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  • Best Paris Art Museums For Kids

    Best Paris Art Museums For Kids

    Paris is often considered as one of the world’s art capitals.  Not only is the Louvre located along the Seine River, but Impressionism originated with a group of Paris-based artists during the late 19th century.  It is generally quite affordable for families to visit art museums in Paris because kids under 18 are almost always free.  It astounded me that our admissions fees to these world-renowned museums was a fraction of what our family pays to attend local museums.  As a family of art lovers, our three children have been visiting art museums since birth and love exploring galleries.  Several of Paris’ art museums were on our must-see list during our last visit, but we were only able to visit three.  We reached out to fellow bloggers to get the inside scoop on the ones we missed so that we could create this comprehensive guide to the best Paris art museums for kids.

     

    #1:  Louvre

    The Louvre is the largest and most visited art museum in the world. As the world’s premier art museum housed in the Louvre Palace that dates back to the 12th century, it and may not seem likely to be child-friendly, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited.  Families with strollers automatically skip the often long entry line and are ushered directly to an elevator and are permitted to use elevators throughout the Louvre that are reserved only for disabled visitors and their accompanying parties.

    The building could be considered a work of art in its own right.  In addition to the Louvre Palace and all of its additions, Louvre Pyramid is an iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989.  The Louvre collection includes over 400,000 works and could take months to closely examine even the works currently on display.  During our lovely visit with our three children last summer, we prioritized the most famous three works, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace and spent about three hours meandering through the Louvre’s highlights.  Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!), and her paparazzi was overwhelming.  Nevertheless, we still all wanted to get as up close to her famous smile as we could.

    I think it’s safe to say that no visit to Paris would be complete for me without a visit to the Louvre.  While I would aim to get in as soon as it opens next time and beeline for the Mona Lisa gallery first, I would never hesitate to bring kids.

    • Louvre Hours: The Louvre is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
    • Louvre Admission:   Pre-booked time-entry tickets cost €17 or adults, and general adult admission costs €15 at the door.  Kids under 18 are free.
    • Closest Metro Station: Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre and Pyramides

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Louvre with kids.

    #2:  Musée d’Orsay

    The Musée d’Orsay houses an impressive Impressionist collection of French art featuring Manet, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh Degas, Cezanne and many more.  Paris was the birthplace of impressionism, and impressionist artists regularly gathered in Montmartre during the late 19th century.  I sure would love to have been a fly on the wall of one of these meetings, and I felt privileged to grace the halls of these magnificent art works.

    The Museum opened in 1986 in the former Gare d’Orsay, which was constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, and the station’s three enormous clocks are spectacular works of art in their own right.  Our family really loves Impressionism, and my personal favorite painter is the brilliant but troubled Vincent van Gogh, and my kids share my appreciation of his paintings.  The d’Orsay was a particularly treat because it houses one of the largest collections of Van Gogh’s works outside of the Van Gogh Museum with 24 paintings.  Our favorite was Starry Night Over the Rhone.

    Edouard Manet, who was one of the first to incorporate blurred backgrounds and contrasting colors into his painting, is often credited as the first Impressionist artist.  Several of his seminal paintings are exhibited at the d’Orsay, including Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass.  Other favorites impressionist artists include Edgar Degas, who known for his focus on dance and theater.  The Dance Class was a favorite of my budding ballerina.

    The d’Orsay features more than 80 paintings by Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir each.  Many are recognizable, and I can’t pass one without smiling.  Both were very talented and prolific artists, so most major art museums around the world feature a handful of paintings by each, and including variations of similar paintings.  While we focused on the paintings, there is also quite a significant sculpture exhibition.  With such an extensive collection, it’s no surprise that the Musee d’Orsay is the 10th most visited art museum in the world with about 3.5 million visitors annually.

    • Musee D’Orsay Hours: The d’Orsay is generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
    • Musee D’Orsay Admission:   General admission costs €14 for adults, €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie or €21 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin.  Kids under 18 are free, and the d’Orsay is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro Station:  Solferino

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée d’Orsay.

     

    #3:  Musée de l’Orangerie

    Musée de l’Orangerie is located between Place de la Concorde and Tulleries Gardens, just a short walk from the Louvre.  The l’Orangerie features impressionist and post-impressionist art.  The main attraction is unquestionably the two oval shaped rooms featuring Monet’s Nymphéas (Water Lilies).  Monet helped design these two rooms in the 1920s but unfortunately died before the installation was completed.  In the 1960s, a second floor was added above these galleries and obstructed natural light.  Fifty years later, the l’Orangerie spent over $36 million to construct a lower level to move the exhibits on the upper floor below ground and add skylights to these ground floor galleries.

    The eight curved panels built into the walls of these two galleries pop from the crisp, white walls.  As a viewer, I truly felt as if I was part of the installation.  My ten year old announced that these were his two “favorite rooms of art in the world.”

    After exploring the Water Lilies galleries, we spent about an hour and a half exploring the other impressionist works, including works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso and Renoir. Renoir’s Jeunes Filles au Piano reminds me of my sister and me, and I was thrilled to find one of the variations on display.  The l’Orangerie might be a bit of a hidden gem, but it is definitely at the top of our must-see list for Paris.

    • Musée de l’Orangerie Hours: Musée de l’Orangerie is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, May 1, the morning of July 14 and December 25.
    • Musée de l’Orangerie Admission: Admission costs €9 for adults or €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie within three months of first entry.  We purchased a combination ticket and visited the two museums on separate days.   Kids under 18 are free.
    • Closest Metro to Musée de l’Orangerie:  Concorde

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie.

     

    #4:  The Centre Pompidou

    With an entire floor dedicated entirely to kids, the Pompidou Center is one of our favorite museums for kids in Paris. The Pompidou Center houses France’s national library and the museum of modern art and provides an introduction for children to the works of artists from the 20th and 21st centuries including Matisse, Picasso and Warhol. In the Galeries des Enfants special trails, workshops and exhibitions aim to bring the art alive for children with creative use of digital and hands on activities.  And, it is not just the kids galleries that make the Pompi (as it is affectionately called) worthwhile. The building itself is fun to explore thanks to the iconic exterior escalators and modern architecture.  Outside in the Place Stravinsky families can explore the fountains and watch performances by street artists.

    Image by pixabairis from Pixabay

    • Pompidou Center Hours: The Pompidou Center is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays and May 1.  Certain exhibits are open until 11:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
    • Pompidou Center Admission: General admission costs €14 for adults.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Pompidou Center Visitor Tip:  There are strollers available for young children to use during their visit, which makes it easy to wheel around tired little legs.
    • Closest Metro Stops to the Pompidou Center:  Rambuteau Hotel de Ville or Chatelet

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more about Paris from Katy.

     

    #5:  The Rodin Museum

    Our first visit to Europe included a fantastic five days in Paris. Our three kids were young at the time, just 5, 7 and 10. We had no idea that those little ones would love the museums of Paris. Each day, we’d visit one, sometimes large, sometimes small, and each time, they found something special to enjoy. Their favorite was a museum that I hadn’t heard much about before researching our visit: The Rodin Museum. We only visited the Sculpture Garden, but it remains one of their favorite European museums. With incredible sculptures intermixed in beautiful rose gardens, this park-like setting turned into a mini photo shoot of our three little one’s trying to recreate Rodin’s creations with their little bodies.  It started on arrival as our three littles sat in front of The Thinker and recreated the famous pose. It continued as we wandered through the beautiful gardens with each and every life-size sculpture. Incredibly, many of Rodin’s pieces include three people, just like them! It was so much fun that we spent hours there, moving from one new piece of art to another, enjoying time on a bench or roaming the gardens along our way.   For families looking for a relaxing few hours where the kids, of any age, can learn to enjoy and interact with artistic works, this is an ideal place. Just don’t forget a camera!!

    • Rodin Museum Hours: The Rodin Museum is generally open on daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. except that it is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
    • Rodin Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults.  A combined ticket with the Musee d’Orsay costs €21.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro Stops to the Rodin Museum:  Varenne or Invalides

    Recommended by Joanne Norman from Sunsets and Roller Coasters.

     

    #6:  Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages

    The Cluny Museum in Paris is one of the most underrated museums in the city. Also known as the Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages, this museum has everything from Roman artifacts to Medieval tapestries. The collection is housed inside a 15th century mansion in the Latin Quarter and the building itself is as much of an attraction as the relic inside.

    We visited with our three kids as part of a Context Travel Paris tour uncovering Roman history in Paris. Inside the Cluny Museum are the most magnificent Roman baths and frigidarium dating to the 2nd century. The collection also includes the famous tapestry “The Lady and the Unicorn”, Gothic Rooms, the Abbot’s Chapel, a treasury, and beautiful outdoor gardens to explore. I would highly recommend booking a family friendly tour at the Cluny as there is a ton to take in, but it is definitely worth a stop on a family visit to Paris.

    • Cluny Museum Hours: The Cluny Museum is generally open from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
    • Cluny Museum Admission: Admission costs €9 during temporary exhibitions €5 outside of temporary exhibitions.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Cluny Museum is also free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metros to the Cluny Museum:  Cluny-La Sorbonne, Saint-Michel or Odeon
    Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids Are A Trip.  Find out more from Kirsten about Context Tours in Paris.
    #7:  Musée du quai Branly

    Quai Branly Museum in Paris is a space dedicated to arts of non-Western civilizations. Designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel, it displays artifacts, costumes and precious handcraft objects of the main civilizations divided by continents. Quai Branly Museum also has a theater, a reading room, a cinema, two restaurants, and a bookstore. It also proposes interesting temporary exhibitions regularly. This museum is great for families because of the exciting design of the building and the surrounding spaces and also for its educational side. After crossing its famous vegetal wall facing the Seine River, the building is located in the heart of a wooded savanna. From there, visitors have a great perspective of Haussmannian apartments, and kids can explore the hidden treasures of the garden. The spaces inside are linked by a spectacular ramp, a kind of spine for the building,  which makes the arrival to the main exhibition space very exciting. The collections are very interactive and utilize different media, which is great for keeping the kids interested and entertained at the same time.

    • Quai Branly Museum Hours: The Quai Branly Museum is generally open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m and generally closed on Mondays.
    • Quai Branly Museum Admission: General admission costs €10 for adults.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro to the Quai Branly Museum:  Alma-Marceau

    Recommended by Elisa from World in Paris.  Find out more from Elisa about hotels with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

     

    #8:  Paris Atelier des Lumières  

    Paris Atelier des Lumières is one of the most kid-friendly museums in Paris. It offers a very creative way to appreciate the art masterpieces from famous artists like Van Gogh, Monet and others.  The whole museum spreads over with over 30,000 square feet of gallery space equipped with modern multimedia tools to create the stunning effects on the way artworks appear to the stage. Once stepping into this museum, kids do not only feel movement of the painting but also indulge in the sounds of nature like they are witnessing the real landscape.

    From one corner to another, all the changes are carefully designed to make sure even the less artistic-genre person still feel attracted. Atelier des Lumières is simply a perfect choice for an educational visit. Families will not feel regret with their dedicated exhibition!

    Recommended by Tan Bang from Travel to Work.

    #9:  Dalí Paris (Formerly known as Espace Dalí)

    I remember the huge impression that l’Espace Dalí made on me when I visited at the age of 15, but I was easy game.   I was already in love with Salvador Dalí’s quirky paintings and sculpture at that time. Some 25 years later, I brought my girls to the recently refurbished and renamed Dalí Paris, and sure enough, they loved it too, just as I had. The Dali Museum houses the biggest collection of his work in Paris, including some fabulous bronzes with my favorite Space Elephant and of course his melting clocks.

    Dalí Paris is located on Montmartre, just a few steps from the main square with its open air displays of paintings.    We recommend visiting Sacré Coeur Basilica first, then wander the Montmartre streets and save Dalí for the climax.

    • Dali Museum Hours: The Dali Museum is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during June, July and August.
    • Dali Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults and €9 for visitors age 9-26.  Kids under 8 are free.
    • Closest Metro Stations to the Dali Museum: Anvers, Abbesses or Lamarck-Caulaincourt

    Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins.

    Paris is an art-lover’s dream with so many art museums.  These museums may not seem child-friendly, but kids are truly welcome and find delight in the beauty of some of the world’s most famous masterpieces that span from antiquities to impressionism to contemporary art.  As an added bonus, kids are free at almost all of these museums.  Find out more about visiting Paris with kids.

  • Best Free London Museums For Kids

    Best Free London Museums For Kids

    London may not be known as a budget city for travelers but offers seemingly infinite free attractions.  In addition to iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, there are many free museums, including four that are among the world’s top ten most visited museums each year.  Exhibits in these museums include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon frieze, Apollo 10, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Darwin’s specimens, the world’s largest portrait collection and the remains of the London Wall from about 200 A.D. With so much variety, there really are free museums in London for everyone.  Our family barely scratched the surface of London’s museums during our three trips there with kids but have been lucky to visit a few of London’s amazing museums as a family without paying any admissions fees.  To round out our list, we asked some fellow travel bloggers for recommendations for the best free London museums for kids:

    Free Museums in South Kensington

    #1:  London’s Natural History Museum 

    My kids really enjoy natural history and have visited natural history museums in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.  London’s Natural History Museum definitely did not disappoint.  The cathedral-like building in South Kensington is stunning, and we were greeted by Dippy, a diplodocus skeleton featured in Hitze Hall, the main hall of the museum.  This dinosaur reminded us of Sue, the T-Rex featured in the Field Museum’s main hall.  We were excited to learn that the cast of Dippy was a gift from Andrew Carnegie at the request of Edward VII.  Since our visit to London, we’ve seen the original skeleton on display at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

    Replacing iconic main hall dinosaurs seems to be a recent trend in natural history museums.  Just as Sue was replaced at the Field Museum with a cast of Maximo, a titanosaur, and the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton in 2018, Dippy was replaced with Hope, a blue whale’s skeleton in 2017.   While Dippy was quite a centerpiece, one of the biggest takeaways from our trip to London’s Natural History Museum was that the blue whale is the world’s largest animal.  So, my boys would probably approve of the change.  Admittedly, it must be easier to photograph Hope, who is suspended from the ceiling, without getting scores of other visitors in the shot as we found when trying to photograph Dilly.  We can’t wait to see Hope, whose installation is shown on this time-lapse video.

    The Dinosaur Gallery one-ups the other dinosaur exhibits we have visited by adding animatronics.  The enormous animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex is the highlight of the exhibit.  Visitors stand in a line (which is known as a queue in London) that eventually inches past the T-Rex.

    The Natural History Museum was originally designed to house the British Museum’s natural history collection, particularly Charles Darwin’s samples, so there are plenty of animal specimens.  My younger son got up close and personal with the lion exhibit.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend London’s Natural History Museum for kids of all ages.

    • London’s Natural History Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Natural History Museum, but some temporary exhibits do require an admission fee.
    • London’s Natural History Museum Hours:  London’s Natural History Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Natural History Museum:  South Kensington

     

    #2:  London’s Science Museum

    Kids who have a passing interest in space travel, experiments, technology or transport would love London’s Science Museum. It’s the best London museum for kids, and visitors can explore free exhibits including some of the most iconic objects created over the past 250 years – from Apollo 10 to the first Apple computer as well as the first submarine.   While the Museum is free, visitors can also purchase tickets for the WonderLab to take part in live experiments at the Chemistry Bar or watch 3D IMAX movie features on space travel and natural phenomena. The Science Museum is a great place to visit on a cold and rainy day thanks to the play area for smaller kids on the lower level. 

    • London’s Science Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Science Museum, but donations are welcome, and tickets are required for special exhibits and the IMAX cinema.
    • London’s Science Museum Hours:  The Science Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Science Museum:  South Kensington

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more from Katy about 3 days in London.

     

    #3:  Victoria and Albert Museum

    The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of South Kensington’s Big Three free museums, is purely dedicated to art and design. It’s not as immediately child-friendly as its neighbors, the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.  There are no dinosaurs or flight simulators here, but it does have daily free activities and events for children.  Kids age 5 to 12 can borrow a backpack of activities to help them explore the Museum’s while paper trails and hands-on discovery areas help to bring the exhibits to life. Pop-up performances and making sessions appear on weekends and school holidays, too.  But another important feature is the John Madejski Garden, an outdoor courtyard in the heart of the Museum. On sunny days, families gather around the pond to eat packed lunches and relax or purchase ice-cream and refreshments in the Garden Café.  If it’s a less sunny day, the V&A’s main café is a historic work of art in its own right!

    Photo Credit Mummy Travels

    • Victoria and Albert Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, but there is a separate admission charge for some exhibitions and events, which may require advance booking.
    • Victoria and Albert Museum Hours:  The Victoria & Albert Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The Victoria & Albert is closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Victoria and Albert Museum:  South Kensington
    Recommended by Nancy from Map and Family.  Find out more from Nancy about the things to do with teens in London.

     

    Free Museums in Trafalgar Square

    #4:  London’s National Gallery

    London’s National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all are world-famous and on permanent display.  The National Gallery is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually.  The Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum are the only more popular art museums.

    The Gallery’s entrances are located off of Trafalgar Square.  We used the side entrance, which is more stroller friendly than the beautiful main entrance.  Our focus was the Impressionist Gallery that holds some of the world’s most famous paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh.  Monet’s paintings on exhibit here include Gare St. Lazare and The Water-Lily Pond.  Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is one of the most recognizable paintings on exhibit.  Van Gogh only created about 800 oil paintings in his life, including several variations of these sunflowers.  Similar versions are displayed in the Van Gogh Museum and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art, which purchased Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers for about $40 million in 1987, which was a record at the time.  When considering those amounts, it’s hard to believe that Van Gogh relied on his brother for financial support during his lifetime.

    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh's Sunflowers
    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

    Our boys were particularly fascinated by Georges Seurat’s massive Bathers at Asnières.  Seurat masterfully uses pointillism, a painting technique that uses small, distinct dots of varying colors to form an image.  It’s much harder to see how the patterns of dots form an image when observing the painting up close, and the boys learned to step back to see the image more clearly.  While we were not able to explore the entire National Gallery, this is definitely a museum that we could visit again and again.

    • London’s National Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the National Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Gallery Hours:  London’s National Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    #5:  London’s National Portrait Gallery

    When London’s National Portrait Gallery opened in 1856, it was the world’s first portrait gallery.  The National Portrait Gallery now contains the world’s most extensive portrait collection with approximately 200,000 works.  The collection most notably includes portraits of important, famous and royal Brits, including members of the royal family, celebrities, politicians, artists and writers.  Visitors have the chance to view history through portraits, photographs and sculptures arranged chronologically from 1500s to modern-day.

    King Henry VIII is one of the most infamous Brits and is featured in the center of the bottom row below.  After their visit to the Tower of London, our boys were particularly excited to check out this royal portrait wall.

    We loved learning about history and art at London’s National Portrait Gallery and recommend it for all family travelers.

    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission fee to visit London’s National Portrait Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Hours:  London’s National Portrait Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Portrait Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    Free Museums in Bloomsbury

    #6:  British Museum

    The British Museum allows visitors to journey through time and around the world, without leaving London. While most people visit for the Ancient Egyptian exhibit and to see the Rosetta stone, there’s much more. Visitors can use the regular audio-guide for a more formal experience or the interactive family guide to play games throughout the Museum. With either guide, everyone will love learning about the burial rituals of Egypt, seeing hundreds of natural history specimens in the library and looking up at the Maori from the mysterious Easter Island. This is a museum where visitors could spend days properly discovering it all or skim the surface in only a few hours.

    Parthenon frieze

    Image by Tasos Lekkas from Pixabay.

    • British Museum Admission:  There is no admission charge for the British Museum.
    • British Museum Hours:  The British Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  The British Museum is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the British Museum:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Kyla from Where Is The World.

     

    #7:  Museum of London

    The Museum of London is a fascinating and beautifully presented introduction to the city itself.  It is located north of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and its permanent galleries describe a timeline from prehistory to the present day, and special temporary exhibitions take angles – recent and current examples range from the story of London’s secret rivers to the impact that animals from lions to bees have had in the city’s story.  We learned that London was the richest and most populous city in the world one century ago.  

    My kids were of course fascinated by the disgusting “Fatberg!” story of London’s sewer blockage, and my husband loves the Museum mostly because it is in the Barbican, which is either a wonderful icon of architectural history or the most repugnant set of concrete tower-blocks on the planet, depending on the viewer.  

    • Museum of London Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Museum of London.
    • Museum of London Hours:  The Museum of London is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the Museum of London:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins.

    Free Museums in the South Bank

     

    #8:  Tate Modern

    The Tate Modern is the sixth most visited art museum in the world and houses modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a former power station.  Unlike most art museums, which are presented chronologically, the Tate Modern is organized by themes.  We last visited in 2015, and a 10-story addition opened two years later in 2017.

    Displays change frequently, and many exhibits come from the Tate Collection, which includes the United Kingdom’s national collection of British Art.  The expansive Turbine Hall can showcase large-scale work.  London’s Tate Modern is an extremely kid-friendly art museum.  The website has a special page dedicated to visiting families that explicitly states that women are welcome to nurse wherever they feel comfortable – which is exactly what I did while the boys explored the interactive building area.

    Amazing interactive building exhibit

    The view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames and the Millennium Bridge from the balcony should not be missed.  The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was completed in 2000 to connect the Tate Modern to St. Paul’s Cathedral, but an unexpected sway required it to close almost as soon as it was opened and undergo almost two more years of additional modifications.

    • Tate Modern Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Tate Modern Hours:  The Tate Modern is generally open Sundays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Tate Modern: Southwark and St Paul’s
    Free Museum in Forest City
    #9:  Horniman Museum and Gardens

    Opened in 1901, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Southeast London is a brilliant free and child-friendly museum. The Horniman houses artifacts procured by Frederick John Horniman on his world travels in the 19th century. Aside from the aquarium and special exhibitions, all galleries and parks are free to enter.

    Toddlers will love the music room where they can beat African drums and experiment with unusual Asian instruments. The main gallery contains hundreds of taxidermy animals from across the world. Children especially adore the famous gigantic stuffed walrus. It’s an amazing place to learn about other cultures and to inspire a love of nature.

    Every day, free workshops for children are offered to those who register at the front desk. The attached Horniman Gardens are beautiful with views over London, farm animals, a music laboratory for children and a stunning conservatory. In the summer, it’s easy to spend a whole day in the museum and gardens.

    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Hours:  The Horniman Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed December 24-26.  The Horniman Garden closing times vary by season.

    Recommended by Kirsty from World for a Girl.

     

    Free Museums in Chelsea

    #10:  Saatchi Gallery

    My favorite place to visit whenever we’re in London is the Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road. This area is great with its many restaurants and upscale shopping, and it’s the perfect place to house a contemporary art gallery.  I find that modern art is easier to keep the kids’ attention than the more traditional galleries, it’s bigger, brighter and sometimes they can touch it! My daughter loves visiting the Saatchi as much as I do to see its ever-changing exhibits.

     The Saatchi sometimes holds child friendly workshops and talks, their ethos is to make modern art accessible to all so children are very welcome.  Previous exhibits have included Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and the Saatchi in constantly showcasing, new, little known artists. Just think, it’s possible to introduce kids to the next big thing in the art world! Some exhibits are not so child friendly so I would check the website before visiting and avoid these areas.   Most exhibits are not roped off so keep an eye on young children to ensure they’re not touching the artwork although some pieces are interactive such as the multimedia installations.

    Because the rooms are spacious and clean, it’s easy to get around the Saatchi with a stroller. There’s also a lovely open space at the front of the Gallery for the kids to burn off some energy either before or after a visit.

    • Saatchi Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Saatchi Gallery Hours:  Generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Saatchi Gallery: Sloan Square

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    So Many Amazing Free London Museums for Kids

    When considering a family trip to London, remember that many of the most popular attractions are free to visit, including London’s museums of art, science and history.  This London museums list can create the perfect family itinerary for London.  Also check out our posts on Planning a Trip to London With Kids, the Best Places to Visit in England With Kids, Top Attractions in London for Families, Best London Parks With Kids and the Tower of London with Kids.

  • Visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    Visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    A visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill is a great way to step back in time and take a glimpse of ancient Rome.  The Forum is a rectangular plaza in the valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills. The only remaining structures, which were constructed between 500 BC and AD 400, are all in ruins, but enough remains to really spark our imagination of what the governmental, cultural and civic center of Rome looked like thousands of years ago.  The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill have separate entrances, but the two sights are interconnected.  So, it’s possible to start at one and end in the other.  For our family of five (including kids ages 3, 8 and 10), our visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill was a complete history lesson, and we are glad we didn’t overlook these amazing sights during our visit to Rome.

     

    Visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum

     

    Directions to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    The Colosseum is conveniently located near the Colosseum Metro station.  We were staying near the Barberini station on the red A line and had to travel to Termini, the train station, and transfer to the blue B line and then travel two stops to reach the Colosseum.  The entire journey was probably about 15 minutes, and we had a short walk to the Colosseum area once we left the station.

     

    Palatine Hill and Roman Forum Tickets

    We pre-booked a combination ticket to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill through Coop Culture.  The combined ticket cost €17 for each adult, and children under 18 are free.  Like the Louvre, which also cost our family €34 to visit, I found it pretty astounding how inexpensive admission was for these iconic sights.  In contrast, most museums in the US cost at least $75 for admission for our family.

    Our tickets permitted a single entry into each attraction on the same day or on two consecutive days.  Our priority was the Colosseum, and we weren’t sure how long our visit would take, so we headed there first.  We were inundated with tour guides offering us skip the line entry as soon as we arrived and were happy to have already sorted out tickets and not need to risk giving money to a con artist.  We needed to stand in line to exchange our pre-booked vouchers for actual tickets from a small booth outside the Colosseum.

    We loathe lines in general, but this one luckily took only about 15-20 minutes.  Even though it was mid-morning, the sun was already pretty hot.  So, we purchased water bottles for our entire family during the wait.  I discovered in the line that the fine print on our voucher allowed entry to the Colosseum only after 2 p.m. during the summer months.  But, we also found that we could book a 45 minute guided tour in English that cost €5 for adults (again, children were free).  We went ahead and planned a 2:30 p.m. entry and a 3:00 p.m. tour and then headed to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

     

    Entering the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    A funny thing really did happen on the way to the Forum….  After we collected our Colosseum tickets, we asked the ticket agent for directions to the Roman Forum entrance.  She took one look at our stroller and suggested that we pass the Forum entrance and use the Palatine Hill entrance instead.  We had read that the Forum entrance often has a long line, so we thought we were getting valuable intel.  It turned out to be the worst stroller advice we have ever received.

    We got through the Palatine Hill entrance quickly but found the uphill pebble pathway nearly impossible with a stroller.  Palatine Hill is the center of the Seven Hills of Rome and sits about 130 feet above the Forum but really seemed like a trek. Our daughter reluctantly climbed out when it became obvious that we wouldn’t be able to push the stroller with her weight on the uneven surface, but it was hot, and the hard to find ruins were not exciting enough to captivate her attention and make her want to walk.

    The boys had watched Ben-Hur before our trip, and we were excited to see Circus Maximus, the site of the chariot races.   From Palatine Hill, we were able to see a panoramic view of the field where the stadium was located.  We actually had a better view of the site a few days later when we were walking to the Mouth of Truth.

    View of Circus Maximus from Via del Circo Massimo

    The Palace of Domitian dominates Palatine Hill (which is also the origin of the word “palace”).  But, it is largely in ruins and not as exciting as the Palace of Versailles or Doge’s Palace, both of which we had visited earlier in our trip.

    Checking out the courtyard of the Palace of Domitian
    Checking out the courtyard of the Palace of Domitian

    As usual, we used Rick Steves as a guide, and I narrated our visit by reading the short blurbs in Rick Steves Italy. Although Steves’ nuggets of information were interesting, I have to admit that we were underwhelmed with Palatine Hill.  Walking up the Hill was particularly brutal and really not overly exciting.

     

    A Visit to the Roman Forum

    We may not have been wowed by Palatine Hill, but the Roman Forum was pretty spectacular.  It is an impressive archeological site.  The population of ancient Rome reached a whopping 1 million, most of whom lived in tiny apartments or tents but spent their time in the Forum.  While none of the ancient buildings are intact, there is enough remaining to provide an image of what it looked like.  My son bought the book, Rome Reconstructed, at one of the gift shops that included amazing side by side comparisons of buildings then and now, and really helped the kids understand what ancient Rome was like.

    Although there were stairs here and there, the stroller was actually generally easier to maneuver in the Forum due to some paved walkways.  We weren’t fighting gravity on our descent, but there were some areas where cobble stones made it absolutely necessary for our daughter to jump out and walk a bit.

    Large stones in the Forum that were not stroller friendly
    Large stones in the Forum that were not stroller friendly

     

    Roman Forum Buildings

    My favorite building in the Roman Forum is the Arch of Titus.  The Arch, which was constructed about 82 AD, appears to be largely intact over 2035 years later; however, parts have been reconstructed.  For example, the fluted columns are original, but smooth portions are reconstructions.  The Arch was originally much more colorful, but the colored marble was unfortunately scavenged over the years.

    It didn’t surprise me that this 50 foot arch was the inspiration for the much larger Arc de Triomphe in Paris because I immediately saw the resemblance.

    Arch de Triomphe
    Arch de Triomphe

    I was also wowed by the three columns standing from the Temple of Castor and Pollux, which date back to 484 BC.  The columns were constructed in the first century AD.

    Three remaining pillars of Temple of Castor and Pollux
    Three remaining pillars of the Temple of Castor and Pollux

    The Temple of Saturn dates back to about 490 BC and is the oldest sacred monument in Rome.  Its enormous eight columns framed the Forum’s oldest temple and continue to stand out in the Forum landscape.

    The eight remaining pillars of the Temple of Saturn are pictured on the far left
    The eight remaining pillars of the Temple of Saturn are pictured on the far left

     

    Alternate Views of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    On our last day in Rome, we followed the periphery of Palatine Hill and the Forum when walking from the Mouth of Truth to the Colosseum Metro stop, and I enjoyed the panoramic views of the Hill almost as much as our walkabout inside earlier in our trip.  We did not see the Forum illuminated at night, but I’ve heard that is a pretty spectacular sight.  If admission to the Forum is combined with Colosseum tickets, it is definitely worthwhile to make a quick visit.  However, for families pressed for time, the Colosseum is definitely the more impressive site.  Just make sure to take a walk around the periphery to appreciate the glory of ancient Rome.

    View of Palatine Hill from Via del Circo Massimo
    View of Palatine Hill from Via del Circo Massimo

     

    Best Way to Visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    If we were to do it again, I would definitely plan for no more than an hour visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, enter at the Forum (even if the line was longer), focus on the Roman Forum and possibly just poke around the top of Palatine Hill before heading out.

    To find out more about family travel to Italy, check out our other blog posts about Rome, Florence and Venice and our listing of all destinations in Italy.

  • Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    The Eiffel Tower was a major inspiration for our family’s European vacation this past summer.  Seeing the Eiffel Tower has been #1 on our eight year old son’s bucket list ever since he saw the half scale replica in Las Vegas at age four.  He wasn’t even sure why he was so enamored with Gustave Eiffel’s wrought iron lattice tower, but it was something he had to see.  Whenever we discussed potential vacations, he made sure his desire to see the Eiffel Tower had not been forgotten.   My husband and I consider a wide range of factors including air fares and our personal desire to visit a location when deciding on where to spend our family vacations, but our son’s unwavering insistence on the Eiffel Tower was persuasive.  When we found that round trip airfare from Cleveland to Paris was about half the cost of flights to any other mainland Europe destination, it seemed that our visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids was destined.

    Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower

    Why is the Eiffel Tower So Popular with Kids?

    The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous landmarks.  It was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and also to be used as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair.  The Tower took less than two and a half years to construct and was the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930.  It was named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and constructed it.

    Favorite Viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower for Kids

    We first spotted the Eiffel Tower as our plane was landing at Charles du Gaulle Airport.  It was small but noticeable in Paris’ skyline.  My eight year old was pretty excited.  We arrived in the early evening, and after checking into our VRBO in Montorgeuil, we strolled to the Seine River, where he got his first close up view of the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline.  Even though the Tower was off in the distance, it was a magical moment.

    Boy meets the Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris.  Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline.   On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and got to see the Eiffel Tower up close for the first time.

    We could also see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe.  While we didn’t climb to the top of the Arc, I’ve heard that those who do enjoy one of the best views of the Tower.  Another favorite view of the Tower was from Sacre Coeur where we saw it lit up with sparkling lights at night.  This light show occurs on the hour every hour between sundown and 1 a.m. and lasts for about five minutes.  The entire Tower sparkles, and a spotlight shines from the top.

    Booking Tickets to the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    Many visitors to Paris are satisfied viewing the Eiffel Tower from one of the many stunning viewpoints. I had visited Paris twice previously but only not gone inside.  Visitors who want to go into the Eiffel Tower need to book tickets well in advance during peak tourist season.   There are many tours companies that include an Eiffel Tower visit, but we booked our tickets directly through the Tower’s official website.  We secured our tickets three weeks in advance of our visit, which was necessary as elevator tickets to the Eiffel Tower summit were ultimately sold out for all five days we were in Paris.  We settled for elevator tickets right before sunset to the second floor for our family of five (two adults and kids ages 10, 8 and 3) for a total of €40.  We printed out our emailed tickets and waited patiently for the final night of our European vacation.  Because there is no way to predict weather conditions so far in advance, we kept our fingers crossed for blue skies.

    It is possible to purchase tickets to the second floor or summit via elevator or stairs at the Eiffel Tower itself, but lines are often quite lengthy.  Our goal was to avoid lines at all cost during this trip, so we didn’t even consider “day of” tickets.  However, friends of ours went a few weeks before us with their four kids and reported that the trip to the summit was worth the wait down below.

    How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Eiffel Tower?

    The adult rate to visit the Eiffel Tower ranges from €10,20 for stair access to the second floor to €25,50 with elevator access to the top.  There are separate children’s rates for those age 12-24 (ranging from €5,10 to 12,70) and 4-11 (ranging from €2,50 to €6,40).  All children under age 4 are free.  Check up to date Eiffel Tower ticketing information.

    Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    On the last night of our European vacation, we took the Metro to Trocadero and arrived about 45 minutes before our timed elevator tickets.  At the Gardens of the Trocedero, we were treated to our best view of the Eiffel Tower yet – complete with a rainbow created by the mist from the Fountain of Warsaw.

    Due to construction in the area and limited pedestrian crossings, we had to take a roundabout path to get to the Eiffel Tower entrance, but we followed the crowds and arrived at the security check point about 15 minutes before our entry time.  We cleared security a few minutes later and were directed to the elevator entrance and another short line.  We checked out the view from underneath the Eiffel Tower on the way from one line to the next.

    We were not permitted to enter the elevator line until 10 minutes before our 9:00 p.m. entry.  A tour group accompanied us on the elevator, so we heard the guide’s commentary.  I found this informative and interesting, but my husband would have preferred if tour groups were separated from other tourists.

    Second Level of the Eiffel Tower

    We exited on the second level, which consists of an upper and lower observation deck and were wowed by the views.  Free bathrooms and a bar are located on the lower of the two observation decks.  Jules Verne, a Michelin star restaurant is located on this level and accessible through private access from the south pillar.  A meal at Jules Verne was not in the cards (or budget) on this visit, and the restaurant is now temporarily closed for renovations until Spring 2019.

    Sunset was approximately 9:45 p.m. that night, so we watched as the sky turned from blue to yellow and orange.

    We had hoped that there would be a way to secure tickets to the summit on the second floor but learned that was no longer possible.  We fully explored the second level until after the 10 p.m. light show when the entire Tower illuminated with flashing gold lights, and a beam spun around from its top.  We decided to walk from the second floor to the first floor for a different experience.  The 341 stairs really weren’t bad, even with three kids and a stroller.  The journey took no more than 10-15 minutes.

    First Level of the Eiffel Tower

    The first level includes a glass floor, a gift shop and several restaurants, including the 58 Tour Eiffel and The Buffet.  We wandered around this floor as the sky turned black and then decided to head down.  My husband and the boys chose to take the remaining 328 stairs down, while my daughter and I took the elevator.  We thought that we would easily beat them down, but finding the elevator exit was more challenging than I expected.  We found them waiting on the ground level in the center of the Tower when we exited the elevator.   As we admired our last up close view of the Eiffel Tower, the 11 pm light show began, and we got to see the dazzling Tower from underneath before heading to the Metro.

    Eiffel Tower Review

    The Eiffel Tower was a highlight of our family’s visit to Paris.  While it is possible to enjoy many breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower from all around Paris, going up into the Tower was an unforgettable experience.  It’s essential to book early during peak season, even if though it means a chance of less than ideal weather.  We were lucky that we had perfect weather conditions, but we all wish we would have booked early enough to secure tickets to the summit.  It was a bummer for sure to miss out on that view, but on the bright side, we all have a reason to return to the City of Lights.

    Our Eiffel Tower Review

    A visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids really was a bucket list opportunity, not only for our eight year old but for our entire family.  My daughter, who was three during our European vacation, regularly mentions that the Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of our trip.

    Planning a family trip to Paris?  Check out our entire series of blog posts on visiting Paris, and don’t miss our guide to planning a trip to Paris.

     

  • Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: Family Budget for Iceland

    Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: Family Budget for Iceland

    Traveling to Iceland with kids? With airfares as low as $99 one way from many cities to KEF, a trip to Iceland sounds like a bargain… until you factor in the price of accommodations, food, and attractions. Although Iceland is filled with natural beauty and waterfalls that are free to view from the Ring Road, other costs and expenses can come as a surprise to those who were expecting a “cheap” getaway. One of the most common questions I’ve been asked is “just how expensive” Iceland is and “how much should a family budget” for Iceland. With that in mind, I’d like to share with you the cost of my recent trip to Iceland over Memorial Day Weekend with my nine year old son.

    Airfare + Transportation + Gas = $1053.54

    Wow Airlines round trip airfare for two + one checked bag for each leg of the flight (added at the time of booking for $49.99 each way) = $567.06

    Route1.IS four day rental car = $359.36 (booked via holiday autos)

    Gas = $127.12 (1.25 tanks diesel gas used)

    Accommodations = $700.99

    Cottage at Reynisfjara Beach (two nights) = $515.99

    Nina’s Guest House (one night) = $185

    Excursions = $253.50

    The Blue Lagoon (admission for one adult, children under 13 free) = $70

    The Lava Tunnel (admission for one adult, children under 12 free) = $64

    Hallsgrimskirkja (admission for one adult and one child) = $10.50

    Jokulsarlon Glacial Boat Ride (admission for one adult and one child) = $77

    The Viking Museum (admission for one adult and one child, including buffet breakfast) = $32

    Food: $298.01

    Food was a surprisingly expensive part of our trip. I don’t mind spending money on food and we love dining out and do so frequently, but I was a bit taken aback by a simple pizza that cost about $30. Nevertheless, we didn’t end up spending all that much on food because we had access to a grocery store and a kitchen at both locations. We only ended up eating out on a few occasions. On the first day, we had a large, late lunch of burgers and fries for lunch and then opted to just snack on cheese and crackers for dinner. Our second day, we spent a grand total of $19.89 at the Glacier Lagoon cafe but otherwise, ate items that we picked up at the grocery store and made spaghetti for dinner. On our third day, we shared a small snack at the Reykjavik Fish Market and then splurged on our most expensive meal – pizzas and wine at Endofninn. Our final morning, we enjoyed coffee and baked goods at a bakery in Reykjavik and then, due to timing, did not eat again until we found ourselves at the airport (although we did enjoy some refreshments at the Blue Lagoon). At the end of the day, we saved quite a bit of money because we were able to purchase and store groceries at our accommodations. Our dining expenses are as follows:

    Smidgen brugghus (one kid’s meal, one adult burger, one beer) = $42.42

    Kronan (local grocery store chain where we purchased light snacks, breakfast supplies and spaghetti materials for dinner) = $45.54

    A small jar of pasta sauce that was just enough for the two of us costs nearly $4.
    A $3 baguette at the Kronan in Vik.

    Sandwich and soup at the Glacier Lagoon = $19.89

    Endofninn (two pizzas, one soft drink, two glasses of wine) = $62.59

    Reykjavik Fish Market (one entree of fish and chips) = $28.03

    Breakfast coffee and pastries = $16

    Blue Lagoon Cafe (one beer, one slushy) = $16.44

    Bonus (local grocery store where we picked up food souvenirs to bring home) = $21.27

    Nord (our pre-departure dinner of one pizza, one soup, and one beer at KEF airport) = $45.83

    To be honest, I wish I had the opportunity to spend more on food. I happen to love dining out and my husband and I are very adventurous eaters. My nine year old, while a wonderful traveling companion, isn’t one to enjoy fish or lobster stew and he can also be particular about his meat. That said, I glanced at many menus and simply decided that it wasn’t worth trying to eat a nice dinner with my son as there was very little, if anything, that he would enjoy on the menu. This ended up saving us quite a bit of money, even if it left me a bit disappointed that I did not get the opportunity to explore the Reykjavik dining scene or the local cuisine. I guess I’ll just have to wait for my next trip to experience the hot dog and fish soup!

    As for grocery store prices, I found grocery items to be more expensive than in the US, but not astronomically so. A $3 baguette costs more than the $1.50 baguette at my neighborhood grocer and one kg of oranges cost $3.50 (so ~$1.65/lb), but it was still such a significant cost savings over dining out.

    Grand Total = $2,306.04

    Our grand total for flights, transportation, accommodations, food, and gas was just over $2300. Yes, we spent a bit more than that on incidentals, such as the $12 travel adapter I had to purchase when I realized I had neglected to pack one from home and the $70 vase I purchased as a souvenir for my mother-in-law, who was graciously babysitting my three year old back home. But, for non-negotiable items, we managed to stay within a reasonable budget. Of course, your own travel patterns and practices will dictate what your trip ends up costing. I was fortunate that we found a nice balance between free activities and paid experiences and that my son was more than content to eat items we picked up at the grocery store for a number of meals.

    I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip to Iceland! Planning your own Icelandic adventure with kids?  Be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland

     

  • Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: Final Thoughts

    Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: Final Thoughts

    Traveling to Iceland with kids is something I would recommend without reservation.  I absolutely loved our time in Iceland and it was a perfect destination for our first mother-son international trip. Thanks to Catherine’s extensive write ups on her family’s trip to Iceland last summer, I was likely more prepared for this trip than any international trip I’ve ever taken. That being said, there were still a number of things that came as a surprise that anyone traveling to Iceland with kids should be mindful of.

    Our 5AM Arrival to KEF Airport:

    Our 5am arrival to KEF Airport was rough. Although I am generally a great sleeper on planes, a number of things conspired to keep me from getting any rest on our red eye flight from BWI to KEF. First, the flight departed BWI at around 9pm, a few hours prior to when I usually go to sleep, and it’s really a rather short flight at just over 5 hours, so there wasn’t a lot of time to get relaxed and tired before we landed at 5am. I did not end up sleeping, at all, on the flight over, and I paid for the lack of sleep dearly as I was exhausted and could barely keep my eyes open on the long drive from KEF to Reynisfjara. I had visited a number of forums online prior to our trip and I knew this was a common problem prior to our trip and one that many people choose to remedy by visiting the Blue Lagoon immediately upon arrival and then staying in Reykjavik that first night just to ease the transition. That said, although the first day was difficult, I was glad that we quickly adjusted to the time change so that we could maximize the rest of our trip. Luckily, my son is a seasoned traveler and at almost nine years of age, he had no problems sleeping in the car and rebounded quickly. Those traveling with younger children will need to plan ahead, depending on their child’s ability to manage the time change and red eye flight. While trolling the online forums prior to our trip, I read that a number of hotels in Reykjavik are extremely accommodating to the flight schedules and will often have rooms available for check in as early as 8am. If you’re staying in Reykjavik, this is definitely something you might want to consider as it would allow you a quick nap and time to freshen up upon arrival.

    The Price of Gas, Groceries, and General Dining Out:

    I had been told that Iceland was expensive, but I didn’t quite realize how expensive it was until I was eating our $45 lunch of burger and fries our first afternoon in Vik. That said, I didn’t particularly mind how expensive the food was as my nine year old is a relatively picky eater and thus, I didn’t fully expect to be dining out as much as I would have been had I been traveling solo or with my husband. We ended up picking up spaghetti supplies at the local grocery store and making a meal out of it – for a total of less than $10 USD. While grocery store prices were slightly higher than typical in the US (for example, $3 for the smallest bag of spaghetti versus $1.50 or $1.99), this was without a doubt a more economical option than dining out and for a traveling family, this can result in significant cost savings.

    Prices a fish and chip restaurant in Reykjavik.
    Home to our expensive, but delicious $45 meal of two burgers, fries, and a beer.

    While restaurant prices were high, I will note that the quality of the food was very good. My friend, who traveled to Iceland last year as part of a couples trip, reports that while prices at mid-level restaurants were high compared to the US, prices at fine dining establishments were comparable to prices in the US, which may be something to keep in mind for those traveling with older children who can appreciate a fine meal or two.

    Note: Airport food is generally more expensive than non airport food and the prices at KEF airport are simply outrageous. We ended up at KEF airport on the day of departure with quite a bit of time. We had spent the day traveling between The Lava Tunnel and The Blue Lagoon and had not eaten much more than a nibble here and there, so I simply decided we would grab something at KEF, which ended up being one of our most expensive meals. And, unlike food quality outside of the airport, the pizza was mediocre and the soup was pre-made and simply sitting in a giant vat.

    My $22 bowl of soup and my son’s $18 pizza.

    As with food prices, I was surprised by the gas prices. I had been warned previously that most cars are diesel and that prices were high, but I did not expect to pay nearly $100 for a full tank of gas. I also was slightly unprepared none of the three gas stations I visited would accept a credit card – I was required to enter a pin each time I sought to purchase gas and thus, I was glad to have packed my ATM card.

    Also, do not underestimate just how remote and far between gas stations can be when driving outside the city. My gas light went on at some point while we were driving around in Reykjavik prior to leaving for the Blue Lagoon, but I just assumed that since it was a relatively heavily traveled route that there would be gas stations along the way. Boy was I wrong. I ended up driving nearly 10km on empty and it was a rather panicked trip the entire time as I feared not only running out of gas with a nine year old, but possibly resulting in some kind of delay that would have us missing our departing flight home.

    Get gas and get gas often, even if you think there is surely a gas station along the way!

    Tax Refund:

    One surprising aspect of our trip to Iceland was how simple the country made obtaining a tax refund for purchases. During our day in Reykjavik, I purchased a vase that cost approximately $70 as a souvenir for my mother-in-law and had been given a tax refund receipt. I did not expect to actually pursue obtaining a refund as past experiences traveling abroad had suggested that it was simply more trouble than it was worth.

    After checking in for our return flight home, I spotted the tax refund booth and decided to go ahead and investigate. It turns out that all I needed to do was fill out a form, present my receipt and passport, and the taxes paid would be automatically refunded to my credit card. The whole process took less than 10 minutes and I confirmed that my ~$7USD refund was credited shortly thereafter. If you find yourself purchasing lots of goods to bring home, be sure to save your receipts and check out the Tax Refund booth at KEF!

    Note: Cash refunds are an option, but will involve a processing fee that is some portion of the refund.

    Currency:

    Speaking of money, we had no issues using our credit cards at just about every destination, with the exception of when purchasing gas. I did withdraw approximately $100 USD upon arrival at KEF and although we never needed the cash, I did use it on occasion simply for the novelty of the experience.

    At most retailers, the credit card machines were prominently displayed at check out and I was given the choice of selecting whether to charge the amount in my native or local currency.

    • Note: Bring a chip enabled credit card (visa or mastercard) and always select native currency rather than local currency when purchasing abroad.

    Driving in Iceland:

    I had no trouble driving in Iceland and hardly needed a map as the Ring Road is pretty self-explanatory. I brought our Garmin GPS, which was helpful for maneuvering within Reykjavik, but otherwise, simply followed the signs along the major highways to reach our destinations. There are a number of portions along the Ring Road where the highway narrows from two lanes to one, particularly when crossing rivers and streams, so just be aware and pull off to the side in the face of oncoming traffic.

    Language:

    Everyone, without exception, spoke English. I did not expect to have any language barrier issues and there were none with the exception of our car! Our car was programmed in Icelandic and would frequently ding out warnings at me, which completely freaked me out while attempting to drive. I managed to take some photos of some of the warnings and googled them later when we had arrived at our destination for the evening… turns out, the signs were telling me I had reached the speed limit and should slow down.

    Note: Although the car was telling me to slow down, I was frequently blown off the road by passing motorists. This was particularly the case when driving in inclement weather.

    Kid-Friendly:

    Iceland is a very kid-friendly destination. Granted, I was traveling with my nearly nine year old that has literally traveled the world, but there were kids everywhere and as I have mentioned, kids under 12 were generally free or admitted at a reduced price at many destinations. Although I had some initial apprehensions about visiting The Blue Lagoon with my opposite-sex child, it ended up being a non-issues as there were a number of attendants in the men’s changing facilities that were happy to help him maneuver the facility.

    WiFi/Cellular Reception:

    As a Verizon Wireless customer, I enabled TravelPass which provides access to my regular data and cellular plan for $10/day when traveling to certain countries, Iceland included. We had WiFi available at our accommodations every evening, but I wanted to add the data coverage given that I was driving solo with my young son in a foreign country. Although we did not need the coverage for directions, it was handy to have while driving on the Ring Road for looking up specific address or dining options. It was also just a great peace of mind, knowing that if we ran out of gas (oops) or ended up with a flat tire, I did actually have a means of contacting someone.

    Planning to visit Iceland with kids?  Be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland

  • The Blue Lagoon with Kids!

    The Blue Lagoon with Kids!

    If you’re traveling to Iceland with kids, I’m sure you’re wondering whether a stop at the Blue Lagoon with kids is worthwhile. Our last scheduled activity for our whirlwind long weekend in Iceland was to visit The Blue Lagoon. Although Iceland is filled with natural hot springs, The Blue Lagoon is filled with runoff water from a nearby geothermal plant. While planning our trip, I had read numerous reviews online suggesting that The Blue Lagoon is crowded and not preferable to smaller, natural hot springs, but I also knew that for our first visit to Iceland, I wanted to visit The Blue Lagoon as it was a top tourist destination. The only wrinkle in my plan was that I would be traveling solo with my not-quite nine year old opposite sex child. The Blue Lagoon’s website states that opposite sex children can accompany a parent into a restroom up to the age of 6. Prior to booking our reservations, I confirmed with my son that he wanted to visit The Blue Lagoon, although he would likely have to go through the changing area himself. Having participated in numerous swim teams in the past few years, my son stated that he was comfortable with the process and so, I booked our reservations to just prior to our return flight home.

    As with The Lava Tunnel, children under 13 are free, although you must register them in advance. Although I was initially hesitant about spending ~$70USD on an hour or so at a hot springs, the fact that my son was free definitely lessened the blow.

    Getting to the Blue Lagoon:

    The Blue Lagoon is about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik, much closer to Keflavik Airport than the city of Reykjavik. Thus, most people recommend The Blue Lagoon as a stop either immediately upon arrival or immediately prior to departure.

    I planned our trip to The Blue Lagoon to coincide with our departure and allotted approximately 2 hours to the spend at The Blue Lagoon. I also allotted a full hour to drive from The Lava Tunnel to The Blue Lagoon, so the experience should have been a pleasant one, but for two critical errors. Using my GPS, I typed in The Blue Lagoon and my GPS sent me from The Lava Tunnel back to a small cafe in Reykjavik called The Blue Lagoon. Although I had some built in cushion time, the erroneous instructions left me slightly panicked about making it to The Blue Lagoon in time for our reservation. Our gas light went off right around when I realized the GPS direction error and I decided to just wait until we got out of the city to get gas – thinking it would be easier than trying to maneuver a gas station in Reykjavik. This was a terrible mistake as once we left Reykjavik, there was literally no gas station until Grindavik, the town nearest to The Blue Lagoon.

    Fortunately, we managed to make it to The Blue Lagoon in time (and we also made it to the gas station after driving a harrowing 6.7km on empty).

    Checking into and changing at The Blue Lagoon:

    The night before our reservations at The Blue Lagoon, my son casually asked “so, what are we actually wearing while we are there?” Oops. For some reason, I had completely blanked and managed to not pack any bathing materials. A panicked google search later, I learned that The Blue Lagoon has rental swimwear and in fact, some people prefer to rent the swimwear as they don’t have to worry about ruining their own clothes with sulphur and/or flying home with smelly, wet clothes.

    Main entrance to The Blue Lagoon.

    I’ll admit, I wasn’t thrilled about renting a swimsuit, but I had no choice so I decided to go with it. Upon arrival, I presented the check in lady with our reservations and she inquired as to my son’s age. Children under 9 are required to wear flotation devices, so he was given a red wristband, indicating that he was under age 9. I was given a blue wrist band, which not only could be used for charging items to our account, but also used to open and close the lockers.

    Asking for the rental swimwear was not an issue at all and we were quickly provided with options. My son was originally given a pair of teeny tiny swim speedos, which he very quickly rejected in favor of the swim trunks.

    After checking in, my son and I separated ways. The women’s changing rooms were bright and spacious. There are actually two changing rooms for each sex – one on the first floor and one on the second floor and the staff monitors each room and closes them off when they are filled to capacity. I ended up on the first floor women’s changing room and my son ended up on the second floor of the men’s changing rooms.

    After changing into my borrowed suit, I headed into the showers. The Blue Lagoon mandates that you shower naked prior to entering the hot spring. Luckily, there are private stalls in which you can do this task privately.

    Upon exiting the changing room, I found myself near the simple cafe with prepackaged foods and drinks available for purchase. While waiting for my son to exit the men’s changing room, I perused the menu which, not surprisingly, was quite pricey.

    My son eventually appeared from the men’s changing room and I was pleased to see that a staff member actually escorted him out. Evidently he had some trouble managing the self-locking lockers (the kids’ bands aren’t programmed to operate them), so a staff member helped him lock the lockers and then escorted him through the showers and out of the changing room until we were reunited.

    The Blue Lagoon Experience:

    Once reunited, we quickly looked around and saw the zero entry indoor option, which we chose not to take. I can certainly understand why this is an appealing option to many, as it was freezing cold outside.

    We hung our towels up on the provided racks and made haste to get into the water.

    The water was not very blue the day we visited and per this website, the reason why is because the blue-green algae that thrives in the water was in bloom, thus turning the water green. 

    My son and I were able to enjoy just hanging out in the water and although there were plenty of people there, we didn’t actually feel crowded, except when we pulled up to the mud mask bar and/or the drinks bar.

    The pull up mud mask bar.

    After about 30 minutes in the water, I decided that we should treat ourselves to some drinks. My son opted for a icee/smoothie and I had a beer, all of which was charged directly to our account via the provided wristband.

    My son was entertained by the fact that his $9 smoothie/icee was called “Krap.”

    My favorite part of the Blue Lagoon experience was the overly attired lifeguards, who looked more like Secret Service officers than your typical lifeguards!

    After about 90 minutes in the water, we decided we had had enough and went back to shower and change. The check out experience was seamless – they simply scanned my wristband, gave me my total for add ons (drinks), paid, and we were off. Curiously, we were not charged for the rental swimwear, but I think that was an oversight. When we checked in, I had inquired as to rental charges and was assured that they would just be added in and settled at check-out.

     Would I recommend The Blue Lagoon?

    I would absolutely recommend The Blue Lagoon experience. Although I was initially disappointed that our only hot spring experience would be in a manmade geothermal pool (versus a natural hot spring), The Blue Lagoon one of those things you should experience while in Iceland. Although sitting around in hot water isn’t our usual thing, my son and I enjoyed the novelty of The Blue Lagoon experience. We particularly loved the little nature path immediately outside the main facility and on the way to the parking lot.

    Curiously, the water on the outside of the main facility was picture perfect blue, versus the green we encountered inside. If you aren’t interested in spending the money to visit The Blue Lagoon, consider stopping by on your way to/from the airport regardless as the outdoor pathways are open for walking and parking is free.

    I’d also recommend the experience to families as my son had a lovely time and the staff was incredibly helpful. For parents traveling alone with opposite sex children, note that even though the website says only children under 6 are permitted to enter opposite sex changing rooms with a parent, at check in, I was assured that my son could enter the women’s changing room with me (and it didn’t seem to be a big deal, especially since she had just immediately prior confirmed his age). The attendants in the men’s changing rooms also helped my son lock and unlock his locker as his wristband was not programmed to do so.

    Finally, try only word of caution is to heed everyone’s advice and keep your hair out of the water! The sulphur really does ruin your hair and no amount of pre-conditioning or post-conditioning helped it. I received an email about 12 hours prior to our reservations, stating that I should consider leaving conditioner in my hair while in the lagoon. Although I did so, my hair was still completely destroyed for about 48 hours after the experience, which made for an unpleasant trip home.

    Planning to visit Iceland with kids?  Stay tuned for Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: Final Thoughts, and be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go ToIceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.

  • Iceland’s Golden Circle With Kids

    Iceland’s Golden Circle With Kids

    Iceland’s Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in southwest Iceland that consists of a 180 mile loop with several of the country’s most striking natural wonders.  Our family toured the Golden Circle on a day trip from Reykjavik at the end of our 10-day trip.  We were fortunate to pick an unusually dry day with blue skies.  While the loop takes about 3.5 hours of driving, there were plenty of amazing stops along the way, including Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Stokkur, Gulfoss waterfall and Kerid Crater.  Our Golden Circle self drive with kids was one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

    Thingvellir National Park With Kids

    Our first stop on the Golden Circle was Thingvellir National Park, a beautiful national park that is also an important historical landmark near Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in  Iceland.  The country’s first Parliament convened here in 930.  Thingvellir is located in a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian Plates.  However, there are no obvious demarcations of the divide similar to the Bridge Between Two Continents in Reykjanes.

    Thingvellir

    After arriving at Thingvellir, we paid the 500 kr parking fee (pay and display) and headed toward the Visitor’s Center.  We picked up a free map but found it confusing at best.  So, we took a trail toward Thingvallabaer and Thingvallakirkja and enjoyed the beautiful vistas, rocky cliffs and fissures along the way. Thingvallabaer, a farm house with five gables that serves as the Prime Minister’s summer house and the park warden’s office, is a short walk. Thingvallabaer was constructed in 1930 on the 1,000th anniversary of the parliamentary assembly.  The residence is definitely not palatial by any means, but certainly charming, and the Prime Minister entertains foreign dignitaries here. We met a park ranger here who had coincidentally lived near us in Cleveland’s Little Italy during the late 1980s and early 1990s in a building where a high school friend of mine lived at the same time.  It is a small world.

    Next to Thingvallabaer is Thingvallakirkja, a tiny church that seats about 35 and coordinates with Thingvallabaer’s cream with black and green trim color scheme.  We saw many very small churches throughout Iceland, and the kids were especially excited to peek inside of this one.

    Thingvallakirkja

    The kids explored the cemetery between Thingvallabaer and Thingvallakirkja before we head back to the car. 

    Thingvellir is also the site of the Silfra fissure where divers snorkel between the North American and Eurasian continents.  This is one of the best fresh water dive spots.  Appropriate gear, included wetsuits, is necessary, and many tour companies offer snorkeling tours even to inexperienced divers.

    • Kid Facts: Thingvellir was the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. In 1930, it became Iceland’s first national park.
    • Kid Moment: Our kids (particularly our daughter) enjoyed following a family of ducks on the trail. 

     

    Geysir Hot Spring Area With Kids

    Our next stop visiting the Golden Circle with kids was the Geysir Hot Spring Area.  Geysir, which is also known as the Great Geysir, is the geyser for which all geysers are named.  Geysir derives from the Icelandic verb meaning “to gush.”   While Geysir erupted over 500 feet in the air in the 19th century, its eruptions became infrequent.  People found that if they threw rocks into Geysir, they could force an eruption. Unfortunately, this practice ultimately led to Geysir’s demise, and Geysir is currently dormant and just bubbles steam.  64°18′39″N 20°18′14″W

    While Geysir no longer erupts, visitors looking for an active geyser will Strokkur just a short walk from Geysir. Strokkur is not as high as Geysir once was, but it a perfect tourist destination because it erupts every few minutes at varying heights up to 125 feet. We stayed for at least six or seven eruptions and really enjoyed it even though it was one of the buggiest locations on our trips. While none of us were actually bitten, but we felt constantly swarmed.

    • Kid Facts: Geyers are temporary geological features that are usually found in volcanic terrain. Geysers erupt because ground water comes into contact with hot bedrock and heats up. When the water reaches peak temperature and pressure, a tall column of superheated water and steam are sent up into the air.
    • Kid Moment: This is a good place to talk about the importance of leaving no trace when you visit nature and the destruction that human interference can cause.
    • Kid Caution: Because the erupting water is super hot, children need to be reminded to stay back behind the rope

     

    Gullfoss With Kids

    Gullfoss is my all-time was my favorite waterfall – even tops Niagara Falls. The water was crystal blue, and there were great views of both sets of falls and plenty of rainbows when we visited. While Gullfoss is not as wide, as steep or as powerful as Niagara Falls, I immediately made the comparison in terms of beauty.  What made Gullfoss so special was that it was so much more untouched than Niagara.   The tourist center, located right off the parking lot, was well developed with a restaurant and tourist shops, but it was the only building visible from the falls in any direction.  The 360 degree view was simply breathtaking.  64°19′34″N 20°07′16″W

    • Kid Facts:  Different investors in the 20th century wanted to use Gullfoss to generate electricity, but it was eventually sold to Iceland and protected.
    • Kid Moments:  Look for rainbows from every viewpoint.  Talk about protecting natural wonders.
    • Kid Caution:  Paths at Gullfoss are more developed than many other sites, but because the view is from the top, it is necessary to hold hands with little ones and keep them well back from the roped off areas or edges.

     

    Kerið With Kids

    Kerið is a volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle route and easy for families to explore. Landowners charge an entrance fee (400 kr or $3.75). 64°02′28″N 20°53′06″W / 64.041°N 20.885°W

    On our way to Kerið, we turned too soon and ended up on an unpaved road we believed would take us to Kerið.  We did realize our mistake but found the mystery crater adjacent to Kerið pretty fascinating in the meantime.

    Why We Loved the Golden Circle With Kids

    The Golden Circle is a fantastic day trip from Reykjavik, particularly in the summer when daylight is not a scarce commodity.  We were fortunate to have several days in Reykjavik at the end of our Ring Road trip and chose to visit the Golden Circle on the day with the best weather forecast and actually had no rain whatsoever.  The Golden Circle highlights some of Iceland’s most beautiful natural wonders and a bit of history, too.

    Interested in finding out more about Iceland with kids?  Check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, which is a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.

  • Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: The Lava Tunnel Raufarhólshellir

    Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: The Lava Tunnel Raufarhólshellir

    Traveling to Iceland with kids means doing advance research to determine whether or not a specific activity is a viable option. Thankfully, Catherine’s experience at the Lava Tunnel was so outstanding, that I knew it was a “must do” activity one mu own trip to Iceland with kids.

    The drive from Reykjavik to the Lava Tunnel Raufarhólshellir was approximately 30 minutes and was every bit as beautiful as the drive down to Vik.

    Catherine and her family toured the Lava Tunnel in June 2017, and this was something I absolutely wanted to experience. When planning our Icelandic adventure, I had really wanted to experience a glacier cave, but unfortunately, found that late May is too late for most ice cave experiences.

    Fortunately for us, the Lava Tunnel ended up scratching that itch and then some!

    The experience begins with a debriefing and a warning as to what is permitted and what is not permitted. We were told that helmets must stay on at all times and to please refrain from disturbing the ice. The main guide traveled ahead of the group and narrated, while another Lava Tunnel employee followed at the end of the group, presumably to make sure that no one got lost in the shuffle.

    The opening to the Lava Tunnel.

    The Lava Tunnel formed 5000+ years ago and, we learned, travels the road leading from Reykjavik to Raudfarholshellir. Prior to embarking on our tour, we were told the experience is like “walking inside a leaky refrigerator and staying there for one hour.” This ended up being spot on as the heavy rains from the preceding days had created a very damp and moist environment. I was surprised to see the three openings up to the sky (I didn’t expect openings) and loved when we reached the furthest part of the tunnel that our tour was permitted to travel. We turned off all our lights and spent a moment in complete darkness. There we were told that no matter how long you stayed in the dark, your eyes would not adjust and there was simply no light to reflect.

    Along the way, we were thrilled to see the ice formations and were told by the guide that the ice was rapidly melting and would not be there in two weeks time.

    Although there was ice on the ground for some portions of the tour, it was perfectly manageable. My son and I wore sneakers and had no problems. Per the guide, it can be extremely slippery if visiting in the winter, so proper hiking shoes may be needed.

    My son absolutely loved the Lava Tunnel experience and this may have been the highlight of his entire trip. The Lava Tunnel offers a 3-4 hour “extreme tour,” which takes guests further into the tunnel. Unfortunately, the minimum age recommended is 12, so we are still a few years shy from qualifying. Our one hour standard tour of the Lava Tunnel cost $64 (kids free!), which was a real bargain and I highly recommend this experience. Catherine’s two year old daughter was happy to ride in a carrier last summer when they visited, but I was happy that my 3.5 year old was not with us on this adventure as he would not have been satisfied in the carrier and there was just enough rocky climbing that I would have nervous the whole time. My almost nine year old had no issues.

    Pro Tip:

    Although there is a sign for the Lava Tunnel on the road about 10 minutes prior to arrival, there is no Lava Tunnel sign at the actual pull out. I managed to drive past it and had to flip a tight u-turn, so keep your eyes peeled for the Raudfarholshellir sign, which will indicate that it’s time to pull off for the Lava Tunnel.

    Planning your own trip to Iceland with kids?  Stay tuned for Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: The Blue Lagoon, and be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.

  • Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: 18 hours in Reykjavik

    Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: 18 hours in Reykjavik

    Following our hike out to see the downed Navy DC plane on Solheimasandur Beach, we continued our journey to Reykjavik, where we had approximately 18 hours to spend. Although the weather was mostly dry, with maybe a slight mist during our walk, the drive into Reykjavik was extremely stressful as we encountered near white out conditions from the rain. Not being comfortable on unfamiliar roads, I drove at or below the speed limit and kept getting passed by other drivers!

    When we finally arrived in Reykjavik, it was almost 3pm and we had not eaten anything but some yogurt for breakfast and crackers for lunch. My priority was to find a light snack and a friend, who had traveled to Reykjavik two years earlier, recommended the Reykjavik Fish Restaurant. We were in extreme luck as I managed to find parking directly across the street from the restaurant and, although metered, parking is free on Sundays so we didn’t even have to pay!

    My son can be somewhat of a picky eater, so not knowing precisely how the fish was prepared, I simply ordered one serving of fish and chips to share. Our one order of fish and chip, a side sauce, and a beer (for me!) was $28.

    After our snack, which was just enough to tide us over, we headed to our guesthouse to check in for the night. Earlier that day, I had received check in instructions via email with access codes for both the main entry door and our private room + bath. The guesthouse was easy to find and I appreciated the free and ample parking outside.

    Our room was small, but clean, and provided everything we needed for our overnight stay. The downstairs level contains a small kitchen/dining area with free coffee/tea, but we did not use any of the amenities. Nor did we take the time to check out the rooftop spa on the deck, but it was nice to know that we had options if desired.

    After checking in to our room, we headed off to attend the vigil mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Although not as unique as Catherine’s mass experience in Akureyri, the Cathedral was beautiful.

    After mass, I decided it was time to get my son some actual food. Although he had eaten some fish and fries at lunch, he had really eaten very little during our entire trip. I searched around online for pizza places and quickly located a recommended restaurant only 15 minutes away from the Cathedral.

    The food at Eldofninn Pizzeria was very good, but also extremely pricey. There was one pizza that I was intrigued by, but at $33 for a personal pie, I decided to skip it and just go for a slightly more reasonably priced option. Our total for dinner (two pizzas, one soft drink, one 175ml bottle of wine) was $63. After eating our fill, we headed back to our guest house for the night.

    The next morning, we woke up bright and early and the weather was surprisingly clear. We quickly packed up our stuff and headed into town (the guest house is about 10 minutes walking distance from the main town, but I decided to just drive to save us time). With a noon reservation at the Lava Tunnel, we had about 2.5 hours to pass before we needed to be on the road.

    I was happy to find a coffee shop with pastries, which we gladly indulged in.

    My $3 small coffee!

    Afterwards, we wandered across the street where we happened upon Hallgrimskirkja. I remembered that Catherine had visited Hallgrimskirkja and that she even mentioned it again as something we should strongly considering taking the time to experience while in Reykjavik. Since the weather was beautiful and we had time, we decided to go ahead and head up the observation tower.

    Although the inside of the church was nothing to write home about, the views of Reykjavik from the top were simply astonishing. We spent a good 20 minutes just checking out the city from every angle.

    There is only one elevator that brings visitors to the top and capacity is limited to 6 (although people definitely squeezed in more), so there is a bit of a wait to get to the top. Luckily, the one elevator set up helps to limit the number of people on the observation tower. My son had a great time pointing out the coffee shop we had just had breakfast at 20 minutes prior. Admission for one adult and one child under 12 was just under $10.50.

    The Hallgrimskirkja experience from start to finish occupied almost an hour of our time, so by then, it was time to make our way back to the vehicle and get on the road to our next adventure, the Lava Tunnel!

    Planning your own trip to Iceland with kids?  Continue reading Icelandic Weekend Getaway With Kids: The Lava Tunnel Raufarhólshellir, and be sure to check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.