fbpx

Visiting Iceland with Kids Days 1 and 2 Getting There and Reykjavík

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more information.


 
Blog Banner (FB Ad Size) - Visiting Iceland with Kids - Days 1 and 2 SBT
Originally published at nicandcam.com

After just 2.5 months of planning, the day finally arrived for visiting Iceland with kids, of course! We braved the drive to LAX, and did all the things you need to do before actually boarding the plane…parking garage, shuttle to the terminal, check-in, dinner at Earl of Sandwich, security, long walk, find gate, coffee, wait at gate. Phew!

Click here for a handy list to help you prepare for your international travel with kids!

Dollar Flight Club

We found a great deal on WOW air, which may or may not be pertinent at the time of this writing!

Visiting Iceland with Kids - WOW air Wing Over Clouds

Nonetheless, we were alerted to the deal by Dollar Flight Club. I kid you not. These e-mails are priceless. Dollar Flight Club delivers the most unheard of flight deals straight to your inbox on the daily. It is far and away worth it to subscribe!

Visiting Iceland with Kids: Getting There

Our 8-9 hour non-stop flight left from LAX on a Thursday. We arrived in Iceland on Friday morning, claimed our luggage (make sure to AirTag your bags), put on our heavy coats (we stepped out of the airport into cold and wind, y’all!), and picked-up our rental car (Blue Car Rental for the win!).

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Blue Car Rental

We drove about 4 miles, to a bakery that I had pre-scouted out. Reviews said it was cheap (according to Icelandic standards) and delicious. Icelandic pastries for all and strong coffee (for my husband and me) sounded like a good lunch.

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Coffee and Pastries

A cozy seating area inside was perfect for a short respite. There is so much to choose from, and we at least had to try the kleina (plural kleinur). This bakery flavors theirs with cardamom, and it is downright amazing!

We leisurely drove into Reykjavík and checked into our Airbnb ($40 travel credit for new Airbnb guests!). Our children fondly call vacation rentals “the little house.” Here’s a pic of the Ikea-rific kitchen in our Airbnb.

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Ikea-rific Kitchen

Our only plan for the rest of the day was to go grocery shopping, especially since grocery stores seem to close rather early in Iceland.

Visiting Iceland with Kids: Clear Skies in Reykjavík

The weather, however, was fabulous (meaning here: clear skies). So, we decided to drive into downtown Reykjavík and see some of the main places on our list. These included the Sun Voyager and Þúfa (Thufa).

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager
Visiting Iceland with Kids - Thufa
Me (Nic) at the top of Þúfa

Our kids also had a chance to climb on the waterfront rocks next to Þúfa, as we enjoyed the view on this amazingly clear, crisp day!

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Waterfront

We then went grocery shopping at a Bónus location near our Airbnb (we made it there before closing time!). Lest you think I’m joking about the early closing times, at the time we visited Iceland, Bónus grocery stores closed at 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 6:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday. So, no midnight runs to the Bónus stores in Iceland. Plan your Icelandic grocery shopping accordingly!

Why Bónus then? Well, we had researched and found that Bónus was one of the most affordable grocery stores in Iceland, with plenty of locations to choose from.

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Bonus Grocery Store

Since we travel the semi-budget way, visiting Iceland with kids would require some creative ways to be budget-conscious. We bought a ton of stuff at the grocery store (including lots of skyr), spent less than $100 US, and had breakfast, some snacks, and “magical drink” or “concoction” ingredients for the week (we had colds!).

Check out this walk-in refrigerator inside the Bónus grocery store. We rarely removed our winter gear the entire trip, and this was no exception. It was FREEZING in here. But, look at all that skyr on the back wall!

Visiting Iceland with Kids - Inside Bonus Grocery Store

After taking the groceries back to our Airbnb, we drove back into Reykjavík and had dinner at Icelandic Fish & Chips, sharing a couple things to save on food costs. Then it was back to the “little house” to sleep off some jetlag and re-energize for our first full day in Iceland.

Check out our One Week Iceland Itinerary, and start planning your trip!

Pinterest - Visiting Iceland with Kids - Days 1 and 2 SBT
Pin Me!

Have you thought about visiting Iceland with kids (or without)? Please share in the comments below!

STARTS WITH

A GREAT BUDGET!

Eiffel Tower in Paris France

ALL GREAT SEMI-BUDGET TRAVEL

It's easy! I will show you how with a FREE trip planning tool.

Author
Nicolette
Nicolette Kay is the founder of Semi-Budget Travel®. She has been traveling the world since junior high, and in 2005, she began single-handedly planning all aspects of semi-budget travel for various family & friends. She has visited more than 20 countries around the world, and is always thinking about…Where to travel next? How to get a good deal? What would be worth splurging on? She helps thousands of people per month plan their fabulous, yet affordable, semi-budget travel.
AS SEEN IN Banner

Join me online

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your free list of the Best Beaches on Oahu?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your free list of the Not to Miss Food Finds on Oahu?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send access to our FREE Semi-Budget Travel Resource Collection?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Get budget-conscious travel ideas & tips (with a few splurges here & there!) right in your inbox!

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your FREE Ultimate Packing List?

Sample Page - Ultimate Packing List - SBT Light

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your free Parksville, BC, checklist?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your free Ski Trip checklist?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Where can we send your free Redlands, CA, checklist?

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Privacy Policy

Budget by Category, or by Day, or Both! This easy-to-use tool has all the bases covered!