How to Visit The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler

I am happy to share how to visit The Golden Circle Iceland with a toddler, and I’m happy to tell you that it is SO WONDERFUL. The Golden Circle is one of the main attractions in Iceland, it’s all beautiful nature attractions, and it’s very easy to do with a toddler. We took our (almost) 2 year old and we all had an amazing time. I’ll include each attraction, optional stops nearby, photos, and advice.

About The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is the most popular scenic route in Iceland. Its official stops are Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir Geothermal Area. There are other awesome stops nearby, though. It’s not too far from Reykjavik, so it can be done as a one day trip from the city. But if you’re traveling with a toddler and want to stop at other attractions in the vicinity (you should), I recommend spending 1 or 2 nights near the Golden Circle. You’ll then have plenty of time at each attraction and can visit other spots – like ice cream at a dairy farm!

I have loads of resources and advice for visiting Iceland with a toddler. Check out The Best Iceland Itinerary with a Toddler, 20 Tips for Visiting Iceland with a Toddler, and Why You should Visit Iceland in the Summer with a Toddler.

Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler Route

I am going to include some extra stops that your toddler will love. This is why I recommend 2+ days in the area. There are some really nice Airbnbs around that immerse you in nature and let you enjoy the countryside.

We stayed at an Airbnb with a hot tub and beautiful views of the river. It even had a little kids’ house and sand box outside. Highly recommend for Iceland with a toddler.

If you’re starting in Reykjavik and want to include all the extra stops, it will equal around 4 hours of driving. That was too long for our toddler, which is why we spent a few nights nearby.

Here’s the route:

Route Options

In an ideal trip, you should spend a night or two in the area. Visit Kerid Crater on your way in and Thingvellir on your drive out (or vice versa). Combine Bruarfoss with Efstidallur Dairy Farm (they’re right next to each other). Combine Gullfoss Falls with the Geysirs (also right next to each other). And this gives you some extra time to check out Foxafoss Waterfall, a hot spring (see options below), and maybe a swimming pool (there’s an amazing one near Selfoss). I promise you won’t get bored near the Golden Circle.

For everything you need to bring, here’s an Iceland with a Toddler Packing List.

Here are The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler ideal stops:

• Kerid Crater
• Bruarfoss Waterfall
• Efstidallur Dairy Farm
• Gullfoss Falls
• Geysir Geothermal Area
• Foxafoss Waterfall
• Visit a hot spring in the area
• Thingvellir National Park

If you truly only have one day from Reykjavik to do the Golden Circle with a toddler, I would drive over to Kerid Crater and then head up to the Geysirs and Gullfoss then head back. I would skip Thingvellir – Kerid Crater is better for toddlers than Thingvellir. If you have the time, though, I’d definitely keep Bruarfoss waterfall as a stop. It was the prettiest waterfall we saw on our trip.

Here are the Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler stops in order of awesomeness:

1. Kerid Crater
2. Bruarfoss Waterfall/Efstidallur Dairy Farm
3. Geysir Geothermal Area
4. Gullfoss Falls
5. Thingvellir National Park
6. Visit a hot spring
7. Foxafoss Waterfall

Should you rent a car or do a tour?

If you think your toddler would thrive on a tour bus with someone driving you to each spot, go for it. However, I highly recommend renting a car to do The Golden Circle with a toddler. You have more flexibility, you can better allow for nap times and eating, and renting a car lets you spend the night in the area.

When to visit The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler

We loooooooved Iceland in the summer. Loved. The Midnight Sun is incredible, the weather is mostly pleasant, and all of these stops are better without freezing weather. If you are self-driving, you don’t have to worry about the roads being treacherous. I wrote a whole post about why summer in Iceland is amazing with a toddler. I also wrote a whole post on The Best Time to Visit Iceland.

Things to Do on The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler:

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is cool because you can walk between continents and there’s a ton of history. But it was the least exciting for our toddler. The views and the history are nice, but there’s isn’t a whole lot to do. Walk around and check out the visitors center. There is a man-made waterfall here, but it didn’t look to be nearly as cool as the other waterfalls in Iceland.. we skipped it.

30 mins – 1 hour stop

Efstidallur Dairy Farm

This dairy farm has a restaurant (mostly serves burgers), awesome ice cream, areas to see the cows and other farm animals, and a playground with a huge bounce pad. It’s definitely worth a stop, especially because it’s right next to Bruarfoss Waterfall. All toddlers love ice cream, right?

30 mins – 1 hour stop.

Bruarfoss Waterfall – SO BEAUTIFUL

Bruarfoss Waterfall

Ahh this waterfall is incredible. Iceland is FULL of amazing waterfalls, but this one was our favorite. The water is an insane blue, there’s a bridge to get great views of the falls, and you can continue on and hike to 2 other waterfalls if you want.

There are a couple different places where you can park, and there are 3 waterfalls on the trail if you want to do a whole hike. With a toddler, I recommend parking near Bruarfoss (at the top of the hike) and do a short hike to Bruarfoss Falls. Look for a Bruarfoss sign with a picture of Bruarfoss on it that says 3km with an arrow – that’s where you’ll park.

If you want to continue your hike to Midfoss and then Hlauptungufoss you can easily do that. It’s 4.1 miles roundtrip. Here’s the Alltrails link. We hiked to Midfoss and turned around, making the hike around 2.5 miles or so. Bruarfoss is by far the best waterfall of the hike, so if your toddler isn’t up for a longer hike, skip the other 2 and be content with that.

Hold your toddler or put them in a carrier near Bruarfoss. There’s a bridge, and they could fall. Otherwise, though, they’ll enjoy walking on the dirt path to and from the falls.

This will take 40 mins – 2.5 hours, depending on how far you decide to hike.

Geysir Geothermal Area

Particularly, the Strokkur Geyser. It erupts every 6-10 minutes. It’s SO cool, and it was a highlight of the trip for our toddler. She would yell, “The big geyser!” Keep kids close on the paths because the water near the geysers can be very hot. We actually visited the geyser a second time because our daughter loved it so much. (Another perk to spending the night in the area.)

There are other trails in the area and a visitors center. We just did the short walk to Strokkur to watch it erupt.

This is around a 30 min stop, longer if you want to explore the area more.

Gullfoss Waterfall – a must stop on the Golden Circle with a Toddler

Gullfoss Waterfall

A feature of the Golden Circle, Gullfoss Waterfall is incredible. It’s massive, there are frequently rainbows, and you can get pretty close to it. There’s a parking area with a visitors center, shop, and restaurant. I would recommend putting your toddler in a carrier if you can. Definitely keep them close because there are cliffs and lots of steps. It’s a short walk from the parking area to the falls. 

30 mins – 1 hour stop.

Faxafoss Waterfall – optional stop

Faxafoss Waterfall

This stop isn’t totally necessary because it’s not the prettiest waterfall around the Golden Circle. And you do have to pay to park. But it is still gorgeous, there were beautiful flowers all around when we were there, and the different views you get of it made it feel worth it to me. 

If you’re staying nearby, you can walk/run over and avoid the parking fees. That’s what I did, and it is one of the best running destinations I’ve ever had. 

20 minute stop.

Kerid Crater, Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler

Kerid Crater

We loved Kerid Crater. You pay to park 450 ISK (worth it) and then can walk around the whole crater. It’s beautiful! And only a 0.9 mile hike. You can also walk down a bunch of stairs to the bottom of the crater, which is absolutely worth it. The view right by the water is stunning. Our toddler loved walking up all the steps. Definitely hold hands or use a carrier at the rim of the crater. 

1 hour stop. 

Optional Things to Do in the area – Hot Springs:

Hrunalaug Hot Spring. Kind of pricey and can be crowded.

Fontana Spa. Another hot spring. You can bake bread in the ground. Also kind of pricey.

Secret Lagoon. The oldest natural pool in Iceland.

Kualaug Hot Spring. This kind of strange spot only fits a couple people and legitimately looks like a puddle. But the water is warm, only one car can park near it at a time, and it’s free.

If you’re doing all the stops on the map I’ve included, it will put you near Selfoss. There is an AMAZING Icelandic pool there.

Tips for The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler

Take your time. These places are incredible, so make sure you take the time to fully enjoy them.

Visit a couple places and then plan for your toddler to nap (either in the car or a hotel/airbnb). Then visit a couple more places after.

Bring a hiking carrier if you can. I bought a used one prior to our trip, and it really came in handy. If you don’t have one, carry your kiddo or hold their hands tightly at the more dangerous areas.

Most of these stops are free, so the Golden Circle can be a very cheap destination. Food can be expensive at touristy spots, so pack snacks/meals if you need to save money. Actually, always have snacks for your toddler. Always. 

It is a lot of driving, so make sure you have some things to keep your toddler entertained in the car. We had a little tablet, reusable stickers, and a coloring board. 

Let your kiddo stretch their legs at the stops. 

Final Thoughts on The Golden Circle Iceland with a Toddler

We really had such a lovely time in Iceland with our 2 year old, and I hope you do too! We love spending time outdoors, and that’s mostly what Iceland has to offer! The Golden Circle includes some of the most stunning scenery and is a perfect place to visit as a family. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below or email [email protected]. For The Best Outdoor Activities for Toddlers in Iceland, read this post next.

Happy Toddler Traveling!

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