24 Best Things to Do In Reykjavik with Kids

There are lots of things to do in Reykjavik with kids of all ages. This makes it a great destination to explore as a family.

In Reykjavik you’ll find lots of playgrounds, swimming pools, parks and museums to keep you entertained. The cuisine is kid friendly. And last but not least: a visit to Reykjavik gives you the chance to spot whales, puffins and (if you’re really lucky) orcas.

Reykjavik has something for everyone! Having visited Reykjavik twice with kids we are lucky enough to have seen and done all that this relatively small capital has to offer. So why not share our insights with you?

Here are the best 24 things to do in Reykjavik with kids. And before I leave you, I’ll end this post with some itineraries. From 6 to 2 days in Reykjavik and also a 1 day itinerary.

Best 24 Things to do in Reykjavik with kids

Reykjavik is the best place to start of end your Iceland family trip. The things to do in Reykjavik with children are listed in no particular order. After listing them you’ll be provided with some itineraries, which is when we’ll have to cut some of the top things to do depending on the amount of days you have in Reykjavik.

If you have 6 days in Reykjavik or more you can do and see it all.

NOTE: All prices mentioned were updated in 2026.

1. Reykjavik Old Harbor

We always love to start a city trip by strolling through the best areas in town. In Reykjavik the best areas to explore on foot are the old harbor and the city center (or old town). I’ll get to the latter later on, let’s focus on the harbor of Reykjavik first.

The harbor reflects the city. It’s small, but cute and picturesque. In about half an hour you’ve walked from Pufa (or Þúfa) to Harpa and on your walk you will pass by sights like the Maritime Museum, Whales of Iceland and the dock where most sea wildlife tours depart from.

This walk gives you a great first taste of the city and gives you the time to scratch off some must do’s from your bucket list or make a list based on what you ran into during the walk.

Depending on the time of day you might also run into some fishermen working on their nets or processing their catch of the day. To honor the fishermen you’ll find the Horft til hafs sculpture, which means looking out to sea featuring two fishermen (you guessed it…) looking out to sea.

2. Harpa Concert Hall

In the Old Harbour you’ll find a true architectural highlight, the concert hall Harpa.

You can not only enjoy a concert here, it’s also a conference center. Henning Larsen Architects, a Danish firm designed the building.

Go inside to admire the inside of the building and warm up with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate from the cafe.

If you have time, buy a ticket for the Circuleight installation. Circuleight features designs and real-time interactive visuals inspired by Icelandic nature accompanied by beautiful music. The installation only lasts 20 minutes and starts every thirty minutes.

While you’re there check out if there’s a concert that might interest your family, while you’re in the city. They offer a family programme that might be of interest to you.

Opening hours and ticket price

Wednesdays to Fridays Harpa is open from 10am to 8pm. And from Saturday to Monday from 10am to 6pm. You can park on sight for a fee per hour.

You can hop in to admire the lobby area for free and you can also reach the cafe from the lobby. The prices per concert or show vary.

Everyone with a Reykjavik City Card gets 20% off a ticket for the Circuleight Installation.

3. Sun Voyager

One of the nice fun things to do in Reykjavik with kids is a visit to the Sun Voyager. Reykjavik has a beautiful waterfront starting from the Old Harbor and ending at the Sun Voyager.

Almost immediately after you pass Harpa, when walking towards the waterfront, you’ll see a sculpture in the distance. It’s called Sólfar in Icelandic, Sun Voyager in English.

The sculpture of a dream boat is made from stainless steel. It symbolizes light and hope and is meant as an ode to the sun. It’s quite an impressive sight to see. It’s one of the most famous sculptures in Iceland and easy to reach.

While walking towards the Sun Voyager you’ll smell the salty sea, hear the seagulls all around you and if you’re lucky you’ll see the little head of a seal peaking above the water. We saw multiple on our evening strolls along the waterfront.

4. Puffin Tour

Being a huge puffin lover, I’d make the bold statement that it’s hard to find a cuter animal on the planet. And if you agree, you might not want to miss out on an opportunity to spot them.

Reykjavik offers quite some wildlife tours and spotting puffins is one of them. More than half of the world’s puffins call Iceland their home for a few months a year. So if there’s ever a chance to spot them, it’s in Iceland.

When visiting Iceland in the summer months, from May to mid-August, you can see puffins on a boat tour from Reykjavik.

At two tiny islands just off the coast of Reykjavik, Akurey and Lundey, puffins nest during this particular period.

The puffin is an endangered animal. And they’re extremely sensitive to sounds and lights. Tours stay at a respectable distance to make sure not to disturb the puffins.

The boats get close enough to spot these cuties with the naked eye, but photography lovers need to bring at least a 250mm lens, but even better a 400mm lens to get some good pictures.

There are multiple affordable tours that can take you to the islands where the puffins nest from May to mid-August. No tour company will guarantee that you spot them, so note that before promising your kids they’ll see them.

The two times we went on a tour was in the first and the other in the second week of August and they were already gone. So, even though you have the chance to spot them until mid-August, I highly recommend July at the latest. And same goes for May, don’t go too early in the month. Next time we’ll opt for the first half of July, and hopefully be lucky enough to spot them.

Top Puffin tours in Reykjavik

5. Northern Lights Tour

If you’re road tripping through Iceland during Northern Lights season I would not join a Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik. There are better locations to spot the lights, away from city lights and with amazing backdrops, like Thingvellir NP, Kirkjufell, Jokulsarlon and Asbyrgi Canyon.

But if you’re only in Iceland for a few days and Reykjavik is your base, I’d opt to join one if your kids are old enough to venture outside during the night.

Best time to see Northern Lights in Reykjavik

The best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is from September to March. The darker the nights, the brighter the lights! It’s also important that it’s not cloudy. There are forecasts predicting visibility on the national weather website.

Tours are offered as late as April and as early as August. If you book one, know that the chances of seeing the lights are slim. You’ll also have to keep the kids up until very late in the evening since the sun sets between 9pm and 10pm and you have to wait until it’s completely dark.

The night skies are much darker from September to March. And you don’t have to stay up from 11pm to 4am to spot the lights, because it gets dark at the end of the afternoon or the beginning of the evening.

But to be honest you’ll have better luck checking out hotels that are located further from light pollution when you want to spot Northern lights with kids in Iceland.

Dressing your kids for the Northern Lights tour

While it’s one of the best things to do in Reykjavik at night, it might not sound appealing to the kids. Hunting for Northern lights is a waiting game. You’ll be standing in the cold for a long period of time. Helping them keep warm during the tour will be the least thing you can do to keep them happy.

Wear thermals, insulated fleece sweaters, a wind and waterproof winter coat and of course a hat, scarf and gloves. When it’s wet or snowy thermal socks and waterproof boots are essential as well.

Top Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik

When booking a tour make sure they’ll take you to a location away from the city lights. Also check if you get a second chance free of charge if you didn’t get to see them on your first try.

6. Hallgrimskirkja

Hallgrimskirkja is a church that can’t be missed. It’s the largest building in the city and can be seen almost all over the capital. It’s not your typical looking church and a wondrous building to lay your eyes on.

Head inside and go all the way up to Hallgrimskirkja observation tower to get a great view of the city. Just take the lift to the top of Hallgrimskirkja. The elevator is great when your kid’s in a stroller or baby carrier. Legend has it that on a very clear day you can even see Greenland and Canada from here. We never did, so I can’t tell you if it’s an urban legend or not.

The church is named after the most famous poet of Iceland, Hallgrímur Pétursson and it’s almost 75 meters high. Architect Guðjón Samúelsson was inspired by the basalt columns you can find in Iceland at black sand beach in Vik for instance. Harpa is as well, but I think you can see the inspiration much more clearly here.

Opening hours and ticket price

Hallgrimskirkja can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 3pm and on Sundays from 10pm to 3pm.

You don’t have to pay to visit the church, but you do have to pay to enter the tower. Kids under 6 are free. Kids aged 7-16 pay kr200 (about €1/$2 USD) to go up and people older than 16 pay kr1.500 (about €10/$12 USD).

It’s an active church so please be mindful of that and also note that they sometimes close the church for special occasions without notification on the website.

Buy your Reykjavik City Card here:

7. Saga Museum

The Saga Museum is fun for every family member (unless you’re with a very grumpy teen or two). Here you can learn about the history of Iceland, from the time the first settlers arrived, to the prime time of the Vikings.

With a Reykjavik City Card you get a 10% discount.

Let’s just say it’s not a cheap museum. We thought it was worth it and they were also kind enough to reimburse my husband’s ticket. They saw him come out within 5 minutes with a crying baby and offered to pay us his ticket back.

Visiting Whales of Iceland is indeed one of the best things to do with toddlers in Reykjavik. Here you won’t find taxidermy whales, but life-sized man made-models of about 25 types of whales.

The lighting is blue to give you the feeling you’re with them in the sea. There’s also a huge screen where you can check out humpback whales while lounging in bean bags spread out the room.

Opening hours and ticket price

Whales of Iceland is open from 10am to 5pm every day of the year, except December 25th when it’s closed altogether.

Children up to 6 can enjoy the museum for free. Kids aged 7 to 15 pay kr2.000 (about €14/$16 USD) for a ticket and everyone over 15 pays kr4.000 (about €28/$32 USD).

If you have 2 children and both parents come along you can buy a family ticket for kr8.000 (about €56/$64 USD). And with a Reykjavik City card you’ll get a 30% discount.

9. Icelandic Hot Dog

One of the many fun facts about Iceland is that Icelanders LOVE hot dogs. You’ll find hot dog stands all over the country.

Icelandic hot dog stand Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (translates to the city’s best hot dog) is not only frequently visited by the locals, but it has become a tourist hot spot over the years.

Probably after Bill Clinton was pictured eating a hot dog here. Get the one with everything, með öllu, and your belly will be full and you’ll be satisfied.

10. Eat Fermented Shark

From a kid friendly meal we go to a meal for daredevils: fermented shark. Fermented shark, kæstur hákarl in Icelandic, comes from a time before refrigerators.

The Greenland shark is gutted and beheaded, before being placed in a hole dug in the sand (gravel). After it’s covered in sand a pile of stones is put on top and the shark will stay there for 6 to 12 weeks. The length of time depends on the season.

We knew about this dish but never meant to try it, but after a visit to Hallgrimskirkja we went across the street to warm up with some coffee and hot chocolate and met a few Canadians. These ladies had ordered a plate of fermented shark and the smell of ammonia quickly came our way.

I asked them what it tasted like. The answer was: “if you pinch your nose, it’s not that bad. It’s very chewy, though.” I was intrigued. But I didn’t want to order a plate. Coincidentally the ladies offered us a piece. My husband licked it, which seemed even worse to me than just putting it in my mouth and chewing on it. So I went for it.

It was disgusting, it tasted the way it smelled and it was indeed awfully chewy. My teen passed on the opportunity and our youngest wasn’t old enough to try it yet (to be fair I wouldn’t have offered to him if he was, it’s a choice one has to make for themselves).

Fermented shark is consistently one of the top 10 worst dishes in the world. And I won’t act like I’ve tried it all, I sure haven’t, but it’s definitely the worst thing I ever ate in my live. But hey, when in Iceland…

Would you dare to eat it? It’s a once in a lifetime chance right…. Unless you’re lucky enough to live in Iceland or travel to Iceland regularly of course. I’m happy I tried it, it’s part of the culture and that’s the reason we travel.

11. The National Gallery Of Iceland

Maybe not an obvious choice for most teens, but this one is for the kids who like to see pictures of everyday Icelandic lives and art made by famous Icelandic artists.

The building itself isn’t very special. We liked the green Fríkirkjan (Free Church) next door much more. But the inside is light and spacious. Because there are several exhibitions spread out in different rooms on three different floors, you’ll breeze through it without noticing the time.

And hey, even our toddler loved one of the exhibitions. The one with all types of mythical creatures. Made from non-threatening white materials. He laughed because they were funny-looking.

We spent about 1.5h at the museum before heading out and we saw all floors.

Opening hours and ticket price

Open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Children are free, students pay kr1.250 (about €9/$10 USD) and adults have to pay kr2.500 (about €17/$20 USD) to enter. If you have a Reykjavik City Card you get 50% off.

12. Nauthólsvik Geothermal Beach

The most relaxing thing to do in Iceland is visiting a geothermal pool. In Reykjavik you can enjoy a geothermal beach: Nauthólsvik.

While Iceland is known for its black sand beaches, here you’ll find the classic version: golden sand. Geothermal water is pumped into the man-made lagoon, resulting in temperatures of around 15° and 19° Celsius in summer. It’s also heated in winter, but it will still be freezing.

When a dip in the lagoon is not your thing or you want to do something else the hot tubs might be a good choice. There’s also a sauna and to enjoy it all there are changing facilities and bathrooms you can use.

Building sandcastles, sunbathing and playing ball games is also a great activity.

For a small fee you can rent beach towels and even swimwear.

Opening hours and ticket price

Closed on Mondays and Sundays. From Tuesday until Thursday the beach is open from 11am to 7pm. On Fridays they close early at 4pm.

Kids 0-9 enter for free. The entrance fee for adults is kr1.500 (about €10/$12 USD). And kids from 10-17 pay kr400 (about €3/$3 USD).

13. Geothermal Swimming Pools

There are lots of other places you can swim in Reykjavik. Did you know that there are 18 public geothermal swimming pools in Reykjavik for you to enjoy?

Of course the fairly new Reykjavik Sky Lagoon is an option. Located only minutes away from the city center. A very good option if you don’t have time to visit the Blue Lagoon or when you just can’t get enough of the experience.

Sky Lagoon sells different packages for different prices.

Note that kids under the age of 12 are not permitted. Bring your kid’s ID when they’re 12, 13 or 14. A couple with a 13yo was standing in line in front of us and they didn’t bring it and got turned away, because they couldn’t prove the girl was older than 11.

If you’re looking for a less expensive and more kid friendly geothermal pool check out Árbæjarlaug pool, Klébergslaug pool or Grafarvogslaug pool. All with an outdoor and indoor pool, hot tub(s), waterslide(s), kiddie pool(s) and kiddie slide(s).

All these pools are free when you’ve got a City Card. Kids from 0-15 are free. When you’re 16 or 17 you pay kr400 (about €3/$3 USD) and adults pay kr1.500 (about €10/$12 USD).

14. Reykjavík City Museum – Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is a relatively small museum where you can learn about Iceland’s seafaring history. The ocean is and has always been important to Iceland and its people, bringing food and settlers throughout the centuries.

We loved the fact that we were allowed to go aboard the Óðinn Coast Guard Vessel anchored at the pier. And our family also enjoyed the treasure hunt inside the museum.

Opening hours and ticket price

Open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Children from 0 to 17 are free and adults have to pay kr1.700 (about €12/$14 USD) to enter. If you have a Reykjavik City Card you can enjoy this museum for free.

15. Shopping in the Old Town

The best way to get to know a city is by strolling through it. And with a city center as compact as Reykjavik’s you’ll see it all within a few hours.

The trolls in the streets (as tall as the trees they’re attached to) will be fun to see for most kids and the teens will probably take selfies with it.

There are many cozy restaurants and cafes to take a short break at and of course you’ll get a glimpse of Icelandic houses with walls made from corrugated metal.

You can also find the office of Iceland’s prime minister here (pictured below).

Take a guided walking tour

There are many options if you want to explore Reykjavik as part of a guided walking tour. Some combined with trying local food.

You can also book a FREE guided walking tour. Just don’t forget to tip your guide afterwards.

Top guided walking tours in Reykjavik

Top FREE guided walking tours in Reykjavik

16. Laugardalur Park

Laugardalur Park is a place where your family can spend an entire day if you like. Of course, this wouldn’t be Reykjavik if there wasn’t a geothermal pool to enjoy, in this case Laugardalslaug.

But you can also visit the botanical garden with Arctic flowers and plants, and you can also opt to go ice skating in the ice rink.

In this huge park you’ll also find a sports stadium where the professional football teams of Iceland play. For US readers: football is what you call soccer.

17. Whale Tour

If you want to check out some wildlife, Reykjavik offers the best kind: a meet-up with whales. There are many tour operators that offer whale watching tours.

We went for a company called Elding and booked them via Get Your Guide. It was a great tour. They were punctual, offered great information and the boats were well kept.

Of course they can never guarantee you that you’ll spot whales. But they do have great systems to check out where the whales are without getting in their way. Most companies (thankfully) keep a distance between the boat and the whales.

What kind of whales you’ll see depends on the time of year. If spotting whales is one of the reasons to travel to Reykjavik, do your research when planning your family trip to Reykjavik. And check out the site of the company of your choice to find out which mammals can be spotted if you’re lucky. This includes not only whales, but also dolphins and (rare, but it does happen) even killer whales.

18. Höfdi House

If you and (some of) your kids are into history. A visit to Höfdi House is a must. Well, maybe I shouldn’t call it a visit, since you can only see it from the outside.

But still, if you’re into history or you’re walking along the waterfront, I’d take a quick peek. When you spot the bright yellow lighthouse at the waterfront look to your right and you’ll see Höfdi House. Let me tell you a little bit about the significance of this place.

This is the place where the beginning of the end of the Cold War took place. In October 1986 Ronald Reagan (president USA) and Mikhail Gorbatsjov (president of the former USSR) met at Höfdi. Not to end the war at that moment, but to discuss several issues between the 2 countries and effects both had on other countries in the world. This was the first time they tried to make concessions and was the start of a series of meetings leading to the end of the Cold War.

Other visits that Hofdi House is famous for:

• Icelandic poet Einar Benediktsson lived in this building from 1914-1917. He was the one that named it Höfdi. His statue can be found on the right side of Hofdi House.
• From 1938 until the end of World War II in 1045, Höfði was the seat of consul and later for the ambassador of Britain. Winston Churchill and Marlene Dietrich visited frequently during the war
• Iceland was the first nation to recognize independence of the Baltic States and a declaration to make the recognition official was signed here in August 1991.

FUN FACT: did you know that some Icelanders believe that Hofdi House is haunted? They speak of strange sounds coming from the building during the night.

19. Lake Tjörnin

This pretty prominent lake in Reykjavik can be found next to the city hall.

It’s known for its many birds. There’s a plaque with all the birds you can spot here and it’s nice for kids to count the different species they spot.

It’s also a nice place to just take a quick break on one of the benches around the lake.

Tjörnin pond is divided in two by a bridge. On one side you’ll find city hall and on the other side you’ll find a fountain and a lovely green area with trees and a playground.

20. Perlan Museum

You can spot Perlan Museum from different parts of the city. It’s quite a stunner with its glass-domes built over 6 large water tanks on top of Öskjuhlíð Hill.

At Perlan you can learn about all of Iceland’s natural wonders, from the Northern Lights to glaciers to volcanoes and to wildlife. Perlan is one of the must see places in Reykjavik.

Perlan is filled with interactive exhibits. And from the viewing terrace you get awesome 360° views of the city and its surroundings.

But let’s go back to what you can find inside. At various places in Iceland you can go on ice cave tours. These are great for older kids (my teen loved the tour we joined in Skaftafell), but not for the young ones. Perlan’s Ice Cave and Tunnel gives them a chance to get to experience what it’s like to explore an ice cave. You have to wear warm clothes though, because to give you the sense of being in an actual ice cave it’s freezing.

The same goes for the Northern Lights. If you’re not in Iceland when this phenomenon can be seen or if it’s too late at night for the kids, you can experience the Northern Lights at Perlan when joining the Áróra show.

Some other things to see and do here are reconstructed cliffs with sea birds like puffins (it looks very real!), learn about volcanic eruptions and glaciers.

Opening hours and ticket price

Open daily from 9am to 9pm.

Buy your tickets online, because they’re more expensive on site. Kids up to 5 go in for free. Kids from 5 to 12 pay kr5.090 (about €35/$40 USD)and adults pay kr7.090 (about €49/$56 USD). With the Reykjavik card you’ll get a 10% discount.

Top Perlan tours in Reykjavik

21. Hljómskálagarður Park

Hljomskalagardur Park is located in downtown Reykjavik next to Tjörnin Pond.

There are several walking paths leading you through the parks where you’ll find little ponds, statues of famous Icelanders and if you walk up you get a great view of Tjornin with the city landscape behind it.

It’s a great place to chill and have a picnic.

Every year in July the biggest street food festival of Iceland, simply called Street Food Festival, takes place in this park. So what is big? You can expect around 30 street food trucks and stalls.

22. Árbær Open Air Museum

A piece of Icelandic folklore can be enjoyed if you visit the Árbær (or Árbaejarsafn) Open Air Museum. The way of life of the past is depicted here. You can find about 20 buildings in this “village”, houses, a church and a farm as well.

You can go inside and see how people used to live and farm. In summer you can also spot some farm animals in the museum area. Nice to spend some time here with the younger kids.

Opening hours and ticket price

Open daily from 1pm to 5pm from September to May and from 10am to 5pm from June to August. Every day at 1pm you can join a guided tour, you don’t have to book in advance, just be on time.

Kids are free and adults pay kr1.700 (about €12/$14 USD). Students pay kr1.100 (about €8/$9 USD) if they bring their student card. With the Reykjavik card you can go in for free.

23. Day trip to the Blue Lagoon or the Golden Circle

If you use Reykjavik as a base to explore the region there are two top day trips we highly recommend. One to the Blue Lagoon in Keflavik and a tour that hits all the sights along the Golden Circle. There are even tours that combine the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle in one day.

Day trip to Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik

One of the most famous attractions in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon. A geothermal spa with geothermal pools, saunas, massage and facial treatments and steam rooms.

While Sky Lagoon doesn’t allow kids younger than 12, Blue Lagoon draws the line at under 2. Simply because the minerals in the water are not good for their skin.

There are 3 ways to get to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik. You can join a tour, drive there yourself or take the bus.

If you drive up there in a rental car it will only take 45 minutes.

You can also take the special transfer bus driving from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon and back. The bus departs from the BSÍ Bus Terminal in downtown Reykjavík and also takes about 45 minutes. If you opted for a hotel pick-up add an extra 30 minutes. You can buy tickets for this bus online.

Top Blue Lagoon Tours in Reykjavik

Day trip to the Golden Circle from Reykjavik

The other amazing thing to do is explore the Golden Circle with kids. You can easily do it yourselves by rental car, but of course you can also join a tour.

The Golden Circle is a 300 kilometer trail that starts and ends in Reykjavik and takes about 3 hours without stops. This route takes you to three of the most popular natural attractions in the land of fire and ice: Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park.

If you want to take your time at each sight you’d be better off if you take 2 days to explore the Golden Circle. But if you don’t have the time, you can do it in 1 day.

And the good thing when driving yourselves around is that you can start early in the morning or leave later in the day, around 2pm, to beat the crowds.

Top Golden Circle Tours in Reykjavik

Of course you can also join a tour. The possibilities are endless. Here are some tours with a high traveler rating.

Top Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon Tours in Reykjavik

You also have the option to combine the two. If your kids are up for a long day of exploring and you don’t have the time to do it in phases, this is a great option for you.

Let me share some top combo tours with you.

24. Start your Iceland Family Road Trip

Iceland is much more than Reykjavik. And chances are that Reykjavik is only the start of your family trip to Iceland. After you’ve explored the capital it’s time to pick up your rental car or camper and hit the road to see glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls kids will love and cute fishertowns.

Follow the Ring Road and check out the Golden Circle, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and don’t forget to check out the Diamond Circle with your family. If you have the time please also visit the East Coast and the South Coast and don’t forget to leave the Ring Road and the crowds and find your own hidden gems. And the absolute best? Make room for all of the above and create an epic Iceland family road trip itinerary!

10 Things to do in Reykjavik with kids

If you have 5 days or more in Reykjavik you can do all the things on this entire list. But if you only have 3 or 4 days to spare in this capital you’ll have to cut things from the Reykjavik itinerary.

Here are the 10 best things to do in Reykjavik with kids:

• Walk along the Old Harbor and the waterfront all the way up to the Sun Voyager and then take a right into the Old Town (did you notice how you just killed 3 birds with 1 stone?)
• Hallgrimskirkja
• Perlan Museum
• Geothermal Swimming Pool (either one of the kid friendly ones, Sky Lagoon or Nauthólsvik Geothermal Beach)
• Have an Icelandic Hot Dog for lunch
• Whales of Iceland
• Join a wildlife tour (puffin or whale)
• Catch a show at Harpa
• Watch the birds at Lake Tjörnin and have a picnic in Hljomskalagardur Park
• Taste the local cuisine (and try fermented shark if you dare)

Things to do around Reykjavik

I already mentioned the first two, but if Reykjavik is your base for a longer period of time there are also other things in the area you should check out.

• Blue Lagoon
• Golden Circle
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula
• Waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
• Vík and Reynisfjara black sand beach and basalt columns
• Chase Northern Lights (away from the city)
• Kerid Crater Lake
• Solheimasandur plane wreck

Reykjavik itinerary for families

Now that I’ve hooked you up with a huge list of what to do in Reykjavik with kids we’ll break things down for you in some (multi day) itineraries. Pick the one that suits your family’s timeframe best and enjoy!

6 day Reykjavik itinerary

In 6 days you can do everything on this list. When you have 6 days in Reykjavik I recommend the following itinerary.

Day 1

• Start by exploring Reykjavik on foot and check out the Old Harbor, the waterfront and its Sun Voyager and the Old Town where you can do some (souvenir) shopping
• Hallgrimskirkja
• Laugardalur Park (including a dip in the geothermal pool)

Day 2

• Maritime Museum
• Whales of Iceland
• On your way back to the Old Town stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an Icelandic hot dog
• Hljomskalagardur Park

Day 3

• National Gallery of Iceland
• Lake Tjörnin
• Try fermented shark
• Höfdi House
• Harpa Concert Hall

Day 4

• Whale watching and puffin combo tour
• Perlan Museum

Day 5

• Saga Museum
• Árbær Open Air Museum
• Northern Lights tour (in season)

Day 6

• Day trip to either the Blue Lagoon or the Golden Circle
• Get your rental car and start an epic Iceland Family Road Trip

5 day Reykjavik itinerary

In 5 days you can still see the majority of this top 24. When you have 5 days in Reykjavik I recommend the following itinerary.

Day 1

• Start by exploring Reykjavik on foot and check out the Old Harbor, the waterfront and its Sun Voyager and the Old Town where you can do some (souvenir) shopping
• Hallgrimskirkja
• Laugardalur Park (including a dip in the geothermal pool)

Day 2

• Maritime Museum
• Whales of Iceland
• On your way back to the Old Town stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an Icelandic hot dog
• Hljomskalagardur Park

Day 3

• Saga Museum
• Lake Tjörnin
• Try fermented shark
• Höfdi House
• Harpa Concert Hall

Day 4

• Whale watching and puffin combo tour
• Perlan Museum
• Northern Lights tour (in season)

Day 5

• Day trip to either the Blue Lagoon or the Golden Circle
• Get your rental car and start an epic Iceland Family Road Trip

4 day Reykjavik itinerary

Here’s when we have to make some difficult choices, you simply can’t do it all when you have 4 days in Reykjavik.

Day 1

• Start by exploring Reykjavik on foot and check out the Old Harbor, the waterfront and its Sun Voyager and the Old Town where you can do some (souvenir) shopping
• Hallgrimskirkja
• Laugardalur Park (including a dip in the geothermal pool)

Day 2

• Whales of Iceland
• On your way back to the Old Town stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an Icelandic hot dog
• Perlan Museum
• Northern Lights tour (in season)

Day 3

• Whale watching and puffin combo tour
• Saga Museum

Day 4

• Day trip to either the Blue Lagoon or the Golden Circle
• Get your rental car and start an epic Iceland Family Road Trip

2 day Reykjavik itinerary

With just 2 days in Reykjavik we’ll stick to the absolute must do’s in the city.

Day 1

• Start by exploring Reykjavik on foot and check out the Old Harbor, the waterfront and its Sun Voyager and the Old Town where you can do some (souvenir) shopping
• Stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an Icelandic hot dog
• Hallgrimskirkja

Day 2

• Whales of Iceland
• Perlan Museum
• Get your rental car and start an epic Iceland Family Road Trip

1 Day Reykjavik Itinerary

When you only have 1 day in Reykjavik then these are the must do’s::

• Perlan Museum
• Start by exploring Reykjavik on foot and check out the Old Harbor, the waterfront and its Sun Voyager and the Old Town where you can do some (souvenir) shopping
• Stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an Icelandic hot dog
• Hallgrimskirkja

Planning your family trip to Reykjavik

Planning a family trip to Reykjavik means doing some research. You now know the best things to do here, but there are some things to know before you travel to Reykjavik. My Reykjavik with kids planning guide will help you with that.

How to get around Reykjavik

There aren’t many cities where it’s so easy to get around. You don’t need anything but your feet and maybe a stroller or baby carrier.

If the kids are tired from walking just hop on the city bus. You can buy tickets at most supermarkets, but you can also pay in cash on the bus. Kids up to 6 can ride for free and if you have the Reykjavik City Card you can also take free rides. You can find timetables at every bus stop.

FAQ

If you’re in a hurry, save this post for later and check out the FAQ about things to do in Reykjavik with kids.

Conclusion

That’s it, now you know the 24 top things to do in Reykjavik with children. If you want to read more posts about Reykjavik or Iceland, check out the list below or visit my Iceland page.

I’ll end this post with a FAQ and wish you an awesome family Reykjavik city trip.

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