My Top 5 Toddler Approved Activities in Reykjavík

Iceland might be known for its adventurous excursions and dramatic landscapes, but don't let that fool you – its capital Reykjavík is a fantastic city to explore with little ones in tow! We recently ventured to this charming town with our two year old son, and discovered a treasure trove of activities that kept our tiny adventurer entertained and enthralled. To be considered for this list, each activity had to capture our toddler's attention for at least 20 minutes. During our week-long stay in Reykjavík, we became"regulars" at some of these iconic attractions!

So forget scaling glaciers and hiking on volcanos (for now!), here's my toddler-approved guide to making the most of Reykjavík with a super active toddler.

Let them get dirty! Our son loved rolling in pebbles, splashing in puddles and playing on the wet playground equipment. I just washed his clothes in the sink at night and dried them on our Airbnb's heater.

1. Harpa Concert Hall's Hljóðhimnar

One of our favorite places to visit was the magnificent Harpa Concert Hall (Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavík). While its stunning architecture alone is worth a visit, we were particularly excited to discover Hljóðhimnar, their fantastic children's area. This free, interactive sound and music play space is an absolute dream for toddlers! Our little one loved exploring the various instruments, pressing sound panels, and diving into the soft play elements. It's a wonderful place to let them burn off some energy while you soak in the architectural beauty and harbor views.

2. Riding the Choo Choo at Reykjavik Family Park & Zoo

For a dose of outdoor fun and animal encounters, the Reykjavik Family Park & Zoo (Múlavegur 2, 104 Reykjavík) is a must-visit. We spent over 5 hours here! While it's more of a family park with a focus on Icelandic farm animals, it's perfectly sized for toddlers. We loved seeing the Icelandic horses, giant pigs, goats, and even black Arctic foxes. Just beyond the animals, there are plenty of large-scale playground structures, a charming funfair area, and wide-open spaces for running around. Your busy toddler will love unlimited rides on the "choo choo" and digging for treasure in the interactive construction site! It's an excellent way to spend a few hours immersed in local wildlife and getting some fresh air.

3. Playground Hopping

On one particularly early morning, we visited 3 playgrounds in Reykjavik by 8:00am! This walkable city boasts some fantastic playgrounds, and we made it a point to seek them out. They're generally well-maintained and offer a variety of equipment suitable for different ages. Here are a couple of our favorites:

• Tjörnin Playground: Located by the picturesque Tjörnin lake (often called "the Pond"), this playground offers a serene environment with ducks to watch (and feed!). Our toddler especially enjoyed the in-ground trampoline and the zipline (with assistance, of course!). You can find it near the city center, adding a peaceful break to your urban stroll.

• Hljómskálagarður Park: Also situated near Tjörnin Pond, this lovely park features whimsical sculptures, picnic spots, and another great playground. It's a fantastic place for a leisurely walk and some playtime.

• Káratorg Park: Blink and you'll miss it! This petite play area is right outside of Reykjavík Roasters and Brauð & Co. Grab a pretzel croissant or cinnamon roll from Brauð and enjoy free refills of their coffee, while your little person plays. It's not fancy, but it kept him entertained. You might even get to see a local kitty run around here!

Keep an eye out for playgrounds in almost every neighborhood – you'll often find them just by wandering!

4. Hallgrímskirkja Church

While the imposing Hallgrímskirkja Church (Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík) might seem like an unlikely toddler destination, it offered a surprisingly peaceful and engaging experience. We made sure to time our visit to coincide with the church bells ringing, and if you're lucky, you might even catch some organ music...our guy watched the organist for 20+ minutes! There are more than 5,600 pipes, so he was enchanted by all of the booming sounds. The church has three large bells (Hallgrímur, Guðríður, and Steinunn) and 26 smaller ones, creating a beautiful sound. The bells ring every 15 minutes from 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, and from noon to 9 PM on weekends and holidays (unless a service is being held). The largest bell, Hallgrímur, also rings on the hour. Our toddler was mesmerized by the sounds, and it was a lovely moment of calm amidst our busy explorations. While the tower offers incredible views, be mindful of your toddler's comfort with heights and enclosed spaces.

5. The Golden Circle Day Tour with Grey Line Iceland

Does your toddler like anything that moves?! Then they will love riding the bus all day! My Mom and I ventured out of the city on The Golden Circle Day Tour with Gray Line Iceland, which was a huge hit. Our toddler loved looking out the window for tractors, horses, cars and buses. Our guide Mattias could not have been more accommodating to our littlest traveler and even carried a carseat onto the bus for us. We got to see some of Iceland's most majestic sites, including the Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall and an erupting hot spring at Geysir geothermal area. A UNESCO world heritage site, Thingvellir National Park is home to Iceland‘s largest natural lake and the place where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia split and drifted apart. Thingvellir is also the birth-place of the Old Icelandic Commonwealth and the Alþingi assembly, where Vikings held their annual political meetings. My son wasn't interested in all of that, but the ride-on tractor and train at the Geysir Visitor Center sure did!

More Toddler-Friendly Fun:

• Explore the Perlan Museum: This interactive museum (Öskjuhlíð, 105 Reykjavík) offers fascinating exhibits about Icelandic nature, including an indoor ice cave and a Northern Lights planetarium show. Many of the exhibits are hands-on and engaging for curious little minds. My mom took him here!

• Wander on Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street: Toddlers love racing along the iconic rainbow road! There are so many shops, art galleries and restaurants so endless people watching for all. Don't forget to try a waffle at Mokka Kaffi and an ice cream cone from Eldur!

• Watch a Construction Site: Reykjavík is a booming city with tons of growth, so you're sure to find a construction site with a digger! There are also tons of cement mixers, cranes and dump trucks hard at work around town to keep up with their development. My mom even took a long video of our favorite construction site, so our Digger Dan could watch it at home.

• Look for Garbage Trucks: This is a favorite activity at home, so no surprise it was a hit in Reykjavík!

  
  
  

  

  

Reykjavík proved to be a wonderfully welcoming city for families with toddlers. With a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, plenty of space to run around, and unique cultural experiences, it's a destination that truly caters to all ages. So pack your little one's sense of adventure and get ready to explore the magic of Reykjavík !