How to Spend an Overnight Layover in Iceland with Kids
Iceland is facing more and more volcanic eruptions disrupting travel to the Reykjanes Peninsula (read the latest from Iceland Air here), BUT it's not affecting any other typical travel destinations in Iceland, including Reykjavik and the lesser known town of Keflavik, right by the airport.
With a 24 hour layover, my family and I were traveling home from Madrid through Iceland and had ample time to see something in Iceland, and to get the Iceland "vibe", but not enough time to do it all.
Below I share some of our first hand experience on what you can expect on a long layover in Iceland when traveling with kids around the Keflavik area, and ideas for Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula too.
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Practical Expectations for a Layover in Iceland with Kids
Like many embarking on a long layover in Iceland, there's a few pre-requisites that one might expect:
Eating strange and intriguing local foods (puffin, fermented shark...)
Discovering quaint and rustic harbors
Exploring lava fields and geothermal hot spots
Catching a glimpse of the blue lagoon
Perhaps seeing the elusive Northern Lights
As far as transportation goes,
The city of Reykyavik is a good hour away by car, and nearly 1.5 hrs by bus. Be prepared in advance for how you will get where you are spending the night.
KEF airport has plenty of rental car options with all the top name brands. Learn more about renting a car abroad here.
Buses and airport transfers can be arranged online in advance, or Icelandair actually offers tickets for this service in-flight. If you are a planner and like to book ahead, this bus service, for example, starts at $37 USD and takes you from KEF airport to Reykjavik.
Some Realities to Consider in Advance
Consider Outerwear
Being a layover, you'll need to consider outerwear for the weather that may be quite different from outerwear in your other destination. (You don't want the kids complaining they are cold!)
I was traveling from Madrid and cleverly remembered all of our winter coats, but completely neglected to pack myself some pants. Seriously, I had a spaghetti strap slip dress and a one piece jumper with two tank tops to come home. What was I thinking!?
In a panic, I bought some unisize thermal tights in a Madrid Chinese shop moments before we went for our flight. That helped tremendously but I was not the most stylish person in Iceland.
Consider Expenses
Everything is expensive. Seek out discount grocery stores like "Bonus" grocery store to stock up on any needed supplies while you are there.
You can find a large Bonus and Kronan supermarket near the airport in Keflavik.
Note: you may think food in Iceland will be weird, but it is totally approachable and there are plenty of options for children. Kid's menus feature fish and chips, pizza, even chicken nuggets and burgers. Don't stress about this too much!
Consider Time
You don't have a lot of time. Consider sticking to 1-2 activities max, and cut out time spent in transportation as much as possible.
The good part of this, is my driving itinerary (shared separately here) only took us three hours, and we saw so much!
Keflavík is only a few minutes from the airport and offers humble hotels and overnight rental properties like the one we stayed at. This apartment was totally adorable and had so much charm.
Keflavík is a good choice if you want to maximize time 'doing' instead of time 'traveling'.
Keflavik Things to Do with Kids
To get there: take bus line 55, a taxi, or rent a car. It is less than 2 miles from the airport.
Keflavík is somewhat walkable, but with kids walking can always be a toss up, especially depending on the weather. There is a good bus system there that can take you to the local museums like Viking World Museum, but if you want to keep things simple, I recommend having a leisurely breakfast at Kökulist bakery or Sigurjónsbakarí, followed by a stroll by the waterfront.
Along the waterfront you will find the "Giantess Cave", an adorable display of a giant's home, perfect for photo ops and a bit of cuteness.
It's free and it's open from 10am-5pm to go inside. Google Maps may take you up and over the top of a hill, which isn't the best way to access it, so just follow the waterfront to get there.
If lunchtime is coming close, consider Kaffi Duus, a hotel restaurant also situated along the Keflavik waterfront. It is self-service with a relaxing dining room and free soup of the day included (which on our day was a delicious lamb goulash). Try the fish and chips while you are at it!
After your stroll, pop into the Bonus grocery store to see what kind of goods are on offer. It's always interesting to see the groceries in another country. At least it is to me! It's a great place to pick up snacks or food souvenirs like lava salt, which is local salt and activated charcoal making it black.
Then, consider visiting the Stekkjarkot turf houses by bus or taxi, or head out to the peninsula's point where the Röstin Restaurant (or old lighthouse cafe) awaits. Whether by day or night, they offer Icelandic cuisine at reasonable prices, and lovely coastline views.
The day we went they were only offering coffee and cakes, so maybe call ahead if you are short on time and expecting a full service meals.
Certain times of year, especially if you stay at their neighboring hotel (The Lighthouse Inn), you'll have perfect conditions for witnessing the Northern Lights.
If sit down dining is not on the menu for you and your family, Keflavik has their very own famous Icelandic hot dog stand at Pulsuvagninn.
If you don't make it for hot dogs there, you can also have a last minute hot dog at the airport.
We enjoyed our evening meal at Antons Mamma Mia Restaurant, which was just downstairs from our rental for the night. You can't beat the price of the apartment where we stayed at Ray of Sunshine Hafnargata, which includes parking if we had rented a car. Centrally located to the main drag in Keflavik, it was cozy and welcoming and overall quite perfect for an overnight stay.
If you have a car, be sure to pair all of the above with stops on this driving itinerary of the peninsula around Keflavik.
Reykjavik Things to Do with Kids
Reykjavik, on the other hand, has more going on and may be worth the extra round trip drive from the airport if you are itching to see more and do more. Just be sure to leave enough time for transport.
Because my itineraries most notably revolve around food and shopping, I studied up on the best affordable eats and such for downtown Reykjavik, which include:
Kaffivagninn, which is the oldest Iceland restaurant, up along the Northern end of the city on the water. Great for breakfast, they open at 7:30 or lunch is a good take too. They have many typical (simple) Icelandic food offerings, and the prices are very reasonable. It's an order at the bar type of place, but the views are worth it.
You may also want to consider Grandi Mathöll, which is a more trendy food hall by the harbour.
Lastly, Laugavegur Shopping Street is where the haps is happening, so start there for boutique shops and colorful street scenes.
Things to Do Near Keflavik with a Car
Lastly, should you find yourself in Iceland with time to do more, I highly suggest renting a car. I've written up a full itinerary on the below attractions, including stop times, distances, and details, so be sure to pop over to that link to learn more.
Check in advance for area closures on road.is.
You will need a car for this itinerary.
Browse rental cars in Iceland here.
Geothermal Areas in Iceland Near Reykyavik Airport
Blue Lagoon
This is only a 20-25 minute drive from the airport. Swim, soak, or simply drive there and look around, having a coffee or a snack in their cafe. It could definitely be worth the stop for photos and to say you've been there.
Other volcanic spots:
Brimketill Lava Rock Pool
Gunnuhver Geothermal Area and Hot Spring Geyser
Valahnúkamöl Cliffs and Scenic Vista
Kitschy Icelandic Tourist Spots Worth a Visit
Bridge Between Continents
Home of the Volcano Man (Eurovision Movie)
Other Tours, Places and Things to Discover
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Puffin Tours
Traveling to Iceland with Kids
Remember, this is just a layover that we are talking about here. With limited time, it's important to prioritize what is best for your family. For mine, we prefer to take it slow and easy versus trying to cram in all the top sights in a span of 24 hours or less.
Bring layers for the unpredictable weather. Expect wind, perhaps rain, and a chill in the air no matter what time of year. Even if you are coming from a Mediterranean vacation, you'll need that cool weather gear to be comfortable.
I once made the mistake crossing through Iceland of leaving my winter coat in my checked bag. Of course, this was in December and I did not realize we'd be deplaning directly onto the tarmac. It was a brief walk from plane to terminal, but I don't remember being that regretfully cold in a long time.
That said, keep those layers with you on the plane from when you arrive. You don't want to arrive with missing luggage and no coats!
Finally, bring snacks. The Bonus grocery store operates from 10am-8pm at the Keflavik branch, with a little wiggle room for stocking up for the kiddos. Have what you need on hand in advance, including little sandwiches from the airport lounge. You think I'm kidding, but you haven't seen the price of food in Iceland yet!
All in all, it will be a lovely layover and reprieve from the norm. Flying through Iceland with kids should be a relaxing and enjoyable new experience for the whole family.
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