Iceland

Iceland family holidays

Discover a world of fire and ice on an exciting, action-packed Iceland family holiday. This is the place to come for a living geography lesson. A place where you can see live volcanoes belching steam and fire, explosive geysers and dazzling glaciers. There are a myriad of exciting activities, a smooth infrastructure that works come rain, shine or snow, and a wonderful variety of landscapes. The kids will be enthralled throughout.

Mother and son in geothermal lagoon on Iceland family holiday

Soak in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon all-year-round

Just a short three-hour hop if travelling from the UK and you will find yourselves in a world of stunning waterfalls, black-sand beaches and subterranean ice caverns. Children will love cooking bread in a natural thermal oven and parents can enjoy a good soak in the hot springs. All ages can have fun watching puffins, seals and whales on a wildlife cruise.

Iceland family holidays are all about being active in this utterly spectacular natural environment. Hike through the rocky green hills, explore stark lava fields and immerse yourselves in blue and white ice formations on a glacier tour. And who is brave enough to take on the ultimate ‘bushtucker trial’, tasting fermented shark – the infamous Hakarl?!!!

Family holidays in Iceland - Children enjoying the eruption of Strokkur Geysir in Iceland

Snap a photo of the Strokkur Geyser as it erupts, roughly every 7 minutes or so

Why take the kids to Iceland?

Iceland is a genuinely all-year-round destination, with activities taking place under the midnight sun or with the Northern Lights scudding across the sky.

Some of our favourite activities that you can enjoy with the kids on an Iceland family holiday include:

Hiking to the mighty Gullfoss and Dettifoss waterfalls
Donning crampons on the Sólheimajökull Glacier
Gasping at the erupting Strokkur geyser
Walking between two continents in Thingvellir National Park
Soaking in the hot waters of the Blue Lagoon – bliss!
Exploring the fairy-tale landscape of Gjain Gorge
Spotting whales, seals, and puffins on a wildlife cruise
Seeing live volcanoes, rugged lava fields and immense ice caps

Iceland family holidays - girl paddling kayak on scenic Laugarvatn lake.

In Iceland’s summer months, you can kayak, canoe, mountain bike, snorkel, go caving, and much more

For active and curious children, an Iceland family holiday will be a non-stop, fun-filled adventure. For more ideas and photos, check out our Top 10 winter and summer activities in Iceland.

When should I go on an Iceland family holiday?

This is a land of extremes, where the long dark nights of winter cover a snow-filled landscape of icy peaks and jagged volcanoes. The Aurora Borealis whips across the heavens, lighting up the sky in streamers of green. At this time of year, you need to wrap up warm and embrace the elements. Tuck into mugs of hot chocolate and warm yourselves with a dip into a steaming hot spring. Think walks to thundering waterfalls now draped in icicles, snowmobile excursions to distant glaciers and forays into sparkling ice caves.

In the summer, the sun doesn’t set and the days are long and leisurely. This is the time to get out and really explore; to hike up to remote lava fields and snorkel between tectonic plates. To kayak on glacial lakes and watch icebergs calve into the quiet waters. Spend a day walking along the coastline before stopping for a picnic by a little-known waterfall to watch the sun dip to just above the horizon.

Activities in Iceland include exciting glacier hikes, ice cavern tours, and whale and seal cruises

What else do I need to know?

Most families will hire a car to get around the country on an Iceland family holiday. The roads are extremely easy to follow – with just one main ring road hugging the coast – and even in the depths of winter the roads are kept immaculately clear from snow.

Hotels are functional and modern (see where to stay for more information) and whilst not necessarily an attraction in and of themselves, they are clean, comfortable and warm in winter!

Family holiday itineraries to Iceland

All of our Iceland family holidays are bespoke. This means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, and the season.

To give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Iceland in all seasons, have a look at our sample itineraries, Iceland in 7 Days and Iceland in 10 Days.

Also, check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on an Iceland family holiday and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our photo gallery (top right).

See our When to go to Iceland overview to find out more about the weather and what it will be like at the time that you want to travel. Simply give us a ring, or use our contact page, and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best holiday to Iceland for you and your family.

Snorkelling in a dry suit in Iceland where the tectonic plates join

Snorkelling at the Silfra site in Thingvellir National Park – it’s the only place in the world where you can snorkel between tectonic plates (Eurasian and North American)