We love to travel as a family. But you may have figured out by now that we love a trip off the beaten track the most! In this blog we are recounting a magical trip to untouched Northern Iceland with practical tips for your visit to Akureyri with kids. We also have another blog full of activities and things to do in Akureyri as a family. You can read that here.
If you’re anything like us, you’re constantly seeking family holidays that mix a bit of adventure, natural beauty, and local charm. Our recent twixmas trip to Akureyri, Iceland, was inspired by finding cheap Christmas holiday flights from Manchester, and I’m excited to recount our experience to inspire other families to visit this magical part of the world.
We visited in December so were prepared for cold and darkness. But neither element was as bad as we expected. In fact it was warmer than the UK at times! The sunrose around 10.30am, and set around 3pm. But the town is prepared for it and there’s plenty to do even without daylight. And the sunrises and sunsets are absolutely some of the best we have seen in the world….even rivalling those of Asia!
Getting There: Flights or Drive
Our journey began with booking flights from Manchester (also available from Gatwick) direct to Akureyri International Airport with EasyJet. The flights were frequent and reasonably priced, with our tickets coming in at around £90 per adult return, excluding any large cabin bag or check in bag. The airport is only a 10 minute drive from Akureyri town centre.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this was the most scenic landing I have ever experience. We descended over the Fjord just as the sun was rising and got great view of the Icelandic mountains and volcanoes!
You can also drive to Akureyri from Reykjavik but that will take you over 5 hours so perhaps not the smartest move with kids in tow!
Driving in Iceland: Tips and Costs
We hired a car for three days, which cost us £150, giving us the flexibility to explore at our own pace but you could manage without if you wanted to (albeit taxis are expensive). It’s essential to download Iceland’s road and weather warning apps (the official ‘Veður’ for weather and ‘Vegagerðin’ for roads) before your trip. Icelandic weather can be unpredictable, and these apps kept us well-informed and reassured during our drives. This is especially important when visiting Iceland in winter.
The car rental office is a 2 minute walk from arrivals and next to the car park. The airport really is tiny which did create a queue at immigration, which took us about 40 minutes to clear through. Departures is similar with only one security scanner and one café and gate! But then there is only ever one flight at a time so it’s manageable.
Driving in northern Iceland is easy – roads are quiet and well maintained. One thing to note is that driving through the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel near Akureyri incurs a toll of £12 one way. Payment is online, so keep your car registration handy and pay within 24 hours to avoid fines. You can avoid the 7km and take the longer scenic route which we did for the return. You’ll need to use the tunnel (or go around) if you want to visit Godafoss Waterfall or Husavik.
Where We Stayed in Akureyri: Akureyri Hostal and Cottages
We chose Akureyri Hostal and Cottages for our stay, booking a spacious family room that comfortably fit all of us. There was a double bed, bunk beds and a sofa and tv area. Showers and bathrooms are shared, and there is a full equipped shared kitchen with fridges, hobs, microwave, grill and kettle (no oven). There’s a large dining area and the communal lounge was ideal for relaxing in the evenings.
Onsite parking is free, it’s a 15 minute walk to the town centre and there’s a supermarket over the road. It was very well maintained, clean and most importantly very warm. This place was at least half price of other options we explored and we genuinely couldn’t fault it. This is the place to stay if you’re wanting to visit Iceland on a budget.
Practical Tips: Shopping and Budgets
Is Iceland expensive? It could be, but it has also surprised many people how little we spent. I would compare it to London prices. Beers around £8-£10. Main meals around £20. Grocery prices are the same as the UK, with the exception of fresh fruit and veg which is expensive. There are plant-based foods for veggies, and your usual brands such as Weetabix and Heinz beans so you wont struggle even with fussy eaters.
We did most of our grocery shopping at Bonus, Iceland’s budget supermarket chain. We spent around £80 for three days’ supplies, including breakfast, snacks and picnic fixings, and one evening meal.
Our total spend, including flights, for 3 days in Iceland with the kids was £1300. That’s for flights, car, accommodation, groceries, activities and eating out.
Best places to eat in Akureyri with kids
We couldn’t fault the 3 meals we ate out in Akureyri so sharing them here in case they are helpful.
Lunch – we stopped at a bakery, Alexsbakeri, and grabbed amazing bagels, cakes and coffees and cold drinks for 5 people with the total cost being £33.
We ate out for 2 evening meals: an excellent Thai, at Krua Siam, which was £107 for 3 mains, a starter, sides, 2 beers and soft drinks; and tacos and burgers at Backpackers Akureyri which was £15-£20 a main and they had a kids menu with huge portions for around £12. Akureyri Backpackers was a lovely stop for a drink and relax. They have sofas and a stash of games so I recommend this as a good place to eat or drink when in Akureyri with the kids.
Worth noting that you can’t buy alcohol in a supermarket and this much be purchased from Liquor stores. There’s one in Akureyri.
Top Tips for Visiting Akureyri with Kids
- Packing layers for everyone and keeping a stash of waterproofs was invaluable as the weather can switch from sunshine to drizzle in a heartbeat. Despite only taking a small cabin bag, we used vacuum packs with a portable pump. We still managed to squeeze in ski wear for the kids, thermals, hats, gloves and changes of clothes. We all wore our big snow boots to travel in and took a pair of trainers as well.
- Downloading road and weather warning apps before arriving made our car journeys smooth and stress-free. We didn’t book activities in advance as it was low season. There were only 40 people on our 190 capacity boat for the whale watching.
- Visit the Thermal Pools (the local Akureyri public pool) for waterslide fun and hot tubs on your first night. Chances are you and the kids will love it so much that you’ll go back again. We were gutted we first visited on the last night!
- Good activities for the dark early evenings are climbing, swimming pools, cinema, and art museum – all are in the town centre. Read our blog on ‘things to do in Akureyri’ for more information.
- We didn’t withdraw any cash in Iceland. We were able to pay and use our cards or phones everywhere.
- Surprisingly, our phone contracts allowed us to use our data in Iceland. This wasn’t the case for our mother-in-law so worth checking your network provider before buying an e-sim.
Conclusion: Add Akureyri with Kids to your Travel Wish List
Our Akureyri adventure was a blend of awe-inspiring nature, family fun, and cultural discovery. The kids still talk about the swimming pool slides and spotting whales in the fjord, and we loved the freedom of self-driving and uncovering hidden gems. If you’re planning a family trip to Iceland, let Akureyri be your base. It’s so much cheaper and quieter than Reykjavik and there’s untouched magic in every corner, and plenty of warmth even in the snow.
Iceland isn’t just for thrill-seekers and explorers. It’s a wonderful, practical, and unforgettable destination for families of all ages. Happy travels!
