Awesome Things to Do in Akureyri with Kids

Discover Akureyri before everyone else does! We’ve pulled together the best activities, local secrets, and essential advice for a memorable family holiday in Iceland’s charming northern town. This is everything you need to know about things to do in Akureyri with kids.

Is Iceland on your travel bucket list but unsure? Or planning a family trip to Iceland? Forget Reykjavik and set your sights on untouched Akureyri instead.

This guide uncovers the best activities to enjoy with kids, from stunning natural wonders to budget-friendly local attractions. On our other Iceland blog, you’ll find practical advice for travelling with little ones, along with tips on navigating Icelandic amenities and making the most of your time. We had just 3 days here and wish we had 5 (or even more). I reckon we will be back! Read our practical guide and tips to Akureyri here.

For even more hands-on information and real-world experiences, be sure to check out our Practical Guide to Iceland blog. Here we share all you need to know about driving in Iceland, the best places to stay in Akureyri with kids, and the best places to eat and shop as a family.

Godafoss and Ljosavatn

Our first adventure was the spectacular Godafoss waterfall, just a 30-minute drive from Akureyri. There’s ample parking (£3 for the day in summer, free in winter), and the viewing paths are stroller-friendly. The site is open year-round, and entry is free, making it a brilliant first stop for families. Nyle loved finding the lava rocks and clambering over the volcanic landscape.

We actually went here straight from landing as we couldn’t get into our accommodation for 5 hours. We spent an hour at the waterfall in total. There’s various viewing spots, a few areas for kids to climb and also a café, toilets and gift shop. It’s very safe and at no point was I worried about the kids getting to close to the edge. The views of the falls and the surrounding area are simply beautiful.

On our way back, we paused at Ljosavatn, a serene lake surrounded by mountains. It’s the type of spot for a picnic or simply letting the kids paddle and skip stones, with no crowds to worry about. What made it for us was the thick ice that had completely frozen. This was inches thick and Nyle in particular enjoyed throwing rocks and trying to smash up the ice. It was cold though!

The ice is so thick and the water underneath if only inches thick so you are very safe here – obviously don’t venture too far into the centre if it is frozen. We did meet someone who told us the dog sledders had been out on the same lake that same day though.

Akureyri with kids: Hit the Thermal Swimming Pools

Forget the expensive Forest Lagoon where the instagrammers meet, and forget the £50pp price tag. That is unless you’re there without the kids and can enjoy it! Akureyri’s famous public swimming pool is a must for families.

Open daily from 06:30 to 21:00, it features geothermally 2-3 heated outdoor pools, slides,  6+ hot tubs (children can enter), and a shallow children’s area. Entry cost was £7 per adult and £2.50 per child, with family tickets available.

We spent hours here, and the kids declared it their favourite activity and even met friends. Are you brave enough to use the cold plunge pool after the steam room. There’s 3 water slides, one for ages 4-10 and then 2 others for age 8+ – warning, these are fast and I would encourage an adult to test them first. If visiting in summer there is even a park next to the pools.

It’s worth noting that you must shower before entering the pools (without costumes on) and shoes are not allowed in the changing area. The whole place was clean and the showers were hot. Lockers are accessed with a code and towels are available to hire if needed. Phones and cameras are not permitted so look it up or just take my word for it as being fabulous for a family trip to Akureyri.

Two top tips: take pool shoes as the floors get cold in winter. And visit on your first evening as you may then go every evening you are there. It’s a great activity for the early dark nights.

Exploring Akureyri with kids: Photo Spots and Strolls

The town itself is compact and walkable, with plenty of cafés and bakeries for pit stops. Within 15-20 minutes continual walking you could have seen it all. But take your time and pit you’re your way around.

Akureyri is packed with quirky, Instagram-worthy spots perfect for a family photo trail. We found the giant photo frame next to the square with Christmas markets and Christmas tree, the iconic love heart traffic lights scattered through town, the ‘Love Akureyri’ sign and the vibrant rainbow path near the centre. The church stands towering on a hill overlooking the town centre. Word has it you should ‘race’ up the steps to the entrance – cue sibling arguments.

We recommend the best places to eat and stay in Akureyri over on our other Iceland blog.

Akureyri Art Museum

As usual, Stef pottered off here under her own steam. Entrance is £13 per adult and kids are free, but we let her enjoy the art fix alone. She said it was fab and spent around 1 hour in here. Check the opening times carefully as they were a little unusual and irregular when we visited.

Elsewhere in the town centre there is a shopping mall with H&M and SportsDirect, a cinema and also a bouldering / climbing centre.

Whale Watching with Whale Watching Akureyri

One of the highlights of our trip was a whale watching tour with Whale Watching Akureyri. Tours run several times a day, even in winter, and we booked online in advance (£85 per adult, £40 per child, under 6s FREE). The crew were fantastic and really informative.

There are warm overalls on the boat if anyone gets cold and an indoor heated area with drinks and snacks available to purchase. This was really good for doing whale watching with kids, and the other tour operators used boats with much less indoor (warm) space, if any! I don’t think Nyle would have survived without being able to warm up regularly. There is plenty of seating outside but wrap up as it is cold. Thermals are required!

In winter departures are daily at 11am. The total trip duration is around 2.5-3.5 hours, sailing around 1 hour in each direction from Akureyri with time bobbing around waiting to spot any whales or porpoises.

Professional photos are taken and given to you as part of your ticket price which was such a result given the success we had. And here is worth flagging – theses are wild animals and the boats don’t feed or chase them so it really is pot luck if you see them. Not only did we see several humpbacks but we enjoyed a very rare show if them jumping and breaching in the Fjord. We had seen them previously in Nicaragua, but seeing them so active and playful was magical.

Worth noting that lifejackets must be worn by children under 13 (available on the boat) which really put Alicia’s nose out of joint.

There is free parking at the HOF cultural centre, right next to the office and departure point

Day Trips: Dalvik, Migandifoss, and Siglufjordur

With our hired car, we explored nearby gems along the Fjord coastal road. This might not seem the best thing to do in Akureyri with kids in tow, but ours enjoyed it and we had lots of pit stops.

Dalvik, a charming fishing village 40 minutes north, had a peaceful harbour scene and a fantastic bakery. Migandifoss waterfall wowed us with its thunderous cascade and epic views back down the Fjord. And the drive to Siglufjordur was a treat in itself going through long tunnels, winding coastal roads, dramatic cliffs, and colourful houses. We drove to the view point at the end and then stopped off in the town for hot chocolates and cake.

In hindsight we should have stopped at Migandifoss and spent more time doing one of the pine forest walks near Dalvit. We did veer off to try and find some snow for the kids. We ventured inland for around 20 minutes where we found our own untouched area of Iceland which felt an adventure in itself.

The Christmas House: Festive Fun Year-Round

No visit to Akureyri is complete without popping by the Christmas House (Jólahúsið), just south of town 10 minutes away. Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, this magical shop is packed with festive decorations, gifts, and the world’s largest advent calendar. It’s free to enter and a delight for children and grown-ups alike. There’s also a deli shop and marshmellows to purchase (60p) for roasting on the fire pit outside. The Christmas decorations we found ridiculously expensive and so didn’t purchase, but it was a lovely hour experience and worth popping in.

There’s also a load of places we wanted to get to but just ran out of time. This is why we could have easily spent more than 3 days here. We met other people in our hostel who had visited these areas and spoke positively on them. So whilst we aren’t personally recommending them, it’s maybe worth having them on your radar.

HOF Cultural Centre

The HOF Cultural Centre stands out with its modern architecture. Open weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 (weekends 10:00 to 16:00), it hosts exhibitions, concerts, and has a lovely café and gift shop. Entry to the centre itself is free, but tickets for shows vary. We caught a local art display and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere — a lovely way to dip into Icelandic culture.

Hlidarfjall Ski Resort

Just 10 minutes drive from the centre is a ski resort. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough snow when we visited but a place to keep in mind for snow enthusiasts and if you get lucky on the weather.

Myvatn Lake, Husavik and Dettifoss

This would be a day trip in itself. An hour from Akureyri, beyond Godafoss is Myvatn Lake. We liked the look of the hiking trails, lava fields and general scenery. There’s also geothermal pools here. The pools can also be found in Husavik, a town 1 hour north of Gettifoss, and a whale and Eurovision museum. One family in our hostal had visited and said they really enjoyed it. You could combine a trip here with Dettifoss waterfall – just check the roads are open!

As you can hopefully tell, we fully recommend a trip to Akureyri with kids. There is plenty to do in Iceland’s northern town that will keep families and kids of all ages entertained.

Check out our other blog full of advice and tips when visiting Iceland with kids.