Summer holiday to Iceland with kids - ideas!

[Beakerandbungle]

Hi everyone

Sorry I can see there is a thread on Iceland in feb but I think as going in summer and slightly different questions I’d start a new one!
Myself and another single parent friend are thinking of booking a short break ( 5 or 6 nights) to Iceland with kids at the start of the summer holidays. Kids are 10 and 7 (4 boys) - quite active.

Just started looking and would be very grateful for any recommendations. Atm we were thinking it is probably best to base in Rekjavik and do day trips from there? We are looking for a busy holiday so hoping to do lots. Also trying to decided whether to do guided tours ( but suspect long time on coaches?) or try and hire a car for the 6 of us.

Anyway if anyone has any thoughts on things to do/places to stay - anything by really they’d be very gratefully received!

When we looked into going to Iceland (we should have gone in April 2020) with dc then aged 8 and 11, the advice was not to go in the summer holidays, as it will never get dark enough to see the Aurora borealis and some icy bits won’t be so icy (vague on detail here).

I disagree, Iceland is at its best in the summer. No, you won't see the northern lights but there are also loads of things you can see in the summer that are inaccessible in the winter. And it's just nicer to not be battling through the winter winds in the dark. The midnight sun is so beautiful and invigorating somehow. It makes you feel so light and free.

I wouldn't stay in Reykjavik for more than a night or two. I would book summer houses along the south coast or going up to Snæfellsnes, get out of the town and enjoy the countryside. Move around rather than staying in the same place all the time. Definitely hire a big car.

Ooh interesting @PuffinShop.

Thank you @PuffinShop.

Yes we are fine not seeing the northern lights ( that can be another trip!)

We've been twice: once in late October (pre-DS) and once in the summer with DS (2 at the time). It was much easier in the summer. The climate was much kinder, and some of the tourism shuts down in the winter.

I'd echo the thoughts about getting out of Reykjavík after a couple of days as there's loads to see elsewhere.

We hired a campervan both times which was fun, and a great way to see the sites.

In no particular order we loved:

1. Thingvellir/Geyser/Gullfoss. Known as the Golden Circle tour, it takes in 3 interesting things to see in one daytrip.
2. A ferry trip over to the Vestermann Islands. We saw gannets and puffins over the sea!
3. Jokullsarlon.
4. Landmannalaugar: Iceland's amazing highland interior but you need a 4x4 to get there!
5. Thorsmork
6. Bathing in the hot springs at Hveragerdi. A bit of a walk to them, but completely undeveloped (when we were there, I think there are facilities now) and hardly anyone there compared to the Blue Lagoon.

We saw lots of other places but these really stand out.

Thanks @CampervanQueen

We spent 2 weeks driving round the ring road with our dc when they were 9 and 11. Was fantastic. If you are going for a shorter time and happy to drive then Diamond Beach was my favourite place. We stayed here for a couple of nights and I highly recommend - lambhus.is/

Hire car was expensive though. Eating out wasn’t actually that bad if you are happy with hot dogs, pizza and fish and chips. And drink their water rather than alcohol and soft drinks

Thanks @IcelandHols!

Bumping up. Looking at trying to get a last minute deal

Iceland is wonderful summer or winter but it is expensive. If that's not an issue then go for it. My favourite place is Thingvellir but I also love any of the hot pools, and there are plenty!

Found decent flights. Just don't know whether to find a hotel in Reykjavik or airbnb?

We haven't spent much time in Reykjavik but this article just popped up on my phone.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/07/a-locals-guide-to-reykjavik-iceland-the-best-bars-cafes-beaches-and-geothermal-pools

We are just back from Iceland and it was amazing! If you're going in summer go whale watching - it is peak season and absolutely fabulous. Definitely recommend Jokulsarlon - including the boat out onto the glacier lagoon. Diamond beach is close by (I was less impressed by that but DD loved it).

The waterfalls are amazing - we saw Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss but there are many more.

The Blue Lagoon is expensive but definitely worth a visit. There's also a free geothermal beach in Reykjavík when you're counting the pennies.

I chose not to hire a car and am glad I didn't. The Icelandic roads look great to drive on but as the only adult I didn't fancy doing 100% of the driving and planning. We were based in Reykjavik and frankly, it was a delight to hand the driving and organising over to someone else and do trips.

Hope you have a fantastic time

You miss so much by staying in the capital and doing day trips. If you go in the summer you must get into the highlands if you possibly can! They are only accessible a few months of the year and so beautiful. The summer is the time to enjoy the light and freedom and explore properly.

I loved Iceland. Went in the winter during the music festival but definitely want to go back in the summer.

Oh I love Iceland - have been 6 times at all times of year. Took my boys at a similar age.
Dont try to do everything. Yes lots of tours to Golden Circle which is worth doing at least once. Avoid the Blue Lagoon- there are much better pools in every tiny village and I think 3? in Reykjavík alone. Swim Loads. Eat hotdogs- the food isn’t amazing ime unless you go very high end. We have seen the northern lights in august so don’t rule it out! Go whale watching. Buses are pretty good. I prefer basing on the snaesfell peninsula - Stikisholmur (sp?) to R - but maybe for a first trip the capital is fine. Have a great trip!

Ah we had such a fab time in Iceland with our toddler! We went for a week and stayed in Reykjavik but managed to get out and see so much of the country! We hired a car and would DEFINITELY recommend! We went in July and the weather was mid to late teens, sometimes into the 20's but it was perfect weather for walking around as it wasn't to hot!

I put together our itinerary if it helps anyone - https://ashotoftheworld.com/6-days-in-reykjavik-in-summer-with-a-toddler/. The best things we found to do with children is the Perlan Museum, whale watching and the Blue Lagoon (there were loads more things like a cat cafe and waterfalls). I hope it's helpful! x