{"id":23120,"date":"2026-08-12T02:55:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T00:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wandernotizen.com\/?p=23120"},"modified":"2026-08-13T03:05:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:05:57","slug":"iceland-stopover-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wandernotizen.com\/en\/island-zwischenstopp-kanada\/","title":{"rendered":"Iceland as a stopover to Canada \u2013 Our family trip between two continents 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

How cool is Iceland as a stopover after Canada? We tested it out and spent a few days in this fascinating country. You can easily book a stopover in Iceland when flying with Icelandair. We are thus kicking off our summer trip to North America in the far north of Europe. The small island, which is huge compared to Malta, has been one of my favorite countries since 2014, and I'll tell you right away why it is a perfect fit for our North America tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, I am all the more pleased that we were able to introduce our kids to this amazing place on our planet. A place of elves, trolls, and mythical creatures, but also of exciting volcanoes and geological features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Iceland, the people are friendly, the food is delicious, and your stay will be an adventure. Promised! Because Iceland is, among other things, the only inhabited place in the world where the seam between Europe and North America lies on land. Walking to North America, so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about what we experienced as a family in Iceland and how we spent a few unforgettable days there in the following travelogue about Iceland as a stopover after Canada. Have fun and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of Iceland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

01. Blue Lagoon Island – Lohnt sich ein Besuch?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Blue
Blue Lagoon mit Kindern – Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

JA. Und weiter geht’s zum n\u00e4chsten Kapitel. \ud83d\ude02 Na gut, also gerne auch etwas ausf\u00fchrlicher. Obwohl die Blue Lagoon DER Tourimagnet ist, lohnt sich ein Besuch auf jeden Fall. Ich war 2014 zum ersten Mal in der Blue Lagoon und damals war es noch etwas nat\u00fcrlicher. Wir konnten uns damals beispielsweise den weissen Vulkanschlamm vom Boden der Blue Lagoon nehmen und uns damit einreiben. Heute gibt es daf\u00fcr eine Bar, wo die erste Ladung gratis ist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also security personnel everywhere, which I wasn't used to from before. Nevertheless, the Blue Lagoon is and remains a highlight, and therefore I would always plan a visit. There are many alternatives in Iceland, but these are either way up in the north and thus unreachable if you are only staying a few days. Or they are just as expensive, but lack the cult status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had a lot of fun with the kids there and spent three nice and relaxing hours in the Blue Lagoon. In the first half, we even had the Blue Lagoon all to ourselves. That was great. For that, we showed up right at 7:30 in the morning. From 9:00 AM on, the lagoon then filled up with all the other tourists. The Blue Lagoon is certainly among our highlights when we visited Iceland as a stopover on our way to Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bridge between the Continents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"bridge
Island Reise mit Familie – Die Br\u00fccke zwischen zwei Kontinenten<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I briefly mentioned it above. There is actually a place in Iceland where you can walk on foot from Europe to North America. The bridge called Mi\u00f0l\u00edna is located just a few minutes away from the Blue Lagoon. This allows you to combine these two trips perfectly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our kids thought that was super funny, since they know that we are actually on our way to North America. They asked if we don't have to fly anymore now. Theoretically, no. \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bridge itself is made of steel and is 15 meters long. It practically just symbolically spans the seam between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Incidentally, these plates drift 2 cm apart every year. This means that Iceland grows every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

02. Reykjavik – Die Stadt, die manchmal schl\u00e4ft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Iceland
Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada – Reykjavik, die farbenfrohe Hauptstadt<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is hardly any other capital that is as cozy as the Icelandic one Metropolis<\/strong> Reykjavik. It's cold here in the winter and in the summer too. \ud83e\udd76 But in return, the city is colorful, picturesque, and inviting. The shopping street lives up to its name, though it mainly offers Icelandic goods. Among them are the most comfortable, warmest, and coziest merino wool sweaters for a mere 400 EUR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Yes, the city and countryside are expensive, but they are also wonderfully beautiful. We rented an apartment right across from Hallgr\u00edmskirkja. That is the stony, gray parish church that defines Reykjav\u00edk's skyline and, alongside the volcanoes and the Blue Lagoon, is surely the island's main attraction. It is almost impossible to live more centrally, and yet it was extremely quiet. Although it was peak season, since we visited Iceland in July, we were more or less alone across almost the entire island. And so there wasn't particularly much going on in the city either.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Die Stadt selbst hat ca. 140’000 Einwohner, im Grossraum Reykjavik leben allerdings zwei Drittel der Gesamtbev\u00f6lkerung. Das sind 249’054 Menschen. Insgesamt leben also in Island ca. 249+126, gemerkt 10… = knapp 400’000 Menschen. Das entspricht 4 Einwohnern pro Quadratkilometer. Somit ist Island das am d\u00fcnnsten besiedelte Land Europas. Reykjavik ist \u00fcbrigens die n\u00f6rdlichste Hauptstadt eines souver\u00e4nen Staates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of sovereign, besides the odd window-shopping stroll that ended up at the register with numerous sovereign souvenirs, we checked out a very special museum in Reykjavik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The punk museum in an old restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Punk
Das Punkmuseum in Reykjavik – Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is house number 0 in Reykjavik and served as a public toilet for over 70 years. I guess that means everyone in Iceland knows the place. A punk museum was opened there in 2016 on the shopping street Bankastr\u00e6ti. Punk was very popular in Iceland, especially in the 80s. The artist Bj\u00f6rk is the best known and has sold millions of albums worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don't really want to go into all the details right now. For a few pennies admission, you can get a good impression of the Icelandic and general punk scene in a tiny museum here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had fun because the kids thought it was funny that leather jackets have metal spikes, that toilets are built into the museum (yes, exactly the ones from back then, just in clean or newly made dirt), and how the punks styled their hair. Plan 7 minutes for the visit. No, okay, it's a few more. We were inside for about 20 minutes. But I still want to mention the museum because it's a bit out of the ordinary and, as I said, we really enjoyed it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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03. Lava Centre Island – Volcano Exhibition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Lava
Lava Centre – Island mit Kindern<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lava Centre Island is the ideal stop if you are only on the island for a few days. That is because here you can learn many exciting details and facts about Iceland's geology. And since you don't have time to drive the long Ring Road and perhaps see real lava fields, you can experience an eruption almost live at the Lava Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The museum is designed to be interactive, so here you experience what it feels like to stand right next to an eruption. The Lava Centre is not a dusty museum; rather, through cool lighting effects, artificial smoke, vibrations, and soundscapes, it feels as though you are experiencing a volcanic eruption live. Just from a safe distance. Our kids were genuinely in awe of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, the Lava Centre is located right in the middle of a volcanic zone. It lies, so to speak, in the shadow of South Iceland's most famous volcanoes: Eyjafjallaj\u00f6kull, Katla, and Hekla. What I found impressive is that you can view the earth's live data here. There is a large board that displays the sensors of the meteorological office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have never experienced an earthquake live, you can experience the feeling here in the exhibition on a special platform. A safe earthquake, so to speak, but with the same feeling. The Lava Centre was an ideal day trip from Reykjavik for us during our Iceland stopover on the way to Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

04. The Golden Circle Island – Mit 2 Geheimstipps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Golden
Gullfoss Wasserfall Island – Golden Circle Island mit Kindern<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most famous excursions in Iceland is certainly the Golden Circle. It combines the most beautiful sights on a roughly 300 km long circular route. This can be easily driven year-round with any car. This time we had a simple Suzuki Swift, as a spontaneous emergency car of sorts, after our actual car rental didn't show up at the airport as agreed. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend planning a full day for the tour. We took about 10 hours for the Golden Circle. You can, of course, just stop at every place for a few minutes, quickly snap a few photos, and be back in 4 hours stressed out with 10 photos in your pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical overview map Golden Circle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I normally don't like stealing and I take all my photos myself. But the following map is really great and you can use it for your planning. I found it on the south.ie website. Thanks, guys! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Golden Circle Karte – Quelle South.is 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The classic Golden Circle tour consists of the three famous sights: Geysir, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the national park. However, there are a few other nice stops along the route that I can recommend to you. But one thing at a time. If you start from Reykjavik, then this is your first stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00deingvellir National Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"island
Iceland with children in the national park 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You could spend a whole day alone in the national park. Here you can snorkel between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in the Silfra fissure, and there are many well-maintained hiking trails through the gorges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We walked to the \u00d6xar\u00e1rfoss waterfall and enjoyed the picturesque yet mystical surroundings. Our kids were on the lookout for elves and trolls since it kept raining. Our elf app on the phone, kindly provided by Gemini, actually photographed two elves. Our kids were sooo happy and hopefully won't read this in 5 years or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weiter ging es f\u00fcr uns dann nur noch zur Kirche \u00deingvallakirkja. An dieser Stelle steht bereits seit \u00fcber 1’000 Jahren eine Kirche. Direkt daneben befinden sich die Sommerresidenz des Premierministers und weitere bedeutungslose Bauten. Die Geb\u00e4ude sind dennoch sehenswert. Lauf unbedingt daran vorbei und spendiere ein paar Fotos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, the national park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of the Althing, one of the oldest still-existing parliaments in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insider tip 1: Efstidalur II Farm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the way to the geyser (the next stop) is the family-run farm Efstidalur II. The specialty of this farm is Icelandic ice cream, especially made with skyr. It is a farm-to-table operation, and you eat your ice cream in a room that offers a view of the barn. So while you are eating your ice cream, you might already see the production of the next batch. You practically can't get any closer to the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above the ice cream parlor there is also a restaurant that offers local specialties. I can't say anything about that, however, since we were already super happy with the delicious ice cream. Especially if you are traveling around Iceland with kids, I can warmly recommend this stop. Our kids really loved this stop. They like riding in the car, but are happy every time we stop somewhere. Especially when there is also ice cream involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geysir – Der Namensgeber aller Geysire weltweit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Iceland
Etwas mehr los als in 2013 – Geysir Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Etwa 90 Minuten von Reykjavik entfernt liegt das Geothermalgebiet Haukadalur. In diesem Areal findest du zwei ber\u00fchmte Geysire. Einmal ist da der „Grosse Geysir“, der leider nur alle paar Jahre mal ausbricht. Er hat den Geysiren auf der Welt den Namen Geysire gegeben. Klingt komisch, ist aber so. Der Geysir Stokkur, nur ein paar 100 Meter weiter, bricht aber alle ca. 10 Minuten aus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So he guarantees that you'll take the full Iceland geyser experience home with you. I still know the place from our visit 2013<\/a><\/strong> And back then we were actually alone here. But even during our visit in 2026, the excitement was high. When is it finally going to erupt and how high will the water spray? Especially the kids asked us these questions what felt like 100 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We saw two gorgeous eruptions. I estimate that the water shot up about 15-20 meters. Impressive, considering it is boiling hot. The geyser is a must-see attraction when you are in Iceland. Even if you don't do the entire Golden Circle drive, definitely stop by the geyser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a visitor center on the other side of the street with many souvenirs and also a restaurant. However, I'll give you an insider tip later below in case you get hungry on your Golden Circle tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gullfoss Waterfall – Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Gullfoss
Naturgewalten in Island – Der Gullfoss Wasserfall – Island mit Kindern<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the national park and the geyser, Gullfoss Waterfall\u2014or Gullfoss, as the Germans say\u2014is the third main attraction of the Golden Circle. Gullfoss<\/strong> heisst \u00fcbersetzt „Goldener Wasserfall“, weshalb Gullfoss Waterfall<\/strong> actually Golden Waterfall waterfall<\/strong> should be called. But that's just a digression that's really unimportant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More important is a visit to the aforementioned, because the surroundings and also the waterfall itself are worth seeing. It is not considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Europe for nothing. A perfect stop if you visit Iceland as a layover on the way to Canada, just like we did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes Gullfoss so spectacular is the two-tiered cascade. The river, which is fed by a glacier, plunges down in two stages. The first stage is 11 meters deep, the second 21 meters. But above all, the optical illusion that occurs afterwards is cool. Because it looks as if the huge river simply vanishes without a trace into the ground. Only at the edge do you then see the deep and narrow gorge into which the water plunges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, there is also a really interesting story about Gullfoss. The reason why we are still allowed to visit Gullfoss today is thanks to an Icelandic woman who vehemently opposed the sale or leasing of the waterfall around 1900.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her name is Sigr\u00ed\u00f0ur T\u00f3masd\u00f3ttir, so to speak the daughter of a Thomas. In Iceland, surnames work like that. Around 1900, a hydroelectric power plant was supposed to be built at Gullfoss. Sigridur sets off on foot for Reykjavik, 110 km away, to convince politicians there that Gullfoss must remain a natural wonder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was accompanied by a lawyer, and although she actually lost the court case at the time, the years of delay caused the investors to run out of money, thus causing the project to fail. Well then, let's say thank you. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geheimtipp 2: Fri\u00f0heimar – Restaurant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"delicious
My restaurant recommendation for your trip to Iceland with family <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After all that sightseeing, we\u2019re all really hungry by now. And so we come to our second hidden gem on the Golden Circle: the Fri\u00f0heimar restaurant. It\u2019s located about 30 km\u2014and just as many minutes\u2014from Gullfoss Waterfall. At first glance, Fri\u00f0heimar looks like a huge complex of greenhouses. But the restaurant itself is sensational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are sitting so comfortably in a rather large restaurant, with a view into the greenhouses. Not only is this a wonderful atmosphere, but above all it is also super interesting. The restaurant is known for its fresh tomato soup with homemade bread. And this was truly delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in winter, tomatoes grow here on the estate, completely chemical-free and organically. The greenhouses are powered by geothermal energy, using hot water from a private spring. Electricity is generated from hydropower, so the tomatoes have sufficient light and warmth even in the dead of the Icelandic winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fri\u00f0heimar is also an important location for Icelandic vegetable farming. Thanks to limitless geothermal energy, tons of tomatoes can be grown here. The hog stands as a symbol of the island's modern self-sufficiency. I am always happy to support such projects, and therefore I can only warmly recommend a visit here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keri\u00f0 – Leuchtender Vulkankrater in Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Kerid
Keri\u00f0 Vulkankrater – Ein spannender Ort – Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The volcanic crater Keri\u00f0 is not officially part of the Golden Circle, but it is located right along the route. Therefore, you can easily include this stop in your plans. Because even though visiting the crater costs about 3 EUR per person (all other sights are free), it can easily compete with all the other attractions on the Golden Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vibrant play of colors is particularly striking. The crater walls consist of red and black volcanic ash, some of which is covered with green moss. In the center\u2014and right at your feet, so to speak\u2014lies a crater lake ranging in color from deep blue to emerald green. Depending on the angle of the light and the position of the sun, it shimmers in almost completely surreal colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keri\u00f0 ist \u00fcbrigens ein Einsturzkrater, das heisst, dass eine Magmakammer unter der Erdoberfl\u00e4che in sich zusammenbrach. Dies geschah vor ca. 3’000 Jahren. Dar\u00fcber hinaus ist es kein Stausee oder \u00c4hnliches, sondern bei dem Wasser handelt es sich um Grundwasser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can walk the circular trail at the top and enjoy the wonderful view of the crater on one side and the incredible surroundings up there on the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

05. Perlan – Wonders of Iceland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Perlan
Das beste Museum der Welt, sagen sie \u00fcber sich – Island Reise mit Familie<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you choose Iceland as a stopover on your way to Canada and drive from the airport into the city, Perlan will catch your eye on the left shortly before Reykjavik. It is probably Iceland's most fascinating museum under a glass dome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are actually on our way back to the airport, but still have a few hours left that we are using for a visit. What we completely forgot about, however, are our jackets. That is going to come back to haunt us later (read between the lines).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the check-in goes smoothly. I booked the tickets in advance, which I also recommend you do. We are greeted warmly and the museum is explained to us. Here we can experience Iceland's natural forces up close. That's perfect, especially since we don't have weeks to explore the whole island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will visit the interactive volcano exhibition first, which uses simulations to show how Icelanders live with the constant tremors beneath their feet. This exhibition is a bit reminiscent of the Lava Centre. But it gets muuuuch better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the museum\u2019s highlights is the flight through liquid lava. This attraction makes Perlan one of the best and most interactive natural history museums in the world. Inside a huge dome (not the one you see from the outside), we embark on a virtual flight over Iceland\u2019s most active volcanic regions. The 4D experience lasts about 10 minutes. Thanks to the 360-degree projection, it feels as though we\u2019re sitting in a helicopter flying just above the bubbling magma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a crazy feeling, and it is intensified even more by the fact that we are flying into the volcano. Seeing lava and rock to the left, right, above, and below\u2014and almost being able to feel it\u2014is an indescribable sensation. It shows in an interactive way how a volcanic eruption takes place. To top it all off, we are hurled out of the volcano along with the lava. The 4D effect is executed to perfection, and this experience alone makes for a perfect adventure when visiting Iceland with children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ein weiteres Highlight ist die echte Indoor-Eish\u00f6hle. Uhhhh…..das ist frisch da drin. Hier sind \u00fcber 350 Tonnen Schnee und Eis aus isl\u00e4ndischen Gletschern verbaut worden. In einem 100 Meter langen Tunnel k\u00f6nnen wir nicht nur durch echtes Gletschereis laufen, sondern auch viel \u00fcber die Entstehung der Gletscher und des Vulkanismus lernen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But please grab your jacket! It's damn cold and I'm freezing in my sweater. Even so, I'll be the one staying the longest out of the whole family because I find all the info so fascinating. Glacier ice looks blue, for example, because over the centuries the pressure has squeezed all the air bubbles out of the ice. That's why it no longer looks transparent, but blue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, Perlan is also the perfect thing to do in Iceland when the weather's bad\u2014if you happen to be there on one of the 363 rainy days of the year. \ud83e\udd2d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fazit – Island als Zwischenstopp nach Kanada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Iceland
We had a lot of fun on our trip to Iceland with the family<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That was so wonderful again. My second visit to this magical and amazing country. This time we visited Iceland as a stopover on our way to Canada, and the 5 days on the island were soooo worth it. We had the best time and, above all, our kids were happy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You searched for elves and trolls and tried to look behind every large stone. Experiencing volcanoes up close and visiting the individual museums rounded off the whole family trip to Iceland. Last but not least, all four of us were able to relax in the Blue Lagoon and unwind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Iceland has become significantly more touristic and commercial, its rugged nature still predominates and provides a special experience that is unmatched in most other countries on our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, I hope my post gives you great inspiration for your trip to Iceland, and perhaps you'll even plan to include Iceland as a stopover on a trip to Canada. It's a great opportunity to spend a few days there.<\/p>\n\n\n