Our 10 Essential Tips for Iceland Family Travel

Iceland remains one of the “it” destinations for family travel. After years of its appealing mostly to backpackers and solo travelers, families have discovered this varied land of ice and fire, and if you haven’t been there, chances are good it’s on your wish list. But outside of knowing that it is an out-of-this-world destination with plenty of waterfalls and volcanoes, Iceland still doesn’t have quite the same familiarity that comes with planning a trip to Paris, London or Rome. Instead of famous attractions like the Louvre or the Colosseum, the names of sights in Iceland are long and unfamiliar, a bowl of alphabet soup littered with “foss” and “kull.”

As usual, Ciao Bambino is tapped into the best resources for Iceland family travel. Many of our Travel Advisors have visited Iceland and spent countless hours researching it. Based on all this knowledge, we’re sharing our top tips for visiting this fascinating country.

Top 10 Iceland Family Travel Tips

Plan early. Tourism has boomed here and the country has expanded its infrastructure to accommodate this increased interest, but there are still a limited number of hotels. During the peak summer season, they can book up six months to a year in advance.

Be prepared to spend. If you’re looking to travel Iceland in upscale to luxurious style, expect to pay for it. It goes back to that old economic rule of supply and demand. A simple room with a double bed or two twins will command a premium. Those super Jeep tours are amazing, as they ford rivers and climb glaciers, but they aren’t cheap — expect to pay about $1,500 for a private tour. And have you dreamed of flying over a volcano and landing on a glacier? Well, that helicopter tour can easily cost thousands. Even a simple hamburger will run you $15 or more. The moral of the story: Select activities wisely and budget accordingly.

Set the right expectations. Iceland is not littered with 4- and 5-star hotels or Michelin-rated restaurants. Accommodations have come a long way from hostels and campers, but the style tends to be modern and simple (think IKEA). That’s one great reason to engage our Travel Advisor team for planning an Iceland vacation — we work with hand-selected hotel partners we’ve vetted for quality.

Be prepared for long car rides. Whether you hire a car and driver, take a bus tour or self-drive, you’ll need to spend a lot of time in the car to see even one region of the country. Keep in mind that Iceland is bigger than Ireland and the interior isn’t passable, so you will mostly stick to the Ring Road, a two-lane highway that loops around the island. Along the drives there will be beautiful landscapes, but not much else besides sheep and horses. This means you should bring along snacks and activities and stop at service areas before you need them.

Getting to Iceland is the easy part. Icelandair has done a great job promoting its stopover program to entice visitors to explore the country before moving on to mainland Europe. Iceland is a five- to six-hour flight from the east coast of the United States, and three to four hours from major European capitals. Our clients have enjoyed pairing Iceland with trips to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Scotland and Paris.

Don’t be afraid. Iceland is a safe country. While volcanoes may explode from time to time, you don’t have to deal with issues like mosquito-borne diseases and the crime rate is very low. Do take basic precautions such as having the proper gear, checking weather reports and road conditions, and not venturing into potentially treacherous places like glaciers on your own. However, nearly everyone speaks English and, except for tolls, everyone takes credit cards, so there’s little need to exchange cash. Roads are fairly easy to navigate, but don’t speed: They ticket cars by camera. We learned that the hard way.

Picky eaters beware. Icelandic cuisine is largely based on fish and lamb. Even the famous hot dogs are lamb-based. This can be challenging for picky eaters, but nearly every cafe serves pizza and often hamburgers (they just aren’t very good). Icelandic yogurt is a big hit with kids, and in Reykjavik you can find yummy pastries, crepes and ice cream, plus local specialties like reindeer and puffin. The availability of fresh berries and vegetables is a pleasant surprise; Icelanders have figured out how to harness the country’s geothermal power, and large greenhouses using natural energy dot the landscape.

Pack appropriately. Packing light for a trip to Iceland is challenging, as you need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. If you plan to get out of Reykjavik, bring good waterproof hiking boots, decent rain gear (including rain pants for getting close to waterfalls), a snug hat, gloves and a warm jacket to layer underneath. Luckily, the temperature in Iceland is fairly moderate for a country this close to the Arctic Circle. Summer temperatures average 50 to 55°F, but can get up to the 60s and 70s. In the winter, the average temperature is 32°F in the southern lowlands. Snow, rain and wind are all commonplace.

Choose travel dates wisely. The high season for Iceland is June to August, but the Northern Lights only appear from September through April (no guarantees!). However, summer offers nearly 24 hours of daylight, providing more opportunity to explore without worrying about driving through the countryside in the dark. Hotels and cabins are usually equipped with blackout shades, but a sleep mask helps. Keep tabs on the time in order to get everyone to bed.

Bring your energy. If you envision Iceland as a relaxing escape, take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon and then move on. This is a destination for active families who like the outdoors. There are a few museums and plenty of geothermally heated pools and spas, but the main attractions involve getting out into the country and exploring. Families can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, biking, quad or buggy riding, snowmobiling, ice climbing, snorkeling, whale watching, glacier hiking, dogsledding, rafting and more. Just be sure to check the minimum age, height and weight requirements before getting your heart set on a certain activity. While the good news is that children are often free or half price, sometimes they are just too young.

If you’re thinking of taking a family trip to Iceland … do it! It is a truly memorable experience and perfect for family bonding.

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and activities in Iceland on Ciao Bambino

20 things to love about Iceland with kids

An epic 7-day tour of Iceland with kids

9 places to make travel memories with college-age kids

10 unexpected winter travel ideas for families

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.