Planning an unforgettable family adventure? This 11 Day Iceland Itinerary with Kids covers geothermal wonders, breathtaking waterfalls, and glacier explorations perfect for all ages. From relaxing in hot springs to hiking volcanic craters, this road trip blends natural beauty with hands-on learning, making it an ideal journey for families who love to explore together. Today’s post covers days 8-11 of our trip. If you’d like to catch up you can read part 1 with days 1-3 and part 2 detailing days 4-7.
7/7 Day 8: Mývatn to Akureyri
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Hverir Geothermal Area
- After a lovely breakfast at Sel Hotel Myvatn, we headed to Hverir Geothermal Area. It was very close to our hotel. Hverir Geothermal Area, near Lake Mývatn in Iceland, is a surreal landscape of steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, and vibrant mineral-stained earth. The strong sulfur scent and otherworldly colors make it a fascinating stop to experience Iceland’s raw geothermal activity up close. It reminded us a lot of our Yellowstone trip last summer. It was fun to walk around for about 30 minutes and take a look at all the activity in the area.
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- Right afterwards we headed about 10 minutes down the road to the Mývatn Nature Baths. Mývatn Nature Baths, often called the “Blue Lagoon of the North,” is a geothermal spa surrounded by stunning volcanic landscapes. The warm, mineral-rich waters provide a relaxing soak with beautiful views of Lake Mývatn and the surrounding mountains. This is somewhat similar to Blue Lagoon, although FAR less crowded and a bit less expensive. We spent 3 hours there and it flew by! After showering and changing we headed about an hour away to the darling town of Akureyri.
- Right afterwards we headed about 10 minutes down the road to the Mývatn Nature Baths. Mývatn Nature Baths, often called the “Blue Lagoon of the North,” is a geothermal spa surrounded by stunning volcanic landscapes. The warm, mineral-rich waters provide a relaxing soak with beautiful views of Lake Mývatn and the surrounding mountains. This is somewhat similar to Blue Lagoon, although FAR less crowded and a bit less expensive. We spent 3 hours there and it flew by! After showering and changing we headed about an hour away to the darling town of Akureyri.
- Akureyri
- Akureyri, known as the “Capital of the North,” is Iceland’s second-largest city, nestled at the base of Eyjafjörður fjord. It offers a charming mix of colorful houses, botanical gardens, and easy access to nearby waterfalls, geothermal areas, and scenic drives. Because it is known as the ‘City of Love’ all the red stop lights are in a heart shape. Adorable!
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- I had scheduled the afternoon free to explore downtown Akureyri. It was a beautiful day so it worked out well. We got lunch from a food truck and ate outside at a park in the city. Claire and Matt even braved trying Fermented shark, known as hákarl in Iceland. It is a traditional Icelandic dish made from Greenland shark or basking shark.Then we strolled along doing some souvenir shopping and finding some of the items we really wanted to take home like their blueberry jam and potato seasoning!
7/8 Day 9: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
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Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse
- Day 9 of our 11 day Iceland itinerary with kids was easily our longest day. It involved a lot of careful scheduling and driving, but I don’t think I would take anything out. We started from Akureyi early- before 8am and headed to our first stop- Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive.
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- Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse is a reconstructed turf house in West Iceland, believed to be the former home of Erik the Red and the birthplace of Leif Erikson. Visitors can step back in time with guided tours and interactive exhibits showcasing Viking life and history. I selected it because I thought it would be good for the kids to learn about how the first settlers of Iceland lived. They both really enjoyed it and we all learned a lot (like why Vikings slept propped up). The ruins there and learning why the longhouses were constructed in a herringbone pattern was so interesting.
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Kirkjufellsfoss
- Afterwards we were back in the car for a 1 3/4 hour drive to Kirkjufellsfoss. Kirkjufellsfoss is a picturesque waterfall located near the iconic Kirkjufell mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Its cascading tiers with the striking mountain backdrop make it one of Iceland’s most photographed scenes. It is a beautiful waterfall and worth the stop if you have time. We spent about 30 minutes walking around before heading back to the car to drive towards Snæfellsjökull National Park.
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Snæfellsjökull National Park
- Snæfellsjökull National Park, located on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, is famous for its glacier-capped volcano. The park features dramatic lava fields, black sand beaches, and coastal cliffs rich in birdlife, offering breathtaking scenery and hiking opportunities.
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- It took us about 40 minutes from the waterfall to the park. While there we decided on a short hike at Djúpalónssandur to see the beach and shipwreck. It was amazing! It was maybe about 1 mile round trip. There are pieces of a shipwreck from 1948 all over the beach and lagoon there. You can read more about the shipwreck on a nearby informational sign. There are also 4 lifting stones on the beach to evaluate a fisherman’s strength and a ‘hole rock’ to take a fun picture.
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Búðir Black Church
- After a bit more driving through the national park, we went to the Búðir Black Church. It was about 20 minutes from the national park. Búðir Black Church, is a striking 19th-century wooden church painted entirely black with white trim. Surrounded by lava fields and set against dramatic mountains and ocean views, it’s a favorite stop for photos and a glimpse into Iceland’s history. It was a nice photo op, but if you are tired, you could probably skip it. We only spent a few minutes taking some photos.
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- For our final stop of the day, we headed to Grábrók Crater. Grábrók Crater is a volcanic crater located in the Borgarfjörður region, easily accessible just off Route 1. A wooden boardwalk and stairs lead to the rim, where visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding lava fields and nearby mountains. It was a bit of an extra drive being 20 minutes out of the way and an additional 40 minutes to the hotel, but I’m so glad we went! There are a set of stairs all the way to the top of the crater and you can walk around the crater as well if you want. The views were amazing! That night we stayed at the darling Hotel A. It had a loft design that the kids loved. We chose it for the proximity to our glacier tour the next day.
7/9 Day 10: Langjökull Glacier
- Into the Glacier tour
- That morning after breakfast at the hotel and packing up our car we drove to meet up with our Into the Glacier tour in Húsafell. That morning, after breakfast at the hotel and packing up our car, we drove to meet our Into the Glacier tour in Húsafell.
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- Part of our 11 Day Iceland itinerary with kids, the Into the Glacier tour is a unique adventure from Húsafell (or Reykjavík) where you ride a specially modified “monster truck” onto Langjökull glacier and explore a man‑made ice tunnel carved deep inside the glacier, with rooms, corridors, and stunning blue ice illuminated from within. When I saw these tours advertised they looked so interesting. While on the fun monster truck, our guide talked about the glacier retreat, what defines a glacier, and how they constantly need to do work on the tunnel because otherwise the weight of the glacier will cause it to slowly close. Langjökull glacier is the second largest in Iceland. The trip took about 5 hours – a bit longer than anticipated due to some work that needed to be done in the glacier before we walked through. It was beautiful with all the blue color, the crevices, and layers.
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Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls
- Hraunfossar is a series of stunning waterfalls where crystal-clear glacial water streams through dark lava fields into the Hvítá River, creating a wide curtain of falls. Just upstream, Barnafoss is a narrow, powerful waterfall with a dramatic blue torrent and a natural stone bridge steeped in local legend.
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- Both of these waterfalls are within a quarter mile of each other and so drastically different in their beauty. It really only takes about 30 minutes to see both, but they are so worth it! Hraunfossar was my favorite waterfall in Iceland because it looks so delicate and graceful.
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Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
- Deildartunguhver is Europe’s most powerful hot spring, located in West Iceland near Reykholt. It produces a massive flow of steaming water at nearly 100°C, which is used to supply geothermal heating to nearby towns and creates a dramatic, mist-filled landscape. I’m putting this in here because we had hoped to visit this, but due to the extra time needed for the Into the Glacier Tour, we had to skip it.
- After the waterfalls, we drove the 1 1/2 hours back to Reykjavik for dinner.
7/10 Day 11 : Blue Lagoon and Home
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Blue Lagoon
- For our last day during our 11 Day Iceland Itinerary with kids, we headed slowly back to the airport with a stop at the Blue Lagoon first! It’s actually located between the airport and Reykjavik making it a convenient stopping place after your flight in or before your flight out. The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in a lava field near Grindavík on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. Its milky-blue waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur, known for their skin-soothing properties. The lagoon was accidentally formed in the 1970s when runoff from a nearby geothermal power plant collected in the lava field, creating the warm, mineral-rich pools that are now a world-renowned destination. Reservations are an absolute must and can be made online.
- Our flight was at 4:30pm so we made 9am reservations at Blue Lagoon. That way we had plenty of time at the lagoon and time to get ready afterwards.
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TIPS
- Consider bringing your own bath products to Blue Lagoon. While they do have things for you to use, the amount they dispense was too small to be useful. Since they recommend coating your hair in conditioner before entering, it took us over 10 minutes to get enough.
- Bring plastic bags for your wet suits.
- Wear more layers than you think for the glacier if you get cold. I had on 3 and was still a bit chilly.
- Waterproof shoes are a MUST.
- Bring snacks and water on the glacier tour. It can run long if maintenance is needed.
- Careful at the top of Grábrók Crater, the wind can be very strong. Pace yourself on the stairs.
- Bring snacks and water on the glacier tour. It can run long if maintenance is needed.
- There were many Icelandic chocolate bars, Icelandic salts, and alcohol available in duty free so you don’t need to stock up beforehand.
Conclusion
Our 11 Day Iceland Itinerary with kids gave us an incredible mix of relaxation, adventure, and discovery. From soaking in geothermal spas to standing inside a glacier and exploring Viking history, every day brought something new to experience together. If you’re planning a family trip to Iceland, this route ensures unforgettable memories while keeping the pace achievable and enjoyable for both kids and adults.
Last week’s favorite post was from Mireille at Chez Mireille with her beautiful thrifted dress and vest! She has amazing thrifted finds!
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