Family-Friendly Reykjavik
After seventeen years of staring at my friend’s gorgeous Gullfoss waterfall picture, my dream of visiting Iceland finally came true! We packed our warmest clothes and headed over.
Iceland is a beautiful country just five hours away from New York and filled with a landscape like no other.
This beautiful country is where fire and ice meet. With that said, after driving through extensive lava fields and then crawling through huge, gorgeous sky-blue ice caves, I can see why.
Both an easy and super family-friendly country, Iceland is a great adult or family destination. Additionally, the winter and summer months provide two different experiences. Planning your trip is straightforward and given the variety of restaurants and accommodations – plus natural beauty galore – there is something there for everyone.
Know Before You Go And Packing For Iceland
A trip like this needs some weather-related planning, so definitely check out these “Know Before You Go” and packing tips in advance. Several airlines fly into KEF, Iceand’s international airport, so finding a flight that works for you should be easy. We also opted to take Legends Limousine Worldwide roundtrip to JFK getting us there stress-free.
Arriving In Iceland
Iceland is set up to make it extremely easy for tourists to get around. Upon arrival at the easily manageable KEF airport, we walked right over to FlyBus for our airport transfer. Since the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport, it’s suggested that you visit upon your arrival or departure. FlyBus not only offers transfers all over Iceland but also a two-part leg from KEF to Blue Lagoon, then Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik.
In Reykjavik, The Air Is Cold But The Streets Are Warm!
One of the super cool facts we learned about Reykjavik was the streets are heated from below using geothermal heat. This means as the snow falls, it melts away. Because of this, most central paths are clear and the city is easy to explore without any special footwear.
What Should I Wear In Reykjavik?
There was a lot of debate on what to wear in the city. Due to the cold, we started with a base layer, but from there we just wore normal winter city gear. My husband wore jeans, I wore fleece-lined pants, and my kids wore their same New York sweatpants. However, the biggest difference was we wore super warm amazing socks and waterproof boots.
Family-Friendly Reykjavik
The beautiful city of Reykjavik could not have been more family-friendly and enjoyable. It’s easily walkable and filled with many beautiful sights. Our hotel was centrally located and right by the Sun Voyager sculpture. Additionally, the city has a magical feel because of its colorful buildings and continuous tongue-in-cheek vibe. There are endless things to do, and two to three days gives you plenty of time to explore.
Take (Or Make) A Walking Tour
We enjoyed the pay-as-you-wish GuruWalk Walking Tour where we visited many famous Reykjavik sites. We also learned about the history of the city and the Icelandic people’s love of trees (including visiting the 2016 Tree of the Year and the “Oldest Tree in Iceland”). Furthermore, there are many fun statues on or near the waterfront including a piece of the Berlin Wall.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum
Speaking of Reykjavik’s tongue-in-cheek vibe, one of its most popular museums – and I believe the only museum in the world dedicated to this specific… member… is the Icelandic Phallological Museum. Beside hundreds of real-life specimens you’ll find a variety of on-theme items including waffles, door handles, candles, and anything else you can imagine. It’s quite the experience, especially when you find one taller than you!
FlyOver Iceland
Recommended by everyone, FlyOver Iceland was a hit with our family as well. During this completely immersive experience, you’re strapped into a ride making you feel like you’re… flying over Iceland! It whizzes you past more than twenty-five of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls, volcanoes, and more in this 4-D theater. It was a great experience and one loved equally by kids and adults. Additionally, there’s a great café to grab a pre-show snack.
The Lava Show
With science-obsessed kids (and adults), The Lava Show was another favorite of ours. This is the only place in the world where you can see lava up close, and it was so cool! Upon entry you’re immediately transported into the warm world and colors of a volcano from the basal column photo wall to the themed drinks and lighting. We picked The Lava Show’s premium package which included a behind-the-scenes look at the show, a drink, and a souvenir piece of lava. My kids loved seeing the furnace that melts the lava pieces before entering the theater for the show. They also loved touching actual lava from the 1818 Katla volcanic eruption and then bringing it home.
Whale Watching Tour
I absolutely LOVED Elding’s Classic Whale Watching Tour in Faxaflói Bay – on Reykjavik’s shore. This three-hour boat ride offered both indoor and outdoor options to watch whales living right outside of the city. We were lucky to see FIVE whales on our tour! While the hunt for them was super fun, the scenic views of the mountains and water were equally enjoyable. I loved every second of this family-run tour including their philosophy emphasizing research, education, and sustainability ensuring only the best for their beloved animals and bay. Additionally, I was so impressed that at its conclusion they offered us professional pictures, videos, and a report of our animal encounters.
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Up Skólavörðustígur –better known as Rainbow Street – you’ll find Hallgrímskirkja Church. Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in Iceland and famous for its beautiful exterior as well as its expansive clock tower views. I highly recommend taking the time to ride the elevator up for this incredible aerial storybook view of Reykjavik.
Endless Snack Options In Family-Friendly Reykjavik
There’s no doubt that sampling a new cuisine is one of the most exciting parts of traveling. With kids, you’re always talking about food (and most likely keep snacks with you so your kids (and husband) are happy at all times). With that said, I love visiting supermarkets in foreign countries and stocking up on local foods. We picked up their famous baked goods, licorice-flavored candies, chocolate-covered rice cakes, and delicious volcanic salt (all make perfect inexpensive souvenirs as well!).
Try The Skyr!
In Iceland, they’re known for many types of delicacies including their high protein yogurt called Skyr. We found a buffet of flavors everywhere we went (while laughing at the wide price variations of each location). These were easy to eat on the go, on a bus, on a walk, or waiting for our next tour.
Causal Dining
There are more restaurants in Reykjavik than you can count ranging from simple to fancy. There are also several Food Halls with everything from sushi to traditional Icelandic food. On our first night, we ate at Hlemmur Matholl which pleased everyone since no one had to agree on anything. We each ordered what we wanted and then came together to a common table to eat. Icelandic Food Halls are quite popular and even include Michelin-star restaurants! It’s worth the experience for either lunch or dinner.
Icelandic Dinners Your Family Will Love
On our second night, we treated ourselves to the Wake Up Reykjavik Food & Walking Tour. This super fun tour brought us to four different traditional Icelandic restaurants (plus a dessert stop) to sample a combination of local Icelandic dishes. On this tour, we tried the famous fermented shark and a shot of Brennivín as well as the famous Baejarins Beztu Pylsur hot dogs. I can’t recommend this tour enough, it was great!
Public Art
Reykjavik has loads of sculptures throughout the city. One of the prettiest walks is along the water on the Sculpture and Shore Walk. We loved this during the day but also at night while searching for the Northern Lights. With the mountains in the background and the lights of the city, it was absolutely beautiful. There are also murals everywhere – on buildings, covering buildings, and even on the streets. I loved finding the sculptures and couldn’t wait to see the Unknown Bureaucrat down by the lake outside of city hall.
Shopping
Iceland is expensive so souvenirs are pricy. Honestly, it was fun to just look at everything (without buying). Our evenings were filled with casually strolling through many of the troll, wool, Viking, and catchy phrase embossed stores.
For Our Next Visit
There was so much to see and do in Reykjavik we will have to come back! Our list for next time includes the Perlan Museum and the Reykjavík City Museums including the Árbær Open Air Museum, Aðalstræti, Reykjavík Museum of Photography, Reykjavík Maritime Museum, and Viðey Island.
The Mint Chip Mama’s Family-Friendly Reykjavik Tips Work In The Winter Or Summer
Be sure to check out The Mint Chip Mama‘s entire Family Friendly Iceland Vacation series, my travel gear, and my full itinerary here where you can book everything directly in one place!
Part 1: Iceland – Know Before You Go, Part 2: What To Pack For Iceland, Part 3: Reykjavik, Part 4: South Iceland & West Iceland, Part 5: The Golden Circle
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