Iceland With Kids: The Ultimate 7-Day Family Road Trip Itinerary

Before You Go

Rent a car directly from the airport. Iceland is incredibly easy to drive, and having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility to stop at waterfalls, viewpoints, and scenic pull-offs whenever you want — which is often. We chose to stay in Airbnbs rather than hotels for most of the trip. As a family of five, we found that Iceland's hotels often cater to smaller groups, while Airbnb gave us much more space, full kitchens, and beautiful locations.

Arrival Day: Welcome to Iceland

Our flight landed around 9:00 PM. After picking up our rental car, we made the short drive to the Silica Hotel, located next to the Blue Lagoon. This was the perfect place to spend our first night because after a long international flight we simply wanted to relax instead of driving several hours.

Day 1: Blue Lagoon — The Perfect Start

Breakfast at the Silica Hotel was included and was excellent. After checking out, we drove just two minutes to the Blue Lagoon. One of the biggest perks of staying at Silica is that Blue Lagoon admission is included with your stay. We spent nearly five hours there — and honestly, we could have stayed even longer. Many people ask whether they should visit the Blue Lagoon or the Silica lagoon. We enjoyed both, but Blue Lagoon was by far our favorite. It's larger, more beautiful, and has a much more luxurious atmosphere. The lunch at the Blue Lagoon restaurant was surprisingly outstanding and ended up being one of our favorite meals of the trip. Afterward, we drove toward the Golden Circle where we stayed in our first Airbnb.

Day 2: Geysers, Gullfoss & Secret Lagoon

After breakfast we headed to the famous Geysir geothermal area, about twenty minutes away. Besides the erupting geysers, one unexpected surprise was the fantastic playground located at the nearby campground — it became a perfect stop for our kids. We also had lunch at the restaurant beside Geysir. Don't skip the soup — it was excellent. Next we drove just ten minutes to Gullfoss Waterfall. This is one of Iceland's most spectacular waterfalls, yet it requires almost no hiking. It's only about a five-minute walk from the parking lot to incredible viewpoints, making it ideal for families. To finish the day we visited the Secret Lagoon. Compared with Blue Lagoon, it's much smaller and feels much more natural. The water is murkier, but that's simply because it's a natural geothermal pool. We enjoyed it, but if we had to choose only one geothermal experience, Blue Lagoon would definitely win.

Day 3: Kerið Crater, Tomato Farm & Þingvellir

Our first stop was Kerið Crater, a beautiful volcanic crater lake that's easy to explore. Lunch was at the famous Friðheimar Tomato Farm, and it was one of the most unique dining experiences of the trip. Imagine eating inside a greenhouse surrounded by thousands of tomato plants. Everything on the menu revolves around tomatoes — and somehow it all works. Later we visited Þingvellir National Park, one of Iceland's most historically and geologically significant locations, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly drift apart. The scenery here is spectacular and very different from anything else we saw during the week.

Day 4: Waterfalls, Black Sand Beaches & Icelandic Horses

This was one of our favorite driving days. On the way to Vík we stopped at Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls — this is the waterfall where you can actually walk behind the cascading water. You will get wet. Dress accordingly. We had lunch at The Soup Company in Vík, which was absolutely delicious. One of the highlights of the trip was horseback riding along Iceland's famous black sand beach. The Icelandic horses are incredibly gentle, making this an unforgettable family experience. We also visited Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, famous for its dramatic basalt columns and powerful Atlantic waves. If you have extra time, many travelers highly recommend the Icelandic Lava Show in Vík — we didn't have time ourselves, but it consistently receives excellent reviews.

Day 5: Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

This was probably our favorite day of the entire trip. We drove to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and took the amphibian boat tour — it was absolutely incredible. Watching enormous floating icebergs from the water is something we'll never forget. Immediately afterward we crossed the road to Diamond Beach, where sparkling chunks of glacier ice wash onto the black sand. Our kids absolutely loved playing with the ice. Later we visited Skaftafell National Park and hiked to Svartifoss Waterfall. The hike takes roughly 30 minutes each way and is slightly uphill going out, but it's completely manageable for most families. The reward at the end is one of Iceland's most unique waterfalls, framed by dramatic black basalt columns. We packed sandwiches and had lunch in the park before heading back. Dinner at Systrakaffi, located close to our Airbnb, was another excellent meal.

Day 6: Scenic Drive Back & Reykjavík

We began the drive back toward the Golden Circle, stopping in Vík for lunch along the way. Nearby there's a fascinating geothermal bakery where traditional Icelandic rye bread is buried underground and cooked using geothermal heat. Demonstrations are held daily around 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM, and reservations aren't required. Before flying home we spent some time exploring Reykjavík — wandering through the charming streets, browsing local shops, enjoying lunch, and visiting the city's iconic cathedral. It's a lovely city, although for us Iceland's true magic was found outside the capital.

The Volcano

One of the most memorable parts of our trip happened unexpectedly. While we were in Iceland, an active volcano erupted. Initially it sounded frightening, but the locals reassured us that volcanic activity is simply part of life in Iceland. In fact, many people considered us lucky to witness such an extraordinary natural event. It made the entire experience even more unforgettable.

Where We Stayed

Throughout the trip we stayed in three wonderful Airbnbs that worked perfectly for our family. As a family of five, we found this to be a much better option than traditional hotels because we had more space, kitchens, laundry, and beautiful settings.

A Tour We'll Do Next Time

I had also booked a Þórsmörk Highlands Super Jeep Safari with Into the Wild. The tour takes you deep into Iceland's rugged highlands — an area inaccessible to most vehicles. Unfortunately, our kids were ready for a break from driving, and rainy weather made us decide to skip it. Based on everything I've heard, it's one of Iceland's best excursions, so it's at the top of our list for our next visit.

Final Thoughts

I've been fortunate to travel to many incredible places around the world, but Iceland completely exceeded every expectation. It's one of those destinations where the drive itself becomes the attraction. Every turn reveals a completely different landscape — green mountains become lava fields, lava fields become glaciers, glaciers become black sand beaches, and waterfalls appear seemingly every few miles.

For families, it's an incredible destination because every stop feels like a new adventure. The hikes are generally manageable, the roads are excellent, and there are endless opportunities for kids to explore nature. If I could change only one thing about our trip, I would have added an extra night at the Blue Lagoon before beginning the road trip. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing. Iceland is truly one of the most extraordinary places we've ever visited, and this one-week itinerary remains one of our favorite family adventures. I can't wait to return.