Where to stay in Iceland
with four people.
We stayed in three places: a rented apartment in Reykjavik, Hotel Vik on the south coast, and Hotel Gullfoss right by the falls on the Golden Circle. Both hotels were perfectly located, and we would book them again.
Reykjavik, Vik and Gullfoss.
We went in September 2018 with our daughter Selima, who was 8 to 9 months old, and traveled with Kyle's cousin and her family: four more people, with young kids of their own. Instead of one base and long day trips, we moved around to be close to what we came to see.
A rented apartment in the city. We don't remember the listing's name, so we won't guess at it. An apartment makes sense here: Reykjavik is walkable and stroller-friendly, and eating out in Iceland adds up fast.
Highly recommend. It's perfectly located for the black-sand beach, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, and the glacier walks just outside town. Our glacier hike near Vik was incredible, with the adults taking turns watching the little ones.
Highly recommend this one too, and for the same reason: it's perfectly located, right by Gullfoss and a short drive from Geysir, so the Golden Circle doesn't have to be one long day in the car.
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Book the same three stops
Both hotels are on Expedia. For Reykjavik we rented an apartment, and the search is set to downtown.
“Perfectly located” for the south coast and the glacier hike just outside town. We would book it again.
Right by the falls, and just as well located as Vík. We would book it again.
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.
If you'd rather move less.
These are general suggestions from research, not places we stayed.
The fewest check-ins. It works for a shorter trip, but the south coast as far as Vik becomes a very long round trip with kids.
Towns between the Golden Circle and the south coast, so both work as day trips from one rental. A single move instead of two.
Kitchen, washer, and honest drive times.
A kitchen and a washer matter the same way they do anywhere, and they help more in Iceland than most places given how pricey eating out runs. The other filter is drive time: distances look short on a map and take longer in the car once you account for stops at a waterfall or a photo break with kids. A rental car is non-negotiable either way; Reykjavik itself is walkable, but the Golden Circle and the south coast are not.
Once the base is booked.
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.
What families ask us.
Where did you stay in Iceland with a baby?
Three places, in September 2018, with our daughter Selima at 8 to 9 months old: a rented apartment in Reykjavik, Hotel Vik in Vik on the south coast, and Hotel Gullfoss next to Gullfoss on the Golden Circle. We traveled with Kyle's cousin and her family, four more people with young kids. We highly recommend both hotels. They are perfectly located.
Where should a family base itself for a week in Iceland?
Start in or near Reykjavik. It is walkable, stroller-friendly, and puts the city's geothermal pools and the start of the Golden Circle close by. Then, rather than doing everything as long day trips, move out to the sights the way we did: a night or more at Gullfoss for the Golden Circle and at Vik for the south coast.
Is it worth staying in Vik instead of day-tripping from Reykjavik?
Yes. Vik is a long round trip from Reykjavik, and staying there cuts the daily driving and puts Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, the black-sand beach and the glacier walks near Vik within easy reach. We stayed at Hotel Vik and would book it again.
What should we filter for beyond the neighborhood?
A kitchen and a washer, the same as anywhere, plus an honest look at how far each day trip actually is once you account for stops. Iceland's distances look short on a map and take longer in the car than expected.
Do we need a rental car either way?
Yes. Almost everything in Iceland works as a day trip from a home base, but only with a car; Reykjavik itself is walkable, but the Golden Circle and the south coast are not reachable without one.