Reykjavik with kids: what to see, where to stay and best tours for families
Our family guide to visit Reykjavik with kids shows top things to do in Reykjavik with children, the best family tours in the city, where to stay in Reykjavik with kids and practical tips for first-time visitors
Small, safe and friendly, Reykjavik is a lovely city to visit with kids.
Iceland’s capital is often overlooked as a destination.
Visitors use it as a base for day trips more than a city to explore in its own right and often the question ‘what to do in Reykjavik with kids’ comes up in frustration when stranded in town by uncooperative weather.
Missing out on tours is always annoying, but Reykjavik is not a bad place at all in terms of kids’ activities. Actually, there is a lot to do in Reykjavik for kids and your time in the city will be well worth it!
When planning an Iceland family vacation, I recommend you include at least a couple of days here!
These are our tips to make the most of your time in Reykjavik with kids.
Top things to do in Reykjavik with kids
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Run along the waterfront
Reykjavik is a city on water and its long waterfront makes for a lovely stroll.
The area is organized with two lanes, one for pedestrians and one for bikes (be careful!) and has a lot of space for kids to move around freely while taking in some of Reykjavik’s main sights.
Here you have the Harpa concert hall and farther down the road the famous Sun Voyager, a sculpture representing a dream boat, overlooking the ocean. This resembles an insect and it is a great attraction for kids!
The waterfront is not a kids’ attraction per se but it is a lovely spot to enjoy with kids in any season.
On a clear day, the view over the snow-capped mountains in front of the city is a dream!
Tjorning Pond
Local families flock to Tjorning pond, a small lake in the city centre inhabited by a vast number of birds and ducks kids can feed.
The pond is bordered by lovely parks, great for picnics in summer, and has a peculiarity: part of it is always warm so even in the depths of winter you can come here and find ducks enjoying its lovely waters!
The ice cave in Perlan museum
Outside of the city center but connected to it by a free shuttle service, Perlan is an exciting museum to visit with kids.
Inside they have recreated an ice cave and visitors of all ages can go in and learn the secrets of ice and glaciers without having to venture outside the city!
They also have an excellent Planetarium with a fantastic northern lights show worth seeing.
The museum welcomes families and has special discounts for young kids.
YOU CAN BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE AND GET CONFIRMATION STRAIGHT YOU YOUR PHONE HERE
Perlan is also famous for having a gorgeous observation terrace with views over the city.
Access to the terrace is included in the admission ticket for the ice cave and glacier exhibition or can be visited independently.
Kids up to 15 years of age go free.
Hallgrímskirkja Church
If your kids love tall, record-breaking buildings they may enjoy Hallgrímskirkja church.
The building towers over Reykjavik and has a viewing terrace on top offering views over the city and its beautiful natural setting.
The tower is accessible by lift only and tickets are available for purchase in the church shop. There are some steps between the lift and the terrace so just be aware of this if you are traveling with a stroller.
Hallgrímskirkja is a working parish church and sometimes closes to allow services to occur, such as on Sundays at service time (10.30 to 12.15).
This is a cool place to see in Reykjavik with kids in all seasons.
Reykjavik’s city library
A lovely place to visit in Reykjavik with the kids is the city library.
This has several branches in town and they are all family-friendly.
Each branch has a children’s section with books in several languages, board games, and puzzles.
On Sunday they also often organize art and crafts events and a family morning are a regular event. You can find more information here.
This is an excellent place for kids in Reykjavik especially on a rainy day or if you are visiting in winter.
This is one of the best places in Reykjavik for toddlers.
Reykjavik’s geothermal pools
Iceland’s most famous geothermal pool, the Blue Lagoon, is outside of Reykjavik but the city has some lovely and lesser known pools that are perfect for families.
They are popular with locals and some very well organized with both indoor and outdoor facilities.
Go on a whale watching or puffin spotting tour – great activity for families in Reykjavik in summer
Whale watching and puffin tours happen during spring and summer months and depart from Reykjavik’s old port.
Some to consider are:
Please take into account that boat trips can be cold and rocky, even in summer, and may not be suitable for all kids.
The tours are weather dependent and weather in Iceland changes quickly, even in summer: companies email in case of cancellations so make sure you keep your phone handy.
Go on a city tour
Reykjavik is a compact enough city and we visited it at our own pace following this itinerary.
If you prefer to have a guide, there are several good tours of the city that are also family friendly.
Check out this Reykjavik city tour (kids under 11 go free) or travel in comfort with a 24 hop-on hop-off tour.
Have the best hot dog in town
Icelandic food can be hard for kids to enjoy (many adults feel the same way!) but there is one type of food in Reykjavik that is likely to get their seal of approval: hot dogs!
The place to go for hot dogs is at the old port and has a name that translated means ‘The best hot dog in town’.
The thing to order here is ‘the works’, which is the hot dog all the fuss is about.
Where to stay in Reykjavik with kids
The best area to stay in Reykjavik with kids is close to the center.
This allows you easy access to pretty much all the attractions mentioned and puts you walking instance from tour pick up points, should you have organized day trips to join.
These are some of our favorite family hotels in Reykjavik:
Canopy by Hilton I love Hilton hotels and this one makes no exception. This Hilton is in a great location and caters for families with children menus in the onsite restaurant, cots and high chairs on request.
Babysitting service is available.
Icelandair Hotel Marina Located at the old port this is an excellent hotel in terms of location and services. Their family studio welcomes up to 6 people, which is an unusually high number for Reykjavik’s hotels
Odinsve Hotel Another hotel offering rooms to larger families (up to 6 people, two bedroom suite) and restaurant on site.
Center Hotel Plaza In a perfect location in Reykjavik city center, the hotel welcomes young children: all children under 7 stay free when using existing beds.
Apartments are a great choice for families in Reykjavik and a more budget-friendly option than hotels.
These are some good addresses and don’t forget to also check tips here on how to visit Iceland on a budget with family.
- Rey Aparments, with apartments for up to 6 guests
- Odinsve Hotel Apartments, also catering to larger families
- A room with a view luxury condo hotel offering apartments of different sizes to cater for family groups big and small
What to pack for visiting Reykjavik with kids
Reykjavik is a laid-back city so I recommend you plan your packing list on the basis of your other activities. The same clothing will work for the city too.
Reykjavik knows 4 different seasons, but I find it helpful to think simply about a long cold winter and a mild summer in terms of packing.
If traveling in winter, the main things to pack for Reykjavik a good thermal layer (find my selection of the best thermal underwear here), a warm mid layer and a waterproof winter jacket.
For both adults and kids make sure you have waterproof trousers and shoes. I found ski trousers and snow proof shoes priceless: the wind and the rain in Iceland can be wild!
Find here >> my full packing list for Iceland in winter.
You can also do with a waterproof layer for summer but you don’t need exceptionally warm clothes. You can find my full packing list for summer in Iceland here.
For adults and kids, I recommend a light jacket and a windbreaker plus comfortable shoes and an extra sweater.
Reykjavik is easy enough to explore with a stroller but when the wind picks up, you want to find refuge because it can really be intense!
If traveling with a baby, I do recommend bringing a stroller but also a baby carrier, which ensures better protection.
Top tip! If you are planning to be very active while in Iceland, I recommend you opt for an all-terrain stroller.
All-terrain and jogging strollers are less practical on the plane however, they are perfect when dealing with the wild nature of Iceland and they will give you much more freedom of movement on trails and outside of the city.
If you are visiting Reykjavik with a baby in winter, I also recommend you bring a waterproof baby carrier cover.
How to get around Reykjavik with kids
The easiest way to get around Reykjavik is on foot. Reykjavik city center is a bus free zone and there are designated pick up point for tour buses around town.
If you stay in the center, you can easily explore without the need for public transport and reach the pickup points with a short walk.
If you are driving from the airport, you can leave the car both at designated on-street parking areas in town or in parking lots, for an hourly or daily fee.
Car seats are compulsory in Iceland and the country has very clear rules on what seats are or are not suitable for each age. You can find all the official info here also helpful if you are planning on using taxis (handy but costly in Iceland).
I hope you enjoyed this family guide to Reykjavik with kids. Safe travels!
