Detailed 7-day Iceland itinerary with a toddler

Yes, travelling to Iceland with a toddler is a great idea! It’s a beautiful country with amazing scenery, perfect to explore with a baby or toddler (our son was 2 years old).

During our self-drive tour of 7 days in Iceland in May 2022, we got to see stunning waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, peaceful volcanic craters, whale fins, and the beautiful capital city. And what’s more, we did NOT go crazy with tantrums, we managed to eat and sleep well, and we had a really good time.

Keep reading to find out our detailed road trip 7-day Iceland itinerary with a toddler, as well as tips and tricks to have a wonderful stay in this gorgeous country.

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Tips and tricks for travelling to Iceland with a toddler

When we went to Iceland for a week, our son Alexander had just turned 2. Looking back, I think most of these tips would apply also to a younger child or a baby.

• Is Iceland a good destination for a toddler? Yes, we think so. Reykjavik is very easy to explore on foot, with colorful houses to look at; drivers are polite and careful, in the city and also in the countryside; there are playgrounds in every village; but truly, Iceland itself is a playground, where everything can be climbed and explored and inspected. Except for the moss! Don’t touch the precious moss that takes years and years to grow on the rocks.
• Is Iceland a safe destination for a toddler? Yes, as long as you are as careful as you are at home: hold them away from cliffs and roadsides, make sure there aren’t any bones in the fish they are eating, and keep them nice and warm in the cold weather.
• Is Iceland an expensive destination with a toddler? Well, that depends on you. Yes, in general, Iceland is an expensive destination. But you can still save some money by staying in apartments, cooking instead of eating out (make sure you stop at the large “Bonus” supermarkets and similar), bringing diapers from your own country, and drinking the tasty, safe and FREE tap water everywhere. Also, using the Multi-Currency Wise Card helps save on exchange fees and bank transactions – we use it on every trip and every purchase in a different currency! Get yours now or read more of our experiences.
• Apartments or hotels with a toddler in Iceland? We stayed in 3 apartments and at one hotel, and we enjoyed both accommodation styles. On average, apartments were cheaper than hotels, BUT breakfast at a hotel is the real holiday luxury for me (and I’m glad I indulged). We did not cook any meals at home (because we never know what Alex wants anyway, and we want to treat ourselves to the local food when we travel), but we enjoyed having a slow breakfast with coffee, cookies and “skyr” yogurt. The one BIG difference I noticed was that after helping Alex fall asleep, in an apartment we had a living room to hang out, while in the hotel room we didn’t have anywhere else to go: dark room, no tv, hushed voices, and an early night in. So, just for this reason, I think apartments are the better choice for travelling to Iceland with a toddler – I’ll add some recommendations later.
• Self-drive or guided tours? Without a doubt, renting a car was the best option for us. With Alex sleeping 1,5 hours after lunch, we knew we wanted to be free to drive wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted. We found our driving routine very quickly and loved our road trip in Iceland.

I hope I answered some of your doubts! More questions? Here’s what we did with our energetic toddler – and hopefully it can help you out:

• Routines: we tried to respect our daily routine from home: wake up at 7ish, breakfast, busy morning, lunch at 12ish, nap (usually in the car), some more activities, dinner at 7ish, sleep at 9ish latest. Even though in May it was (almost) dark just from 11 pm to 4-5ish am, following our routine helped us give structure to the days and avoided tiredness tantrums.
• Food: we gave him food whenever he wanted it. We brought his favourite cookies from home, we kept crackers, a banana and an apple in his backpack in the car, and we bought milk and chocolate milk for the evenings. When eating out, fish and chips were almost always accepted, and for breakfast the local yogurt “skyr” was a massive success.
• Driving: from our experience with 9-hour drives to go visit my parents, we knew we had to stop every 2 hours maximum. We found that even shorter periods are better: it’s great to stretch our own legs, let him run around a bit, and have a snack. Inside the car, he couldn’t really see outside and count the houses or the horses or the sheep: a tablet with his favourite cartoons already downloaded was THE BEST choice we ever made.
• Moving around: stroller, of course! We were NOT going to carry his lovely 14 kg of cuteness on our backs. We packed our GB Pockit+ All-City (it was loaded in the hold on the way there, allowed as hand luggage on the way back) and used it often.
• Planning: we knew our child: activities were supposed to last approximately 1 hour and require limited walking, because he gets bored/tired/hungry after that, and guess whose mood is affected too? Ours. So, no point in planning horse-riding or volcano-climbing or concert-going or 8-hour-driving, if we were all going to suffer.
• Packing: after a couple of attempts, we managed to pack just 2 hand-luggage-sized backpacks: mine with my clothes and most of Alex’s stuff, and Darek’s with his clothes, a couple more things for Alex, and his nappies! The key was packing layers, so that an outfit for a warm sunny day could be covered with a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof pants in case of cold or rain.

Last but not least, we were extremely glad that my parents joined us. It was their idea to travel to Iceland in the first place, so actually we joined them! Even though Alex is a good kid 95% of the time, it was waaaay more relaxing and enjoyable to split his energies between 4 people instead of 2. In the car, Darek would drive, I would sit next to him, and in the back my parents would be singing and playing with Alex. At any destination, someone was always happy to hold his hand. Every morning, Alex’s first word was “Nonna!” (Grandma in Italian :)). So, if your wallet allows it and your parents are curious enough, I recommend travelling to Iceland as a big family.

How to make your itinerary to Iceland

Last thing before we get to the actual itinerary: how did we make our choices and finalize our plan?

1. We started by putting stars on Google Maps of all the cool places we saw on YouTube, Instagram, and online. Guess what, they were A LOT and ALL OVER ICELAND 😀
2. We decided to go to Husavik, a town in the north where my cousin was working as a tour guide on whale-watching tours. That meant 3 days: one day to get there, one day there, and one day to come back.
3. We looked for flights: we would arrive on Sunday evening and leave on Sunday evening.
4. We looked at car rentals: the flights meant fewer choices because offices downtown are usually closed on weekends, which showed us that renting a car Sunday-Sunday was cheaper than Tuesday-Saturday plus the shuttle bus from/to Keflavik Airport. Also, we ruled out the full ring-road tour as too long and tiring.
5. Everything else fell into place. Landing on Sunday evening meant one day in Reykjavik after arrival, then stopping somewhere for one night on the way north, then coming back, going to the Golden Circle last, and keeping Sunday as a bonus day before leaving.

Basically, since natural attractions are always open, what defined our itinerary was the distances between the places we chose to visit. One/two major attractions per day is enough – one major and a couple of smaller ones is actually better. You’ll see my good ideas and my bad ideas below in the detailed itinerary.

I am very happy that I kept it flexible and I left space for spontaneous choices. If I prepared a busy plan with many things to see every day (like on our honeymoon in Japan), it would have been more stressful than enjoyable. It was actually fun to slow down, let Alex run around, and see these places with his eyes. And that’s a big step from Miss Overplanning Efficiency here! 🙂

Our 7-day Iceland itinerary with a toddler

Enough with extra information! Here is our 7-day itinerary in Iceland with a toddler:

• Day 0: arrival to Reykjavik
• Day 1: Reykjavik highlights
• Day 2: Snaefellsnes peninsula (Arnarstapi cliff and stone arch, Kirkjufell mountain)
• Day 3: drive to Husavik (passing by Godafoss waterfall)
• Day 4: Husavik whale-watching cruise and Lake Myvatn
• Day 5: drive back to Reykjavik
• Day 6: Golden Circle (Kerid crater, Geysers, Gullfoss waterfall)
• Day 7: Perlan museum, Nautholsvik geothermal beach, walk by Blue Lagoon, departure

Day 0: Arrival (Sunday)

We landed at Keflavik International Airport at 8 pm after a 4-hour flight and 2 hours of time-zone change.

We bought wine at the duty-free shop, picked up Alex’s stroller at the luggage pick-up (we were all set with hand luggage only), got some cash out (yay for the multi-currency Wise card and its low fees! Grab yours here!), walked to the offices of Iceland Car Rental, picked up our nice big car, and drove for 45 minutes to Reykjavik.

We got to the flat at 10 pm, met the owner, bought milk and yogurt at a shop nearby, and somehow it was already midnight.

• Where to stay in Reykjavik with a toddler: We cannot recommend enough the Art Centrum Apartment. The host, Sverrir, decorated this authentic flat with very unique art, and made us feel instantly welcome and at home. The location is just perfect, in the heart of the city center, close to the main streets and to the harbour. Toddler-wise: we had a massive bed for the three of us, and good dark curtains (not perfect darkness, but enough for us). If not available, this Treasure Apartment looks lovely.

Day 1: Reykjavik (Monday)

We spent our first day in Iceland exploring Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. It’s a very toddler- and stroller-friendly city, with good sidewalks and slow traffic.

In short, in 1 day in Reykjavik we visited:

• Ingolfur Square
• Austurvollur Square
• The Tjornin Pond
• Hallgrimskirkja Church
• Skolavordustigur street and Rainbow street
• The harbour
• The Cathedral of Christ the King
• Harpa Concert Hall
• The Sun Voyager sculpture
• Arnarholl park

You can find my full itinerary in Reykjavik with a toddler here, so I’ll keep it short.

From Ingolfur Square, we reached the spacious and institutional Austurvollur Square, we walked by the Tjornin pond, and we made our way slowly up the gentle incline until the iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church, on top of the hill. All along are cute, colourful houses with timber frames, many clad with traditional corrugated metal (yes, I learned the word “corrugated” on this occasion 🙂 )

At Hallgrimskirkja Church we took lots of pictures and let Alex run around a bit before going inside.

After a coffee break at Café Loki (super cute, and the rye bread ice-cream was very tasty!), we made our way down Skolavordustigur street (Skólavörðustígur) towards the harbour. We passed by the famous Rainbow street, a super colorful and beautiful section to walk along (map here).

We arrived at the harbor at around 12.50, which means that in just 3,5 hours we were able to see many of the sights in Reykjavik.

We had a delicious lunch at Seabaron (or Saegreifinn in Icelandic, map here): very flavourful lobster soup and soft wolffish skewer. Alex had fallen asleep in the stroller, so it was a very peaceful lunch.

At 15.30, we set off for the Cathedral of Christ the King, another interesting example of Icelandic Neo-Gothic. We continued along the seafront to the stunning Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center. What a gorgeous building!

Last but not least, we reached the Sun Voyager Sculpture, a landmark in Reykjavik.

At this point, it was 5.30 pm and we were done with all my plans for the day. We walked up the hill until Hallgrimskirkja again (a gentle incline) and this time, illuminated by the sun going west, it was much more beautiful. Alex walked and jumped and explored, we looked at the beautiful street art and at the colorful houses.

Finally, we sat at the outside tables of 101 Reykjavik Street Food on Rainbow street for a very tasty dinner of fish and chips, mashed fish, and fish soup. On the way home, we stopped at the green hill Arnarholl and at the playground.

Bedtime at 9 pm for Alex: a very successful first day in Iceland!

Is Reykjavik toddler-friendly? Yes: it is very clean and tidy, traffic is slow, and sidewalks are wide enough for pushing the stroller or for holding a toddler’s hand. Distances between tourist highlights are manageable on foot. There are lots of cafés and easy-going street food eateries, and a few convenience shops for snacks or fruit. The colorful houses and street art are entertaining for people of all ages.

Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula (Tuesday)

On day 2, our destination was Snaefellsnes Peninsula: the cliffs of Arnarstapi and the Kirkjufell mountain.

In short, in 1 day in Snaefellsnes Peninsula we visited:

• The town of Arnarstapi: the Bardur Troll Statue, the Cliff Viewpoint, the Gatklettur stone arch
• Bjarnarfoss waterfall
• Kirkjufellfoss waterfall by the Kirkjufell mountain
• The town of Grundarfjordur

I wrote our detailed itinerary in Snaefellsnes peninsula separately, and here are the highlights.

We left Reykjavik at approximately 9 am. The scenery going north was immediately captivating: black mountains of volcanic rocks, streams of water flowing down, sheep and horses, the sea on the other side… and we were almost alone on the road!

We reached the town of Arnarstapi after 2,5 hours (200 km).

We spent approx. 40-45 minutes visiting the Bardur Saga Snæfellsas Troll Statue, the viewing platform and the Gatklettur stone arch. It was absolutely breathtaking!

Near the parking lot, the Bardur Troll Statue is large and sturdy. Start your walk here (map here).

Straight ahead along the path, there is the viewing platform overlooking the cliffs and the sea. We were all transfixed, staring down on both sides, at the caves opening next to the platform (map here).

Instead of going back to the parking lot, if you walk to the right, you will reach quickly the famous stone arch Gatklettur. Pictures don’t make justice to the incredible rock formations surrounded by crashing waves (map here).

We strongly recommend the restaurant Samkomuhusid Arnarstapa: delicious lamb soup, excellent mashed fish, a very kind and knowledgeable lady as manager, and charming interior (map here).

Is Arnarstapi toddler-friendly? Yes: the paths between the parking lot and the viewpoints on the coast are wide, well-kept, and made of small gravel suitable for strollers. There are ropes to prevent little ones (and big ones) from stepping onto the delicate Icelandic grass. At the viewpoints, there are railings to protect from falling, but it is still advisable to hold children by the hand.

Before heading to Kirkjufell mountain, on the Northern side of the peninsula, we stopped at Bjarnarfoss waterfall. From the parking lot, it’s a short and easy walk to the stream and the towering waterfall. We spent 40 minutes there.

We continued towards Kirkjufell mountain, and Alex fell asleep in the car.

The view of Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and Kirkjufell mountain was gorgeous – and it’s so easy to reach! (map here).

From the parking, walk straight along the path, cross a small bridge, walk down the path to the left, and you’ll find the waterfalls in front of you, and the mountain in the back. Just gorgeous! We spent 45 minutes at Kirkjufell Waterfalls, admiring the Kirkjufell mountain, the other peaks around us, and the bay of Grundarfjordur.

Is Kirkjufell waterfall suitable for a toddler? Yes, more or less. The path is short, wide, delimited with ropes on the sides, it’s not very steep but there are a few steps made of wood. If you can, leave the stroller in the car, or just after crossing the bridge, and walk down the path with your toddler in your arms or holding their hand.

Finally, it was time to get to Grundarfjordur and to our accommodation. It’s a very small town with not much to do except admire the landscape and Kirkjufell, at least in May!

We bought some groceries at the Samkaup supermarket (which unexpectedly closed at 6pm), walked to 59 bistro for dinner (nice play area for kids, good fish, not very tasty lamb), and finished our evening with a stroll to the local church.

• Where to stay in Grundarfjordur with a toddler: We stayed at Grundarfjordur Bed and Breakfast, which was fine for one night: very simple but with a full kitchen, clean, and they provided a travel baby cot for Alex. The view of Kirkjufell from the bedroom didn’t hurt 🙂 but most of all, it’s a 5-minute walk from the harbour, a lovely place to relax and admire this fascinating mountain (map here).

Looking back, there was no good reason to stay in Grundarfjordur: a cabin surrounded by the stunning landscape and a cheap home-cooked dinner would have been a better choice. We could have booked at the Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments.

Day 3: from Grundarfjordur to Husavik via Godafoss waterfall (Wednesday)

Time to go to Husavik! After having breakfast at home, we spent the whole day travelling 450 km from Grundafjordur, in the Snaefellsnes peninsula, to Husavik, the capital of whale-watching, in Northern Iceland.

We chose our stops according to the travel time – and Google Maps was quite accurate at helping us plan:

• This photo spot with a table overlooking the sea (after 1 hour, map here)
• This gas station with the coolest shop of vintage objects and clothing (after almost 2 hours, map here)
• The town of Akureyri where we ended up having cake and cappuccino at the pretty Blaa Kanaan café (after slightly more than 2 hours but Alex was napping, map here)
• The epic Godafoss waterfall (after 30 minutes, map here, and then 30 more minutes until our accommodation).

Stopping every 2 hours max avoided meltdowns and sore legs. The scenery was impressive: snow-capped mountains, streams and waterfalls falling into the valleys, while the road winded up and down… it was very peaceful but not boring, there was constantly something beautiful to see. We left at 9 am and arrived at 5.30 pm, but Google Maps says 5 hours and a half.

Can you visit Godafoss waterfall with a toddler? Yes, it was very easy! We parked at the East Parking after the café and walked along the wide, paved path for 5 minutes tops. There are three terraces from where you can admire the waterfall, all gorgeous views and slightly different from each other. The waterfall is just 12 meters tall, but still very powerful and spectacular because of its round shape, like a small Niagara. We took photos and walked around, in total less than 30 minutes (it was drizzling and quite cold).

After dropping our luggage at the accommodation, we headed to Husavik and had an excellent fish dinner at Naustid.

• Where to stay in Husavik with a toddler: Accommodation in Husavik was super expensive, so we stayed at a cabin 10 minutes away called Cabin in the lava. I was a bit skeptical because of the distance, because we wouldn’t meet the host and we had to clean before leaving, but it was actually a great choice: it was the cozy and welcoming holiday cabin of an Icelandic family, set in the middle of nowhere, so it felt like a real Icelandic experience much more than a hotel room!

Day 4: Husavik, whale-watching and Myvatn Lake (Thursday)

The plan for day 4 consisted of whale-watching in the morning, going to the outdoor baths at Lake Myvatn Nature Baths, and having dinner at the Vogafjos Farm after seeing the calves and the milking of the cows.

Unfortunately, it did not go as planned. I overdid it and I should have known better.

In short, in 1 day in Husavik we went to:

• A 3-hour whale-watching cruise with Gentle Giants
• The Vogafjos farm and restaurant by Lake Myvatn
• The Grjotagja Cave

After having breakfast at home and another coffee with local sweet bread at Heimabakari café, we headed to the Gentle Giants ticket center to start our whale-watching tour. The weather was sunny and the sea was calm, Darek and my dad decided to join my mother and I – and of course, also Alex. My mother and I had taken a half pill of seasickness medication, just in case.

We got dressed in overalls and got on a large ship with 50 more participants. We settled down on a bench at the back of the boat, which is the most stable part of boats.

The whale-watching trip lasted approximately 3 hours: we left the harbour and made our way into the bay, and then scouted the sea looking for birds, bubbles on the water, and hopefully whales. The English-speaking guide was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained with facts about whales, local birds, and the environment.

Unfortunately, I started feeling very sick and sleepy after just 10 minutes. I was sick three times and spent most of the time just hanging on the edge of the boat, sleeping, unable to hold my eyes open and look at the horizon. I managed to get a glimpse of whale fins, so I can’t say the trip was a complete failure. However, I already knew that I am very prone to motion sickness: I feel it in cars, on 3D movie attractions, and even on massive ferries. I should have known that a whale-watching boat trip was a bad idea.

The others liked the experience (my mom was a bit nauseous, Alex liked looking at the waves, Darek and my dad were fine), but I think only people who are truly passionate about whales would enjoy 3 hours on rocking waves, waiting for fins to pop up. We did not see any majestic whales jumping out of the water. Of course, you can’t foresee what the whales will do, you can’t expect a circus show, and seeing fins is already a great result. But, next time we’re in Iceland, I’d rather go down a volcano crater or go horse-riding.

As soon as we made it back to land, I just laid down on the pavement to recover. I was very relieved that Darek and my parents were there for Alex, because he was very worried about me being so sick and exhausted. We ate some bread, bought some sandwiches at the same bakery, and went back to the cabin to rest.

Instead of going to the outdoor baths at Myvatn, we slept. I like thermal baths much more than whales, and I was looking forward to Alex’s first experience in warm water, so I was quite disappointed.

When we woke up at approx. 4 pm, we drove to our last destination, the Vogafjos farm, restaurant and hotel.

Vogafjos farm is such a great place to visit in Iceland with a toddler! You can enter a barn with cows and calves eating hay, and there is also an area where sheep were grazing the grass. In mid-May, lambs were just born: they were adorable, near their sheep mommies or running around with the other lambs 🙂

The restaurant itself is in a modern and minimalist building: from the main room, you can see into the barn and the milking area, but without any smell 🙂 The food was very tasty and traditional. We spent two hours there, but less than 30 minutes looking at the animals.

On the way back, since it was still early and Alex was in a good mood, we stopped quickly at the Grjotagja cave. Why did we want to visit: because of the fascinating steaming water in a mysterious cave, or because it is one of the settings of Game of Thrones? Well, both 😀 it’s a charming place for sure, but I did not recognize it as where the famous love scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte took place.

Is Grjotagja cave toddler-friendly? Not at all. First of all, there are two similar points of access: a few chunks of stone that you can step/climb down until you can peek into the darkness and see a small pond of steaming water – at your own risk. Secondly, the water is 43-46 degrees Celsius and you should not touch it nor swim in it. Finally, you can walk up a short path that will bring you above the cave, to see how the volcanic eruption of 1975-84 ruptured the soil: it’s fascinating, but still not toddler friendly. Darek and I went together while my parents stayed with Alex, and we spent 10 minutes there.

Time to go to bed, as we have a long drive ahead!

Day 5: from Husavik back to Reykjavik (Friday)

Today was simply devoted to driving back to Reykjavik. We had breakfast, cleaned the cabin, and left at around 10.

Again, we tried to stop often to avoid tantrums and sore legs:

• In Akureyri, we walked up to the modern and very Icelandic church and then had coffee at Blaa Kanaan (again) (30 minutes after departure, map here)
• I do NOT recommend this place in the middle of nowhere because there isn’t any waterfall (somehow Google Maps uses a picture of a waterfall). There’s a small waterfall a bit further, on a hill open to the wind and rain. We ate a snack quickly and climbed back in the car (after approximately 2 hours)
• Alex fell asleep so we pushed until Reykjavik and got there in 3 hours.

Again, we walked along the colorful Laugavegur street, between murals and souvenir shops, until the harbour: we liked the lobster soup at Seabaron so much that we went there again for dinner!

• What is a good hotel in Reykjavik with a toddler: as a reward after 5 nights in apartments, we booked 2 nights at the Center Hotels Laugavegur. The location is excellent, the style is modern and minimalistic but very curated, and breakfast is very rich. They have a small parking lot which was already full, so we parked for 1 night in the garage opposite the entrance, and for 1 night in a nearby street with free parking on Sunday.

As mentioned before, we paid for the luxury of a comfortable hotel room and a big breakfast by not having anywhere to go after putting Alex to bed: we went through the pictures of the day and fell asleep early. No Reykjavik nightlife for parents 🙁

Day 6: The Golden Circle, toddler edition (Saturday)

I am very happy I planned the Golden Circle for the last full day in Iceland. Because we had already seen a lot of Icelandic scenery, we were able to cut out the Thingvellir Park, and go straight to the more exciting sights of the Golden Circle. Here is my detailed post about visiting the Golden Circle with a toddler.

What is the Golden Circle in Iceland? It is an area located east of Reykjavik, in South-Western Iceland, where one can find many of the Icelandic famous attractions compressed in day-tour distances. The most famous stops are the Thingvellir Park (where is the Silfra Fissure, where the American and European plates meet), the Kerid crater (with a lake in the center), the Haukadalur Geysers, and the Gullfoss waterfall; these 4 attractions are supposed to take a full day to visit, for adults.

In short, what we saw of the Golden Circle with a toddler is:

• Kerid crater (1 hour from Reykjavik 9.30-10.30, spent there 1 hour)
• Haukadalur Geysers (40 minutes from Kerid crater 11.30-12.10, spent there 40 minutes)
• Gullfoss Waterfall (10 minutes from the Geysers 12.50-13, spent there almost 2 hours including a 45-minutes lunch)

This way, the 2-hour drive back to Reykjavik from 3 pm to 5 pm was the perfect nap for Alex. We were also quite tired and perfectly satisfied with our busy morning. After a quick rest, we were able to go out for dinner.

It was a glorious, sunny Saturday in Iceland: we left our Reykjavik hotel at 9.30 and drove for 1 hour through rolling hills and geothermal clouds until Kerid Crater.

The rim of the crater is almost at the level of the parking lot, then it rises gently to the right, and descends slowly on the opposite side. It’s a very easy walk. The views are amazing all around it: the contrast between red soil, green bushes, and clear blue water of the lake deep in the center of the crater was a feast for the eyes.

Is Kerid Crater toddler-friendly? Yes, we had so much fun with our son. We held Alex tightly by the hand as he stepped on and climbed on every single rock he saw, no matter the size 😀

After this very satisfying first stop, we drove 40 minutes until the Haukadalur Geysers (Alex had a snack in the car). We parked at a small side parking (map here) and walked straight into the geysers area.

It’s easy to spot the famous Strokkur Geyser: it’s the most crowded one! The silence is respectful and full of expectations during the 5-10 minutes between the eruptions. We all stare at the surface of the water, which suddenly starts to bubble and grow, and then PUFFFFF!!! It blows into an enormous cloud of spray, while the crowd goes “oooooh!!!” in exciting admiration. It’s over in a few seconds, and yet most people stay and wait for another eruption, us included 🙂

Is Haukadalur Geysers toddler-friendly? I’m not sure Alex was impressed by the eruption, but we definitely were. We spent 40 minutes at Haukadalur Geysers; it was easy and safe to push him around on the stroller.

Our final and most exciting stop was just 10 minutes away: Gullfoss Waterfall!

Being at Gullfoss waterfalls is an exhilarating experience that cannot be captured by photos, videos or words. The viewing platforms are quick and easy to reach from the restaurant’s parking lot, even with a stroller. The roaring water plunging into the gorge is simply hypnotizing. The platforms are well fenced and safe for children.

We decided to have lunch at the restaurant before continuing to the lower level. After lunch, we walked down the stairs to the lower parking and to the trail that brings much closer to Gullfoss waterfall than the platforms above. The waterfall is simply incredible, and walking down the path is worth taking turns watching the child(ren) near the parking lot.

In the lower parking lot, the views are wonderful too! I managed to snap a few pictures of Alex by convincing him to bang rocks against the metal poles of the fence 😀

Is Gullfoss waterfall suitable for toddlers? Absolutely: whether they walk or sit in the stroller, all views are accessible and safe.

This day went exactly as planned and I was very satisfied with it. We saw stunning attractions, Alex wasn’t fussy because the driving periods were short, and we weren’t tired either. It was just the right amount of things to see in the Golden Circle for a family with a young child.

After passing by the hotel, we made our way down the colorful and artistic Laugavegur street until the traditional Icelandic restaurant Islenski Barinn, where we finally tasted shark meat! It was not tasty, but still a memorable experience 😀 the rest of the meal was much more enjoyable.

By 8 pm, the sky was so blue and the sun still so high that it was impossible to go to sleep. We walked up to Hallgrimskirkja again and played a bit with a very hyped Alex.

Day 7: Reykjavik museum and beach, Blue Lagoon, and departure (Sunday)

Last day in Iceland! We did not have any plans, but I surely had a lot of stars on my Google Maps 🙂

In short, on the second day in Reykjavik and last day in Iceland, we visited:

• The Perlan Science Museum
• The Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach
• The Blue Lagoon trail near the lakes

This is also part of my detailed post about Reykjavik with children, so I’ll keep it short here.

Perlan is a science museum about Iceland, a nature exploratorium with an observation deck and restaurant. We spent a couple of hours between the exhibitions – all very interesting and interactive – plus 45 minutes having a snack/lunch.

The view from the observation deck was lovely, we could even see the glacier of Snaefellsnes peninsula in the distance. After a quick snack/lunch, we were ready to go to our next stop.

Is Perlan Reykjavik a good place for a toddler? Yes, I think so! Alex was very curious about all the exhibitions, the animals, the lights and colours, and the observation deck was safe for him to run around.

Next, we went to the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, a small, free beach of yellow sand south of Reykjavik, where you can experience cold seawater as well as two hot tubs of geothermal water. Basic services like changing rooms and toilets are available (map here). We got there at 1.30 pm, so we knew we had to be quick before Alex’s nap.

On a warm Sunday in May, it was full of locals! It was a very cool Icelandic experience! Kids were running and playing, adults were reading and relaxing, people were swimming in the cold sea as well as sitting in the hot tubs. Clothing ranged from swimsuits and flip flops to rain boots and sweaters.

Is Nautholsvik beach in Reykjavik good for a toddler? Yes, I think so! It must have been 18 degrees and Alex was happy with his clothes on, but many other toddlers were enjoying some sun on their skin. Brave toddlers could touch the cold sea water or the warm hot tub water, and energetic toddlers have space to play with a ball or with other kids.

At 2.30 in the afternoon, it was time for Alex to nap and for us to head to the Blue Lagoon – not to go inside, but to check out the viewpoint.

From the parking lot of the Blue Lagoon, we took the path left of the luggage storage. The scenery was out of this world: light-blue, milky water surrounded by dark lava rocks covered with a light layer of moss. Even though it was windy, the surface of the water was perfectly calm, with small crystals forming by the edges of the rocks.

Is the Blue Lagoon walking path toddler-friendly? Yes: it is wide, paved, perfect for a stroller or for small feet. Low poles and a rope keep people away from the water. It is still important to hold children by the hand.

And this is how our 7-day trip to Iceland with family ended! We filled the tank, returned the car to the airport, had a sandwich, and boarded our plane at 9 pm.

Final thoughts on 7 days in Iceland with a toddler

I am very satisfied with our Iceland itinerary: we were lucky enough to encounter good weather almost every day, the scenery was stunning, and the combination of black rocks and green moss and flowing waterfalls was simply beautiful. Choosing carefully few things to do each day and planning the travel time according to our son’s naps was a successful strategy. In general, the slower pace that our toddler dictates actually suits us too!

One thing I wish I could change: instead of the whale-watching tour in the north, I wish we had gone to the Dettifoss waterfall and to the Nature Baths of Myvatn Lake. However, since May is not high season yet, visiting the southern side of Iceland is probably a good idea too.

Do you have any questions about our 7-day Iceland itinerary with a toddler? Have you been to Iceland already? Let me know in the comments! Cheers!