Reykjavík is a surprisingly easy and rewarding city for a family trip. Walk through a real ice cave at Perlan, spot whales and puffins on a harbour boat trip, 'fly' over the country at FlyOver Iceland, splash in the locals' warm geothermal pools, or feed the animals at the Family Park and Zoo — and for older kids, hike to a hot-spring river or chase the northern lights. Here are the best family attractions, with age guidance, prices and practical tips for keeping everyone warm, dry and happy.
$38Perlan
Area
Öskjuhlíð
Category
Science Museum
“The ice-cave simulator, planetarium and 360° dome are a hit with kids — budget around three hours.”
$85Whale Watching from the Old Harbour
Area
Old Harbour
Category
Wildlife Tour
“A three-hour trip into Faxaflói Bay — best April to October. Dress in warm, windproof layers.”
$30FlyOver Iceland
Area
Grandi (Old Harbour)
Category
Simulator Ride
“A 30-minute 'flight' over Iceland's landscapes — too intense for under-fives but a hit with older kids.”
$8Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo
Area
Laugardalur
Category
Zoo / Park
“Icelandic farm animals, seals and a small fairground — combine it with the pool next door.”
$12Laugardalslaug Pool
Area
Laugardalur
Category
Geothermal Pool
“Reykjavik's biggest geothermal pool, with water slides and warm children's zones — a local daily ritual.”
$17Árbær Open Air Museum
Area
Árbær
Category
Open-Air Museum
“Twenty-plus historic buildings staffed by costumed guides demonstrating old Icelandic ways of life.”
FreeReykjadalur Hot Spring Hike
Area
Hveragerði (45 min)
Category
Nature Hike
“A 6 km hike to a geothermal river you can actually bathe in — free, and a great active family adventure.”
$50Puffin Watching Tour
Area
Old Harbour
Category
Wildlife Tour
“A 1.5-hour boat trip to the puffin colonies on Akurey island — best May to August.”
Reykjavík family attractions in detail
1.Perlan
Perlan, the glass dome atop Öskjuhlíð hill, is one of Reykjavik's best family attractions and an ideal rainy-day choice. Children love the 100-metre man-made ice cave, built from real Icelandic glacier ice and kept at a chilly −10°C with blue lighting, which makes the abstract idea of a glacier vividly, thrillingly real. Alongside it are hands-on exhibitions on Iceland's volcanoes, glaciers, birds and oceans, a planetarium with daily shows on the northern lights and volcanoes, and a spectacular observation deck offering a free 360-degree view over the whole city, the bay and Mount Esja. There's plenty here to keep curious children of about five and up engaged for a good couple of hours, with enough variety to suit different ages, and it's all indoors and warm — a real bonus when the weather turns. A café and a rotating restaurant round out the visit. Reckon on adult tickets around $38 and children around $22, with the ice cave included in the Wonders of Iceland package. Reach it on the free Perlan shuttle from the city centre. For an educational, weatherproof and genuinely fun family outing that packs a glacier, a planetarium and a panoramic view into one visit, Perlan is hard to beat.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–21:00
Price
Adult ~$38, child 6–15 ~$22
Getting there
On Öskjuhlíð hill; free Perlan shuttle from the centre
Insider tip: The ice-cave simulator, planetarium and 360° dome are a hit with kids — budget around three hours.
2.Whale Watching from the Old Harbour
A whale-watching trip from Reykjavik's Old Harbour is one of the most memorable things to do in Iceland with children, a three-hour boat excursion out into Faxaflói Bay in search of the giants of the North Atlantic. The commonly sighted species are minke whales and humpbacks, along with white-beaked dolphins and, in summer, comical puffins nesting on the offshore islands, and the better operators give you around a 90 to 95 percent chance of a sighting between May and September. It's suitable for children of about five and up, with under-sevens usually travelling free, and there's a real thrill for kids in scanning the water and spotting a blow or a fluke. The best season is April to October, when the whales are most reliably present, though sightings are still possible, if less likely, in the depths of winter. The one essential is to dress everyone in warm, windproof layers — even a summer day on the open bay is bitingly cold. Boats depart from the central Old Harbour, easy to reach on foot, and trips can be booked online, often with a discount for booking ahead. For families, a whale-watching trip is an unforgettable highlight and a genuine wildlife adventure.
Hours
Departures daily, seasonal (best Apr–Oct)
Price
Adult ~$85, child 7–15 ~$43, under-7 free
Getting there
From the Old Harbour in the city centre
Insider tip: A three-hour trip into Faxaflói Bay — best April to October. Dress in warm, windproof layers.
3.FlyOver Iceland
FlyOver Iceland, in the Grandi harbour district, is a flying-theatre attraction that suspends you in a gondola in front of a vast wraparound screen and sweeps you on a virtual 'flight' over the country's most dramatic landscapes — volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, black-sand coasts and highland wilderness — complete with motion, wind, mist and scents to make it feel real. The whole experience runs about 30 minutes including an atmospheric pre-show, and the main ride itself lasts around eight minutes. It's a genuine thrill and a brilliant way to preview Iceland's scenery, especially useful if bad weather scuppers your plans to see it for real. It suits children of about five and up; younger ones may find the height and motion a little intense, so it's really aimed at older kids, teenagers and adults. Adult tickets run around $30 and children around $22. Being entirely indoors, it's another reliable rainy-day option, and its location in Grandi means you can pair it with the area's whale, saga and aurora museums for a full day out of the weather. For families wanting an exhilarating, weatherproof taste of Iceland's landscapes in half an hour, FlyOver Iceland is a memorable and popular choice.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–20:00
Price
Adult ~$30, child 6–12 ~$22
Getting there
In the Grandi harbour district by the old harbour
Insider tip: A 30-minute 'flight' over Iceland's landscapes — too intense for under-fives but a hit with older kids.
4.Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo
The Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo in Laugardalur is the city's most family-friendly attraction, blending a small zoo with a gentle amusement park in one green space. The zoo focuses on Icelandic animals — hardy Icelandic horses, sheep, goats, seals and Arctic foxes — which gives children a close-up look at the creatures that shaped the country's rural life, along with reindeer and North Atlantic fish in aquariums. Next door, the small Family Park has playgrounds, mini-golf, a little boating area and gentle rides that keep younger kids happily occupied; entry to the park area is free, with individual rides costing a little extra. It's open year-round, deliberately low-key and pitched at children up to about ten, and there's ample space for running around and picnicking. Best of all, it sits within walking distance of the Botanical Garden (free) and, crucially, Laugardalslaug — Reykjavik's largest geothermal pool complex with water slides — so you can easily string together a full, varied family day in one leafy corner of the city. Reach it on bus 5. Adult entry runs around $8 with children cheaper still. For families with younger children looking for a relaxed, affordable and genuinely local outing, this is one of the best options in Reykjavik.
Hours
Daily, year-round (seasonal hours)
Price
Adult ~$8, child 5–12 ~$5, under-5 free
Getting there
In Laugardalur park; bus 5 from the centre
Insider tip: Icelandic farm animals, seals and a small fairground — combine it with the pool next door.
5.Laugardalslaug Pool
Laugardalslaug is Reykjavik's largest geothermal swimming complex and a wonderful, quintessentially Icelandic family experience. It has seven pools at different temperatures, from a big swimming pool to hot tubs and steam baths, plus water slides and a warm, shallow children's zone that make it a hit with kids of all ages, including toddlers. For Icelanders, the local geothermal pool is a daily ritual and a social hub, so a visit here is as much a glimpse of everyday life as an activity — far more authentic and affordable than the tourist-focused Blue Lagoon, at around $12 for adults and just $5 for children. The warm, mineral-rich water is a joy whatever the weather, and there's something magical about lounging in a steaming outdoor hot tub while cold rain or even snow falls around you. One important local custom: everyone must shower thoroughly, without a swimsuit, in the communal showers before entering the pools — this is strictly observed Icelandic pool etiquette. It's easy to reach on bus 5, about eight minutes from the centre, and pairs perfectly with the Family Park and Zoo next door. For a warm, fun, budget-friendly and truly local family outing in any weather, Laugardalslaug is one of the best things to do in Reykjavik with kids.
Hours
Roughly 06:30–22:00 (seasonal)
Price
Adult ~$12, child 0–17 ~$5
Getting there
In Laugardalur; bus 5 from the centre, about 8 minutes
Insider tip: Reykjavik's biggest geothermal pool, with water slides and warm children's zones — a local daily ritual.
6.Árbær Open Air Museum
Árbær Open Air Museum, about 15 minutes by bus from the centre, recreates a traditional Icelandic village using more than 20 historic buildings from the 18th to 20th centuries, relocated here and arranged around a preserved farmstead. Costumed guides demonstrate old Icelandic ways of life — cooking, textile work, farm crafts and the use of period tools — bringing the buildings to life and giving children a tangible sense of how people lived on the island before modern comforts. You can wander through turf-roofed houses, a church and workshops, and in summer there are often livestock, demonstrations and events that add to the atmosphere. It's an engaging, hands-on kind of history that suits children of about five and up, and under-18s go free, making it good value for families. The setting is green and spacious, with room to roam, and it offers a very different, more rural perspective on Iceland's past than the museums in the city centre. Allow a couple of hours, and check the seasonal hours, as winter opening is reduced. For families who want to combine a bit of gentle education with fresh air and space to explore, Árbær Open Air Museum is a rewarding and characterful outing just outside the centre.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–17:00 (reduced in winter)
Price
Adult ~$17, under-18s free
Getting there
In Árbær; about 15 minutes by bus from the centre
Insider tip: Twenty-plus historic buildings staffed by costumed guides demonstrating old Icelandic ways of life.
7.Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike
For families with older children who enjoy the outdoors, the Reykjadalur ('Smoke Valley') hike is one of the most rewarding day trips from Reykjavik, and it's free. Starting from the geothermal town of Hveragerði, about 45 minutes' drive from the city, a 6 km round-trip trail climbs through a steaming valley of bubbling mud pots and hot springs to a warm geothermal river where you can actually bathe in the naturally heated water, surrounded by mountains. The reward of soaking in a hot river in the middle of the Icelandic countryside, after earning it on foot, is hard to beat, and it's a genuine adventure rather than a passive attraction. The hike suits children of about eight and up who can manage the distance and the gentle climb, and it's a wonderful way to experience Iceland's geothermal wonders actively and for nothing. Bring swimsuits, towels, sturdy shoes and warm layers, as the weather can change fast, and note there are limited facilities, so you'll need to change discreetly by the river. Check the forecast before setting out. For an active, free and memorable family adventure that combines hiking with a natural hot-spring soak, Reykjadalur is a standout, and a real taste of Iceland's raw geothermal landscape.
Hours
Daylight hours; best summer
Price
Free (parking may apply)
Getting there
45 minutes' drive from Reykjavik to Hveragerði, then a 6 km hike
Insider tip: A 6 km hike to a geothermal river you can actually bathe in — free, and a great active family adventure.
8.Puffin Watching Tour
A puffin-watching trip from Reykjavik's Old Harbour is a delightful, shorter alternative to a full whale-watching excursion, and a guaranteed hit with children. The boat runs a 1.5-hour tour out to the puffin colonies on the little island of Akurey, just off the city, where up to 60,000 of the comical, brightly beaked seabirds nest each summer. The best season runs from May to August, when the puffins are present in huge numbers, wheeling around the boat and bobbing on the water, and their charismatic looks make them an instant favourite with kids. At around $50 for adults and $25 for children, and lasting only 90 minutes, it's a manageable, good-value wildlife experience that suits children of about five and up and doesn't demand a big chunk of the day, which makes it ideal for families with limited time or shorter attention spans. As with any Icelandic boat trip, dress warmly in windproof layers even in summer. It departs from the central Old Harbour, easy to reach on foot, and can be booked online. For families who want a fun, quick and reliable wildlife encounter — and the chance to see Iceland's beloved puffins up close — this short harbour tour is a charming and easy choice.
Hours
Daily May–Aug; seasonal
Price
Adult ~$50, child 7–15 ~$25
Getting there
From the Old Harbour in the city centre
Insider tip: A 1.5-hour boat trip to the puffin colonies on Akurey island — best May to August.