Iceland (the country) with kids

[breadedchicken]

Just wondering has anyone any experience of going to Iceland with kids? They're 6 and 8. Would be the first week in November. I'm turning 40 so looking go somewhere special but want to bring our kids so needs to be fun for them too. (All other suggestions of nice places to go welcome). Thanks in advance.

Following as I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland. There’s a circular road around and you can go on driving holidays around seeing the sights. I’m not sure how much there is to do with kids so this’ll be interesting.

Iceland is absolute beautiful, I've been 3 times. Ive never taken my kids though. It doesn't seem the sort of place that's geared towards kids unless they love sightseeing? The geyser and waterfalls are absolutely awesome, as is diamond beach etc. But it's not a typical holiday destination for kids, mine would have been bored silly.

I’m just back from Iceland this past weekend & there were lots of people there with kids. We never took our toddler as it was just a couples weekend but there were plenty of kids there. There were kids at the blue lagoon & the whale watching tour that we done.

I went at Easter with my 20 year old daughter. We went to the Blue Lagoon and there were plenty of kids there. In Reykjavik we walked around exploring, saw the amazing church and ate soup in bread which was something very different. We also went to the ice bar (I won't bother to go back there) and the Hard Rock. Went to Flyover Iveland which we also really enjoyed although it is not very long, but there is also the whale museum nearby. We absolutely loved it, and are going back with my 22 year old daughter + boyfriend and my 17 year old son. We will go horse riding, options for different lengths including wild bathing in natural hot springs or on glaciers or black beaches, and will also go on an ATV/quad bike tour. We are hiring a car as driving is so easy there, and will do the Golden Circle one day. We have also booked a whale watching/puffin spotting boat trip. I think most children would really enjoy it. Iceland is pretty expensive but it is lovely. We saw the Northern Lights in April which was incredible. Obviously when we go back in the summer we won't, but then it will be 24 hour daylight which is something else special for us! I would say go for it, check everything out and you will be able to organise some amazing experiences.

guidetoiceland.is/you-guide/how-to-drive-the-golden-circle

www.theflashpacker.net/golden-circle-iceland/

I'm taking mine in 2 weeks but they are a little older - 14 & 10. I would say that some of the day trips are very long some also have minimum age limits.
They are also hideously expensive. I think they may be a little young and you would get more out of it adults only.

I am desperate to go and already thinking I will go back myself to visit some more of the places I cannot fit in on this trip!

We took DD a while ago now. We self catered and hired a car and did the Golden Circle across a couple of days. We combined things like a museum with swimming so something for us and something more geared to her. There are so many swimming pools and they were always clean and reasonable. Some of them had flumes! We did Blue Lagoon but to be honest the normal swimming pools were better! We stayed just outside of Selfoss.

We’ve taken the kids at 2 and 5 years old and 7 and 10. They had a great time both times. Snow definitely helped. Blue Lagoon is great but super expensive. Secret Lagoon was nice but a bit too hot for them. Fontana Spa was perfect for everyone - they even had a quick dip in the freezing lake!
They enjoyed Geyser, Black Sand Beach though a bit of a trek from everywhere else we went. Amazing waterfalls on the route. They liked Perlan in Reykjavik. We also did a good lava tunnel tour. So there’s loads for kids if they enjoy hot and cold and wet and looking at amazing geography!

Great advice all round thanks everyone. So plenty to do but crazy expensive.

@Ionacat do you mean just local community swimming pools?

@ZeusandClio do you think in November the shorter days would inhibit the amount of exploring we could do? I think mine would love the ice bar (assuming kids are allowed in)

@Ionacat (sorry to jump the thread OP) - are there any swimming pools you Partic recommend? I’m going in the summer and having 2 nights in Reykjavik then staying just outside Selfoss for 4 - kids 7 and 10.

@FastandLoose that's great to hear you're going back and their ages aren't too dissimilar to my kids.

We went when DC were a bit older than yours (about 10 and 12 I think)
They loved the geyser and waterfalls, loved petting the ponies, standing on two continents at once. They liked the Blue Lagoon and Secret Lagoon and amazing municipal outdoor baths in Reykjavik. They liked climbing Hallgrimskirk tower and the view. You could take out a boat for whale watching and puffin spotting.

Icelandic people are really friendly. DC found they were welcome in toyshops and music shops to try the instruments. They were given sweets and drawing books. In a cafe they were given an impromptu tour of how coffee was roasted in the kitchen because they seemed interested. It was just very chilled and friendly.

If your kids like spending hours in water and enjoy nature, they will enjoy Iceland.

Yes, we took the kids when they were about 6 and 9. It was around New Year, loads of snow about for snowball fights. Blue lagoon, caving, battling against the elements to see the waterfall, whale watching... kids loved it. Also New Year was a bit crazy with fireworks let off willy-nilly!

It says suitable for all ages and tickets for children aged 19 and under with no mention of a minimum age. Everywhere seemed very welcoming to children so I would be surprised if they weren't allowed. It will be very cold in November with about 8 hours of sunlight a day at the beginning of November, decreasing to about 5 hours a day by the end of November. I've no experience, but as they have 24 hours of darkness/twilight over the winter I'm sure it must be well-lit and you'd be able to do things when it is "dark". I honestly think it would be a fabulous experience for young children.

Its a fascinating country with a weird and exciting landscape to explore
. We loved it but like the outdoors and had no kids in tow,
Hot geothermal pools might be fun with kids; and a whale-spotting trip (wow. I'd have been happy to spot one whale, We saw LOTS, up close. Fab).

everything is very, very . very expensive.

Yes just their usual swimming pools - community ones. The one in Selfoss itself was good but our favourite was Laugardalur. The swimming pools were just so clean and warm because they are very strict on showering before you go into the pool.

@Ionacat

Does Laugardalur have private showering cubicles?

Sorry I don’t remember as I wasn’t bothered as no one was batting an eyelid so didn’t look for them if they were there. I do remember shoes were bagged or left outside and there was a special drying off area - you can’t go back into the main changing room wet.

ive been looking into it too and have come across lots of activities and trips we want to do have minimum age limits. Mostly eight. Obviously it will depend on what you plan to do there but we are leaving it a few years until the DCs are older.

That's good to know @Heathofhares . I should actually mock up an itinerary and then see if they're old enough.

Did you see any/many whales?

I really wouldn't recommend November. If the trip has to be in November I'd go somewhere else to be honest. November is, on average, a horrible, grey, stormy, gloomy month. Usually too early to snow but also low daylight and high chance of strong winds and rain. I'd also probably wait until they are at least a few years older, really.

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old and there are lots of fun things to do, but most of the things that make Iceland special are not great for that sort of age range. The main exception would be the swimming pools, which are excellent. If you like slides, Lágafellslaug in Mosfellsbær is one of the best. Otherwise the kind of things you can do with children are the same kind of things you could do in many other countries, so not worth the expense of coming to Iceland.

When they are a bit older they are more likely to be able to enjoy glacier trips, mountains, waterfalls, rafting, super jeeps, horse riding, etc. Many activities and areas are only accessible in the summer and the weather is also a lot better then, so I would always say to come in the summer unless you particularly want to see the northern lights in which case September/October is better.

Yes, Laugardalslaug is popular with tourists and it's one of the few pools that does have a few cubicles with doors.

Thanks for the info @Puffinshop. Do you live in Iceland? Grey and gloomy does not sound appealing given i live in Ireland and that's pretty much our weather for a good chunk of the year.

Maybe a week on a Greek island for my 40th and a trip to Iceland when they're older!

Yes, I live here. You can always get lucky, but chances of horrible weather in November are pretty high and it's usually rain/sleet storms rather than any nice snow. If Iceland is a once in a lifetime destination for you, you won't see the country at its best in November and I just think if you're paying all that money, why waste it on November?