Must-See Activities for Families to Try During a Visit to Iceland in Summer

Visiting Iceland in Summer has become a hugely popular holiday option for families with children, especially those keen to escape the baking heat of most conventional resorts and who want a fun-filled, action-packed adventure away from the crowds and queues.

Summer is a great time to visit Iceland when the snow and ice have long melted. The extended midnight sun period means more hours of daylight to enjoy the beauty of the rugged, wild landscapes, the numerous lagoons and swimming pools, and the magic of whale-watching tours and wildlife spotting around the countryside.

As we’re getting close to the summer break and the team here begins to receive more enquiries about last-minute summer escapes, we’ve put together a short guide to some of the best things to see and do, regardless of the ages of your little ones!

Top Tips on Planning Your Icelandic Summer Adventure

We’ll start with a few practicalities, especially if you’ve never been able to visit Iceland before, are keen to ensure you’ve packed all the right things or want your family holiday in Iceland to coincide with some of the best festivals, celebrations, and summer activities.

During the summer, you can enjoy longer, warmer days when the temperatures and visitor numbers peak between June, July, and August. That can mean the most famous sites and landmarks in the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and south coast are a little busier, but even peak season in Iceland is far more peaceful than in European resorts.

The weather tends to be, on average, around 13 °C during the day, which is ideal for outdoor activities like cycling and walking. However, warmer summer days can get up to around the mid-20 °Cs, which is definitely t-shirt weather.

If you’re after gentle heat, we’d suggest destinations along Iceland’s west coast. This region benefits from the currents of the Gulf Stream, which keep it a little warmer than the north or east.

Iceland doesn’t experience the torrential rain, electrical storms, or summer humidity of other locations, but a sprinkling of rain is possible. It’s worth bringing rain gear and waterproof hiking boots if you love a long, meandering walk or would like to try horse riding, and don’t want a shower to ruin your plans.

Attending Family-Friendly Festivals in Iceland

Tourists flock to Iceland’s festivals, particularly the summer solstice, which is an occasion of tradition, celebration, and fun. The summer solstice is normally on the 20^th or 21^st of June, marking the longest day of the year with parties, performances, and bonfires, where visitors of all ages are very welcome to celebrate.

Some of our favourite festivals and events in the summer for families include:

• The well-known Secret Solstice Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city. This vibrant music festival is perfectly suited to children, with a special kids area, designated teen passes, and free entry for children ages 12 and under when accompanied by an adult.
• The Viking Festival in mid-June, hosted in the town of Hafnarfjörður near Reykjavik or the varied musical events at the stunning Eastfjords during July.
• Culture Night in Reykjavik during August. This is a glittering celebration of city life, with a festival that includes a harbourside fireworks display, special museum exhibitions, street shows and more. Despite the name, Culture Night begins at 1 pm and finishes at 11 pm, so there is a huge amount to do, even for smaller children.

Visitors will also discover numerous other local celebrations, performances and festivities throughout the summer season around occasions like Icelandic Independence Day in June, the three-day Verslunnarmannahelgi weekend in August and the Reykjavik Jazz Festival, which takes place towards the end of August.

Seeing Iceland’s Wildlife and Wilderness During a Summer Break

Like most Nordic countries, Iceland’s wildlife is diverse and unique. This cool northern climate attracts some of the rarest species in the world.

Kids love the chance to visit the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the south coast, within Vatnajökull National Park. Guests can view the icebergs emerging from the water by road and jeep tours or head onto the lagoon for an onboard adventure.

Boat trips are a great way to see the lagoon up close and to keep an eye out for seals, or travel further out to spot the minke whales, see the puffins nesting on the cliffs and watch the seals sunbathing on the rocks. Children who adore animals can also enjoy the following:

• Reykjavik Zoo and Family Park, which runs a mini funfair for small guests during the summer.
• Horse riding and chances to meet the incredible Icelandic horses, with stables in Sólvangur in south Iceland and Finnsstaðir in the east.
• The small petting zoo in Slakki, within the iconic Golden Circle.
• Visiting the Reindeer Park at Fellabær, where children can feed, stroke and learn all about these beautiful creatures.

When the hiking trails open in the spring, there are ample opportunities to explore the trails and national parks, looking for Icelandic sheep, Arctic terns and reindeer grazing.

Sea Swimming and Pools in Iceland for Children

Iceland may be famous for its hot natural springs, although some aren’t suited to smaller children and have age restrictions. However, in the summer, families can head to the geothermal beach of Nauthólsvík, close to Reykjavik. It has a golden sand beach and an enclosed pool where the water is heated to a balmy 20 °C.

Akureyri, Iceland’s second city, has a public access pool with Iceland’s longest slide, a hit with active kids. In contrast, the pool at Álftanes, also just outside Reykjavik, offers an indoor pool for younger swimmers and an outdoor wave pool for adventurous guests.

If you’re less keen on swimming, the hiking and cycling trails are world-class. There are plenty of options suited to casual and relaxed walks, such as Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the Westfjords, which is also a prime spot for wildlife watching.

As always, if you’d like personalised recommendations or help planning your perfect family holiday in Iceland this summer, you can contact the Baltic Travel Company for more insights!