours of Iceland to enjoy the raw, natural beauty. Many will visit the Golden Circle in Iceland which includes stops at Geysir after which all geysers are named, Thingvellir where the Eurasian and North American plates split, and the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss! If you’re planning to explore outside of Reykjavik, use this Iceland Ring Road itinerary to find the best spots!

There are many tours you can take and there are plenty of options depending on how active you would like to be. Hiking on a glacier. Check! Relaxing in a geothermal spa. Check! Riding Icelandic horses. Check! You can also rent a car, which is pretty easy in Iceland, and explore on your own. If you’re looking for more Iceland with kids tips, you’ll want to read this!

Where to eat in Reykjavik with kids

When we initially planned our first trip to Reykjavik, we were nervous about finding food options for our daughter. I am happy to report that there were no issues!

We love Duck and Rose in Reykjavik which features French and Italian dishes. It is the type of place where you can get soups, salads, pizza, and pasta.

The hot dog is one of Iceland’s national foods—so what kid will turn that away? We love Bæjarins Beztu Pyslur right on the harbor.

What looks like a small stand is one of the most popular restaurants in Iceland. Every time we have visited, there has been a long line for pyslurs (hot dogs). But, the pyslurs are the most affordable food in Iceland and really great when you just need a quick bite. Bæjarins Beztu Pyslur is an institution and has been open since 1937—well worth a visit!

What to Wear in Iceland

Everyone asks me how to dress in Iceland. Layering is definitely key because the weather can be very changeable.

If you are going on any of the sea tours, it does get quite cold on the North Atlantic so be prepared. Having rain-resistant outer layers and water-resistant pants that you can easily put on when trekking is useful.

We did wear gloves and hats during our summer visits. However, there were times when we didn’t need them.

If you’re wondering about the best time to visit Iceland, there are a few things to know. In the winter it will be cold (but not as cold as you think) and daytime hours will be limited. May through September is probably the best weather, and June will have 24 hours of sun. It will also be the busiest time for tourists, but you just have to weigh that.

Iceland is unforgettable

This year, my dream came true. Icelandair announced that it will begin flying out of my home airport of O’Hare next year. Once you have been to Iceland, you will want to return to the magical island.

My whole family has been craving a return visit to find some balance and tranquility while enjoying Iceland’s inspiring landscapes. Now that Icelandair will be flying out of Chicago, we are hoping to fit on a return trip sooner rather than later!

Melissa Schwartz is a contributor and editor of A Little Time, and a Keyboard, a hyper-local blog in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. She has a passion for traveling a little off the beaten path and finding gems that others have overlooked. She especially enjoys creating special travel memories with her husband and daughter.

Book Your Flights – You can find discounted fares using sites like Momondo or Skyscanner. If you want to keep an eye on discount fares, we suggest signing up for Scott’s Cheap Flights, a daily newsletter with flight sales around the world.

If you travel frequently, consider investing in a Priority Pass for airport lounge access. It’s nice to have a space where you can relax before your flight.

Book Your Accommodation

We regularly use Expedia.com and Hotels.com to find lodging when we travel. It’s a great way to compare vacation rentals, hotels, and resorts.

If your family knows they want to stay in a vacation rental, we recommend looking at VRBO and Plum Guide.

Book Your Transportation

For rental car agencies, try Rentalcars.com. We tend to use Hertz simply for the quality of service. If you need airport transfers, we recommend Welcome Pickups.

When traveling in Europe, we use AutoEurope to make our bookings. They find the best rates and allow you to compare different car rental agencies. Europcar is another option.

Book Your Tours and Travel Photos

We regularly used companies like Viator and GetYourGuide to book tours when we travel. Both have great communication and a large variety of activities that work for all ages. Other companies to look at include Tours by Locals and Withlocals.

If you’re visiting a city with multiple attractions, be sure to check out a discount pass, such as CityPASS or Go City. Both are worthwhile investments.

Context Travel is another option and they offer more educational-based activities. The former teacher in me loves their tours.

One of our favorite things to do annually is taking photos with Flytographer. They have photographers around the world and we’ve used them on four separate occasions. This is our favorite travel souvenir.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

With the state of travel these days, it’s important to have some type of travel insurance to cover any unforeseen accidents, illnesses, threats, or cancellations. We always travel with insurance and would recommend SquareMouth, Travelex, or Medjet as good options. And if you want to compare different insurance options, use Travel Insurance Master or World Nomads to find the best policy for your group.