Visiting Iceland with a Toddler: A Complete Guide

From throwing pebbles in giant waterfall pools to floating on a lake of icebergs, Iceland is an amazing place to take toddlers.  While the idea of planning a trip to Iceland can be overwhelming, traveling to Iceland with a toddler can be surprisingly easy.  After a 14 day adventure with our one year old, here are our family’s tips and tricks to planning the best possible trip to Iceland with a toddler.  

Absolutely!  Iceland is very kid-friendly.  Not only is Iceland one of the safest countries in the world, but the people are kind and helpful.  Pretty much everyone speaks English, which makes traveling with kids low stress. 

Many outdoor sites are easily accessible with children, and museums and wildlife will help engage and keep toddlers interested.

Restaurants and hotels are also child friendly.  We couldn’t believe how many had toys and play areas dedicated to kids. Almost all restaurants had children’s menus and high chairs available.

Summer months (June to August) are the best time to visit Iceland as the weather is mild and days are long.  We went the end of August into September which allowed us to catch the Northern Lights.  We found the weather good at that time. Most days we wore jackets, but we weren’t ever uncomfortable.

The winter months can be challenging due to the cold weather and the short days.  Some families have a great time during the winter, but it takes more preparation.

We found the best way to take a family trip around Iceland with a toddler was to rent a car.  The roads are quite easy to navigate, and its the best way to really see Iceland.

We did a road trip, and took 2 weeks to travel the Ring Road, spending some extra time to see the Western Fjords and Snaefellsness Penninsula.  It could definitely have been done faster, but with a toddler we found it best to go at a slow pace.  

When planning our trip, we scheduled 3 hours of driving a day.  This allowed us to do an activity in the day, have a long nap in the car, and then do a second activity in the evening.  The long days of sunlight allowed us to adventure further into the evening than we normally would, and that worked out with our toddler’s schedule.

By doing this, we got the benefit of a sleeping toddler during our driving time, while still planning times where he could burn some energy.

Pro Tip:  Prioritize your vehicle.

You will spend a lot of time in it. I would recommend getting 4WD. The Ring Road is easy to drive on, but if you want to get off and explore, the roads can get hairy.

Also consider springing for the heated seats! We rented a car from Cars Iceland which was convenient, and we were able to rent a car seat for the baby which ended up being Britax and very comfortable and safe.

When packing for an Iceland trip with toddlers, be sure to pack layers.  The weather in Iceland can sometimes vary within a single day.

We made sure we all had a long sleeve base layer, vest, fleece and a shell jacket.  We were constantly switching between all of it.

We splurged on a nice North Face Triclimate Jacket for our toddler. It was perfect for Iceland because it had a zip-in fleece, and an outer shell that separated, so we could layer up for rain, but just use the fleece when it was warmer. Click here to check the jacket out on Amazon.

The other thing we were grateful we had was rain pants.  I didn’t even know they existed before this trip, but there were a couple of days I was really glad we had them.

Bring good traction waterproofed hiking shoes for everyone in the family. Keen Footwear makes great kid shoes that can stand up to the elements. We bought Keen Kootenay waterproof boots for our son for Iceland. We were grateful for them, as he dipped his toes in quite a few waterfalls! Click here to check out the Keen Website and receive 30% off and free standard shipping with coupon code: FRIEND30

If you plan to road trip, invest in a portable crib. We are giant fans of the Lotus Travel Crib by Guava.  It folds into a backpack, and is super easy to take transport.  If you are staying in multiple places in Iceland, it saves you having to call each location to confirm the availability of a crib. Click here to learn more about the Lotus Travel Crib on Amazon.

While there are lots of places that your toddler can explore in Iceland, there are some that really aren’t safe. If you visit geothermal landscapes or some of the bigger waterfalls, you will want your child strapped in and close to you. Consider a good baby carrier.  We loved our Osprey toddler carrier backpack, and felt it was comfortable for hiking, and allowed our son to be up and see.  Click here to learn more about the Osprey Poco child carrier.

Don’t bother packing food, snacks, or diapers.  Iceland grocery stores are easy to navigate, and kid food isn’t hard to find. Your toddlers will be happy to munch down on the snacks available there.  Remember, kids live everywhere!

From hotels to Airbnbs, there lots of options in Iceland. It depends what you are looking for. We tried a little bit of everything during our 2 week Ring Road trip, and ultimately most of our favorite places were hotels due to convenience. However, hotels are definitely more expensive because we had to dine out, and you do get less space to spread out with a toddler.

Pro Tip:  Don’t stay in guest houses with toddlers.  

Guesthouses are essentially hostels, and often have thin walls and shared bathrooms.  We stayed in a couple, and while some are very nice, we felt like we were working hard in the evenings to keep our child quiet.   Also the concept of bathing the baby in a shared bathroom seemed nearly impossible. We had much better experiences in airbnb rentals, cottages, and hotels.  

This is a list of some of our favorite places that we stayed along the Ring Road that are toddler friendly!

Hotel Selid

From the moment we drove up the driveway, we knew Hotel Selid was special. After a long day traveling the Golden Circle, we were escorted to a room with a view of mist covered mountains. In their cozy dining room, we enjoyed lamb curry and a bottle of red wine. Our toddler was welcomed with smiles and kind words. The surrounding property was perfect for our toddler who could run as far as his eyes could take him. This place was magical, and I wish we had stayed longer.

Fosshotel Eastfjords

This hotel is located in the East Fjords, and is the perfect place to stay with toddlers if traveling the Ring Road. The views from the dock and the restaurant are incredible. The hotel is upscale, but the staff is friendly and welcoming of children. There is a really cute kid friendly museum connected to the reception area which our son really enjoyed.

Reykjavik Marina – Berjaya Iceland Hotels

Reykjavik Marina was the first place we stayed after landing in Iceland and it set our trip off to the perfect start. Its in a great location on the marina, and has colorful unique decor that draws children in. Rooms were not huge, but comfortable enough to set up a crib. Food and drinks were great. We would got back in a heartbeat if in Iceland.

Kaldbaks-kot Cottages – Husavik

The Kaldbaks-kot Cottages in Husavik were one of our most memorable stays on our road trip around Iceland. The stargazing was the best that we had, and the property was fun to explore with our little guy. He even found a swing on one of the paths. The cottages are described as “no frills” but they are pretty nice, with a small kitchenette, heat, and warm water. We thought this was a great little set up for small families, and we were happy we stayed in Husavik which has some great kid attractions like the Husavik Whale Museum.

One thing that was pretty shocking to us was how expensive Iceland was, particularly food.  

Our first cup of coffee from the gas station cost $5.00, and wine was routinely upwards of $13-15 a glass.  This was before inflation!

Some of the costs can be avoided by cooking your own meals, or sticking to world famous Iceland gas station hot dogs.

However, I encourage you to spend a couple of meals dining out.  Part of the reason things are so expensive in Iceland is many things, particularly protein, are fresh and farm to table.  When we did dine out, food was incredible.  

Many restaurants are casual and toddler friendly, with high chairs and child play areas.  I definitely recommend budgeting some table service meals when visiting Iceland. 

I think if you splurge on one meal in Iceland with your toddler, this should be the one. This warm and inviting cafe brings the farm right to the table with windows from the dining room directly looking into the barn where the cows are kept. The food was amazing, and after our meal, our son had a blast feeding the cows and calves in the barn, which is open to all visitors.

When traveling in Iceland, we recommend getting out of Reykjavik as soon as possible. Its not that Reykjavik isn’t a great capital city, but the real beauty of Iceland is its incredible landscapes.

Here’s our list of must see attractions that are toddler friendly in Iceland:

One of the most famous attractions in Iceland, the Golden Circle is a 300 km loop from Reykjavik that is a great day adventure with toddlers. The stops include Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir hot springs area, and the majestic Gullfoss waterfall. The stops have restrooms, cafes, and gift shops, making it easy for families to navigate.

Read more about visiting the Golden Circle with Kids here!

Skogafoss is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, and walkways lead right up to the falls. It is safe and easy to visit with toddlers, and absolutely breathtaking!

This museum is right next to Skogafoss, and a great spot to take toddlers. This cultural museum has a collection of vintage firetrucks and construction equipment which little ones will love. It also has an outdoor museum with Icelandic homes from different time periods that families can explore.

This black sand beach is a must see on your trip to Iceland with a toddler. Toddlers will love sinking their feet into the volcanic rock pebbles of the beach, and they will be fascinated by the unusual landscape.

Some folks don’t know that the Jokulsarlon amphibian boat tour has no age cut off! The glacial lagoon is otherworldly, and can’t be missed on a visit to Iceland. Your toddler will love it just as much as you do!

The Dimmuborgir Lava Fields are a fun place to explore and do some easy hiking with a toddler. We chose the Church path which took us about 2 hours, and our son loved exploring the unusual lava formations imagining “troll houses” and “dragon lairs” along the way.

If you find yourself in Husavik, be sure to stop at the Husavik Whale Museum. While small, the whale museum is very well done with beautiful skeleton replicas and several interesting exhibits about whaling in Iceland. They also had a dedicated toddler room with toys and books. Our son didn’t want to leave!

Conveniently only 10 minutes from the Keflavik airport, this is a great stop if you have some time before your flight departs. Toddlers will love the giant viking ship, as well as colorful dioramas depicting Nordic mythology. They also have a cafe and a children’s play area, so this was a great spot to kill some time prior to boarding your flight.

Check Out our Other Family Travel Blog Posts!

• Iceland 4 Day Itinerary: An Unforgettable Adventure
• The Golden Circle with Kids
• Easter Island for Kids: Family Fun at the End of the Earth
• Japan With Kids: Family Travel Tips for a Great Adventure