Plan a Family Trip to Iceland
See Iceland Differently on a Second Visit Over Spring Break
You have already been to Iceland. You have driven the Golden Circle and ticked every box on the classic tour. And yet you keep thinking about going back on a family trip to Iceland.
So go back, but this time, go differently.
This is the Iceland family vacation you have not taken yet.
Why Spring? The Case for March and April
Most first-time visitors to Iceland arrive in the summer months. Indeed, it offers a wonderful time to visit with endless sunshine, powerful waterfalls, and nesting puffins. However, the summer brings with it more crowds and higher prices. And crucially, it is when the sky never truly goes dark, which means no Northern Lights.
An Iceland spring break offers the perfect antidote. Indeed, March and April prove compelling not just for returning travelers, but for first-timers who want to experience the island without the summer crowds.
Here is why the spring months offer one of the best times of year to embark on a family trip to Iceland.
1. The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are still in play over Spring Break. Indeed, March acts as one of the most underrated months in Europe for aurora hunting. The nights are still long and dark but the weather tends to be more settled than the depths of winter. In short, March and early April offer some of the best conditions of the year.
Early April, too, still offers real chances, though the aurora season winds down as daylight increases through the month. For the best combination of aurora potential and spring weather, we highly recommend planning your Iceland family trip for mid-to-late March.
2. The Weather
We will not pretend the weather is balmy. In fact, Iceland in March will offer a wintry mix. Expect temperatures hovering just above freezing, occasional snowfall in the highlands, and that characteristic Icelandic wind. However, this also serves as part of the appeal, especially for second-timers.
By April, the weather begins to ease. Snow melts at lower elevations, and flowers start to push through the lava-field moss. In addition, the days grow noticeably longer — reaching 13 to 17 hours of daylight by late April. You can explore in comfort during the day and still have darkness enough to hunt the lights at night.
While the winter months have passed, spring still requires travelers to come prepared. Layers, waterproofs, and sturdy footwear are non-negotiable. As always, your Ker & Downey travel designer will advise on exactly what to pack.
3. Fewer Crowds, Lower Prices
Spring still represents shoulder season in Iceland. Therefore, prices are lower, roads are quieter, and the whole adventure feels more intimate.
Indeed, you will find most of the popular sites deserted. Plus, your private driver-guide will have more time for spontaneous detours. You may even have a lava cave entirely to yourselves. You may pull off the road for a photo of Kirkjufell and find the mountain completely free of other visitors.
This is the Iceland travel experience that summer visitors rarely get.
Why Spring Break? Iceland as a Family Destination
Iceland is remarkably easy to travel with children. It promises safety, excellent infrastructure, and a variety of experiences for all ages. Better still, spring break offers an ideal time to plan a family trip to Iceland. In fact, Iceland represents one of the most family-friendly destinations on Earth.
Imagine riding ATVs across ancient lava fields and exploring a Viking-age lava cave by torchlight. In addition, fly over glaciers in a motion-ride cinema and hike to the rim of a glacier. Perhaps even ride Icelandic horses, eat locally made ice cream, and soak in geothermal pools together. Indeed, these types of memories define childhood and come standard on a visit to Iceland with kids.
What's more, spring break, lines up perfectly with the shoulder-season advantages we previously described. It also represents one of the few breaks in the year when older children can travel without disrupting school calendars.
And with a private driver-guide handling every logistic, your family can simply stay present. That, in our view, is the definition of a successful family trip to Iceland.
Why Head West? The Case for Snaefellsnes
Most Iceland tours follow the same arc: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, the Southern Shores, and the Blue Lagoon. Indeed, this offers a wonderful introduction to Iceland. However, returning visitors have the chance to dive even deeper and further.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, jutting into the North Atlantic from Iceland's west coast, offers one such option. It represents the most spectacular and least-visited corners of the island. Indeed, Jules Verne chose it as the entrance to the center of the Earth in his classic novel for good reason.
The peninsula has everything: a glacier-capped volcano, dramatic sea cliffs, sandy beaches, geothermal areas, and charming fishing villages. Plus, Kirkjufell — the arrow-shaped mountain — sits at its northern edge.
Beyond Snaefellsnes, the Borgarfjörður region to the east acts as the heartland of the Icelandic sagas. The landscape comes steeped in Norse mythology and Viking history. It also boasts Europe's most powerful hot spring, a pair of waterfalls unlike anything else in Iceland, and Víðgelmir, one of the largest lava caves in the world.
Indeed, this is the Iceland that most visitors never see. For families on their second time to visit Iceland, it promises an adventure accessible to all ages.
A Suggested 7-Day Family Trip to Iceland
Here is just one way how Ker & Downey would structure a weeklong Iceland spring break trip. Of course, your dedicated Ker & Downey travel designer would handle every detail, including transfers, guides, and activities.
Arrival & the Blue Lagoon
Your journey begins the moment you land. A private transfer whisks you from the Airport to the Blue Lagoon — the perfect first chapter to any family trip to Iceland. Spend the afternoon soaking in the mineral-rich waters of the Retreat Lagoon. Then continue into Reykjavík and overnight at the elegant Exeter Hotel, perfectly placed for exploring the capital.
Drive to Snaefellsnes
Your private driver-guide meets you after breakfast for a road trip along the coast toward the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The highlight of the afternoon will no doubt be Kirkjufell: the iconic arrow-shaped mountain. It represents one of the most photographed landscapes in Iceland, and in person it proves more striking than the images suggest.
Settle into Hótel Búðir as evening falls. If conditions allow, venture outside to watch the Northern Lights from one of the darkest skies in Iceland.
Explore Snaefellsnes & ATV Rides
A full day on the peninsula, with an ATV experience that consistently ranks among the most popular activities for families.
In the afternoon, your guide takes you north to the fjord of Breiðafjörður, where the fishing villages of the peninsula's north coast line the shore. Icelanders say three things in their country cannot be counted: the lakes of Arnarvatnsheidi in the highlands, the hills of Vatnsdalshólar, and the islands in Breiðafjörður. On a clear day, looking out across that uncountable scatter of islands, you will understand why.
Borgarfjörður & Víðgelmir Lava Cave
Today, you head east into Borgarfjörður — the region regarded by scholars as the setting for the majority of the Icelandic sagas. Stop first in Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe.
Next, explore the double wonder of Barnafoss and Hraunfossar on a private guided tour. Hraunfossar (Lava Falls) is one of Iceland's strangest and most beautiful sights: water filtering through ancient lava fields, emerging along a long, low curtain directly into the river below. Barnafoss (Children's Fall) runs beside it, named after two children lost here centuries ago.
Finally, it all concludes with a day trip to Víðgelmir lava cave. One of the largest lava tubes in the world, its lit walkway reveals extraordinary color and formations.
Into the Glacier by Super Jeep
Today belongs to the glacier. Indeed, Ker & Downey's Super Jeep experience always proves a crowd-pleaser, and with good reason. These modified vehicles carry your family up onto the surface of Snæfellsjökull glacier. From up here, marvel at the views across the Atlantic, and the sense of standing on living ice, atop a volcano.
Hvammsvik Sea Baths, FlyOver Iceland & Lava Show
Your final full day combines three of Iceland's most exciting experiences, bookended by a return to Reykjavík. Begin with a stop at Hvammsvik Hot Springs, a new and spectacular geothermal bathing destination set directly on a fjord.
Then, in Reykjavík, enjoy the FlyOver Iceland experience, a must for families. A state-of-the-art motion-ride cinema uses film, wind, mist, and scent to create the sensation of actual flight over Iceland's most dramatic landscapes.
Private Departure Transfer
After a final Reykjavík breakfast, a private transfer takes your family back to Keflavik Airport. Seven days, one extraordinary corner of the world, and a collection of stories you will tell for years.
Plan Your Family Trip to Iceland
Iceland rewards travelers who go beyond the obvious, and the west rewards them most of all. Whether this is your first Iceland family trip or your third return journey, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula offers a completely different perspective on a country that never stops surprising.
At Ker & Downey, we design every Iceland journey from the ground up. We also build in flexibility — because in Iceland, the weather always has the final word.
Your Iceland spring break is waiting. Let us help you plan it. Therefore, contact a Ker & Downey World Travel Designer to book your next family trip to Iceland in the spring.
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