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You ever see those amazing pictures of Iceland on the internet? Pictures are always better than they seem. Except in this case. Iceland lives up to EVERYTHING you can imagine. Having traveled to over 25 countries, we can honestly say Iceland lived up to all its expectations of wonder, beauty, history and leaves an impression on your soul you will never forget! And yes, it was the same experience for our kids who didn’t want to go back home. Here we will answer all the questions you may have about traveling to Iceland with young kids. If you have kids ages 3-8 and are wondering if it is safe to travel to Iceland? Where to stay? What to do? What the costs involved are? Read on! We answer it all. We go into all of this and more, plus give you our exact 6 day itinerary of Iceland with our two kids! Is it safe in Iceland? Coming from two paranoid (safety wise) parents, we felt Iceland overall was extremely safe. Our base in the capital of Reykjavik had the vibrancy of city life yet the comfort of a close knit town. As a country Iceland consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. Crime is extremely low, not just in Reykjavik, but the country overall. The country is sparsely populated, and much of it inhabitable, which makes it both physically beautiful because of the vast landscapes and natural wonders but is also the main reason close to 70% of the population of Iceland lives in the capital of Reykjavik. Because of this, it is not uncommon for locals to run into people they know regularly and gives the city a close knit community feeling that other cities might lack. Restaurants, shops, arts, entertainment and recreational venues are very accommodating and friendly towards families with children. In the airport, and even in some establishments within the country, families with kids would be given priority over seating or taken off a waiting line and accommodated. What is the best time to visit Iceland ? In our opinion, the best time to visit Iceland are the summer months (June-August). Because of its polar climate, the winters get really cold and rough in Iceland. Although there are some awesome activities and adventures you can get into in Iceland during the Winter, for first time visitors with young kids it’s best to stick with a timeframe where Iceland’s weather is a little warmer and more predictable. This way you can enjoy the scenic drives as you visit different parts of Iceland in a safer and more strategic way. Our visit was towards the end of August. The temperature was usually between 10-15 degrees Celsius or 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain was minimal, and when it did rain, it cleared up within a few hours. Iceland's weather can change from minute to minute so come prepared ! Where should you stay in Iceland? For a first time family traveling to Iceland with young kids, we definitely recommend staying in Iceland’s capital: Reykjavik. As we stated above, Reykjavik, like the rest of Iceland, is very safe and very accommodating to families. Another reason we recommend staying here with young kids is because it is a good base for first time Iceland visitors to branch out and see different parts of the country. While some might rent a camper and travel a large part of the country, as a first time family with young kids, we wanted to have a more secure and fixed base we came back to with modern day comforts. Should you rent a car in Iceland? YES. You have to drive to every major attraction in Iceland from Reykjavik You can either join tour buses or rent a car. Trust us: RENT A CAR. If it’s the summer months, you don’t need an all wheel drive, but just in case we got adventurous, we got an affordable gas efficient one anyway. We rented a simple and efficient Subaru Forester 4x4! You will see below we visited different attractions and areas of Iceland, and on driving days we spent 5-7hours on the road (including stops at attractions). But what is awesome about Iceland is that the driving was an attraction in and of it itself ! When you drive Iceland’s interstates your views are beautiful natural landscapes, mountains, waterfalls and even unique Icelandic horses. It literally feels like you are driving through another planet. Besides driving on your own for the awesome scenery, with young children, it is much more comfortable to be on your own time and have your own space. We decided we wanted to be on our own time driving, seeing attractions, and not be dependent on a tour bus filled with other people. If we needed to stop for the kids, we could. If we wanted to stray off, we could. We left and came as we pleased at our own comfort and pace! What is the car rental process like and how much does it cost? The car rental process is super easy. We picked up our rental from Go Car Rental right outside Keflavik Airport, within walking distance and returned it to the same place. The GPS add on is a must. The last thing you want to do is lose service in the middle of nowhere. Because of the different alphabet, inputting certain addresses can be tricky. Luckily, Icelanders are extremely friendly, and are always willing to help you put in any address you are looking to get to. We paid approximately $500 USD for 6 Days. Not the cheapest, but totally worth it. You would pay the same or more going on different tour buses etc. Is Parking easy? Where should I park? Parking in Iceland was a breeze. If you stay in Reykjavik DO NOT pay for the parking garages. Street parking is extremely convenient and much, much cheaper. You usually pay between 10am and 6pm on weekdays. Before 10am or after 6pm parking is free. Parking is also free on Sundays. In 6 days of using street parking in the area, we did not find difficulty finding a spot once. The metered parking runs between 125-250 ISK (Icelandic Currency) which is about $1-$2 USD per hour. Not bad at all. Gas Prices Gas is extremely expensive in Iceland compared to the United States. When we visited in August of 2022 the price was between $2-$3….PER LITER. Meaning per gallon you were averaging over $6-$7 ! So pro tip: rent a gas efficient 4x4! How far is Iceland? It’s interesting to see people’s reactions when they hear Iceland is just 5-6 hours away from the northeast portion of the United States. On our flight back, the flight was just under 5 hours. For parents with young kids looking to introduce their children to international travel, Iceland is a perfect start versus 10 hour flights. But of course, it depends where you are traveling from. How many days do I need? For parents looking to visit Iceland with their kids, and get a well rounded immersion of this country, we found 6 days to be perfect. It allowed us to enjoy the sights and culture of Reykjavik, while still being able to spend days enjoying the south coast and natural wonders of Iceland. What is the cost? Our round trip for two adults and two children (airfare and hotel) for 6 nights came up to just over $4,200 USD. Our hotel was highly rated and right in the middle of the city. We stayed at the Foss Hotel Reykjavik. Breakfast was included and it was literally a 2 minute walk to the main street of Laugavegur in downtown Reykjavik. The rooms were very spacious, clean and comfortable. We opted for a family room which came with extra space and beds. How much to budget for spending in Iceland? We found Iceland to be moderately priced (contrary to what is said) when dining in restaurants, planning excursions, or even buying souvenirs. Not cheap by any standards, but not astronomical either. For a family of four, it would be safe to budget $200 USD Per Day after all the foundational expenses (hotel and any extra fees associated, flights, car rentals etc) are taken care of. Should I bring cash or Credit card to Iceland? Bring some cash to have handy, but credit cards are used virtually EVERYWHERE in Iceland. A few Points on using Credit Cards & Cash in Iceland: Credit cards are pretty much accepted everywhere. However, if you are going to use cash, make sure to get some from an ATM before going on sight seeing drives as most of Iceland is pretty remote. American Express is not widely accepted in Iceland, Visa is. At unmanned gas stations, you will need a credit card with a 4 digit pin. So make sure you call your credit card company and set that up if you haven’t. Icelandic Currency The official currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona, not the Euro. The Icelandic Krona always had a reputation of being very strong but it has dropped in recent years, which is why in 2022 Icelandic prices in stores etc, seemed very comparable to those in the United States. Currently 1 Icelandic Krona (ISK) = 0.0069 United States Dollar 6 Day Itineary Here is our exact 6 day itinerary! Again, you can get more adventurous but we felt with a 5 and 6 year old, and it being our first time in Iceland, this was a very smooth and doable itinerary. Day 1: Arrival For us, Iceland is 4-5 hours ahead of New York , so most flights departed at night from New York and arrived in Reykjavik in the morning. The time difference can get the kids tired and mess with their internal clocks/routine so the first day is a perfect day to settle in. We took this day to let the kids relax, snack or nap if they wanted to. Then we made it our first day exploring Reykjavik. It was an awesome introduction to Iceland because the city is so pretty and vibrant, yet feels small and charming. It made us excited to see what the rest of the country/trip had in store! We had a great and delicious dinner at Krost which is inside Hlemmur Food Hall which offers different dining options for the kids! We called it an early night to let the kids settle in and catch up on missed sleep so they could be ready for our first road trip in Iceland: The GOLDEN CIRCLE! Day 2: The Golden Circle The Golden Circle is a travel route featuring main tourist attractions in the southwest of Iceland. These tourist attractions aren’t “well if you have time, it's just for tourist”, they are MUST see natural wonders. With kids, it’s an easy route to drive. To do the whole circle, without stopping, starting from Reykjavik and ending in Reykjavik, it will take you around 3 hours. With all the stops, it was a 7 hour day for us. Sounds exhausting? Not at all! The drive itself is amazingly scenic, and you can stop when and where you please. Which is why renting a car is a MUST. You DO NOT want to be stuck on a tour bus, being rushed, WITH kids. Iceland is best explored as your leisure!! Whether it’s to stop to grab a bite, explore the landscape, or pet some Icelandic horses, the drive itself is 100% part of the attraction! We stopped at four main attractions and they were all awesome. Our first stop was Thingvellir National Park This national park offers awesome views of Iceland’s landscape and is the former grounds of Iceland’s parliament up until the 18th century. It also has an interactive museum exhibit as well as Iceland’s most famous diving site, Silfra: if you're inclined to dive in freezing waters. We found it to be a nice beginning stop on our Golden Circle drive and offered some nice walks on the paths and the ruins along with some nice views. Time spent: 1 hour Fee: Free Parking: Paid Our second stop was Geysir Geothermal Park Boiling water erupting from deep inside the earth is a spectacle you or your kids don’t want to miss. Walk through smaller size and bigger size Geysers through this geothermal park and watch the boiling water bubbling up from mud pits. And be sure not to miss the always erupting Strokkur Geyser , which comes up every 20 minutes or so. There is also a big dining hall offering different types of foods next to the parking lot if you want to stop for a bite before continuing your drive. Time Spent: 1 hour Fee: Free Parking: Free Our next stop was our favorite: The Gullfoss Waterfall We spent quite some time at one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and with good reason. You can view this waterfall from so many different angles and to see such an astounding natural wonder up close and in person, really just takes your breath away. And to share it with your kids? You can’t put it into words. Time Spent: 1.5 hours Fee: Free Parking: Free Our Last stop was the Kerid Crater This volcanic crater is worth the stop. It’s believed to be a volcano, that after emptying it’s magma, collapsed until itself forming this beautiful void. The great thing about this drive is that the stops described above lead you back home. Meaning that by the time you hit Kerid Crater you're under an hour away from going back to your hotel in Reykjavik! Time Spent: 45 minutes Fee: 400 ISK Per Person (approximately $3 per person) Parking: Free Day 3: The Blue Lagoon Our third day consisted of our visit to Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon. We loved it. The kids love it. Kids under 13 are free when accompanied by a Guardian! But they do not get the complimentary free drink and robe adults get. Kids 8 and under have to use arm floaties. Even though kids don’t get a robe, the employees still gave our kids one so they wouldn’t be cold! I Mean, the generosity and kindness of these people really leaves you loving the country that much more! Here are some more points/answers to questions you may have concerning the Blue Lagoon. There is no time limit. Stay as long as you’d like. There are showers and lockers on site. There is a restaurant on site. The lagoon is just over 4 feet deep. Yes, the water is clean. The geothermal seawater is naturally renewed every 40 hours. It is constantly sampled for cleanliness and bacteria in the water is never detected. The salt, silica, and various other minerals within the water help keep it clean. They have several different pricing packages. Our advice? The most basic package will do! After the Blue Lagoon we spent some more time in Reykjavik exploring the shops, boutiques, bars, colorful streets and ended the night with a nice dinner at one of the many restaurants lining the popular main Laugavegur street. Time Spent: 2.5 hours Fee: Adults $57 , kids under 13 free Parking: Free Day 4: City Sights On our fourth day we decided to do a city Hop on Hop off Bus to see the rest of Reykjavik. We walked more charming city streets, visited more boutiques and shops and talked with locals. On our walks we visited the Church of Hallgrímur, the tallest church in Iceland and one of the tallest structures in the country. We also checked out the Perlan: An interactive museum exploring Iceland’s natural landscape, with an awesome indoor Glacier Exhibit. We got off and checked out the Whales of Iceland Museum, with life sized models of whales. Then we went to dinner at a charming restaurant and finished it off with some Icelandic white ale and Ice cream for the kids. Day 5: Geothermal Springs, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and Reynisfjara Black Sands Beach Day 5 was another awesome driving day! This country makes long drives worth it! We went down the south coast and our first stop was a lesser known, but interesting, Geothermal Springs park in the small town of Hveragerdi. These are small and dried out geothermal springs, with a few small active ones but what’s cool is your kids can cook an egg on site in the geothermal spring. You can also try their local LAVA bread baked using the underground boiling spring water. After, give your feet a foot mud bath. Time Spent: 45 minutes Fee: 300 ISK (approximately $2 per person- Eggs, Local lava Bread extra) Parking: Free Next up was the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, the waterfall that "lets you walk behind it!" Truly one of the highlights of our trip! It is about 1.5 hours from Reyjavik which is why we stopped over the Geothermal Springs Park to break up the drive for the kids and stretch our legs. Time Spent: 2 hours Fee: Free Parking: 800 ISK ($5 USD) About 45 minutes to an hour further you reach Reynisfjara Black Sands Beach! WARNING: this beach has sneaker waves and many people die getting caught up in them. As beautiful as this black sands beach is, please be careful, especially with young kids. Something really cool for the kids about this beach besides the sneaker waves (which they should stay away from) are the two rocks formed along the shore. In Iceland, over 70% of the population believe in the legends of Trolls and Elves. It is believed that those two massive rocks were trolls who got caught in the sunlight and frozen in time forever !! Time Spent: 30 minutes Fee: Free Parking: Free Day 6: Whale Watching On our final full day in Iceland we decided to go whale watching. 6 days with kids in Iceland is plenty, and we truly did have a memorable trip and felt we immersed ourselves into Iceland’s culture, and natural wonders. We chose to plan it out this way because our kids were young, and we know that as excited as they were, and as resilient as kids are, we needed to pace ourselves with them and this 6 day itinerary did just that. Our kids loved Iceland. Still, today, they ask us if we can move there and we are super proud it gave them that lasting impression. We studied Iceland’s history together, its geography, culture and so much more So much so, that they can tell us exactly where Iceland is and even have a conversation about Icelandic culture and geography. This is what traveling does for your children, it opens up their minds and horizons to a world much greater and bigger than their everyday reality. Save up, pack up, and fly. It is an investment into your children's hearts and minds.