Hi! Thanks for reading. I think you’re in the perfect situation to take our 1 week itinerary and include every option. Something like this:
Day 1: Reykjanes Geopark. This will get you to some amazing sites on your first day, but also keep you close to the airport. You could consider the Blue Lagoon if you thought you’d be up for it after the flight. Make sure you book tickets for the Blue Lagoon once you know when you are going!
Day 2:
Reykjavik. Relax, walk around if you’re not exhausted from the flight. Take a nap early if needed, or try to stay up until 6 PM and then crash. Consider the Laugardalur area: Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo, Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum, Laugardalslaug thermal pool. Those are all just a couple minutes drive from each other, but it’s about 10 minutes away from the main downtown harbor area.
Stay in Reykjavik.
Days 3 and 4: 2 days in the Golden Circle. See what sounds good from our Golden Circle with kids post
If you took 2 days here, you could spend 1 day exploring everything that isn’t the big 3 attractions: Raufarholshellir lava cave (make sure the kids are careful walking on the rocks!), Ljósafoss Power Station Visitor’s Center, Kerið Crater, Slakki (great for kids the ages yours are), Faxi waterfall. You could stay in or near Flúðir.
Days 5: Westman Islands. This is an unusual recommendation, but I loved the Westman Islands. I think the 35 minute ferry ride is a great adventure for kids. Stay overnight and explore. Take the bus tour from Eyja tours and explore the Volcano Museum.
Maybe plan to take the ferry one morning and then return the following morning. This leaves a lot of time on the island, so take some time to relax too!
See my Westman Islands with kids guest post.
Day 6: Head east toward Vik. Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skogafoss waterfall (both right off of Ring Road), Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey. Stay in or around Vik.
Read up on the “sneaker waves” at Reynisfjara!
Days 7-8:Hit the rest of the South coast past Vik. See our post here about the south coast of Iceland. Spend one night far East, and then the second night back near Vik again? Book lodging down here super early!
Day 9: Travel day to head back. If you ended up staying near Vik, you’re you’re about 2 1/2 hours away from Reykjavik. If your kids liked the Volcano Museum on the Westman Islands, consider the Lava Centre mentioned in the South Coast post. Also consider a visit to the Icelandic Horse Center.
Day 10: Reykjavik harbor area. Do a Whale Watching trip. (See our tips for whale watching in Iceland.) Visit the Whales of Iceland museum beforehand. (Be sure to consider the family ticket!) Icelandic Fish and Chips for dinner; explore the little Volcano House attached to it. Maybe a hot dog at the hot dog stand.
Day 11: Visit the Blue Lagoon in Grindavik if you didn’t on the first day.
If you have time, see Keflavik (the town near the airport). Visit the Viking Museum, and the settlement zoo next door.
And check out the Keflavik harbor area, including the Gaintess in the mountain and the sculpture by the water.
Then back to the airport- it’s only about 10 minutes away from these parts of Keflavik. This is assuming you have some time on your travel day home.
Whew. Hope that all makes sense. Let me know what you think!