Iceland with kids.
Iceland is one of the easiest countries on Earth to travel with children: no crime to speak of, a heated pool with a kids' area in every town, and nature that starts at the car door. It is also a place where waterfalls don't come with railings and a winter day is four hours long. Below: the tips parents ask us for, then the 33 places our editors marked family-friendly, by region.
Eight things parents ask us
The places 33 places
Dalslaug
Activities · Reykjavík · Úlfarsbraut 120
Mon–Fri 06:30–22:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–22:00
Dalslaug is Reykjavík’s newest swimming pool.
Elding Whale Watching
Activities · Reykjavík · Ægisgarður 5c
Elding's boats leave the Old Harbour and sail 40 minutes into Faxaflói bay, where whales the size of buses do whale-shaped things.
Elliðaárstöð, Elliðaárdalur
Culture · Reykjavík · Rafstöðvarvegur 6-14
Winner of “Best Permanent Exhibition” 2026.
Gaeta Gelato Aðalstræti
Food · Reykjavík · Aðalstræti 6
Mon–Fri 14:00–23:00 · Sat–Sun 12:30–23:00
The subject of a 'heated ongoing debate' at the Grapevine office about who makes the best ice cream in Iceland — Gaeta usually wins.
Gaeta Gelato Hlemmur
Food · Reykjavík · Hlemmur Mathöll
Daily 12:00–22:00
The subject of a 'heated ongoing debate' at the Grapevine office about who makes the best ice cream in Iceland — Gaeta usually wins.
Gaeta Gelato Laugavegur
Food · Reykjavík · Laugavegur 23
Daily 12:00–23:00
The subject of a 'heated ongoing debate' at the Grapevine office about who makes the best ice cream in Iceland — Gaeta usually wins.
Grái Kötturinn
Food · Reykjavík · Hverfisgata 16a
Daily 08:00–14:00
Tucked into a cellar on Hverfisgata 16a, Grái Kötturinn has served Reykjavík its early breakfasts since 1997.
Hard Rock Café
Culture, Drinks, Happy · Reykjavík
Mon–Fri 12:00–22:00 · Sat–Sun 12:00–23:00
A good family place needs to be appealing to parents and kids alike.
Hljóðhimnar, Harpa
Culture · Reykjavík · Austurbakki 2
Runner up 2026 in “Best Permanent Exhibition”.
IKEA
Food · Reykjavík · Kauptún 4, 210 Garðabær
Daily 11:00–20:00
Previous winner 2025 of “Best Value for Money”.
Kaffi Laugalækur
Food, Drinks, Happy · Reykjavík · Laugarnesvegur 74a, 105 Reykjavík
Daily 10:00–23:00
The keto chicken salad at Kaffi Laugalækur is kind of perfect, in a keto way.
Kópavogur Natural History Museum
Culture · Reykjavík · Hamraborg 6a
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat–Sun 11:00–17:00
Tucked into the basement of Kópavogur Library, this is a natural history museum that trusts you to have fun.
Laugardalslaug
Activities · Reykjavík · Sundlaugavegur 30
Mon–Fri 06:30–22:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–22:00
The current iteration of Laugardalslaug was inaugurated in 1968, sixty years after the municipality began operating a bathing facility in the area,…
Mekó
Activities · Reykjavík · Hamraborg 4, 200 Kópavogur
Mekó is the name given to an assortment of Kópavogur’s cultural institutions; Gerðarsafn museum, Salurinn concert hall, natural museum and a library.
Museum of Design and Applied Art
Culture · Reykjavík · Garðatorg 1, 210 Garðabær
Daily 12:00–17:00
Runner up 2026 in “Best Museum”.
Omnom
Food · Reykjavík · Hólmaslóð 4
Daily 11:00–20:00
Runner up 2026 in “Best Ice Cream”.
OSUSHI The Train
Food · Reykjavík · Tryggvagata 13, 101 Reykjavík
Mon–Fri 11:30–21:00 · Sat–Sun 16:00–21:00
There’s something about eating food off a conveyor belt that appeals to the inner child in us.
Reykjavík Park & Zoo
Activities · Reykjavík · Múlavegur 2
Daily 10:00–17:00
Located in Laugardalur, where you’ll also find an Olympic swimming pool, Reykjavík Park & Zoo is mainly two things: a petting zoo, featuring all of…
Ráðagerði Veitingahús
Food · Reykjavík · Ráðagerði, 170 Seltjarnarnes
Mon–Fri 11:30–22:00 · Sat–Sun 11:00–22:00
Runner up 2026 in “Best Brunch”.
Salalaug
Activities · Reykjavík · Versalir 3, Kópavogur
The newer of the two Kópavogur pools is among the best family pools in the capital region.
Skúbb
Food · Reykjavík · Laugarásvegur 1
Mon–Fri 14:00–23:00 · Sat–Sun 12:00–23:00
Winner of “Best Ice Cream” 2026.
The Laundromat Café
Drinks, Food, Happy · Reykjavík · Austurstræti 9
Mon–Fri 09:00–21:00 · Sat–Sun 10:00–22:00
The only place you can get your laundry done while enjoying lunch and letting your kids play in the rec room.
Árbær Open Air Museum
Culture · Reykjavík · Kistuhylur 4
Winner of “Best Museum” 2026.
Ísbúð Vesturbæjar
Food · Reykjavík · Hagamelur 67
Daily 12:00–23:30
Runner up 2026 in “Best Ice Cream”.
Ísbúðin Laugalæk
Food · Reykjavík · Laugalækur
Daily 11:30–22:00
The ice cream shop most Reykjavík locals hit after Laugardalslaug.
Borgarnes Pool
Activities · The West · Þorsteinsgata 1, Borgarnes
The family-friendly Borgarnes swimming pool boasts a clean and modern feel as well as a great view out to the ocean.
Háafell Goat Farm
Activities · The West · Reykholt
Icelandic goats, after having been isolated here for 1100 years, are actually the purest breed you can find in Europe.
Vogafjós Farm Resort
Stay · The North · Vogafjós, Mývatn
This small, newly renovated café is almost on the shore of Lake Mývatn.
Beluga Whale Sanctuary
Activities · The South · Ægisgata 2, Vestmannaeyjar
Daily 10:00–16:00
The world's first open-water sanctuary built for beluga whales, run by SEA LIFE TRUST.
Puffin Lookout
Activities · The South · Stórhöfði, Vestmannaeyjar
The Westman Islands hold the largest Atlantic puffin colony on the planet, and Stórhöfði at the island's southern tip is where you meet it without…
Selfoss Pool
Activities · The South · Tryggvagata 15, Selfoss
Quite possibly the largest swimming pool in South Iceland, the Selfoss pool is the perfect spot for a family outing.
Spranga
Activities · The South · Sprangan, Vestmannaeyjar
Before it was recreation, spranga was professional development.
Westman Islands By Boat
Activities · The South · Básaskersbryggja, Vestmannaeyjar
The calm alternative to the RIB.
Nothing of that kind in that region yet. Try another combination.