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Ultimate Iceland 7-Day Ring Road Itinerary With Kids

Iceland With Kids: Our 7-Day Ring Road Itinerary

Last updated: October 18, 2026. Updated seasonal road and access planning, Blue Lagoon child-entry rules, volcanic and coastal hazard guidance, geothermal bathing qualifications, and the distinction between itinerary days and our historical Iceland films. Date information added October 30, 2026.

Up close at Skógafoss · Scene from our film (20 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 20 sec

Waterfalls, glacier lagoons, outdoor pools and a late-night eruption made our original summer trip one we still talk about. These are our family’s memories and suggested stops, with current access information kept separate from the old footage.

At the end of our original 7-day trip to Iceland, we were all sad to be leaving.  We’ve now visited 35 countries around the world with five kids in tow. Iceland quickly shot to one of our top three favorite countries in just one week!

What makes Iceland so special?  How could it command our hearts when it’s our 35th country with kids?

Honestly, you just have to see it to believe it!  From the incredible waterfalls, a gorgeous landscape that is ever-changing, the delicious food, and the fun European feel, Iceland will likely steal your hearts also.

Disclaimer: This itinerary is really more than you can do or see in seven days, even if you have crazy FOMO like me.  Pick and choose what works for you and your family!  Or use this list and extend your Icelandic vacation to 10-14 days. This is the account of our original summer trip, including very late daylight stops—not a ready-made winter driving plan. Check official road conditions, travel alerts, weather, and daylight for your dates; shorten the route when conditions require it.

Watch our full Iceland aerial film ↗ 45:04 · Music soundtrack

Our Iceland aerial film features waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, the black-sand coast and Glacier Lagoon, accompanied by music. Selected aerial scenes appear below, alongside separate family films from the same summer trip.

The day headings below group options for planning. Our family films follow the order of our own trip, so their episode numbers do not always match these suggested day groupings.

Our extended Iceland aerial film — with music · Full film (45 min 4 sec)

▶Watch full film 45 min 4 sec

This extended film is an aerial tour with music. It is not a chronological account of our seven days. The shorter family scenes beside the relevant stops come from separate films of the same original summer trip.

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.

Day One: Arrive in Reykjavik

Most flights into Reykjavik arrive in the early morning.  We landed at 7:30 am. This gives you the full arrival day to get a head start on your adventure.

Blue Lagoon

After the red-eye flight from Brazil, the Blue Lagoon was the treat we had been looking forward to for years. We had heard mixed reviews, but our family loved it and found it a relaxing first stop after landing. We tried the volcanic mud masks, too, and I learned to keep the mud away from my eyes. With so much ahead of us, we left the lagoon and carried on toward Gullfoss, geysers, and our hotel. That was our arrival-day rhythm; check current booking and entry details before planning the same stop.

Our family’s Blue Lagoon stop · Scene from our film (20 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 20 sec

After getting our rental car, we headed straight for the Blue Lagoon!  Pre-booking is essential for a visit now. Check the operator’s hours, current access notices, and permitted driving route before setting off; our arrival-day stop is a past experience, not a guarantee of an 8 am opening or a fixed airport transfer time. Check the current children’s rules for your group, including the minimum age of two and required floaties for ages eight and younger.

The Blue Lagoon has been on my bucket list for years.  We heard some mixed reviews, but we loved it. This is a great, relaxing first stop in Iceland.

See my post about visiting with kids and what you need to know before you go.

Explore Reykjavik

Reykjavik offers many things to do and see.  Surrounding towns are also rich with options!

• Museums.  There are lots of museums in Reykjavik. The Whale Museum, Viking Museum, and the grand Perlan.  We opted for the Perlan and loved the ice cave, planetarium, and zip-lining!

• Walk around downtown.  The city is small and very walkable.  There are playgrounds, the massive Hallgrimskirkja church, ice cream shops and restaurants and fun shopping.

• Grab a hot dog (an Icelandic favorite) and explore the shops.

• An aerial tour was one of the options in our original guide, linked through Circle Air. Check the operator’s current availability, departure point, and permitted route. Do not assume there is an eruption to view or that a volcanic area is open because flights were advertised during our trip.

Watch our original related film on the original source

Hike To Fagradalsfjall Volcano

Seeing the Fagradalsfjall eruption was extraordinary for our family. We hiked up the rocky lava trail late at night with the kids, stayed to watch the eruption, and left after midnight. Chris and I took a small plane over the volcano the next day. Those are memories from that eruption visit, not a promise about what a future trip will find; volcanic activity and access change, so check current official conditions before planning around one.

The eruption during our original Iceland trip · Scene from our film (19 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 19 sec

An erupting volcano was unforgettable on our original trip, but an active eruption is not automatically a safe or permitted visitor outing. Check current Reykjanes access and hazard guidance before planning a hike; closures and gas pollution can affect whether a route is suitable, especially for children.  We hiked to the Fagradalsfjall Volcano with all of the kids and hit the jackpot! I’ve never seen anything more breathtaking in my entire life.

Notes from our original volcano hike with the kids—our route, timing, and facilities may differ from those available now:

• The eruption information and camera views can help with visibility, but a clear image does not establish safe access. Check official closures, weather, and gas guidance before leaving, and follow staff or police directions.
• It took us about an hour to hike to the top viewing point. It’s steep, but quick.
• There was a porta-potty in the parking lot, but it was overflowing and not really useable. Find a restroom elsewhere before beginning your hike.
• We LOVED visiting around sunset. We arrived around 10 pm, watched the volcano for a couple of hours and then headed back. It made for a late night, but we were able to watch the eruption in both the daylight and the darkness.
• Take layers as it got chilly!
• Drone footage was striking, and we saw several drones flying during our visit. That observation does not establish permission now: check current aviation restrictions and any site permissions before flying, and do not interfere with emergency operations.
• The lava fields were an amazing sight. Never walk on the lava, even when the surface looks solid; stay on marked routes and respect closures.
• Take some water and sunscreen if you’re hiking during the day.
• Remember to charge all of your cameras and phones ahead of time. You’ll want them to capture this stunning phenomenon!

Other Options

• Take a ferry to the Westman Islands.

• Visit Thingvellir National Park where you can snorkel or scuba between continental plates!

• Lava tube in Raufarhólshellir. Guided tours are available- Book your tour here now.

• You must go to Braud & Co for breakfast In Reykjavik. It is spectacular! You can read about other must-try foods throughout Iceland here.

Suggested Lodgings:

• Reykjavik Residences. Find rates here.

• Hotel 201. Book your room here.

Days Two and Three: Southern Side

For the southern days, I’d keep the itinerary flexible enough for the stops that matter most to your family. Our route notes include Skógafoss, the black-sand coast, and other South Coast sights; the Iceland film already on this page also has short, previously checked looks at Skógafoss and the Reynisfjara/Dyrhólaey coast. Treat the footage as a memory of our route, not a promise about current road, weather, or access conditions.

This geothermal area is also packed with things to see and do.  I wish we had spent two days here, but instead, we pushed through one really long day and stayed up until 4 am!  Learn from us and spend two days in the south of Iceland in order to fully enjoy the area!

Golden Circle

This little loop is a common tourist path and many tours offer this from Reykjavik.  There is tons to see here.  For more info on the route, check out this blog.

Golden Circle Tour

• Kerid Crater. Short walk down into a crater with crystal clear water.

• Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River.  Short hike to a beautiful hot spring stream.

• Hveragerði Geothermal Park. Boil some eggs in the hot water!

• Bruarfoss Waterfall. Fantastic photo op.

• Gullfoss Falls.  Stunning, massive waterfall with a short walk.

• Strokurr Gyser. One of many geysers in this geothermal area that is quite predictable and goes off every few minutes.

Other Things To See And Do

• Gluggafoss.   This stunning waterfall rolls off the mountain into a small pool in the middle.  Walk up the stairs to the pool area and take a look around.

• Seljalandsfoss.   My personal favorite waterfall!! You can even walk behind the waterfall, hidden behind a water curtain, for an especially pretty view!

• Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool.  Hot springs pool.

• Skógafoss.  Massive waterfall.  Take the stairs up the side to see an additional waterfall at the top.

• Explore Vik.  Charming little town!  We loved our quick stop into Icewear, which is a great place for gear and souvenirs. The church is also darling and there is a swimming pool (like most towns in Iceland!).

• Dyrhólaey. Penninsula overlooking black sand beaches and rock formations.

• Reynisfjara Beach. Black sand and basalt columns were part of our trip, but do not use our photos as an invitation to climb or approach the surf. Check current access warnings, obey signs and closures, stay well back from the water, watch the sea, and keep children with an adult. Sneaker waves and falling rocks are serious hazards; access may be limited to the designated viewpoint.

Iceland’s black-sand coast · Scene from our film (30 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 30 sec

• Solheimasandur Plane Wreck.  We didn’t do this because a few people told me it’s not great with kids.  It’s a long 4 hour, boring walk with not much to do along the way.  However, it is quite iconic and another amazing photo op!

• Svartifoss.  Short, steep hike to another gorgeous waterfall.

Suggested Lodging

• Minniborgir Cottages

• Hotel Vik i Myrdal

Day Four: Southeastern Side

Our Southeastern day centers on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, with the nearby Black Diamond Beach in the same itinerary section. I like keeping these together on the route because the article describes them as nearby stops, while still leaving time for the drive and conditions on the day. The existing family film has a short glacier-lagoon segment here; check current access and weather before setting out.

• Jokulsarion Glacier Lagoon.  Watch the seals and take a boat ride among the glaciers.

Our moments at Glacier Lagoon

Glacier Lagoon & nearby Diamond Beach · Scroll through our photos or open the full-screen gallery.

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Evening at Glacier Lagoon · Scene from our film (20 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 20 sec

• Black Diamond Beach.  One of my top memories from Iceland. We arrived right around sunset (11 pm) and it was pure magic. Pieces of ice glitter like diamonds on the black sand beach.  Right next to the lagoon.

• Stokksnes. Gorgeous black sand beach and mountains.  Visit the Viking Village set on the way.

• East Iceland Reindeer Museum. Recommended by a follower of ours and looks darling.

Suggested Lodging

• Hildibrand Apartments

• Adventura in Djupivogur

Day Five: Eastern Side

• Vok Baths.  Another beautiful outdoor natural hot spring in Iceland.

• Stuðlagil Canyon. We chose the overlook. Other approaches involve a different walk, so check the current parking, route, and safety guidance rather than relying on our older 2-kilometer estimate. Stay on marked paths and viewing platforms, respect closures, and stay out of the river and off unstable riverbanks.

The northbound stretch stays vivid because we were exhausted and still had so much we wanted to see. We reached our hotel in Seyðisfjörður early in the morning, woke to a sunny day, and then continued to Stuðlagil Canyon and Goðafoss. At the canyon, we took the viewpoint-and-stairs option rather than walking the longer route to the other side. In the itinerary, I wish we had split the southern sightseeing across two days instead of pushing through one really long day and staying up until four in the morning. That was our family’s experience, and I would leave more room for rest when planning a route like this.

Our family at the Stuðlagil viewpoint · Scene from our film (19 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 19 sec

• Godafoss.  Very lovely waterfall and short walk from the parking lot.  My kids loved playing on the gentle hills around it as well.

• Husavik.  This darling Icelandic seaside town is famous for it’s wonderful whale watching!  We went out with North Sailing and absolutely loved it.  We saw a humpback whale, enjoyed the incredible views and loved the hot chocolate and cinnamon at the end.

Our whale-watching trip with North Sailing was one of the stops we were happiest we made. The kids came with us, we saw a humpback whale, and I loved the views out from Húsavík. I still remember the hot chocolate and cinnamon at the end of the outing. The family footage includes whales from above and our family aboard the boat, which brings back how special that day felt.

Whales and our Húsavík boat outing · Scene from our film (19 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 19 sec

Click here to schedule your trip with North Sailing.

Suggested Lodging

• Fosshotel Husavik.  Very comfortable hotel with fantastic breakfast.

• Soti Lodge. We stayed at this lodge in Iceland and LOVED it.  Our stay included breakfast and dinner. There was a local geothermal pool next door with afternoon opening on our visit. We also found a warm stream outside, and my kids spent hours playing in it! Confirm current meal and pool arrangements with the lodge; that stream memory is not advice that an unmonitored geothermal area is safe for bathing now.

Day Six: Northern Side

• Myvatn Nature Baths.  Recommended by this family and looks great!

• Akueryri.  Darling town with a great pool (with water slides) and dogsledding in the winter.

• Hofsos Hot Springs Pool.  Infinity hot springs over the ocean.

On the next stretch of our route, we stopped at the Hofsós pool beside the ocean, then continued toward Búðir on the western coast. That combination made the drive feel like more than a transfer day: we had time for a swim stop and a look across the lava fields and coast near Búðakirkja.

Our Hofsós pool stop · Scene from our film (19 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 19 sec

• Kirkjufellsfoss.  Gorgeous waterfall.

• Erikson Viking Longhouse.  Restored viking longhouse with short tour.  Super fun with kids!

We took the kids to a restored longhouse on a farm, with a fire in the middle and everyone gathered close inside. It was memorable to picture so many people sharing that space, but the old way of living was not for me! Before making a special trip, check the site’s current opening information.

Visiting a restored longhouse with the kids · Scene from our film (19 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 19 sec

Suggested Lodging

• Hotel Laugarbakki.  Large hotel with nice restaurant, small playground and hot tubs.

Day Seven: Heading Back To Reykjavik

This is a seven-day driving plan, so it helps to look at the whole loop before committing to lodging: the article moves from Reykjavík and the southwest to the South Coast, southeast, east, north, and back west. Our saved film adds a few moving views from different parts of the trip, but it does not replace checking current distances, road closures, daylight, and weather for your own dates.

• Snaefellsjokull National Park.  Spot some puffins and explore the old lava flows.

• Budir Black Church.  Iconic wooden church.  One of the oldest in Iceland and gorgeous for photos.

• Into the Glacier Ice Cave.  We ran out of time for this, but it looks amazing!

Watch our original related film on the original source

Suggested Lodging

• Hotel Budir

Click below to download a printable version of this itinerary to save for your next Iceland vacation!

Additional Reading

THE 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING ICELAND

For more tips on Iceland, check out my other posts!

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