“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” -Miriam Beard
Reykjavik means “the bay full of smoke” because when you come here, you will be able to see the steam coming from the surrounding hot springs. The city in the northernmost part of this world is full of Icelandic features such as the sun appearing at summer midnight or the moon shining brightly in winter. And because it is blessed by nature to take advantage of, from buses running on clean hydrogen, electricity and gas are also produced from clean sources, this is the greenest, cleanest, most beautiful city in Europe and in the world. Therefore, a trip with your children to Reykjavik will be a meaningful gift for them. And because Iceland is still quite unfamiliar and less popular in tourism, you need to be well-prepared for your family’s journey. List 10 best things with kids in Reykjavik, Iceland below will help you for a perfect and unforgettable adventure with your beloved family.
1. Reykjavik Grand Excursion Tour
First to get acquainted with Reykjavik you have to join in Reykjavik Grand Excursion Tour with your kids. You will stop at local landmarks like the Church of Hallgrímskirkja, the unique Harpa Theater, Perlan’s famous observatory, the famous Höfði house, where American and Soviet leaders met in 1986 to begin the process of ending the Cold War. As travel through each of these landmarks, your child will learn more about the history and culture of this beautiful city.
2. Reykjavik Summit Helicopter Tour
Flying in the air in a helicopter across the colorful roofs, the beautiful city of Reykjavik will be a beautiful dream for the children. So, let help them fulfill their dreams with the Reykjavik Summit Helicopter Tour. The scenic flight lasts 30-45 minutes and after that, you will land at a nearby peak to see Reykjavik from above. This is a flight that will give you the most incredible photos and memories that will last a lifetime
3. Lava Centre
Iceland Lava Center is an imaginary educational development center that introduces Iceland’s unique volcanoes. So this is one of the places not to be missed when visiting Reykjavik for your children. Here, the children will visit the artifacts exploring the arts and geoscience of the volcanic system of Iceland, thereby learning more about this amazing natural phenomenon. And there is also a cinema where you can see volcanic eruptions with the most realistic screen.
4. Northern Lights by Boat
The Northern Light is one of the characteristic attractions in Iceland. Watching the Northern Light by Boat on while floating at sea will definitely be an unforgettable experience for your children. Begin your exploration of the aurora borealis by sailing off the coast in Reykjavik and searching the Arctic Aura in the night sky, admiring the beautiful North Atlantic Ocean with its winding mountains far away. And if you are lucky, you will be able to watch the beautiful Aurora aura shining in the sky – a moment you will never forget.
5.Snæfellsnes
Snæfellsnes peninsula, Iceland is a magical land famous for its black sand beaches, canyons and waterfalls, brightly colored small villages. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity for children to explore this wonderful peninsula. And when you’re tired, you can stop in the small villages to rest and have the opportunity to walk along the beautiful coast. In particular, the trip can help your child learn more about Iceland’s unique geology and landscape during the tour.
6. Hop On – Hop Off Reykjavík
If you have free time, take your kids on the Reykjavik tour with Hop On Hop Off Bus. With the open-top bus running around this city, you will be able to visit the Harpa Theater, Iceland National Gallery, City Hall and the beautiful houses on the streets of the Icelandic capital. Especially, you can get on and off the car many times within 24 hours to be able to visit around the city.
7. Classic Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise in Reykjavík
In addition to Northern Light, children can also watch classic whales and dolphins in cruise, lovely sea creatures in Reykjavik. With this whale-watching journey, kids will get on a modern boat with lots of outdoor viewing areas and see Minke Whales, White-billed Dolphins, Port Dolphins and more. In addition, the children also learned about dolphins during this journey. So, don’t forget to bring your children to this unique year-round sailing experience in Reykjavík.
8. Lofthellir Ice Cave
Only 2 hours flight from Reykjavik, you will reach Akureyri, where has the attractive Lofthellir Ice Cave. Therefore, you can consider bringing children here. When going to Akureyri, you will visit Lake Myvatn, a lake famous for its lively beauty. Also, have a chance to visit the waterfall of the gods, Goðafoss, one of the famous places here. You will walk along the road around Hverfjall Volcano and go through the Ludgentsborgir volcano. When you reach the Mount Hvanfell, you will walk across a vast lava field that will take you to Lofthellir Ice Cave. This incredible natural phenomenon is filled with icicles, stalactites, and stalagmites, some of which are also lit by the light. You will have an hour to explore this mysterious cave. It will be a memorable trip.
9. Golden Circle and Kerid Crater
Golden Circle and Kerid Crater are one of nature’s gifts to Reykjavik. So, don’t miss the chance to bring your children here to visit on this Reykjavik trip. The children will visit Kerid crater, a famous tourist destination in Iceland. Stop in the geothermal region of Geysir to watch the hot spring gushing up to a height of 30m, a majestic natural spectacle only found in Reykjavik. An unforgettable experience here.
10. Underworld Lava Caving Adventure
Finally, an activity for kids over the age of 6, when the kids are strong enough to step out of their ‘comfort zones’ and venture underground to explore the world below – Underworld Lava Caving with Leidarendi cave and Gjabakkahellir. Both caves are full of jagged rock formations amid fossilized lava flows thousands of years ago – a beautiful masterpiece of nature. And you will be ecstatic before the series of jagged and colorful rock formations, in the winter, the rocks will turn into crests by hanging on the ceiling of the cave. And this will certainly not be an easy adventure, let your children prepare to go with both hands and feet when participating in the 1-time-in-life adventure
Each season Iceland has a unique beauty, like they say “beauty is in the eyes of beholder”. But around September is the best time. The weather is still cool and gentle, not too cold, the day is still long enough to enjoy the scenery and it is just at the beginning of the season of the legendary aurora borealis. Commuting links between the regions are still open and moving to the highlands is still easy. Clothing when going to Iceland is important because the weather in Iceland is unpredictabl. For example, when the sun is shining, it can turn to cold showers immediately, so the outfit must be easy to adjust as well. So when traveling with children, you should use waterproof clothing / pants because the Icelandic rains will make them extremely uncomfortable and quickly get cold if wet. Even if you don’t see the rain, when visiting places like glaciers, glaciers and waterfalls is easy to get wet with casual clothes. Therefore, prepare very attentive clothes for the children to have a healthy and comfortable trip to Reykjavik.