The Best Family Hotels in Reykjavik, Iceland

Affiliate Disclosure: This family hotel Reykjavik guide contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. 

INTRODUCTION

Heading to Iceland with kids? Congratulations—it’s an incredible place for a family trip. What started for us as a quick three-day stopover on the way to Europe has since turned into multiple visits, including, most recently, driving the entire Ring Road. We just can’t seem to get enough of it.

No matter how long you have, you’ll want to spend a few days exploring the charming and colourful city of Reykjavík. I created this family friendly hotels Reykjavik guide because I know firsthand how difficult they can be to find—and just how expensive they can be.

I’ll also share a few practical tips for finding family-sized rooms in Reykjavík that won’t completely blow the budget.

REYKJAVIK WITH KIDS VIDEO

If you’d like a quick glimpse of Reykjavík first, here’s a short one-minute video.

TIPS FOR FAMILY HOTELS IN REYKJAVIK

• Reykjavík is compact and very walkable, so you don’t need to stress too much about location as long as you stay somewhere near the central core (map below).

• Family-friendly hotel rooms in Reykjavík are quite limited and tend to disappear quickly. Most hotel booking sites such as Booking.com offer a flexible booking option that you can cancel without penalty if something better comes along. (Confession: I often switch hotels at least once before a trip as better options pop up.)

• Dining out in Iceland is expensive, often close to double what you might expect in North America. A family friendly Reykjavik hotel that offers a complimentary breakfast (like the Sand Hotel) can add excellent value.

• Don’t limit your search to traditional hotels, which can be very expensive in Iceland. A Reykjavik vacation rental can offer more space, a kitchen (allowing you to save money by self-catering some meals), and sometimes laundry facilities.

• If you’re renting a car, be sure to check parking details in advance. Parking in central Reykjavík can be quite limited or paid.

• If you’re visiting in summer (when daylight can stretch up to 20 hours), be sure your hotel or vacation rental has blackout curtains. Alternatively, you can bring sleep masks or pack a portable blackout curtain—easy to find on Amazon, though a bit harder to source from a small local retailer (as much as I like to encourage shopping local!).

• Whether you choose a hotel or a vacation rental, be sure to thoroughly read reviews from recent guests. (My general rule is to only consider places that get guest reviews of greater than 9/10⭐️ or 4.5/5⭐️. With vacation rentals I like to also use the filter “good for families” or something similar.

BEST AREAS TO STAY IN REYKJAVIK

One of the best things about Reykjavík is how small and easy it is to get around. You can explore most areas on foot or by using its reliable public transportation system. It’s also very stroller-friendly, even in winter, as many sidewalks are heated with geothermal energy and typically kept clear of ice and snow.

Most hotels are located in 101 Reykjavík, the postal code that makes up the city’s central core and includes the majority of its main attractions. Whether you’re booking a hotel or a vacation rental, prioritizing this area will make your stay much more convenient.

On the map below, I’ve plotted some of my favourite kid-friendly attractions in Reykjavík (marked with light green stars) to give you a quick visual of how everything fits together. As you’ll see, most are clustered around the harbour area, which is where visitors tend to spend the majority of their time.

Note: The hotels shown on the map are not my curated list (unfortunately, I can’t control that), but you can use the filters to narrow down your search if you’re actively looking for a place to stay. I’ve outlined my top picks for family hotels in Reykjavik a little further down in this post.

FAMILY HOTEL REYKJAVIK COST

I hate having to address this, but it’s better to know what you’re getting into before booking those flights to Iceland. (Confession: on my first trip to Iceland with kids, I didn’t check hotel prices before booking an irresistible flight deal.) Hotels in Reykjavik (and beyond) are expensive—and family rooms in particular can be eye-wateringly so.

To make matters more challenging, true family rooms (sleeping 3–6 people) are in short supply across both Reykjavík and the rest of Iceland. I have noticed a slight improvement in recent years, but availability is still limited, especially in peak season.

To give you a realistic sense of what to expect, here are typical nightly rates:

☀️ HIGH SEASON (May–September)

⭐ 3-Star Family Rooms
$300 – $450 USD ($410 – $615 CAD) / night

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4-Star Family Rooms
$450 – $750 USD ($615 – $1,025 CAD) / night

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-Star Family Rooms
$600 – $1,000+ USD ($820 – $1,370+ CAD) / night

Family Vacation Rentals
$300 – $700+ USD ($410 – $960+ CAD) / night

❄️ WINTER & SHOULDER SEASON (October–April)

⭐ 3-Star Family Rooms
$180 – $300 USD ($250 – $410 CAD) / night

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4-Star Family Rooms
$250 – $450 USD ($340 – $615 CAD) / night

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-Star Family Rooms
$350 – $600 USD ($480 – $820 CAD) / night

Family Vacation Rentals
$180 – $400 USD ($250 – $550 CAD) / night

One thing I do want to mention is that this post largely focuses on the central harbour, or “downtown” area of Reykjavík (the 101 postal code). This is where most of the hotels and main attractions are located.

That said, you could absolutely choose to stay a little further out in one of Reykjavík’s residential neighbourhoods, particularly if you’re considering a vacation rental. (There are not many hotels outside of the downtown core.) Reykjavík is a very safe city and doesn’t really have any “dodgy” areas, so you don’t need to worry too much about where you base yourself.

8 BEST FAMILY HOTELS REYKJAVIK

With that rather shocking pricing section out of the way, let’s get to the good part. Here are the best family-friendly hotels in Reykjavík—places that make travelling with kids just a little bit easier.

1. REYKJAVIK RESIDENCE APARTMENT HOTEL

This luxury apartment-style hotel has fully furnished 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites that are perfect for families both large and small! Cots are available for those traveling with a baby or toddler.

These self-catering apartments offer flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and modern kitchenettes with tea/coffee makers and microwaves. Communal laundry facilities are also available. Guests love the breakfast baskets that are delivered to the room each morning (extra fee).

Check rates for the Reykjavik Residence Hotel on Booking.com or Expedia.

2. THE SAND HOTEL

This fashionable boutique hotel is in a great location on the best shopping street in Reykjavik, and only a 10 minute walk to the center of town. Rooms feature muted tones, flat-screen TVs and hardwood floors, complimentary Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines, and designer toiletries.

This Reykjavik boutique hotel has a 2-queen room and a 1 bedroom suite (1 queen/1 sofa bed) that are both good options for families. A crib is available free of charge by request.

All stays at the Sand Hotel include a continental breakfast featuring pastries from their award-winning Sandholt bakery.

Check rates for The Sand Hotel on Booking.com or Expedia.

3. REYKJAVIK EDITION

The Reykjavik Edition is one of Iceland’s hottest luxury hotels. This property offers 24 hour concierge services, a restaurant, a bar, a gym, a wellness center and a hammam spa.

For families, the Edition offers double queen bedrooms featuring a seating area, a flat-screen, free wifi, robes, slippers and coffee/tea making facilities.

Check rates for the Reykjavik Edition on Booking.com or Expedia.

4. ALDA HOTEL REYKJAVIK

The Alda Hotel is located on Laugavegur shopping street in central Reykjavik. The hotel offers modern rooms with a flat-screen TVs and free WiFi access. Hallgrimskirkja Church is a 5-minute walk away.

All guest rooms at Alda Hotel Reykjavík have a private bathroom with a bath or shower, hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms feature a private balcony with sea or city views. The Alda has family rooms and deluxe rooms that can sleep a family of four (1 queen / 1 sofa bed).

Note: The Alda does not have baby cribs available for guests making this property better suited for families with older children.

Check rates for the Alda Hotel on Booking.com or Expedia.

5. TYR APARTMENTS

These modern one and two bedroom apartments are centrally located – just a few steps from the popular shopping street of Laugavegur and the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja Church.

The apartments offer free wifi, well equipped kitchens (fridge, oven and dishwasher), flat screen TVs and more. The one bedroom can sleep up to four people, the two bedroom can sleep up to 6. Baby cots, cribs, and high chairs are available upon request.

Check rates for the Tyr Apartments on Booking.com or Expedia.

6. THE BLACK PEARL

The Black Pearl luxury apartments are conveniently located right near Reykjavik harbour and city center. These modern, well-equipped suites have full kitchens and can sleep from 2-6 people. The deluxe suites have an in-suite washer and dryer. Cribs are available upon request.

Check rates for the Black Pearl Apartments on Booking.com or Expedia.

7. ÓDINSVÉ HOTEL APARTMENTS

Located in Reykjavík city centre, the Ódinsvé has both a boutique hotel (with a family room) and serviced apartments just down the road. Both have options to sleep a family of up to 5 people.

All rooms and apartments offer modern decor, flat-screen TVs and free wifi. The apartment suites all have up-to-date kitchens that include a microwave, electric cooktop, dishwasher and tea/coffee facilities. A baby crib can be added to the accommodations upon request.

The main shopping street of Laugarvegur is just 350 m away. The hotel has a 24 hour concierge and laundry service is available to guests for a reasonable price.

Check rates for the Ódinsvé Apartments on Booking.com or Expedia.

8. KVOSIN DOWNTOWN HOTEL

The Kvosin is located in a restored historical Reykjavik building near the Icelandic Parliament and Tjörnin Pond. Rooms offer a seating area, flat-screen TV, free wifi and a Nespresso machine. Most rooms also have a kitchenette with a dining area, fridge and cooking facilities.

A continental breakfast is served each morning at the hotel (for a fee) and can also be ordered to your room or suite.

Check rates for the Kvosin Downtown Apartments on Booking.com or Expedia.

OTHER REYKJAVIK FAMILY ACCOMMODATIONS

Given how expensive hotels in Reykjavík can be, a vacation rental is often a more economical option for families. In many cases, a well-located two-bedroom apartment can cost about the same as a basic hotel room—while offering significantly more space.

That said, vacation rentals tend to make the most sense for stays of more than a couple of nights. Cleaning and service fees can add up quickly on shorter stays, sometimes bringing the total cost close to that of a hotel. Please be sure to look at the total price, inclusive of all fees, before booking.

Both VRBO and Expedia.com offer a good selection of family-friendly options across Reykjavík.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really hope that I have offered some helpful solutions to finding a great place to stay for you and your family in Reykjavik.

Should you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to me via direct message on Instagram, Facebook or by email. You can also save this post by tapping on the little heart in the right hand bottom corner of your screen.

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