Iceland for teens

Teenagers in Iceland have the world at their fingertips. Electrifying adventures abound, whether they’re a history buff interested in Viking battles, a thrill-seeker who wants to come face-to-face with lava, or a burgeoning sci-fi and fantasy fan.

Rafting down a glacial river, passed gorges, steaming hot springs, and cliff faces that dwarf your raft. Prepare to get wet

River rafting

White water rafting in Iceland is less intense than other well-known rafting destinations - there are no Class 5 rivers and just one Class 4 - which means that even newcomers to boating can enjoy twisting and turning in the cascading waters here.

Minors need their parents to sign a waiver.

There are three rivers to raft in: in the south, find the Hvíta river. Up north, try the Jökulsá Austari (or East Glacial River) and the parallel Vestari Jökulsá (West Glacial River) in Skagafjörður. Find out more on river rafting tours

It's a 'glowing' success at the Lava Show

Lava Show in Reykjavík and Vík

Who doesn’t want to see the red-hot glow of actual lava? This live show, the only one of its kind in the world, takes the innovative approach of superheating real lava and pouring it through a channel in the showroom. Feel the heat of the earth’s liquid mantle warm your face and hear the sound of molten rock sizzling as it flows. One of the most visually stunning phenomena in nature, volcanic eruptions are unpredictable and can be extremely dangerous, so this offers the rare chance to see moving lava up close.

There are two locations to see the show: one in the center of Reykjavik, and another in Vik along the southern coast.

Into the Glacier: the passage is buried deep in the Lakngjokull glacier below a roof of ice that’s 25 meters thick

Langjökull Cave

Get chilled walking through the longest man-made ice cave in the world, carved out of the middle of a glacier. The structure is so ambitious it took over four years just to plan. Half a kilometer long, the passage is buried deep in the Lakngjokull glacier below a roof of ice that’s 25 meters thick.

Each part of this visit is invigorating. To get there, you’ll take an 8x8 truck once used as a NATO missile launcher, modified to drive across glaciers in any weather. Next, you’ll put on crampons, the spiked shoes that ice climbers use, and spend an hour being guided through the long tunnel, charmingly lit by LED lights. 

Ice cave aficionados can meet at the foot of the glacier at Húsafell, or arrange a pick-up from a point in Reykjavik.

Zipline Akureyri takes you over a rustling river and steep cliffs at the river Glerá in the town of Akureyri

Ziplining

Hook yourself up to a zipline and take flight across rolling green valleys, canyons, gorges and waterfalls. This is appropriate for all levels of experience and physical fitness, and you can find ziplining spots in Hveragerði, Vík and Akureyri.

The country’s longest and fastest zipline, the MegaZipline in Hveragerði, is one kilometer long and takes you over the green rolling valleys below the Kambar plateau, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/hr. You can ride in the seated harness, or choose the one that allows you to soar headfirst like Superman. There’s also a ‘free-fall’ option that allows riders to plunge 13 metres, a thrilling experience of weightlessness.

Reynisfjara, a gorgeous black sand beach in the south, is home to Eastguard of the Sea on the show, the castle located on the east coast of the Wall

Game of Thrones tour

Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones may already recognize various scenic places around Iceland that the show used as filming locations. Since these locales are dotted around the country, there are various options for types and lengths of tours. You can take a comfortable coach bus to Þingvellir National Park to see where the White Walkers battled the Wildlings - the UNESCO heritage site is also where the Eagle’s Nest fortress was located in the show.

The bus will stop at other locations, or you can visit them on your own if you think you’re savvy enough to recognize them. The Þórufoss waterfall near Reykjavik was the backdrop for the scene when Drogon flies in and eats a goat. Gjáin, a small valley dotted with waterfalls and basalt columns two hours inland from the capital, is where Arya practices the “Water Dance” and is mocked by her friend and rival the Hound. Reynisfjara, a gorgeous black sand beach in the south, is home to Eastguard of the Sea on the show, the castle located on the east coast of the Wall. We encourage travellers to be mindful of their safety on this site.

The 22 meter viking ship Íslendingur

Viking World in Keflavík

For teens interested in the bloody history of Iceland's settlers , the Viking World is the defining museum to see actual physical artefacts from the time they sailed the freezing waters around Iceland and Norway.

Within, you can view the 22 meter viking ship Íslendingur from all sides and even stand on its deck. It’s an exact replica of an ancient Biking ship that dates from 870 AD, when Iceland was first settled. You can also see items excavated from the longhouse of some of Iceland’s earliest explorers. Check out the exhibit which allows you to experience a viking battle using a virtual reality headset.

There are enough activities for a range of ages and group sizes

Skemmtigarðurinn Theme Park in Reykjavík

If you need to work out some energy, try laser tag or paintball at this theme park on the outskirts of Reykjavik. There are enough activities for a range of ages and group sizes, from archery tag to mini golf to kayaking. 

While the teenagers shoot paintballs, younger kids can run around the model pirate ship, and adults can grab a couple beers at the pub. Once you’ve worked up a hunger with the paintball battles or axe-throwing, find a slice of pizza and cold drinks at the cafe on site.

Guided horseback riding tours are available across the island, and many offer pickups from Reykjavik

Horseback riding

An ideal way to get close to Iceland’s rugged terrain and explore the countryside away from busy roads and bus exhaust. Guided horseback riding tours are available across the island, and many offer pickups from Reykjavik. 

You’ll be riding an Icelandic horse, a small and stocky breed developed in Iceland from ponies brought to the island by Norse settlers a millennium ago. Icelandic law forbids the import of foreign horses in order to protect these hardy animals from disease, and are still used for traditional sheepherding work in Iceland.

Trot or gallop past mountains, lakes, and moors at the pace that feels appropriate for you - there are beginner, intermeditate, and advanced options. Tours will typically provide riding equipment and a hot beverage to warm you up at the end. Find horse riding tours