New Year to Iceland

These family-friendly bases focus on short distances, indoor activities and simple day plans that suit children during a winter festive week.

• Family Park: The capital offers a family-oriented park area alongside several museums suitable for children, and the compact city keeps distances short between them. Families can plan an indoor-led day and return to a warm base without long journeys in the dark. This makes the capital a sensible first choice for a New Year trip with children who need predictable routines. Families often pair this with Iceland family holidays for a relaxed festive week.
• Dalvik: Dalvik offers families a relaxed northern base on the shores of Eyjafjordur, where the pace stays gentle and the streets are simple to explore on foot. Children can enjoy the harbour views, the nearby sea and the open landscapes of the fjord, while parents keep everyone close without relying on constant transport. It suits households wanting a calm stay with a few well-chosen outings rather than a packed itinerary, the same easygoing brief our Iceland All Inclusive Holidays deals are built around.
• Golden Circle day trip: The Golden Circle is a loop route of around three hundred kilometres with easy stops at geysers and waterfalls, and the Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes, which children find memorable. The route is short enough to fit into a single day, though winter daylight is limited so an early start is essential. We suggest it as a structured day out with plenty of warm breaks in the car.
• Mývatn Nature Baths: Mývatn Nature Baths offer a gentler alternative to the crowds, with warm geothermal water set amid volcanic craters and lava fields in north Iceland. The surrounding area suits family resorts well, with short walks to bubbling mud pools and Hverfjall crater for older children, while younger ones can enjoy the calm, shallow lagoon. Facilities are simple and welcoming, and the region is easily reached by car from the northern capital's town centre, making it a relaxed, memorable day out for parents and children alike, exactly the sort of unhurried experience our Cheap Iceland Holidays packages are built around.
• Vik beach area: The village offers easy coastal walks and a black sand beach, but strong waves on the nearby shore mean families must keep children well back from the water at all times. The village sits on the Ring Road, a long drive from the capital, so it is a longer day for young travellers. We suggest it only for families comfortable with a longer drive and a firm safety plan on the shoreline.