10 Things To Do in Iceland That Make It One of the Best Family Vacation Destinations
Iceland, the “land of fire and ice” isn’t just for couples or singles. It’s also one of the best family vacation destinations. These 10 things to do in Iceland are why you should add the country to your family’s vacation bucket list.
At the time of year when the days start to get longer and the air a little warmer, “what are you doing this summer?” becomes the most popular conversation starter. This past spring, our answer was “taking a family vacation to Iceland.”
A statement that elicited one of two responses.
Response #1 went a little something like this: “Isn’t it going to be cold there? What are you going to do there? Why do you want to go to Iceland?”
Response #2 was more along the lines of: “It seems like everyone is going there! My neighbor/ co-worker/ sister’s boyfriend’s dog walker (you get the drift) just got back from Iceland. I want to go too!”
I’ve never talked about a destination before that people either couldn’t wait to go to ... or barely knew existed. The reactions were polar opposites and rarely were there any in between.
Fast forward a few months and our Iceland vacation is one for the books for our family. And this “book” would be an adventure novel for sure. So whether you’re team “why on earth would you go” or team “I want to go too”, here are 10 things to do in Iceland that make it one of the best family vacation destinations.
1. Your Kids Will Think You Landed on Another Planet When You Get to Iceland.
Iceland’s landscape is like nothing your kids have probably ever seen before. That alone makes Iceland worth visiting.
You don’t have to venture far after you get off the plane before the landscape begins to look vastly different. Black lava fields and creeping grey moss greets visitors leaving Keflavik International, the main airport in the country, heading into Reykjavík. And around every corner there’s a new landscape to uncover. Even though it’s a relatively short flight from the east coast of the US, you’re definitely not in Oz any more, Toto.
The beauty of Iceland.
2. Iceland has Breathtaking (and Abundant) Waterfalls.
Like big majestic waterfalls? Iceland’s got ‘em! Like small waterfalls you can get up close to? Iceland’s got those too!
FlyOver Iceland, a popular flight simulator attraction, states, “Touring Iceland is a journey in waterfall appreciation.” This feature alone makes Iceland one the best family vacation destinations. Waterfalls are plentiful in the country and it seems like the next one is better than the last. Some are huge and viewed from a platform. Others are small enough to get up close and personal. We certainly didn’t meet a waterfall we didn’t like during our Iceland adventure and I doubt your family will either.
3. You can visit the oldest geyser in the world in Iceland.
Geysers are like God’s little science experiments. And God sure was busy making them in Iceland.
I thought I had checked the “coolest geyser on earth” box when I visited Old Faithful in Yellowstone a few years ago. As much as I love U.S. based destinations, Iceland might actually take the cake in this category. The Iceland tourism boom is in it’s infancy compared to Yellowstone so the rules for how close visitors can get to the sites are way more lax. You can still actually stand close enough to get sprayed by the water. Combine that with much lower crowds even during peak travel season, water with the most beautiful blue hue, and the fact that the word “geyser” originated in Iceland. Let’s just say Icelandic geysers give Old Faithful a run for her money.
Sights such as these make Iceland a perfect family vacation.
4. Icelandic Hot Springs Make for a Cool (or warm as it may be) Family Vacation Thing To Do.
Iceland’s most famous landmark is definitely a thing to do in Iceland that’s worth a visit… but so are the multitude of other amazing hot springs in Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon, one of the most famous spots to visit in Iceland, is a must-do. The beautiful, warm, blue water is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes. It’s a fantastic family activity that both kids and adults are able to enjoy. And although the Blue Lagoon is unique because the water is made aqua by silica because of the nearby geothermal plant, hot springs are found throughout much of Iceland. One of our absolute favorite things during our family trip to Iceland was the ability to finish many of our days touring with a soak in whatever hot spring was located near the things we were seeing for this day.
The Blue Lagoon helps make Iceland a bucket list family vacation.
5. You can go for a hike in A volcanic crater.
Iceland is said to have over 130 volcanic mountains. And many make great hikes.
I’m always amazed by how entertaining a simple hike can be for all 4 of my kids despite the fact that there are 10 years separating my oldest from my youngest. (In other words, they have vastly different interests and energy levels). It’s not hard to figure out why hiking in this country helps make Iceland a one of the best family vacation destinations though. Volcanic craters make up some of the most popular hikes and they’re fascinating to see. Walking around the huge craters is a super cool thing to do in Iceland that feels like stepping back to the prehistoric time when they were formed.
Crater hiking is an awesome activity for Iceland family vacations.
6. you can Explore iceland’s Labyrinth of Lava Tubes.
Visitors can go underground in these fantastic tubes during a family trip to Iceland.
The “fire” portion of the “land of fire and ice” didn’t just create cool craters to hike. It also created interesting lava tubes to explore. Families can walk through the some of the lava tubes and view the cave walls that were polished by molten streams. There are also lots of stalagmites, stalactites and other uber cool formations. Walking around them might be the most fun geology lesson my kids have ever had.
Lava tube in Iceland
7. See the sun shine at midnight ... or set in the middle of the day.
There’s nothing quite like waking up in the middle of the night to sunshine… or seeing darkness in the middle of the day.
Taking your family to Iceland in the summer means you’ll experience close to 24 hours of daylight. While we were there in July, the darkest it got at any point of the day was similar to dusk. That meant that when my teen and I wondered the city at 10 p.m. for a late night snack, it felt like we were strolling around at about 4 p.m. Visiting Iceland in the winter months means you’ll rarely see the sunlight, but the trade-off will likely be a view of the Northern lights. Nerd alert here but I have to tell you my homeschool mom brain was so excited about this real life lesson on the the planet earth’s place in our solar system.
The midnight sun in Iceland in July helps make Iceland a bucket list family vacation spot.
8. Icelandic Horses will Steal Your Hearts.
Iceland’s horses are kind of like the country’s unofficial mascots. And so seeing them up close is a great part of a travel adventure.
Iceland’s climate ensures that any wildlife in the area is sturdy enough to withstand periods of very little sunlight and sometimes other harsh conditions. The country’s native horses manage to do that ... and in the cutest way possible I might add. We often saw people pulled over on the side of the road to pet these friendly creatures as they grazed in their owner’s fields. Riding the horses through the lava fields and other terrain is another thing to do in Iceland and a way to get up close and personal to the infamous and unique Icelandic equines.
Icelandic horses help make Iceland a bucket list worthy family vacation.
9. A Rich History Sneaks Learning Into Your Family Vacation.
No family learning adventure is complete without learning about the history of the area. Iceland’s got a super cool history to explore.
Nature might take center stage in Iceland but that doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer history lovers. In fact, for my family, Iceland’s history was what peaked our interest in putting Iceland at the top of our family vacation bucket list. Iceland’s story is filled with tales of Norse settlements, Viking raids, and fights for independence, among other things. Several museums and landmarks bring the story to life for tourists.
Saga Museum, Reykjavik
10. The Quaint Town of Reykjavík is Interesting, Fun, and Unusual.
It’s not just the rural parts of Iceland that are worth seeing. Exploring the country’s capital is more than worthy of being on the list of things to do Iceland.
Even though it’s the goal of every visitor to Iceland to venture to the countryside to see the awe-insuring natural wonder, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, still deserves some much-earned love. Reykjavík is a walkable, distinctly Icelandic town that gives visitors a great feel for the people of the country. Shops, restaurants, cultural experiences, and cool sites make the town more than stopover worthy.
The quaint town of Reykjavík makes Iceland a bucket list family vacation.
