Reykjavik · WHALE WATCHING
23 reviewed
Minke whales, humpbacks and white-beaked dolphins feed in Faxafloi bay right off the old harbour. This page ranks the best whale watching tours from Reykjavik: big stable boats versus fast RIBs and yachts, how long each stays out, which add puffins in summer, and which promise a free second trip if the whales stay down.
Reykjavík whale-watching in Faxaflói Bay with heated cabins and expert guides. Spot humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and seals.
“Fantastic experience! Lucky was so friendly and very informative throughout the full trip - we were so lucky with our experience.”
Cruise from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor on the Amelia Rose yacht. Look for humpback and minke whales, plus dolphins and porpoises, with warm comfort.
“Amazing, we saw so many whales, far exceeded our expectations.”
Elding’s classic Reykjavik whale-watch in Faxaflói Bay: warm overalls, live marine-guide spotting tips, and a free return if none appear.
“Very well organized tour. Friendly staff and crew. Kylie gave great information and was very knowledgeable. We saw two humpback whales very early on. Highly recommended”
Ride the Andrea in Faxafloi Bay for guided whale watching from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, with overalls and a second-chance ticket if none spotted.
“The tour was great. The guide shared with us so many useful info about the sea and animals living there. Se was great in helping us to spot whales and dolphins and puffin and we managed to see many of them. At the end she even shared with us amazing pictures she took. The boat was very comfortable, plenty of space for everyone and staff was very kind.”
3-hour certified whale cruise from Reykjavik into Faxaflói Bay with warm overalls, biologist-led commentary, and 90% whale sightings.
“The whale watching tour was an amazing experience. They had thermal overalls and rain jackets available to wear which was great and helped us stay warm through the boat trip and have great views on the deck. The guide was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot, and also had great communication about the whale spottings. We managed to see two humpback whales and several minke whales which was the highlight of the trip in Iceland. The boat also had great communication with the other companies about whale spottings so we all got to see the whales. The boat didn't go to close so that it wouldn't disrupt the whales…”
Reykjavik whale watching with a pro guide from Old Harbour, heated cabins and warm overalls, plus a free return ticket if no whales.
“We had a wonderful time on our whale watching excursion! Within five minutes, we saw Minke whales. We saw several more throughout the course of the trip, and also saw three Humpback whales as well as some harbor seals. We were thrilled with the whales and with Joe, the guide. One of the highlights of our trip for certain, would definitely recommend!”
Sail from Reykjavik to Faxaflói Bay in search of minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and seabirds, with heated cabins and overalls.
“An excellent and informative boat trip and getting to see a humpback whale was awesome”
3-hour yacht cruise from Reykjavik in Faxafloi Bay to spot whales, dolphins, and puffins, with warm blankets and onboard Wi‑Fi.
“The boat was comfortable and warm inside. We were incredibly lucky and found 2 humpback whales within 30 mins. One of the whales breached at least 15 times (we lost count). Our guide said this was very unusual for winter. Great experience, plenty of space to get a view. Guide was very approachable and had a good chat.”
3-hour yacht whale watching from Reykjavik Old Harbour with expert spotting, Reykjavik views, and a free return if no whales.
“Amazing experience and we got to see 2 humpbacks at close range. Wrap up warm as the wind chill makes it very very cold. Would do it again for certain! Only negative is that they rushed us back to harbour once we’d seen the whales cutting the trip short by nearly 45 mins, rather than giving us longer to watch them.”
Whale watching from Reykjavik with a naturalist guide, thermal coveralls, heated indoor viewing, and a second-chance ticket if you miss them.
“When they said " conditions are rough " they weren't joking... we were given the chance to defer but declined.. we were ok but many folk were feeding the fish their breakfast ... but we did see 3 x humpback whales and a seal plus many species of birdlife”
2-hour RIB whale watching from Reykjavík Old Harbor, aiming for humpbacks, minke, dolphins, and porpoises with warm gear and a try-again ticket.
“We totally enjoyed the RIB boar Ride and the area of the open ocean. We saw many whales as well, so it was totally worth it.”
Whales in Faxaflói Bay and puffins up close from Reykjavik, with warm overalls, binoculars, and a second-chance guarantee.
“Completely Icelandic ocean wildlife tour in time managable hours. Whales watching was amazing, we have seen multiple shows from humped back whales. The puffin tour was perfect with plenty of amazing informations from our guides. Enjoyed.”
Step into Whales of Iceland in Reykjavík for life-size whale models, interactive exhibits, and included documentary screenings in the Fin Whale Theatre.
“Great to see whales in life size - interesting contwnt and a coffee at the end made a well-rounded experience”
3-hour whale and dolphin yacht cruise from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor with warm gear, onboard Wi-Fi, guided wildlife spotting, and a free return if you miss out.
“We had such a great experience as a family (2 adults, 2 children). We have been wanting to see whales for a long time and finally got to tick them off the bucket list. So pleased we got to see a few groups of Humpback whales - amazing! I would definitely recommend this trip to others, the crew were great at tracking them and communicating with all on board. We didn't use the warm areas or bars onboard, but it was good to know that facilities were available if we needed to use them. We were too engrossed with taking the experience in on the top deck! 🐋❤️”
Go whale watching by fast RIB in Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavik, with warm gear, puffin stops in summer, and a museum ticket.
“we saw a humpback and several dolphins. and puffins! it was lovely! captain and guide were excellent!”
