Icelandic Puffin, Iceland
Skogafoss Waterfall, Iceland
Orca Whales Iceland
Iceland Family
Blue Lagoon, Iceland

...Insight

ICELAND

Family Fun in the Midnight Sun

With 24 hours of daylight and few experiences off limits to young visitors, Iceland is perfect for a family summer getaway.

Iceland comes alive in summer. Waterfalls are charged with snowmelt, meadows are carpeted in colourful wildflowers, and the country’s dramatic coastline sees the seasonal arrival of pretty puffins and giant whales.

For families this is also an ideal time to visit. Kids of all ages will love swimming in thermal pools, playing on black-sand beaches and hearing tales of Viking folklore. Here are a few of the many reasons to visit Iceland this summer.



"Iceland is a geological playground for young and old alike, with active volcanoes, spurting geysers and bubbling mud pools."

Sarah Woodthorpe

Personal Travel Designer

01488 689700 Read Sarah’s profile
Reykjavic, Iceland

SUMMER IN REYKJAVIK

The world’s northernmost capital is a joy in summer, when its artisan cafes, multicoloured houses and modernist architecture are bathed in the brilliance of the Midnight Sun. Take the family up the tower of the landmark cathedral Hallgrímskirkja for views of the surrounding glaciers and mountains, then pause for some Icelandic ice cream before enjoying the Whale Museum and its life-size models of minke, humpback and enormous blue whales.

Great Geysir, Iceland
Glacier Lagoon, Vatnajökull National Park, Höfn, Iceland South Coast
Icelandic Horses

LIVELY LANDSCAPES

“Cute, short-legged and shaggy maned, Icelandic horses are easy to fall in love with. Horseback rides are just one of many ways for families to explore Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes.”

You needn’t travel far from Reykjavik to get a taste of Iceland’s rugged landscapes. We know the best guides and companies to help you and your family have the adventure of a lifetime. Try summer snowmobiling on the giant Langjökul Glacier. Explore the thermal region of Geysir, which gave geysers the world over their name. Show the kids your secret lair as you lead them behind the curtains of giant tumbling waterfalls. See the iceberg-studded Jökulsárlón Lagoon. Descend into the centre of a dormant volcano. Fly in a helicopter over Iceland’s endless lava fields. If you’re really brave, you can even go snorkelling between the two tectonic plates that separate Europe from North America.

Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik, Iceland

GETTING IN HOT WATER

Bubbling away at nearly 40˚C, the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa sunk in a lava field not far outside of Reykjavik and is undoubtedly Iceland’s number one tourist attraction. The kids will love swimming in its milky-blue waters while you relax in a geothermal steam bath or treat yourself to a hot volcanic mud wrap.

WILDLIFE WONDERS

Summer is the perfect time for animal encounters in Iceland. Husavik, on the north coast, is the whale-watching capital of Europe, with 97-99% of visitors spotting whales here from mid-April to mid-October. Humpback, minke and blue whales are all likely visitors, along with white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.

To make feathered friends, head instead to the Westman Islands on the south coast, where puffins and other seabirds nest in their thousands along rugged, wind-battered cliffs.

Icelandic Puffin, Iceland
Wooden Viking, Iceland
House, Iceland
Skogar open air museum, Iceland

VIKING HISTORY

From Hagar the Horrible to Ragnar Lothbrok, the Vikings have long captured popular imagination. Don your own Viking costumes amid the lifelike waxworks of Reykjavik’s excellent Saga Museum. Examine Viking artefacts such as drinking horns and swords at the superb National Museum. Visit the Viking ruins of the world’s first parliament at Thinhvellir National Park. Or hear of maritime adventures around a 10th century Viking longboat at the Settlement Museum.

Iceland

Iceland Property Spotlights

SKÁLAKOT MANOR
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Skálakot Manor - South Iceland

A family-run farm in the heart of south Iceland for four generations, Skálakot Manor will welcome you warmly with traditional Icelandic hospitality and a luxe yet cosy atmosphere. Cradled by undulating hills and facing the North Atlantic Ocean, the location is wildly remote and beautiful. Nearby are glaciers, rivers and volcanoes but the main draw of this isolated hotel is the gentle Icelandic horses that are breed at the farm. Placid and calm, they are ideal for children or those without riding experience. Iceland’s famous black-sand beaches are a short drive away – come here to watch the wild Atlantic Ocean crashing into the shore or take an ATV ride for the ultimate thrill.

Must do

Skálakot Manor is perfectly located to discover everything south Iceland has to offer. Kids will love swimming in the local hot springs, bouncing in buggies over black-sand beaches and gazing down at glaciers on a flightseeing tour. Staying at Skálakot Manor also gives the opportunity for a riding tour either for one day or over a few days – on horseback you can view waterfalls, mountains, volcanoes and of course try cantering on black sand beaches.

rbr_57975076213 Torfhús Retreat
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Torfhús Retreat - Golden Circle

Beautifully bleak and utterly remote, this is a gorgeous place for a family to retreat to in cosy, two-bed, turf-topped cottages made from stone, grass and wood, with Nordic-inspired interiors heightening the sense of contentment. Outside, it’s a different matter. Torfhús is situated in the wild cinematic scenery that surrounds the Golden Circle and here outdoor pursuits in the elemental landscapes are part of its allure.

 

Must do

Torfus Retreat is the gateway to a huge variety of activities. Go classic Iceland and sightsee by superjeep or helicopter or climb up into the glaciers of the highlands. Come home for an Icelandic-inspired dinner, followed by a soak in your geothermal outdoor basalt tub, perhaps accompanied by the delicate dance of the Northern Lights overhead.

Have questions? Our knowledgeable team of experts are on-hand to take your call or if you prefer by Zoom. Talk to us about your holiday dreams or challenge us with your travel conundrums.

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