6 of the Best kid-friendly Activities in Iceland

My family and I had the most amazing opportunity to visit Iceland over Spring Break. This incredible country had been on my radar for a while now and to see it in person was more than I could ever ask for.

There were times where I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing. I remember trying to photograph this amazing cliff covered in moss and when I would look down at the photo on the camera, it just didn’t look the same as it did in person. There’s just something so unique about seeing it all in real life. 

At the time of our trip, my kids were ages 6 & 2. Most people would think I was an insane mother to take such young kids to such an extravagant country. Please note that my 2-year-old was newly potty trained as well so I’m sure other moms out there are questioning my sanity. Ha!  

It was by far the adventure of a lifetime! When I think back to all my travel over the years, Iceland is always top of mind. I always find myself thinking back to our time there. It was truly spectacular!

This post is dedicated to any parents out there looking to plan a trip. I’ve made an easy list of all the best kid spots to check out while in Iceland. 

1.) Efstidalur Farm & Ice Cream Barn:

I’ll cut right to the chase. This was a hot spot for us! Everything about it was so nice! First off, the location is wonderful. It’s right in the heart of Southern Iceland, which is the most popular area for tourists. I highly recommend carving out a bit of your day to spend here. I would plan your day around having lunch here. There’s a restaurant upstairs that serves a delicious menu. There are even tables along the glass windows that peek out to see the cows. After lunch, head back downstairs and order farm-fresh, organic ice cream. You won’t be disappointed! This is when the kids will get an up-close view of the cows. After ice cream, I would take some time to walk the grounds. There’s a little playground for the kids to burn off some energy and plenty of friendly property dogs to throw balls around with. 

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2.) The Blue Lagoon:

Obviously, right? Of course, I had to put this one on the list. As touristy and overpriced this place may be, it is worth checking out. It’s one of the 7 Wonders on the World! My kids absolutely adored this place. My best advice for this attraction is to GET THERE EARLY! This place gets packed and can quickly become unenjoyable. Make reservations ahead of time and make it for right when they open.

As relaxing as it may seem once you are all settled in the lagoon, I do need to warn you about the process of actually getting yourself and your kids ready to get in. When I say process, I truly mean that it’s a process! You’re stripping down from layers of warm wear into a bathing suit with quite a few people around you.

Everyone needs a locker as well to hold all of your belongings so I’m sure you can imagine the subtle chaos. Before you even get into your bathing suit, it is mandatory to shower from head to toe. See, I’m telling you, it’s a process. I feel like, if you are forewarned about what to expect then it will give you time to mentally prepare about what’s about to happen. Once you are in the lagoon, it’s smooth sailing from there.

All kids 8 and under have to wear floaties on their arms no matter how well they can swim. It’s not up for discussion and they will not let them in without wearing them. If you think your older kids will have a real issue with it, then I would prepare them ahead of time. Explain the rules and hopefully, it will make the transition easier. 

3.) VIK Beach:

Vik beach is a highlight for me when I think back to our trip. It was absolutely mesmerizing! I thoroughly enjoyed this place! The black sand was like nothing I have ever seen before. It wasn’t quite sand, but they weren’t quite rocks.

It was almost like fine ground pebbles. The kids will love squishing the sand through their fingers! There are also some cool rock pillars on the sides of the beach that they can climb on.

We could have easily spent the whole day at this beach playing and stacking rocks together. It truly was an exceptional place for the kids to play.

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If you’re a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, you’ll love this beach as well. This is where plenty of scenes were filmed. I posted a picture to my Instagram Stories one day and people were geeking out saying “ Omg, is that dragon glass?” I’ve never seen the show so my response was, “No, its a rock”. HA! 

4.) Laugardalslaug pool in Reykavik:

There are pools with a sports hall, a botanical garden, a sculpture museum, a fun zoo, a large gym, a spa, and even a skating rink! If you are traveling in Iceland with young kids, this is a must-do! They will love the children’s pool and the 2 waterslides. Right outside the pool, there’s a hot dog stand where you can get traditional Icelandic hotdog (Pylsa). These are perfect for a snack after a day of play and soaking.

5.) Bjössaróló Playground:

This is one of the coolest playgrounds in all of Iceland! This playground is made entirely from recycled wood that a carpenter collected here and there over time. The playground was built in 1979 so there is a ton of history behind the playground. Plus, there’s also a black beach is just a few steps away from the playground. This is the perfect place for the kids to burn off some more energy!

6.) Grindavik, Playground located in the Harbor View Cottages:

If you need a place to stay for the night, I would highly recommend these cute little cottages. They’re so different than anything I’ve seen before! There’s plenty of open space for your little ones to run around and they even have a great playground. We stayed here on the night before our departing flight the next day. The kids were able to wake up on departure day and play on the playground for a while before boarding an 8-hour flight back home. It was hard to get them to leave, they were really enjoying themselves!

I hope this helps guide you through some of your planning for your Iceland trip. This will help break up your days that way the kids can have some fun too! Honestly, there’s so much to see and do naturally. I remember some of my best memories were when we pulled over for a break from driving and I let them run free in the bluffs and climb the hills.

Plus you’ll see so many horses along the sides of the road so that’s always fun for them to see. Remember to take your time while you are there to breathe in all the natural beauty! 

One last tip: The water in Iceland is some of the best water in the world. It is perfectly safe to drink out of the faucet. I will admit that I am kind of a water snob and this water was DELICIOUS! It tasted so fresh and crisp. I just brought my own Hydroflask from home and filled it up throughout the day. Plus the kids will get a kick out of drinking from streams and waterfalls.  

Happy Adventuring!