North Iceland with Kids: Viking swords and waterslides, arms out
North Iceland, wild and wonderful, allows kids to explore carefree. Treasure hunt on a wild beach, watch for whales and play in outdoor swimming pools. Family life is the way of life in the small-town North.
First question to answer, perhaps, is what do the local families do for fun? A common answer: visit the public pool. The sundlaug, as the outdoor bathing areas are called, are a playground for kids of all ages, for every season.
The pool in Akureyri, Sundlaug Akureyrar, has been voted as the best in the country. And no wonder. It features three thrilling waterslides and multiple leisure pools, including one with a dedicated playground area for the youngest visitors.
Every town in the North has its own swimming pool, give or take. All of them offer nice options to have fun with kids or relax in the hot tubs, or of course get your heart rate going in the larger pools by swimming back and forth.
Click here to explore swimming pools in North Iceland.
Rugged Beaches With Driftwood from Siberia
Kids love destinations that are all about play, less keen on some picturesque paradise. North Iceland has a rugged coastline stretching from Langanes Peninsula to Vatnsnes Peninsula, some 900 kilometers of a route known as the Arctic Coast Way.
Driftwood littering remote creeks and black sands has floated thousands of kilometers, often the result of timber production in Siberia. In the past, Icelanders collected driftwood to build houses. Visit Glaumbær Turf Farm & Museum in Skagafjörður for an interesting look at the old way of life, and building from natural material.
Húsavík Whale Museum is another backdrop to a beach visit. Its largest item is a blue whale skeleton from a whale that was discovered on a remote beach nearby.
Some beaches are safe for swimming. Hauganes Hot Tubs allow kids to rotate from a cold beach to hot tubs.
Vikings Culture and Joyful Museums
North Iceland packs an impressive range of family-friendly museums that turn history, wildlife and technology into hands-on fun. Around Húsavík, a single ticket unlocks Safnahúsið–Húsavík Museum and four atmospheric folk sites at Mánárbakki, Grenjaðarstaður, Snartarstaðir and Sauðanes, where children explore everyday life, maritime heritage and turf-house architecture. Siglufjörður’s Herring Era Museum, the country’s largest maritime museum, lets visitors climb aboard trawlers and watch live salting shows. In Akureyri’s old town, Akureyri Museum unpacks local stories, while the neighbouring Toy Museum displays vintage playthings in a heritage lodge, delighting younger visitors. Nearby, the Icelandic Aviation Museum fills a hangar with historic aircraft and cockpit experiences, free for under-18s.
Hvammstangi’s Icelandic Seal Center combines research with interactive exhibits that teach how to spot wild seals on Vatnsnes-peninsula cruises. Sauðárkrókur ups the excitement with 1238: The Battle of Iceland, a VR-rich saga-era exhibition that thrusts families into medieval clashes and storytelling. Together, these attractions offer wildlife encounters, living history and high-tech adventures within easy driving distances, making North Iceland a perfect cultural playground for curious families year-round.
The Christmas Garden, some 10 kilometers from Akureyri, is another intriguing place for families. The garden is open year-round – why not think about Christmas on a sunny day in July? – and is admission free. A small restaurant sells caramelized apples and marshmallows to bake over fire, next to a gift shop.
Click this link to see even more options for family friendly museums and cultural experiences.
Playgrounds and Activities
Akureyri is known for family skiing vacations; Icelanders from all over the country spend days in the Hlíðarfjall Mountain.
Kjarnaskógur forest on the outskirts of Akureyri has hands-down some of the best playgrounds in North Iceland. Over winter, it is also a place for cross country skiing and Northern Lights away from the city lights.Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon is another little-known gem for families. The canyon is part of Vatnajökull National Park with plenty of easy trails and daily workshops for kids over the summer led by a park ranger.