7 Day Iceland Itinerary with a Toddler: From Reykjavik to South Iceland

Traveled in July 2026

Iceland in the summer feels otherworldly in the best way. The landscapes are so dramatic and unique that it’s easy to see why so many movies are filmed here. Shortly after the lockdown era of the pandemic, we took a Pacific Northwest waterfall road trip as a local substitute for our Iceland plans. The waterfalls we saw convinced me more that we had to make it to Iceland someday. We finally made the Iceland trip once our kid could walk longer distances on his own and didn’t need to nap quite as much. Iceland absolutely did not disappoint. Every day, we tried to pick our favorite experience, only to end up listing almost everything! For an Iceland with a toddler itinerary that lets you explore Reykjavik and South Iceland by car, and covers the main sights and hidden gems while feeling manageable with a toddler, copy this itinerary!

This itinerary would also work well for adults traveling without kids looking for an itinerary with amazing waterfalls but easy hikes!

Iceland with a Toddler

When to Go

For the most hiking opportunities and the least stressful driving, I recommend visiting Iceland in summer (June–August). Summer is peak travel season. I usually try to avoid peak season, but Iceland is one place where I think it’s worth it if you want the best chance of good weather. The downside is that summer travel costs more, and you’ll need to book accommodations early.

Another big benefit of summer is the long daylight hours. In June, the sun doesn’t set until around midnight. When we visited in late July, sunset was around 10:30 pm. That gives you more time to explore, which is especially helpful when you have long drives.

If you want fewer crowds and more lodging options, May and September are good alternatives. The weather may be wetter, and some mountain roads may still be closed. But since this itinerary mainly sticks to sights near the Ring Road, it should still be doable.

Keep in mind that you won’t see the Northern lights during the summer! Mostly because it doesn’t really get that dark in the summer. Northern lights season runs from roughly September to early April.

How to Get There

The main international airport in Iceland is Keflavik international airport (airport code KEF). It is about a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik. While there is a small airport in Reykjavik, that airport is mainly for domestic flights.

Booking tip: certain flight searches like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google flights allow you to set price trackers that will alert you when the price of your flight changes. I never book a flight without tracking prices first because there is no better feeling than snagging a good deal! And if you book your flights with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire card, the card usually includes some travel insurance protections (like lost luggage reimbursements, trip delay reimbursements, or trip cancellation insurance) to save you the cost of buying extra travel insurance. Use my contact form if you’re looking for a credit card referral with bonus sign up points!

Bonus Booking tip: sign your kiddo up for frequent flyer accounts with airlines to start earning airline miles for them! Most airline miles do not expire for minors so your kiddo will thank you later.

Where to Stay

When driving around the Ring Road in Iceland, most people will make one night stops along the way to avoid having to backtrack. However, one night stops are pretty hectic with a toddler. When traveling with our kid, I prefer to have a home base for at least 2 nights. For this Iceland road trip with a toddler, we stayed 3 nights in Vik and 4 nights in Reykjavik. It meant a little more driving because we were doing day trips out and back to our lodging. But it was so nice to have our home base already set up when we arrived after a long day.

Where to Stay in Vik with Kids

Having a kitchenette in Iceland is so helpful when traveling with a toddler, and to save money on food. Most of these options have a kitchenette and are conveniently located just off the Ring Road.

• Skammidalur Cottages – cute cottages with kitchenettes off the Ring Road (where we stayed)
• Vik Apartments – spacious apartments in the heart of Vik (where we wanted to stay but was all booked up)
• Black Beach Suites – spacious suites close to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach with beautiful views but slightly off the Ring Road
• Hotel Kria – modern hotel in Vik

Where to Stay in Reykjavik with Kids

While many first-time visitors stay in downtown Reykjavik to be within walking distance of the main sights, we preferred staying just outside the city center for more space and easier access to grocery stores, playgrounds, and free parking when traveling with a kid. We stayed in the Vesturbær neighborhood and were surprised by how family-friendly it felt. Downtown was still only a 25–30 minute walk away, but we had several great playgrounds within a couple minutes walk of our apartment, three grocery stores nearby, and free street parking right outside.

• Downtown Apartments at Old Harbor Reykjavik – spacious apartments close to the harbor
• Vesturgata – spacious 1 or 2 bedroom apartments in a cute residential neighborhood 10-15 min walk from downtown
• Black Pearl Luxury Apartments – modern apartments couple min walk to downtown
• Candlewood Suites by IHG Reykjavik – family friendly suites in the heart of Reykjavik (good option for Chase Sapphire Reserve card holders because of IHG credit)

How to Get Around

The best way to get around Iceland with a toddler is to rent your own vehicle. Whether that’s a regular car or a campervan, having your own wheels makes travel around Iceland much easier with a kid. While you can join day trips from Reykjavik to explore other parts of the island, following those schedules can be hard with an unpredictable toddler. And the most stunning waterfalls and sights we saw in Iceland are ones that the tour groups don’t take you to.

Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Payless have rental desks right in the arrivals area of Keflavik airport. We usually prefer to rent from a company inside the terminal to save time after a long flight. Blue Car Rental is another popular option that is a 3-5 minute walk away from the arrivals hall. Other rental car companies like Alamo, Enterprise, and Sixt are located in a separate building and require waiting for a shuttle.

Booking tip: if the car rental agency has a free membership program, sign up for it! Members usually get extra perks like a free additional driver, discounts, or faster reservation check ins (all very desirable things when you have an overtired toddler in tow).

Show Me the Money

The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). We did not take out any cash here. We noticed that American Express was not accepted as commonly here, but we had no trouble with our Visa card. We use the Chase Sapphire Reserve for no foreign transaction fees (contact me or comment below for a referral for extra bonus points

We had read that some visitors had trouble using their credit cards at gas stations. Some stations reportedly required a PIN. We had no problems using our Chase card though.

If given the choice, always choose to pay in ISK rather than USD! As long as you are using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, this will save you some hefty conversion fees.

How to Stay Connected

Having internet on your phone is absolutely necessary on this trip for Google Maps given all the driving. We also downloaded offline Google maps of the areas we would be driving prior to arrival in case there were any dead spots along the way.

If you have an unlocked phone, then you can either purchase a prepaid sim card or you can use an e-sim. The e-sim is the cheapest way to get international cell phone data. We had a great experience using Airalo to purchase an e-sim on our trip to Canada, Switzerland, and Japan and it worked seamlessly. The downside is that you only have data and no phone service when using Airalo e-sims, so it’s a good option if you don’t anticipate needing to make phone calls.

• The Airalo website has great tutorials and I also watched this Youtube video for more installation tips. We usually start the installation process at home to load the e-sim into our phones, and then once we land at our destination we turn off our US e-sim and turn on the international e-sim.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
1	Arrive in KEF Lunch in Selfoss Reynisfjara Beach	Vik
2	Day trip to Diamond Beach Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach Svartifoss	Vik
3	Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls Gluggafoss Skogafoss and Kvernufoss Waterfalls Dyrholaey Lighthouse	Vik
4	Golden Circle Day Trip Kerid Crater Fridheimar Tomato Farm for lunch Strokkur Geyser Gullfoss Falls Brúarfoss Waterfall Efstidalur Farm for burgers and ice cream Thingvellir National Park	Reykjavik
5	Puffin and Whale Watching Tour Hallgrimskirkja Church Skolavordustigur street	Reykjavik
6	Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip Ytri Tunga Beach for seal watching Budakirkja Arnarstapi Cliff Viewpoints Londrangar Viewpoint Djúpalónssandur Beach Svöðufoss Waterfall Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss Dinner in Bogarnes	Reykjavik
7	Seawall and Sun Voyager Statue Tjornin Lake	Reykjavik
8	Fly home

Day 1: Arrive in Iceland

After arriving in Iceland, we picked up our rental car from Hertz, which is located right in the airport terminal. Most flights to Iceland arrive early in the morning. This means most people are pretty tired by the time they land. Depending on how tired you are, you can either drive to a parking lot close to the airport for a car nap, or drive a little further for lunch.

Some people also choose to do the Blue Lagoon on their first day after arriving because it is so close to the airport. We skipped it because it did not sound very relaxing with our kid who prefers to splash rather than soak in pools. Whatever you decide, just don’t plan any strenuous activities for this day because you will likely nap for at least 2 hours at some point during this day.

Lunch in Selfoss

Selfoss is about a 1.5 hour drive from Keflavik airport, and about halfway to Vik. We always have a burst of energy after landing in a new city because of the novelty of it all so we decided to drive straight to Selfoss. However, once we got to Selfoss we all fell asleep in the car for about 2 hours.

We then had lunch at Kaffi Krus. It’s a cute little restaurant that serves a variety of burgers, pizzas, and soups. It was very kid-friendly with high chairs, and they brought over a kids menu with crayons when they seated us. We also saw many locals stopping in for cake and a coffee. But get ready for your first dose of sticker shock!

Reynisfjara Beach

• Parking: there is a parking lot right next to the beach
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 2 hour drive from Selfoss
• Bathrooms: available in the parking lot

From Selfoss, it is a about a 2 hour drive to Reynisfjara black sand beach. It was a little drizzly at this point so we didn’t say long, but it was an epic first stop in Iceland to see these cathedral-like basalt columns. Our kiddo also loved playing construction with all the rocks and pebbles on this beach.

Although you can walk up to the basalt columns again, never turn your back on the ocean. The waves are sneaky and strong here. As we were walking down to the beach, we saw a lady get distracted with taking photos and got caught up in a sneaker wave. She was able to get back to shore but was completely drenched. It was a good reminder to keep an eye on our kid and remind him to enjoy nature safely.

Dinner at Strondin Pub Vik

Stronin Pub Vik is right in the center of Vik. The food was fresh, the ocean views were beautiful, and don’t skip the Skyr blueberry cheesecake!

There was still daylight after we finished dinner so we followed the path outside of the pub towards the beach to see more of the shoreline.

Day 2: Day Trip to Diamond Beach

Total Time Spent: ~9 hours

The sights we visited on the way to Diamond Beach and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon were really unique places to see. This was a long driving day, but the sights along this part of the Ring Road are so worth it! And that’s saying a lot when you consider it’s a 3 hour drive there and back with an energetic kid in the car. We had a late start to the morning because of jetlag and start until 10am. But it worked in our favor because it was less crowded at every sight.

One of the nice things about doing this as a day trip was that we could be flexible with the order we visited the sights. We originally planned to see Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, then Svartifoss, then Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach because that’s the order you encounter them on the Ring Road. But because our kid fell asleep after leaving Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, we took advantage of the peaceful car nap and drove straight to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon instead. We stopped at Svartifoss on the way back and our kid was refreshed and ready for the hike. Just an example of how staying flexible and planning around naps can make Iceland much easier with kids.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

• Parking: we mapped to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Viewpoint in Google Maps, which took us up a gravel path to a small parking lot. Parking at this lot bypassed the steeper uphill climb portion from the usual parking lot.
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 1 hr from Vik
• Bathrooms: none at the small parking lot. We did not walk down to the main parking lot so I don’t know if there are bathrooms available there.

This impressive serpentine gorge is a very family-friendly hike. The gorge itself is a short walk from the parking lot and the walk to the waterfall isn’t too long or steep. There are multiple viewing platforms to see the waterfall and the gorge itself from different angles.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

• Parking: we parked at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon parking lot because it’s bigger, has bathrooms, and has food trucks. But the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach parking lots are connected by a pedestrian walkway that runs underneath the bridge, so you can park at either parking lot and see both sights. The Diamond Beach parking lot seemed less busy when we visited.
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 1.5 hours from Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon or 45 min from Svartifoss
• Bathrooms: available at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon parking lot

I was mesmerized by the sight of the icebergs floating silently in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon right when we pulled into the parking lot. This was one of the busiest places we visited, but you can still find a quiet stretch of beach or walk further up the viewpoint or along the path above the parking lot to admire the view away from the crowds. Our kid was fascinated by the pieces of crystal clear iceberg that washed up on shore. And he loved watching the rafts heading out on the water.

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat tours: The glacier lagoon boat tours are a popular way to see the icebergs up close, but check age limits before booking! Many of the zodiac boat tours have a minimum age for kids. The Amphibious Boat Tours may welcome families with younger kids. We decided not to book a boat tour because we didn’t know how the weather would be, and we did not want to have to rush to make a set departure time.

To get to Diamond Beach, take the pedestrian path along the water that runs underneath the bridge (so you don’t have to pay for parking twice!). Photographers will love the chunks of iceberg sitting on the beach with the waves crashing behind them. Our kid loved playing with the rocks on this pebble beach. Some kids will get really excited about going all the way to the shoreline to touch the icebergs. But just be careful of the waves!

Svartifoss

• Parking: parking for Svartifoss is at the Skaftafell Visitor Center car park
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 1 hr from Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon or 45 min from Diamond Beach
• Bathrooms: available at the Skaftafell Visitor Center

Note that there is a 45 minute steep uphill hike from the parking lot to the waterfall.

Despite the hike, I would still recommend seeing Svartifoss. It was one of my favorite waterfalls of the trip. The waterfall rushes over a wall of basalt columns and it looks like something out of a fairy tale. I think the hike deters most of the tour groups, so we were one of only a handful of people at the waterfall when we visited. Our kid surprised us by walking the whole hike on his own two little legs. He loved climbing over the rocks and said this hike to the waterfall was one of his favorites of the trip!

Dinner at Smidjan Brugghus in Vik

Smidjan Brugghus is a local brewery in Vik with great burgers. We arrived back in Vik around 9pm, and this is one of the few restaurants where the kitchen is open until 10pm.

Day 3: Waterfalls Around Vik

Total time spent: ~9 hours

This day involved a bit of back tracking on highway 1, but it was worth it to us to avoid moving accommodations.

Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls

• Parking: Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls share one parking lot right in front of Seljalandsfoss.
• Parking fees: operated by Check-it. We paid using the machines in the lot to avoid downloading another app.
• Distance: 40 min from Vik
• Bathrooms: available next to the parking lot

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most popular waterfalls. It’s easy to see why. Not only can you actually walk behind the waterfall, but it’s also incredibly accessible. The waterfall is right next to the parking lot, so there’s no hike to reach it. And the short path to walk behind the falls is relatively easy as well. Of course, that accessibility also means there are plenty of tour buses. We arrived around 10am and walked straight behind the waterfall without waiting in line. But by the time we left, a pretty long line had formed.

Being able to get so close to the waterfall and actually walk behind it was such a cool experience. You really get a sense of just how powerful the falls are from back there! Just prepare to get soaked from all the spray. This was the one waterfall where our kid wore the full complement of rain proof gear that we had packed for him. The path behind the waterfall can also be slippery, so definitely keep a close hand on little ones as you make your way around

If you follow the path to the right after exiting the trail behind Seljalandsfoss, you’ll reach Gljúfrabúi waterfall. There was actually a longer line to walk up to the Gljúfrabúi waterfall because it is hidden inside a cave, and there is only one path in and out through a stream. It’s a small space, so only about 10 people can fit inside at a time. You do have to hop on top of rocks over a stream to get inside the cave, so small kids will need to be carried. But this was one of the most unique waterfalls we have ever seen and so worth the wait! Once you’re inside the cave, the waterfall comes crashing down right in front of you through an opening in the ceiling of the cave. It’s such a cool experience and unlike any other waterfall we visited in Iceland.

Gluggafoss

• Parking: small parking lot in front of the waterfall
• Parking fees: free!
• Distance: 20 min from Seljalandsfoss, but actually takes longer because part of it is a rough gravel path. Google Maps will tell you to take route 250 to connect to 261, but most of it is a rough gravel path and felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life. To avoid the gravel path. you can go the long way around by going up highway 1 and turning onto 261.
• Bathrooms: not available

Gluggafoss is slightly off the beaten path and still felt a bit undiscovered. Amazingly, we were the only family at this waterfall when we visited! The waterfall itself is really unique because it almost feels like a two-tiered waterfall. The lower section has a short path that leads behind the falls, while the upper section is what gives Gluggafoss its name. Gluggafoss translates loosely to “windows waterfall.” The name is inspired by the way the river carved tunnels and openings through the rock face. The water flows through these hidden channels before cascading through the openings, making it look like you’re viewing the waterfall through a series of natural windows. It’s such a unique waterfall and a fun stop if you’re looking to get away from some of Iceland’s more crowded sights.

The waterfall turns into a river that runs right in front of the parking area. The water is still a little rapid for little kids to wade in safely, but it’s great for throwing rocks. This waterfall was such a nice break from the crowds of Seljalandsfoss.

Skogafoss

• Parking: large parking lot in front of the waterfall
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 45 min to 1 hour from Gluggafoss. We took the long way up 261 to connect back to highway 1 to avoid the gravel road on 250, but it was well worth it for the peace of mind.
• Bathrooms: available next to the parking lot

Skogafoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland. It’s super accessible because it’s a flat walk all the way to the waterfall, so it’s a very popular one as well. One of the special things about this waterfall is the very flat approach, so you can walk right up to the base of the waterfall if you want to! You do have to ford the shallow river and hop over some rocks so your feet may get wet. And your body will definitely be wet from the spray. But if you want to feel the full force of a waterfall up close then this one is it!

There is a long steep staircase that leads up to a viewpoint at the top of the falls. Our kid wouldn’t have made the climb so we skipped it. But I think saving our hiking legs for Kvernufoss was well worth it.

Kvernufoss

• Parking: map to Kvernufoss parking lot. The parking lot is located behind the Skogar Museum.
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: <5 min drive from Skogafoss.
• Bathrooms: not available

Kvernufoss was quite possibly my favorite waterfall of the day. Which is saying a lot considering how incredible all of the waterfalls were! There’s a slightly uphill 30 minute hike along the river to reach the waterfall. That extra bit of a walk seems to deter the tour buses. There were still other visitors when we arrived, but it never felt overwhelmingly crowded.

The approach to Kvernufoss was one of the most scenic parts of all the waterfalls because the waterfall is nestled into a beautiful valley. And just like Seljalandsfoss, you can actually walk behind the falls. The path here is steeper and very slippery, though, so definitely keep a close eye on little kids.

Watching the curtain of water come crashing down while birds soared around the mouth of the waterfall was incredibly peaceful. (That is, if you ignore the mom anxiety of worrying your preschooler will slip and fall over the waterfall.)

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

• Parking: small parking lot next to the Lighthouse. It was completely full when we arrived, so we parked on the side of the road leading up to the Lighthouse (there was a row of cars already doing this).
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app. We paid for parking even though we did not park inside the parking lot itself. We saw what looked like the parking camera at the end of the road leading up to the parking lot, not at the entrance of the parking lot itself. So we paid for parking just in case it scanned our license plate as soon as we drove up the path leading to the parking lot.
• Distance: 30 min drive from Skogafoss.
• Bathrooms: not available

The panoramic views of the beach and the ocean from the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse are dramatic and beautiful. But to be honest, we were here for the puffins! Our kid decided that puffins were his favorite thing about Iceland. So getting to see some of these cutie puffins live was a highlight. The puffins are usually hanging out on the cliff to the right of the lighthouse.

Other popular sights here are the lighthouse itself and the arch rock. You can’t actually go inside the lighthouse (a huge disappointment for our kid, so manage expectations better than we did).

Dinner at Black Crust Pizzeria

If you eat out once in Vik, eat at Black Crust Pizzeria. The line is usually out the door and the wait is long, but the pizzas are worth it. They have some unique pizza toppings that feature some local Icelandic specialties.

Vik i Myrdal Church

• Parking: parking lot outside the church
• Parking fees: free, but there are directions for making a suggested donation

The picturesque Vik i Myrdal Church is perched on the hill above Vik. We still had some daylight left after dinner, so we drove up to the church on our last evening to admire the view over the city. Climbing the hill behind the church gives an even better view of the surrounding coastline.

Day 4: Golden Circle

Total time spent: ~11 hours

This was one of our longer driving days. Rather than driving straight from Vik to Reykjavik, we decided to add the Golden Circle to the route. To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed by the Golden Circle. But only because we had already seen so many incredible waterfalls and natural wonders along the South Coast. After everything we had seen, it was hard for some of the sights on the Golden Circle to compete!

Visitors who only have a short trip or layover in Iceland often just see the Golden Circle and call it a trip. But if the Golden Circle had been the only area we visited in Iceland, I probably wouldn’t have come home as blown away by Iceland’s incredible landscapes as I was. That’s why I’m so glad we spent a little extra time in Iceland and had our own car to explore. We didn’t even go that much off the beaten path. But as always, my favorite sights of the day were the ones that required a bit more effort to get to, but were so worth it.

Kerið Crater

• Parking: parking lot next to the Crater
• Parking fees: parking is free but you have to pay an entrance fee to visit the Crater.
• Distance: 1.5 hour drive from Vik
• Bathrooms: available inside the paid area

The Kerið Crater is a volcanic crater lake known for the bluish-green color of the water. There is a path that goes around the rim of the crater, and stairs to walk down to the lake itself. If you’re pressed for time, I would say this is skippable. It was a good stop for us to stretch our legs and use the bathroom.

Friðheimar Tomato Farm for Lunch

• Parking: follow the signs for the Winebar to park in a small parking lot next to the Winebar
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 20 minute drive from Kerid Crater
• Bathrooms: available inside the Winebar

As you can imagine, the growing season is pretty short in Iceland because of the short summers and long winters. But that’s where greenhouses come in! Friðheimar Tomato Farm specializes in greenhouse-grown tomatoes. They have a cute farm shop, but most people come to eat! The main attraction is their restaurant experience, where you can actually eat your meal inside the greenhouse surrounded by tomato plants. These reservations book up fast, especially in the summer!

If you can’t get a reservation (like us), you can still sample the menu at the more casual Vínstofa Friðheima Winebar located next to the restaurant. The Winebar is located inside one of the oldest greenhouses on the property, and the interior is so elegant. It’s first come first serve at the Winebar, but there can still be a wait to sit indoors. We sat in the outdoor area because it was available immediately. Everything on the menu features tomatoes. We especially liked the pastas. They do have a kids menu. The kids portions were a good size, so ordering a mix of options from the kids menu and adults menu could be an opportunity to save money!

The farm also raises Icelandic horses. During the summer, you can book a visit to the stables and a horse show. And if you just want to see the horses up close, some of the horses are usually hanging out in a fenced area across from the farm shop.

Strokkur Geyser

• Parking: parking lot at the visitors center across the street from the geyser
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 15 minutes from Fridheimar Tomato Farm
• Bathrooms: available inside the visitors center

The Strokkur Geyser erupts every 6-10 minutes, so it’s great for kids with short attention spans. The eruptions themselves are not huge, but it’s a fun surprise for kids. There are hiking trails that lead to other geysers and viewpoints in the area, but we left after watching the geyser erupt because our kid didn’t like the strong sulfur smell.

Gullfoss Falls

• Parking: large parking lot right next to the falls
• Parking fees: free!
• Distance: 12 minutes from Strokkur Geyser
• Bathrooms: available inside the visitors center

Gullfoss Falls felt like the most developed waterfall that we went to. There are many different boardwalk trails leading to viewpoints all along the falls. The trails were flat and very accessible. We walked both the upper and lower decks to see the waterfall from different angles. This felt like the most powerful waterfall we saw in Iceland, just because of the sheer size of the waterfall.

Brúarfoss Waterfall

• Parking: gravel parking lot a short walk to the waterfall
• Parking fees: pay through Parka app
• Distance: 30 minutes from Gullfoss Falls. Part of the road leading to the parking lot is a gravel road, but it is not as rough as some of the others we have visited.
• Bathrooms: none available

Brúarfoss was my favorite stop on the Golden Circle. This waterfall is known for its striking turquoise blue color. It’s not a very big waterfall, but the color of the water and the way the water cascades down from all sides makes it very unique.

Efstidalur Farm for Ice Cream & Burgers

• Parking: follow the road all the way to the end (past the hotel) to find the restaurant and ice cream shop
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 10 min from Bruarfoss
• Bathrooms: available next to the ice cream shop

We were initially only planning on stopping at Efstidalur Farm for an ice cream break, but since we arrived around 5pm we decided to just eat an early dinner at the restaurant upstairs. Both the dining areas of the restaurant and ice cream shop have windows that look into the barn where the cows graze. If you ever wanted to eat your ice cream while looking at the cows that made it, this is your chance! The ice cream was super creamy and they had some local Icelandic flavors.

Thingvellir National Park

• Parking: we mapped to the Thingvellir National Park Visitors Center. We were directed to park at the P1 parking lot which is a short walk away from the visitors center, but there is also a parking lot attached to the visitors center.
• Parking fees: paid through Check-it on app or using the machines at the lot. When we visited, there was no charge for parking between the hours of 6pm to 8am.
• Distance: 30 min from Efstidalur Farm
• Bathrooms: available next to the visitors center

Thingvellir National Park is huge, and it takes a couple hours to fully explore and do it justice. This was our last stop of the day, and it was starting to rain, so we kept our visit short. We stopped at the Hakið viewpoint near the visitor center and then walked down through the Almannagjá gorge, the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It was actually a pretty neat geology lesson for our kid, especially since he had recently learned about tectonic plates when we were trying to explain earthquakes. If you continue farther down the path, you’ll eventually reach Öxarárfoss waterfall.

From Thingvellir National Park, it’s about a 45 minute drive to Reykjavik.

Day 5: Whale Watching & Downtown Reykjavik

After so many days of driving, we were overdue for a rest day. We kept our first day in Reykjavik relatively low-key, with a whale watching tour in the morning and exploring the city center and playground time in the afternoon.

Whale Watching Tour with Elding

We booked the Classic Whale Watching tour with Elding because it’s not too long, and they welcome kids of all ages, even babies. The Classic Whale Watching tour is 2.5-3 hours long and the boat has a heated indoor area in case kids get cold. They have kid-sized life jackets on board for all the kids, and even had warm full body suits for the kids. Kids age 0-6 are free!

We had a lucky day and saw minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, and humpback whales on our tour. We also saw plenty of puffins, which our kiddo was excited about. The whale watching was exciting for the adults, but most of the younger kids (including ours!) got a little bored and cold during the waiting, and most asked to go back inside after the first whale sighting.

We waited until the day before to book the tour for the most up to date weather report. We also saw some people buying tickets the day of, so it doesn’t seem like it sells out. The company can cancel the tour in case of inclement weather. If you don’t see any whales, the company offers a complimentary ticket that you can use another day. That was why we booked the whale watching tour on our first day in Reykjavik. So in case we didn’t see any whales, we still had days left on our trip to use the complimentary ticket.

Lunch at Le Kock

Le Kock is a gastropub just a few minutes walk from the Old Harbour where the whale watching tours depart. The burgers and potatoes were great and they do have a kids menu.

Skólavörðustígur Street

Skólavörðustígur Street is the colorful rainbow pedestrian street downtown that leads to the Hallgrimskirkja church. It’s about a 20 minute walk from Le Kock to Hallgrimskirkja Church, passing through Skólavörðustígur Street on the way. The street is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, so there is plenty to stop and see while walking.

Hallgrimskirkja Church

This beautiful church looks like the basalt column cliffs that you find all over Iceland. It’s free to enter the church, but there is a fee to ride the elevator up the bell tower for views of the city. The interior of the church is pretty plain, though there is an impressive pipe organ inside.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at a local playground near our Airbnb, stocking up on snacks and food souvenirs at the grocery store, and getting ice cream at Omnom. After all the burgers and fish and chips, we switched things up by getting pizza at Flatey Pizza for an early dinner.

Day 6: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day Trip

Total time spent: 12 hours

This day trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula was one of the longest driving days we had in Iceland, but it was so worth it!! This area had some of the most dramatic coastline views and one of my favorite waterfalls. It also felt less crowded than the Glacier Lagoon day trip or the Golden Circle. We found parking easily at all of the lots and most of the parking lots were free. I imagine this area is what Iceland used to be like before tourism skyrocketed.

Although you can take a guided tour to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik, with a kid we much preferred driving on our own. Self driving meant that we could be flexible with our schedule, make as many potty breaks as needed, and we could stay for as little or as long as we wanted at each sight.

Ytri Tunga Beach

• Parking: parking lot located right next to the beach
• Parking fees: paid through Check-it online or using the machines at the lot.
• Distance: 2 hr 15 min drive from Reykjavik
• Bathrooms: none available

Ytri Tunga Beach is known for the seal colony that likes to sunbathe on its rocks. It’s best to visit during low tide to see the seals. Low tide changes every day, and you can look it up here. We decided to start our day trip here to coincide with low tide. But if low tide occurs later in the day on the day you visit, you could make this the last stop and go the other way around the peninsula.

Budakirkja

• Parking: parking lot located right next to the church
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 20 min drive from Ytri Tunga Beach
• Bathrooms: none available

Budakirkja is mostly a photo stop, since the church is closed most of the time. However, on the drive there you can already start to appreciate the beauty of the landscape around the area. Just driving along the road, you see so many beautiful waterfalls.

Arnarstapi Cliff Viewpoints

• Parking: parking lot located a short walk to the viewpoints
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 20 min drive from Budakirkja
• Bathrooms: paid public restroom available across the street from the parking lot (this is when the Krapp.is app came in handy to find a nearby restroom).

The Arnarstapi Cliff Viewpoints were my first wow moment of this day trip. The Gatklettur arch rock is the first arch you’ll see along the path. A little further down the path is the Stone Bridge, an arch over the ocean that you can walk over. The bridge is wider than it looks, but it does take your breath away when you have the crashing ocean waves on one side, and a cave full of nesting birds that plunges into the sea on the other side. The trail continues past the Stone Bridge, but we turned back to give our kid some time at the small playground by the parking lot.

Londrangar Viewpoint

• Parking: parking lot located a short walk to the viewpoint. Google Maps overshoots the parking lot, so just turn in when you see the parking lot. (We followed the map instead of our gut and had to backtrack!)
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 8 min drive from Arnarstapi
• Bathrooms: none available

The Londrangar Viewpoint looks out to two dramatic basalt sea stacks rising out of the ocean. I thought it looked like a dragon and my kid thought it looked like a pirate ship. There is a hiking trail that leads down closer to the sea stacks, but we just appreciated them from the viewing platform. There’s something about these epic views with the seabirds soaring all around that makes you feel like you’re in a movie.

You can see this from the road as you’re driving. So if you’re pressed for time, you can skip the actual stop (unless you really want photos).

Djúpalónssandur Beach

• Parking: parking lot located a short walk to the beach
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 10 min drive from Londrangar Viewpoint
• Bathrooms: available next to the parking lot

Djúpalónssandur Beach is a black pebble beach surrounded by interesting rock formations. There are a couple different paths leading from the parking lot around the beach so that you can appreciate it from different angles. We took the short 5 min path that led down to the beach. Just be careful that kids don’t get too close to the shore because the sneaker waves can be dangerous! The bits of iron scattered around the beach are from a shipwreck that occurred there many years ago. We didn’t spend too long here, but it was a nice stop for our kid to have a fun activity (throwing rocks into the ocean) after all of those viewpoints.

Svöðufoss Waterfall

• Parking: parking lot located a 15 min flat walk to the waterfall. Part of the road to the waterfall is a gravel path, but the gravel is not that rough.
• Parking fees: free
• Distance: 30 min drive from Djúpalónssandur Beach
• Bathrooms: none available

It’s really hard to pick a favorite waterfall in Iceland, but Svöðufoss is definitely a top contender for me. This was another waterfall that we had almost all to ourselves! And the approach to the waterfall is part of the charm. The boardwalk leading to the waterfall winds through peaceful pastures with Icelandic horses and sheep grazing, and the only sounds you hear are the rushing waterfall, gentle baaing of the sheep, and the birds chirping. I’m not usually a super sentimental mom, but walking towards the waterfall in this idyllic scenery, holding my kid’s hand while he chattered away about Icelandic horses, will forever be a special memory for me.

Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss

• Parking: parking lot right next to Kirkjufellsfoss
• Parking fees: pay through EasyPark app or using the machines in the lot
• Distance: 30 min drive from Svöðufoss
• Bathrooms: none available

Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss have always been striking. But now they are even more famous because they were in the Game of Thrones. And with fame comes fees. The parking fees here felt a little steep considering it’s only a quick couple minute stop to snap some photos, but you can’t drive all the way here and not stop for photos. It did look like there was a free gravel parking lot a little further down the road if you are willing to walk a bit further to avoid the fee.

Dinner at Bara Bogarnes

From Kirkjufellsfoss it’s about a 2.5 hour drive back to Reykjavik. We broke up the drive by stopping in Bogarnes for dinner. Bara Bogarnes is a cozy pub serving local lamb, fish, and local produce. The lamb chops were tender and lamb burger was juicy – probably because of all the free range grazing they get to do.

Bogarnes is a good place to fill up on gas before heading back to Reykjavik. From Bogarnes, it is a 45 minute drive back to Reykjavik.

Day 7: Reykjavik

We usually like to have a chill last day so that we can rest and prepare for the journey back home. There are a bunch of kid-friendly museums and pools in Reykjavik. We usually prefer outdoor activities to museums, but I bookmarked these kid-friendly activities just in case:

• Perlan Museum: an interactive museum where visitors can learn about Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, and other natural wonders through hands-on exhibits, including a real indoor ice cave and planetarium.
• Lava Show: a hands-on experience where you can watch real molten lava flow right in front of you while learning about Iceland’s volcanoes and volcanic history.
• Whales of Iceland Museum: family-friendly museum where you can walk among life-sized models of Iceland’s whale species while learning about these incredible animals and the waters around Iceland.
• Reykjavik Park and Zoo: small, family-friendly zoo where kids can see Icelandic farm animals and native wildlife while enjoying a playground and open outdoor spaces.
• Local swimming pools: local geothermal swimming pools are a fun, affordable way to experience Iceland like a local, with warm outdoor pools, hot tubs, and family-friendly play areas.
• Blue Lagoon: a more expensive, but iconic, Icelandic spa experience

We chose some outdoor free activities instead.

Sea Wall and Sun Voyager Statue

Reykjavik’s Sea Wall runs along the water’s edge and is a nice flat walk to the Sun Voyager Statue. The Sun Voyager Statue is mostly a photo op. But you can bet our kid found a way to turn it into a impromptu playground by sliding down the sides of the statue while photobombing other tourists.

Icelandic Hot Dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

You can’t go to Iceland and not try an Icelandic hot dog at least once. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is the most famous hot dog stand. There seems to always be a line at all hours, but it moves quickly. I like that you can customize the toppings. It was a delicious hot dog and I wish I had gotten two.

Tjornin Lake

We walked through the city center to get to Tjornin Lake. Our kid liked watching the ducks on the lake and the people feeding them.

Neighborhood Playgrounds

We spent the rest of the afternoon at a couple local playgrounds near our Airbnb. It’s great how many neighborhood playgrounds there are in Reykjavik. I didn’t even look these up – we just happened to pass by them on the walk back to our Airbnb. After a week of nonstop sightseeing, our kid was happy to just spend time playing in a playground.

Dinner at Oto

We usually try to work in one nice dinner per trip if we can. Usually we can find a place that serves delicious upscale food with some options that our kid will actually eat. I actually thought Oto would be a bit more casual than it was, so that was my bad for not researching more. My mistake was that I was more focused on the food than the atmosphere. Oto is Japanese-Italian fusion, both cuisines my kid loves. The interior was very modern and swanky, and luckily our kid was very impressed with his first visit to a fancy restaurant so tried to be on his best behavior. The food was delicious – would recommend!

Day 8: Fly Home

Keflavik Airport is a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik. There are some gas stations a couple exits from the airport, so make sure to fuel up before returning your car. Try to arrive 3 hours before your departure time. That might seem like overkill, but the lines for dropping off checked luggage and immigration can be insanely long at Keflavik Airport. Most of the airlines all use the same baggage drop counters, so the lines get really long. After security, don’t linger in the duty free and restaurant area for long. The check in agents recommend heading straight for immigration and customs because the lines can get long for flights to the United States.

Reality Check of Visiting Iceland with a Toddler

This is an ambitious road trip itinerary with a little one because of the long drives. However, our kid actually did better in terms of meltdowns on this trip than on our trips to Japan. I think it’s because most of our sightseeing was out in nature where he could run and get his energy out, and there were fewer rules about being quiet or sitting still. And having our own rental car was a lifesaver because we could go at our own pace and he could nap whenever he was tired or snack when he was hungry. There was still a fair amount of whining about being bored, especially at viewpoints or in the car. But it was a good exercise in trying to find something interesting to do, whether that was throwing rocks or seeing who could spot the most waterfalls.

I was initially worried that we would not be able to see everything we wanted to see in Iceland with a little kid. But this itinerary still hit all of the major sights that I wanted to see. The infrastructure is really built up well in Iceland now with the boom in tourism, so I thought the parking fees that go towards the maintenance and upkeep are a fair tradeoff.

Despite all the driving and the fact that almost every day was on the go with this itinerary, this was one of our more relaxing trips. We always find being out in nature to be a stress reliever. And it’s impossible to be out in Iceland’s stunning landscapes and still feel stressed. Even the drives are therapeutic because the views out the window are just amazing, with waterfalls cascading or glaciers looming everywhere you look. Despite traveling with the emotional rollercoaster that is a preschooler, it was a good trip. Our kid had a lot of firsts that he was proud of (including his first real hike), and we definitely spent a lot of quality time together.