The Family Guide to Reykjavík 

Harpa for families

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is one of Reykjavík’s most iconic landmarks, easily recognized by its stunning glass facade inspired by Iceland’s natural landscapes. This bustling cultural hub always has something going on—concerts, exhibitions, events, and family-friendly entertainment. You can catch everything from classical music and opera to cutting-edge art shows. If you’re traveling with kids, Harpa is a great stop. They often host workshops, interactive exhibits, and activities that are both fun and engaging for little ones. Volcano Express, a new immersive volcano experience inside Harpa, is another exciting option for families visiting Reykjavík. It’s where art, culture, and entertainment come alive for visitors of all ages. See Harpa and the highlights "For the Family" for the schedule of events—many of which are free.

Fjölskyldu og húsdýragarðurinn 

The Family Park and Zoo, known as the Fjölskyldu og húsdýragarðurinn, is a local favorite. Operated by the City of Reykjavík, the park has modest admission and activities for children of all ages. 

The zoo includes foxes, seals, pigs, reindeer, and horses, as well as an exotic showroom featuring spiders, cockroaches, snakes, and turtles. Another delight is watching the zookeepers feed the seals herring at around 11 AM and 4 PM daily. 

Further into the park is Reykjavík's amusement park. Funfairs such as the carousel and the drop tower are open only during the summer. Still, the park itself is open all year, with a playground featuring a giant pirate ship and a tree house resembling the home of an Astrid Lindgren character. 

Whale watching

On whale-watching tours, people see flukes, flippers, and fins, but hardly ever the entire whale. For children, this tiny glimpse is all that is needed to capture their imagination and give these ocean giants scale. Just consider this: the heart of a blue whale is larger than even the largest dinosaur and is the size of a Mini car. 

But check the forecast. Children over the age of six are more sensitive to motion sickness than adults. Studies suggest that sensitivity peaks around age 9. But there is no reason to worry if the weather is good, as on most summer days.

Grandi Harbor Area

Whales of Iceland

When the weather is not cooperating, the Whales of Iceland exhibition is a close second to seeing the real thing. The exhibition features 23 life-size models of whale species found in Icelandic waters. Seeing these giants in full size provides a real sense of perspective for children and adults. Detailed information about each species, its behavior, biology, and habitat, and interactive kiosks bring these incredible animals to life.

FlyOver Iceland

Experience Iceland from a new perspective at FlyOver Iceland! This thrilling virtual ride takes riders on an unforgettable journey over the country’s stunning landscapes—all without leaving Reykjavík. Soar over glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls with special effects, including wind, mist, and smells, that make your flight feel incredibly real. It’s a fun and educational adventure the whole family will love!

Lava Show

Feel the heat at the Lava Show in Reykjavik, the world’s only live lava exhibition. This unique attraction brings you face-to-face with real molten lava flowing indoors, recreating the awe-inspiring spectacle of a volcanic eruption. Feel the intense heat, watch the fiery liquid rock illuminate the room, and listen to the cooling basalt as expert guides share fascinating insights into Iceland’s volcanic geology, history, and deep connection with the people.

The open-air museum 

All museums welcome children—even the famous Icelandic Phallological Museum.

To get children to run around, visit the open-air museum Árbæjarsafn on the outskirts of Reykjavík. The museum is a collection of old houses, many of which were moved from downtown Reykjavík. The houses are realistic exhibitions of the city's past. The playroom is huge, with vintage toys and costumes.

Close to the city center, the National Museum has a fun playroom with a variety of costumes and wooden swords for posing. 

The (kid-friendly) public pools of Reykjavík

Reykjavík makes up for the lack of fascinating playgrounds with its selection of outdoor public pools. The best pools are, in fact, like neatly structured playgrounds with waterslides of various heights, shallow leisure pools, and balls to play with.

Meanwhile, parents can enjoy a soak in the ‘hot tubs’.

In Reykjavík, the Laugardalslaug Pool has the tallest waterslide. The massive Laugardalslaug can be hard to navigate for families with children of varying ages. Instead, the suburban Árbæjarlaug is very neatly designed as a family spot. Lágafellslaug in Mosfellsbær has arguably the best—and the most colorful—set of water slides. Sundlaug Seltjarnaness is an excellent play pool for young children. 

Around here, any weather is good for ice cream

One of the hidden pleasures of Icelandic life is the possibility of having ice cream whenever you want–not just when the sun is out. In Reykjavík, Ísbúð Vesturbæjar, Eldur og ís, and Ísbúð Huppu lead the way in soft serves mixed with sweets and flavors; kids especially love the bragðarefur (translates as “tricky fox”), which is made with three of your picks from the candy bar and mixed into your ice cream. For quality over quantity, sold by the scoop, the downtown establishments Valdís, Skúbb, Gaeta Gelato, and Omnom have quite a colorful selection, plus plenty of licorice options, so you won't forget that you are in the Nordics!

Eating ice cream is sometimes prolonged into a family afternoon with the ísbíltúr, a word literally meaning "ice cream drive." This popular pastime involves driving around to eat ice cream and try different shops. You won't regret trying it!

The Nordic House 

An architectural landmark on the University of Iceland campus, designed by the acclaimed Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto, the Nordic House has an excellent indoor playroom for young children located in the basement. It features Legos from Denmark, Mumin characters from Finland, wooden Ikea toys from Sweden, and books about elves and trolls from Iceland and Norway. 

Libraries are also popular among local parents. Borgarbókasafnið Grófinni has an excellent program for children and a playroom for the youngest. 

‘The Wonders of Iceland’ at Perlan 

The Wonders of Iceland is an interactive, immersive exhibition on the elements of Iceland’s natural environment. Guests first enter a vast ice cave, some 100 meters in length. From then on, it is volcanoes and earthquakes, with options for children to engage with. Augmented reality—the integration of digital information—is on display at the Látrabjarg bird cliff model. A state-of-the-art planetarium shows the Northern Lights. 

The exhibition is located inside Perlan, an iconic building made initially from the city's old hot water storage tanks, with excellent views from the top.

Skopp Trampoline Park

On a rainy day, the Skopp Trampoline Park is worth considering—if you are up for it! The park is housed in a 2,200-square-meter (24,000-square-foot) warehouse, with trampolines of various sizes in vivid colors. Surely a pleaser for the youngsters, but prepare yourself for a workout.

Getting around with kids 

City buses, known as Strætó, are free for children under 12. Strollers and bicycles are allowed on board.

You can pay as you go with Strætó, as the buses accept contactless payments. You can also use the Reykjavík City Card to travel all over the Greater Reykjavík Area.

Find more family-friendly activities on Visit Reykjavik