Thanks for buying our book! As promised, this page is full of lots of free stuff. First, we launched a podcast in the fall of 2020! Check out all of the Iceland With Kids podcast episodes here.
Free eBooks!
First, eBooks. If you purchased the paperback, then you’ll definitely want to grab one of the options below. If you purchased the Kindle edition, you still may enjoy the book in ePub format, or the PDF of the print book.
ePub format: Iceland With Kids 2020 edition. This should work in any eBook reader. To read on a computer, try free eBook software such as Calibre. It may also work in Microsoft Edge, though not everything may render correctly there.
Kindle format: Iceland With Kids 2020 edition. Read on your Kindle, or download software from Amazon to read on a PC or Mac.
PDF of book: Iceland With Kids 2020 2nd edition print. This is what the print book looks like! (Resolution of images will be fine on your screen. E-mail me if you’d like a higher resolution version of any of the pictures or maps.)
Free Driving in Iceland Course!
You also get free access to our Driving in Iceland Course. The code is iwkbook2020. Here’s a link that pre-fills the coupon code:
https://www.drivinginicelandcourse.com/courses/blue-car-driving-in-iceland?coupon=iwkbook2020
New Iceland With Kids Stuff in 2022
In 2021, we introduced premium Iceland itinerary planning and VIP touring services, Out custom itineraries are even better in 2022, with a new itinerary app and discounts on certain tours. We also laucnhed The Iceland With Kids Podcast!
Iceland Updates!
Here’s what’s changed since we published the book. Last update: May 16, 2022.
1. First, of course, is Coronavirus. As of 2022 there are no restrictions imposed by Iceland to visit. You don’t need to present a test, proof of vaccination or anything else. Many countries, including the United States, still mandate returning residents to take a Covid test before returning home. See our Covid-19 in Iceland page for the latest.
2. There’s a new volcano erupting in Iceland! It’s on the same peninsula as the airport. As of October 2021, and into 2022, the eruption stopped and there’s not much to see besides the newly formed lava field, But new eruptions could start at any time. Here are the details about Iceland’s newest volcano.
3. Discount airline Play Airlines started flying in July 2021, and flights from the US began in the spring of 2022. Right now you can fly from Baltimore, Boston or New York’s Stewart airport non-stop to Iceland. Service to Orlando should start in the fall of 2022.
4. Sadly, one of our favorite Reykjavik restaurants has closed. Icelandic Fish and Chips had one of the cheapest kid’s meals anywhere in Iceland, but they are now out of business. Some reviews on Tripadvisor claim they are still open, but we think they are going to the fish and chips place across the street. The restaurant’s Facebook Page and web page are both gone.
5. Fákasel, the Icelandic Horse Park, seems to be out of business. We had hoped they would be offering their wonderful horse show again, but it seems that isn’t happening. Their Facebook page says they are Permanently Closed. (It no longer says that, but their web site is dead and the Facebook page doesn’t say much.)
6. There’s a brand new luxury thermal bath just outside of Reykjavik. Called Sky Lagoon, it’s actually more expensive than the Blue Lagoon! Kids must be at least 12 to visit Sky Lagoon; Blue Lagoon lets in kids as young as 2.
7. Caves of Hella is a new attraction. Actually, it’s really old, since the caves are at least hundreds of years old. But it just opened as a tourist attraction in 2020.
8. The beluga whales at the Sea Life Trust Aquarium on the Westman Islands have moved out to their permanent home. Unfortunately, that means you won’t be able to see them up close anymore. But at least they now have more space to swim! (Update: They are back in the Sea Life Trust for the winter! I don’t know if this will happen every winter, but don’t expect to see them in the aquarium in the summer.)
9. The page for calculating fines for speeding no longer exists. See https://sektir.logreglan.is/ for the latest. Use a browser that will translate the page from Icelandic to English. Then click on the second tab at the top, which translates to “Speed Measurement” for me.) Speeding fines start at 20000 ISK fine for driving 10 kmph over the limit, and rise to 50000 fine for driving 20 kmph over the limit. (For Americans, that means a $350 fine for driving 68 mph in a 55 mph zone!)
And the fines keep going. Here’s a story from August 2020 about a driver being fined 90000 ISK for going 134 in a 90. Through the web site actually says this should be a 120000 ISK fine? Anyway, it’s a lot of money!
Also, note that on that page there is also a 40000 ISK fine for driving while holding a cell phone.
10. As of the start of 2021, plastic shopping bags are now banned in Iceland. You can still buy either bioplastic bags at Bónus, or paper bags at Krónan. (These are the 2 largest grocery store chains in Iceland.) But the cost is more expensive; Krónan’s paper bags cost 49 ISK each, or about 40 cents US. You can see all of Krónan’s bag options at the bottom of this page.
11. The wonderful Gamla Bakaríið (Bakery) in Ísafjörður is permanently closed. I thought it was just during Covid, but this post makes it sound like this is it. A big loss for a wonderful town.
12. You now have to pay for parking at the Reykjadalur Hot River hike. But the hike itself is still free, so it’s still a great deal! You can download the Easypark app to pay; just go here.
13. Forest Lagoon is a premium thermal pool up north, near Akureyri. We expect it to open in May of 2022.
14. The Icelandic Lava Show is supposed to open a second location in the summer of 2022. The current location is in Vik, and the new one will be on Grandi Harbor in Reykjavik.
15. Marriott opened the luxury Reykjavik EDITION hotel in late 2021. The prices of this ultra-luxury will likely give you sticker shock, though!
16. Friðheimar, the Tomato Greenhouse Restaurant in the Golden Circle, now takes reservations online! See the link on their web site.
17. We took a cruise with Iceland ProCruises in 2021 and enjoyed it. If you want to explore some remote areas of Iceland without driving, and your kids are all 8 or older, we’d be happy to help you plan your cruise!
18. We have a new way for you to save 5% on your rental with Blue Car Rental. Just click this link and you’ll save 5%. The coupon code in the book may stop working at some point.
19. The Technical Museum in East Iceland is closed because of a landslide. Hopefully it will open again someday!
20. Ishestar no longer offers a ride for 6-year-olds. See our horse riding post for the latest options for younger children.
Let us know if you see any errors or changes. Thanks!