Where can you see the most iconic Icelandic landscapes in the shortest period of time? In the Golden Circle! This area near Reykjavik makes for a great day trip with a toddler: with vulcanic craters, geysers, waterfalls, and the beautiful Icelandic scenery, you will definitely have a wonderful day.
However, there are a few important things to consider when going to the Golden Circle with a toddler. Keep reading to find out our clever Golden Circle itinerary and more useful tips and tricks.
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The Golden Circle Route in Iceland: what you should know in advance
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, a small extinct volcano with a lake in the center surrounded by red soil;
- the Haukadalur Geysers, an area with the famous Strokkur geyser and a few other pools;
- and the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland.
These 4 attractions are supposed to take a full day to visit, for adults.
Other lesser-known attractions are the Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River, the Hveradalir Geothermal Area and the Geothermal Exhibition, and probably many more cool places.
However, while researching and planning with my beloved Google Maps, I realized this self-drive Golden Circle plan was too much for our 2-year-old Alex – but also for us. Too many kilometers, too many hours in the car, too stressful and not enjoyable.
So, I decided to skip Thingvellir Park. After all, this was the last day of our holiday: we had already enjoyed 5 days of Icelandic landscapes, and now we wanted volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls!
In short, our Iceland Golden Circle itinerary by car with a toddler included:
- 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. The whole self-drive day tour to the Golden Circle took 7,5 hours.
Considering the distances between the attractions and your child’s sleep pattern, you can turn it around as it suits you best.
Tips and tricks for doing the Golden Circle 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 the Golden Circle a good, safe place to visit for a toddler? Yes, we think so. The road is easy to drive, tourists and travellers are excited but relaxed. As long as you are as careful as you are at home, everything will be fine: hold them away from cliffs and roadsides, and keep them nice and warm in the cold weather.
- Is the Golden Circle an expensive destination with a toddler? No, it’s very cheap! The only ticket is at the Kerid Crater. Lunch at Gullfoss Waterfalls was tasty and affordable, but you could save even more by buying lunch in a supermarket in Reykjavik. I also recommend bringing fruit and snacks. (And, as usual, I recommend using the awesome Wise Multicurrency card to save on banking fees and exchange rates).
- 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 rented our car from Iceland Car Rental at the airport and we were very satisfied.
- Is the Golden Circle crowded? Yes. It’s beautiful, it’s popular, it’s near Reykjavik. It’s crowded, but don’t let that stop you: there’s plenty of space for everybody.
- Moving around with a toddler: as much as Alex loved to walk and climb and explore, we were glad we brought our stroller! We were NOT going to carry his lovely 14 kg of cuteness on our backs. We packed our GB Pockit+ All-City and used it at the Geysers and a bit at Gullfoss.
- Planning with a toddler: we knew our child: activities were supposed to last approximately 1 hour and require limited walking, because he gets bored/tired/hungry after that. That’s why we planned the Golden Circle like this. However, it’s good to have a plan B. I was ready to turn it upside down, to have lunch somewhere else, to nap in the car with Alex while the others went out.
By the way, here are all my posts about Iceland, so you can plan the perfect trip for yourself: our complete 1-week itinerary in Iceland, then of course what to do in Reykjavik with a toddler, and finally how to visit Snaefellsnes peninsula with a toddler.
Iceland’s Golden Circle with a toddler: detailed itinerary by car
May 2022: 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.
Kerid crater (Kerið volcano)
- Price: 450 ISK entrance for adults, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the summer (parking is free, official Kerid Crater volcano here)
- Time: 10-60 minutes
I had read that Kerid crater was overestimated, that there are many more volcanos way cooler than this. Well, I’m very happy we went to Kerid crater, because it was beautiful, easy to visit, and accessible.
The cool thing about Kerid crater is that you can walk on the rim of the crater, all around it! The start of 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.
We walked all around it, holding Alex tightly by the hand as he stepped on and climbed on every single rock he saw, no matter the size 😀 Besides his cuteness, 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.
Almost before we finished the full circle of the crater, Darek and I decided to walk down the wooden stairs until the edge of the water: the scenery was possibly even more beautiful. Alex stayed with my parents on the rim, but he would have managed to walk down the stairs, or we would have picked him up.
We spent 1 hour at Kerid Crater, but if the weather is bad or your child is fussy/sleeping in the car, there is a viewing platform right next to the parking lot, so you can enjoy the view in as little as 5 minutes. The path would be a bit bumpy for a stroller, not impossible but a bit difficult.
Is Kerid Crater toddler-friendly? Yes, we had so much fun with our toddler at Kerid Crater. It’s a safe environment (as long as you hold their hand), and a great sensory experience of colors, materials, nature.
Haukadalur Geysers
- Price: free
- Time: 30-60 minutes
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, Alex comfortable on his stroller. Wide stone trails guide you between pools and geysers, and there are also a few benches where you can rest.
It’s easy to spot the famous Strokkur Geyser: it’s the most crowded one! A rope keeps people at a distance, and everybody have their phone aimed at the pool of clear, bubbling water. 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 excited admiration. It’s over in a few seconds, and yet most people stay and wait for another eruption, us included 🙂
The other pools of the geothermal area unfortunately do not erupt, but they are anyway very beautiful and mysterious. Because of Alex, we did not walk up the hills to the viewpoint, but the panorama must be amazing.
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. If the weather is bad or your child is fed up, you could get lucky with a quick eruption and spend just 10-15 minutes there – or rest/warm up at the Geysir Center and restaurants on the other side of the road.
Gullfoss Waterfall
- Price: free
- Time: 1 hour (plus lunch)
Our final and most exciting stop was just 10 minutes away: Gullfoss Waterfall! I was sure that pictures and numbers were not enough: the powerful river plunges 11 meters first, and then 21 more meters into a 32-meters deep gorge that runs perpendicular to the flow of the river. It’s difficult to imagine it, isn’t it?
And indeed, being there is an exhilarating experience that cannot be captured by photos, videos or words. I was smiling from ear to ear, my eyes wide with marvel.
The viewing platforms are quick and easy to reach from the restaurant’s parking lot, also with a stroller. The roaring water plunging into the gorge is simply hypnotizing. The platforms are well-fenced and safe for children: from there, you see the waterfall from above.
It was quite crowded at 1 pm, so we decided to have lunch at the restaurant before continuing to the lower level. The canteen after the shop is very spacious and we had a tasty lamb soup, tomato soup, and fish and chips. The queue was very long when we left, so keep that possibility into account. There are also toilets and a gift shop.
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. Even without walking down the (crowded) path, the view of the waterfall is even better: the mist rising from the gorge wets your hair and creates a rainbow, so that you really feel part of a natural enchantment.
We had just a little time left before a tiredness tantrum, so we decided to head down the trail that leads closer to the waterfall. It is protected by wooden poles and two ropes, not exactly super toddler-safe: we decided it was safer to take turns, so one of us would stay with Alex near the parking lot and the other would walk down the trail near the waterfall.
Even though we were walking in a line to the cliff next to the waterfall, we had a perfect view of the roaring water all along – many photographers were even setting their tripods. The path is made of gravel and it felt safe on that sunny day. The waterfall is simply incredible and walking down the path is worth taking turns with watching the child(ren).
At 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. In case of bad weather, you can take turns by staying at the restaurant with the child(ren) and going to the upper lookout. We spent 1 hour at the waterfall and 45 minutes at the restaurant.
From the Golden Circle back to Reykjavik
Perfect timing! It was 3 p.m. when we hopped back in the car. Alex was asleep within minutes and he napped the whole 2 hours until Reykjavik.
Probably, I fell asleep too. I don’t remember if we went back the same way, or if we drove north, passing through/near the Thingvellir National Park and closing the Golden Circle. Anyway, that looks like a possibility.
At 5 p.m. we were back at the hotel. We managed to rest a little in our hotel room, have a great dinner at Islenski Barinn (including the craziest local delicacy: rotten shark meat!), play in front of the cathedral, and head back to the hotel for the night.
It was a great day!
Final thoughts on our day at the Golden Circle with a toddler
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, 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.
Back in Reykjavik, we had time to enjoy a delicious dinner at Islenski Barinn, and have a last stroll around the city center.
Are you planning your trip to Iceland? I’d love to help! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
