Things to do in Reykjavik: 2 Day Itinerary for Families

Looking for things to do in Reykjavik for family travel? Whether you’re spending a day or two in Reykjavik with kids before your Northern European Cruise, or have it as one of your stops on your Iceland road trip, I’ll cover the highlights and how you can do it all in 2 days!

If you’re concerned about taking your kids to Iceland, 96% of families visiting Reykjavik rate it as one of Europe’s most kid-friendly capitals. I recently spent two incredible days exploring Iceland’s capital with my family, and it is definitely worth a spot on your bucket list!

The best part? Everything is incredibly walkable, making it ideal for families with children of all ages.

Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, sampling the best cinnamon rolls ever, or soaking in geothermal hot springs, this tested Reykjavik 2 day itinerary will help you experience the magic of Reykjavik. Ready to create memories that’ll last a lifetime?

Day 1 – Exploring Reykjavik’s Colorful Heart on Foot

We checked into our hotel in the morning after a bus ride from the airport to a shuttle stop that took us the rest of the way to Hotel Island (great Reykjavik family hotel option). Thank goodness for early check-in! It was so nice to put our bags in our room and freshen up before heading into the heart of Reykjavik downtown.

Day one, we just spent exploring and walking around (Reykjavik walking tour style—we’ll get to the tours on Day 2!).

Lunch at Loki Café

We like to research the best places to eat in Reykjavik before visiting a place. Cafe Loki popped up on our radar as one of the best places to eat in Reykjavik for families.

oki is a family-owned restaurant serving traditional Icelandic food. We were seated upstairs by the window. The wall on the second floor has a fun mural depicting Loki and Thor, the Norse gods.

We were able to try the traditional Icelandic dish: fermented shark.

Everyone tried at least one bite. My husband thought it wasn’t that bad, but the girls and myself had a different opinion.

The waiter explained how to eat fermented shark in the traditional way. You’re supposed to put the shark in your mouth and chew for 10-15 seconds until the ammonia flavor kicks in, then the adults chase it down with a shot of liquor.

The rest of the food was absolutely delicious. My husband got the Icelandic plate Loki with rye bread and mashed fish while I enjoyed the Icelandic lamb. Our girls shared the meat soup. Great Reykjavik family restaurant pick.

One thing to note: Iceland is comparatively expensive. Each dish was about 40 USD.

The 2025 Iceland Krona to USD exchange rate is 123.20 ISK : 1 USD.

Hallgrímskirkja Church: Iceland’s iconic landmark

Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran Church and a beautiful landmark tourists visit in Reykjavik. We climbed to the top of the bell tower for stunning panoramic views of the city. It’s 239 ft (74.5 m) tall.

Don’t worry, you take an elevator up most of the way then only have about 30 stairs to climb—easy for Hallgrimskirkja with children.

Before you go, definitely walk all the way into the church to see the organ. Unfortunately, we were not there when it was being played, but the organ at Hallgrimskirkja is massive and beautiful.

There is no cost to visit the church, but they do charge about 12 USD per adult and Q USD per kid (ages 7-16). In 2025 the prices are 1400 ISK for adults and 200 ISK for kids (ages 7-16). (Reykjavik tourist attractions for families often have small fees or suggested donations.)

Rainbow Road (Regenbogstraße) Shopping Adventure

Not far from Hallgrimskirkja is the famous Reykjavik rainbow street. This was really fun to walk with the girls. They loved to pick a color and follow the lane. 

You can see Hallgrimskirkja in the distance for a beautiful family photo op. This area does get a lot of foot traffic, so try visiting earlier in the morning if you want a clear photo. 

There are tons of shops lining the rainbow road—great Reykjavik shopping with kids.

Other Reykjavik City Highlights

We stopped at Brauð & Co. for a snack and their giant cinnamon rolls were the best I’ve ever had (and I love cinnamon rolls). 

This bakery’s cinnamon rolls were the right amount of soft, doughy center with a crisper outer bread. Not too dry, not too goopy, and they were big! Perfect Reykjavik kid friendly cafe treat.

Another gem in Reykjavik we had to check out was a cafe that has a Star Wars–themed bathroom. 

Cafe Babalú is so eclectic with odds-and-ends collectible decor. It seems random but it totally works. We bought a quick snack and hot chocolate and checked out this bathroom we heard about. 

The entire bathroom is decked out in Star Wars characters and lights while Star Wars theme music plays on a loop with the lights flashing—so fun for Iceland with kids!

Day 2 – Golden Circle Adventure

Day 2 we saved for our main Reykjavik tour itinerary. A lot of locations near Reykjavik are part of the Golden Circle—a 190 mile (300 km) route that includes Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. The Golden Circle with kids is a winner.

Rent a Car or Book a Tour?

We were supposed to have a tour to take us to the iconic Iceland Golden Circle landmarks, but the tour was cancelled last minute.

It would have been nice to have a bus to hop on and off so we wouldn’t have to do any logistic thinking or planning, but I feel it actually worked out for the best.

We rented a car from Hertz in Reykjavik and were on our own time frame all day—no rushing on and off a bus or waiting for others in a large group to make it back to the bus on time.

It was also very useful to rent a car instead of being on a tour because we got to each location before the fleet of tour buses. (Iceland car rental for families gave us maximum flexibility.) 

Car rental logistics with Hertz

Hertz made it super easy to rent a car. We took a taxi from the hotel to Hertz, rented a car, and were on our way. They had an after-hour key drop return so we weren’t pressured on time.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is the kind of thundering, jaw-drop waterfall that makes you feel tiny in the best way. And for anyone who says kids won’t appreciate it until they’re older: hard no. Our girls were 5 and 8 and totally mesmerized—family friendly waterfalls in Iceland are very doable.

We’ve done 150+ hikes with them, so they know how to enjoy trails and nature, but this isn’t even a hike. It’s an easy walk between viewing areas. The lower path is dirt and can be slick from mist, so I’d skip it with a stroller or mobility concerns.

Safety felt straightforward: hands inside the rail, no climbing, walk—don’t run—near the edges. It’s loud (in a fun way), so prep sound-sensitive kiddos. We brought waterproof jackets, warm layers, and sturdy shoes and were glad we did—the spray is real.

There’s a visitor center with restrooms, a café, and parking near the upper viewpoints

Natural Hot Springs Near Reykjavik

When our Blue Lagoon tour was canceled, we asked locals where to go instead. The unanimous answer: Secret Lagoon—smaller, greener, and way less crowded (Blue Lagoon alternatives for Iceland family vacation).

They were right. Secret Lagoon felt like nature’s spa: steam drifting over moss-covered stones, quiet chatter, and a simple pool with noodles and kickboards our girls used to float. We prepped them to be calm and respectful (no splashing or yelling), and they still had a blast.

Quick etiquette note: you’ll shower in your birthday suit before entering—no curtains, just a fast rinse. If you’re modest like me, take a breath and make it quick; no one’s paying attention. Locker rooms are separate, so the girls and I used the women’s side and met my husband outside.

Bring swimsuits, hair ties, and a plastic bag for wet gear. We wore warm layers and sandals for the chilly walk from lockers to pool, and kept a towel close for the dash back.

For comparison, we swung by Blue Lagoon later. No openings, but we peeked at the facilities and grabbed a snack. It’s gorgeous—and very resort-forward—with spa treatments, sit-down dining, and those dreamy blue pools (Iceland geothermal pools with kids).

Bottom line: Blue Lagoon is perfect if you want a luxe, bucket-list moment. Secret Lagoon is the win for a more nature-forward, relaxed soak that’s easy with kids.

New to hot springs with kids? Check the age requirements and clothing requirements. Some natural hot springs, like in Japan, are birthday suit only (no clothes) as it’s a sacred, cleansing bath. Others, like in Iceland and Canada, are swimsuit attire but require showering prior to entering.

Lava Fields

One thing I wish we’d added to our Reykjavik time was a full lava field tour. We wandered the lava fields outside Blue Lagoon, and it was wild: steam curling up from jagged piles of black rock, like the earth was still exhaling—an easy Iceland lava fields families stop.

The lava here looks otherworldly: porous, pitted, and sculpted into waves and walls. A few months before our visit, flows had reached the Blue Lagoon facilities, so we walked between tall corridors of igneous rock on marked paths.

Walking through the igneous rock and stopping roadside to view the lava field was enough to check “see a lava field” off my list and still felt easy with kids: short, contained, and very photo-friendly.

Next time, I’m booking Raufarhólshellir, a lava tube cave just outside the city. It’s guided, which is my preference underground with kids, and the photos look unreal: color bands on the rock, frozen ripples, and skylights letting in beams of light. Consider pairing a cave tour with a soak (Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon) for a perfect “fire and ice” day.

Brúarfoss Waterfall

Another local tip we loved adding to our “things to do in Reykjavik” list: Brúarfoss. Since we weren’t tied to a tour bus schedule, we could add a stop here, skip a line there, and this one was worth the detour.

Brúarfoss isn’t huge, but the color is unreal: an icy, electric blue that looks edited even in person. The backdrop is ancient lava fields with low brush, and the short walk from the parking area made it an easy yes with kids—great Brúarfoss waterfall hiking moment.

There’s a big bridge right in front of the falls that gives you the perfect view. Our girls loved trotting back and forth across it, counting to see who could cross the fastest, while we snapped a dozen “just one more” photos.

Trail-wise, it’s simple and mostly flat, but still wear sturdy shoes because it can be damp and a little slick near the water. It felt very manageable with little ones.

If you’re planning your Golden Circle day, Brúarfoss is a great “breather” stop. It’s pretty, quick, and low-effort with a high wow-factor.

Thingvellir National Park

Where continents meet, Þingvellir was one of our must-dos in Reykjavik before getting on our Iceland cruise, and it did not disappoint.

Walking the rift valley feels surreal: dark basalt walls on either side, the glassy Öxará river winding through golden grasses, and little boardwalks that make it easy to wander with kids. We picked a direction and just explored, stopping every few minutes to take in the scenery.

We skipped crossing the river this time. It was late, the girls were hungry, and I tried not to push our walking limits towards the end of a long day. Even without the full loop, we got plenty of “wow” moments.

If you’ve heard about diving or snorkeling here, that’s Silfra. The water is glacier-cold, so it’s a drysuit situation, and the experience is a short 30–40 minutes, descending to 18 meters (60 feet). I told my husband he could go, and I’d hang with the girls, but he opted to stay together as a family this trip.

One more note—if you hear a strange yipping noise you can’t quite place, it’s probably arctic foxes. I didn’t believe my husband at first, but he was right! We didn’t see them, but were told they do live in the brush in the valley.

Family tip: Bring snacks so you can linger without meltdowns, then let the kids lead the way. Þingvellir National Park for families is one of those rare spots that feels both epic and totally doable with little ones.

Essential Family Travel Tips for Reykjavik

Packing Essentials for Icelandic Weather

We went all in on rain pants, rain jackets, and base layers, but in July Reykjavik weather, it wasn’t that cold.
Layers were perfect, rain jackets were clutch, but we definitely overpacked on heavy base layers (more in our packing-for-an-Iceland-cruise guide).
For kids: waterproof shells over fleece or a light puffer, thin gloves, and a warm hat that fits under a hood.
Comfortable walking shoes with good tread are better than bulky boots for city days and short waterfall walks on damp paths and cobblestones—add these to your Reykjavik packing list for families.

Budget-Friendly Family Strategies

If you’re looking for ways to budget, definitely rent a car and go your own way.

Many places, like the waterfalls and Þingvellir National Park, did not have any entrance fees, although Þingvellir did have a parking fee. Blue Lagoon had no entrance fee to walk in, but you did have to pay to use the hot springs or any of the amenities.

For us, the most expensive part of Reykjavik family travel was the food, so budget meals and snacks first.

Souvenirs were expensive, but my daughters found a bookmark for around 10 USD and a bracelet for 20 USD. We limited the rest of our souvenirs to a Christmas ornament and window shopping—classic Iceland family budget travel move.

Transportation and Logistics

Reykjavik is easy to get around on foot, but most sightseeing needs a rental car or a tour. We preferred the car for full control of our itinerary and bought a paper map as a backup in case phone data dropped.

Tours do make logistics effortless. You don’t have to think about routes or parking, and some include food.

Bottom line: Families who like flexibility will love the rental, while families who want zero planning stress will appreciate a guided tour. (Public transport works for the city core, but Iceland family attractions outside Reykjavik are easier by car.)

Conclusion

Reykjavik family travel is an easy yes for families: walkable city, jaw-drop day trips. In two days, you can hit waterfalls, hot springs, lava fields, and Þingvellir without rushing.

Our best combo: rent a car for flexibility, go early to beat tour buses, and keep expectations kid-sized. Layers over bulk, waterproof jackets handy, sturdy shoes for damp paths—simple and practical.

For hot springs with kids, choose your vibe: luxe Blue Lagoon or the calmer, nature-forward Secret Lagoon. Waterfalls like Gullfoss and Brúarfoss deliver huge payoff for little legs, and Þingvellir brings the “where continents meet” magic.

Budget-wise, many landmarks did not have entrance fees, but there may be a fee for parking. Plan snacks and keep souvenirs small (think bookmark or ornament).If you’re using Reykjavik as a pre-cruise stop or a short family getaway, this itinerary keeps it fun, flexible, and memorable. Save this guide for your trip, and tag us when you find those Brauð & Co. cinnamon rolls.