Europe · Iceland · Self-guided

Iceland with kids,
the real way

How we did Iceland with a baby: a Reykjavík apartment plus Hotel Vík and Hotel Gullfoss, the Golden Circle and the south coast at a little kid’s pace, the things to do that need no hiking, and what a family trip costs from Boston.

By Kailah Fredette · Updated September 28, 2026 · 8-min read

The quick answer

Is Iceland a good trip with young kids?

Yes, and we did it with a baby. We went in September 2018 with our daughter Selima, who was 8 to 9 months old, alongside Kyle’s cousin and her family. A short overnight flight from Boston and headline sights that are short paved walks (Gullfoss, Geysir, the waterfalls) make it one of the easier first big trips from Logan.

Iceland with kids, key facts
Flight from Boston	A short overnight to Keflavík (KEF)
Best months	June through August for long daylight and the easiest roads. Winter is cheaper and darker
Cost cue	About $6,000 to $9,000 for a week, family of four, flights included. A current ballpark from general research, not our 2018 costs
Best for	Any age: we went with a baby. Save the glacier walk for kids about 8 to 10 and up; the big lagoons have age limits
Where we stayed	A rented apartment in Reykjavík, Hotel Vík in Vík, and Hotel Gullfoss at Gullfoss

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, NOE may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would book for our own family. Our disclosure.

Iceland with little kids works best when you slow down. Our approach: stay close to what you came to see, plan one thing a day, and leave room for the rest. Here’s the whole plan: where we stayed, one week, how to stretch it to two, and current cost ranges from Boston.

June–AugBest time to go

All agesWe went with a baby

6–10 daysIdeal length

~$6–9kCurrent ballpark (family of 4)

Our trip

Where we stayed, and what we did

September 2018: the two of us, Selima at 8 to 9 months old, and Kyle’s cousin and her family, four more people with young kids of their own. We stayed in three places. In Reykjavík it was a rented apartment (we don’t remember the listing’s name, so we won’t guess). On the south coast it was Hotel Vík, and on the Golden Circle it was Hotel Gullfoss, right by the falls. We highly recommend both hotels. They’re perfectly located.

We did a glacier hike just outside Vík, and it was incredible. With a baby and young kids in the group, the adults took turns: some of us hiked while the others watched the little ones. We skipped the Blue Lagoon because of the baby, and we’d definitely do it next time. More on where to stay in our Iceland lodging guide.

One week in Iceland

What to do in Iceland with kids, from a Reykjavík base

Honest framing up front: we did Iceland with a baby, so our take is geared to little ones, though we’ll flag the bits that get even better with older kids. The good news is Iceland is one of the easiest big trips you can do from Boston (a short overnight flight), and almost everything works as a day trip from one base.

Home base · the easy one

Reykjavík

Start in or near Reykjavík; ours was a rented apartment. It’s walkable, easy with a stroller, has warm pools, and puts the Golden Circle within a day’s drive. You rent a car and do one big outing a day, which suits a baby or toddler who needs naps and a reset. For a short trip you can stay put; we moved on to Gullfoss and Vík to cut the driving.

The Golden Circle: Gullfoss waterfall + the Geysir hot-spring field, an unforgettable day trip (see below)
Þingvellir: walk between two tectonic plates; kids love that they’re “in two continents at once”
Reykjavík’s geothermal pools: warm water in any weather; the city pools are cheap, local, and toddler-friendly
The harbour: puffin and whale boat tours in summer, plus easy waterfront strolls

Book it

Two of our three stays, plus Reykjavík rentals

Both hotels are on Expedia. For Reykjavík we rented an apartment, and the search is set to downtown.

Hotel VíkWhere we stayed

Hotel · Vík, on the south coast

“Perfectly located” for the south coast and the glacier hike just outside town. We would book it again.

See it on Expedia →

Hotel GullfossWhere we stayed

Hotel · right by the falls, on the Golden Circle

Right by the falls, and just as well located as Vík. We would book it again.

See it on Expedia →

2-bedroom rentals in Reykjavík Or have us book it for you

Rental links open Vrbo for 2 adults and 2 kids, two bedrooms minimum. Hotel links open Expedia for the same family. No dates are set.

The day trip not to miss

Gullfoss & the Geysir geothermal field

If you do one thing from Reykjavík, make it this. Gullfoss is a massive two-tier waterfall that genuinely stops you in your tracks, and at Geysir the Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes; kids will happily wait and cheer for the next blast. It’s an easy paved loop, doable with a stroller, and pairs perfectly with Þingvellir to make the classic Golden Circle day. We stayed at Hotel Gullfoss, right by the falls, and highly recommend it: perfectly located, so the Golden Circle doesn’t have to be one long round trip from the city.

Two weeks (or a second base)

Places to go in Iceland with more time: Vík and the south coast

Add a base down the south coast in Vík; we stayed at Hotel Vík and highly recommend it, because it’s perfectly located. The drive there is the scenery: waterfalls you can walk behind, the famous black-sand beach, and a guided glacier walk just outside town. Staying in Vík means less daily driving and more time actually out exploring.

Home base two · south coast

Vík & the black-sand beach

Reynisfjara’s black sand and basalt columns are otherworldly, but the waves are genuinely dangerous, so keep little ones well back from the water.

South coast · all ages

Waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss

Two giant, easy-to-reach falls: you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. A guaranteed wow with zero hiking required.

Near Vík · ages about 8 to 10+

A guided glacier walk

Ours, just outside Vík, was incredible. With a baby in our group, the adults took turns watching the little ones. As a family hike, we’d wait until kids are about 8 to 10 or older. (Sólheimajökull is the glacier most walks near Vík use.)

Pre-book glacier walks and any guided tours through GetYourGuide; code NOWHEREONEARTH5 takes 5% off. Glacier tours have minimum ages, so check before you book.

One honest note

The hot springs: what we’d do differently

Full transparency: we skipped the Blue Lagoon because we had a baby under a year old with us, and it’s the one thing we’d definitely add when we go back. The lagoons set minimum ages for children, so check before you book; the newer Sky Lagoon, which opened after our trip, is another option. If your kids are old enough to follow pool rules, we’d absolutely build one in (book ahead; they sell out). For babies and toddlers, the local Reykjavík city pools are a warmer, shallower, far cheaper alternative, and a lovely slice of everyday Icelandic life.

Honest notes

What landed, and what we’d skip

What we loved

The glacier hike near Vík, which was incredible. Waterfalls everywhere you turn. And two perfectly located hotels, Hotel Vík and Hotel Gullfoss, that we’d book again.

What we’d skip or watch out for

Underestimating drive times on the Ring Road: keep daily distances short with kids. Reynisfjara’s waves are genuinely dangerous; stay well back. It’s expensive; a kitchen and packed lunches help a lot.

Book it yourself

How we’d book Iceland today

Flights from Boston

Boston (BOS) to Reykjavík (KEF)

We search and book on Skyscanner. From Logan, an overnight that lands in the morning is gold: little ones can sleep most of the way.

Search live fares

Tickets & day trips

Skip-the-line, kid-friendly

Pre-book the two or three big experiences through GetYourGuide so you walk straight in; code NOWHEREONEARTH5 takes 5% off.

Browse things to do in Iceland

Vrbo, two-bedroom rentalsWhere to stay

Already set to Reykjavík, two bedrooms, 2 adults and 2 kids. Check for a full kitchen before you book.

→

AiraloStaying connected

An eSIM before you land: data the second we step off the plane, for maps and translation with kids in tow.

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SafetyWingTravel insurance

We never fly without it; your home health plan usually won’t cover you abroad.

Price it for your dates

SafetyWing’s published per-adult rate for its travel medical plan; the final price is confirmed on their site.

What it costs

How much does a family trip to Iceland cost?

Rough ranges for a family of four (2 adults + 2 kids), flying from Logan and staying in a place with a kitchen. These are current ballpark ranges from general research, not what we spent: our trip was in 2018, more than seven years ago, and Iceland has gotten more expensive since. Estimates to plan around, not quotes: season and how far ahead you book swing them a lot.

One week · family of 4

$6,000–$9,000

all-in, flights included

Flights (BOS–KEF, x4)$1,800–$3,600

Lodging (7 nights)$1,600–$2,800

Food (Iceland is pricey)$900–$1,500

Rental car, fuel + activities$1,000–$1,800

Two weeks · family of 4

$9,500–$14,000

all-in, two bases + glacier tour

Flights (BOS–KEF, x4)$1,800–$3,600

Lodging (14 nights, 2 bases)$3,200–$5,400

Food (2 weeks)$1,800–$2,800

Car, fuel, tours + lagoons$1,800–$3,000

Adding more kids? It’s mostly about the beds.

Kids don’t add cost evenly: lodging is the real lever. Two adults and one or two kids can squeeze into a one-bedroom with a sofa bed, but we book two real bedrooms so the adults aren’t in bed at 8pm. That step up is the biggest single jump in the budget.

Flights: a child under 2 flies as a lap infant for very little; every child 2 and over is essentially another full seat (~$450–$900 round-trip from Boston). Food rises gently; most attractions are cheap or free for young children.

Rule of thumb: +1 child ≈ one more flight seat + a step up in lodging size.

Flight figures reflect typical round-trip economy fares from Boston (about $450–$900 per seat depending on season). Swap the headline totals and line items for your own numbers once you’ve booked; real receipts beat estimates every time.

Pack smart

The exact kit we pack with two kids

Lightweight stroller, the carry-on setup, and everything else that earns its space, in one tested list.

See the packing list →

From our trip

Iceland, at three feet tall

Kyle and Kailah in harnesses with ice axes on our glacier walk near Vík

Before you go

Read Rosie in Paris with them first

Kailah wrote and illustrated our Paris picture book, drawn from our family’s travels: a lovely way to get the kids excited about the world before wheels-up.

See the book →

Quick answers

Iceland with kids: FAQ

How many days do you need in Iceland with kids?

About 6–7 days is plenty to base in Reykjavík and see the Golden Circle and south coast at a kid’s pace. With more time, add a second base in Vík so you’re not driving as far each day.

Where’s the best area to stay in Iceland with a family?

Reykjavík is the easiest place to start: walkable, stroller-friendly, with warm pools. We stayed in a rented apartment there, then at Hotel Vík on the south coast and Hotel Gullfoss on the Golden Circle. We highly recommend both hotels; they are perfectly located for the black-sand beach, the waterfalls, the glacier walks and the Golden Circle.

Can you do Iceland with a baby?

Yes, we did, in September 2018 with our daughter at 8 to 9 months old. Most of the headline sights (Gullfoss, Geysir, the waterfalls, black-sand beaches) are short paved walks you can do with a stroller or carrier. We skipped the Blue Lagoon because of the baby, and on the glacier hike the adults took turns watching the little ones. The local city pools are the warm-water option for babies.

Can kids do a glacier hike in Iceland?

Yes, with a guide and the right gear. Ours, just outside Vík, was incredible. We would recommend it as a family hike once kids are about 8 to 10 or older. Tours set their own minimum ages, so check before you book.

Is Iceland good for young kids and toddlers?

Yes: keep days short, base somewhere with green space or a beach, and lean on the simple joys. That’s the whole NOE approach.

Is a family trip to Iceland with kids worth it?

Yes. A short overnight flight from Boston, family-friendly activities that need no hiking (Gullfoss, Geysir, the city pools), and a home base in Reykjavík that puts all of it in day-trip range make Iceland one of the easier first big trips abroad with kids.

What is a good 5 day Iceland itinerary with kids?

Stay in Reykjavík the whole time: one day for the city pools and the harbour, one for the Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss), one down the south coast to Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and keep the other two loose for rest and weather. With a week or more, add a second base in Vík so the south coast isn’t a long round trip.

When is the best time for a family trip to Iceland?

June through August for long daylight and the easiest roads; winter is cheaper and darker, with a real shot at the northern lights. See the best time to visit Iceland with kids and our take on Iceland in February vacation week.

Keep planning: where to stay in Iceland · what a week in Iceland costs · the Iceland packing list · flying there with a baby · the Iceland scorecard from Boston · Iceland or Ireland first? · Paris with kids · the gear we pack · how we book every trip · all destinations

Iceland with kids,the real way