Which Reykjavík Whale Watching Tour Is Right for You?
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Best for | Rating | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik: The Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour | 3 hrs | Large group | First-timers wanting an established operator | 4.4 | $102 | Check → |
| Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise | 3 hrs | Large group | Travellers who want the most-reviewed tour | 4.5 | $99 | Check → |
| From Reykjavik: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour | 3 hrs | Large group | Budget-conscious travellers | 4.3 | $98 | Check → |
| Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour with Expert Guide | 2-3 hrs | Large group | Wildlife enthusiasts wanting in-depth species commentary | 4.3 | $102 | Check → |
| Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition | 3.5 hrs | Large group | First-timers and families wanting added context | 4.5 | $119 | Check → |
| Reykjavík: Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht | 3 hrs | Small group | Travellers wanting a distinctive intimate experience | 4.5 | $110 | Check → |
| Reykjavik: Afternoon Whale Watching Super Saver | 3 hrs | Large group | Afternoon departures and calmer bay conditions | 4.1 | $102 | Check → |
| From Reykjavik: Full Day Whale Watching & Golden Circle Tour | About 10 hrs | Small group | Visitors with one day who want whale watching and Iceland's top inland sights | 4.7 | $193 | Check → |
How much does whale watching in Reykjavík cost?
Whale watching in Reykjavík costs ISK 12,490 to 14,500 (about $102 to $118) for an adult on a classic 3-hour boat bought direct, and $98 to $119 on the 3-hour tours you can book on this page. A realistic budget is $100-$120 per adult if you walk to the Old Harbour, about $30 more with hotel pickup, and about $200 for a 2-hour RIB speedboat.
What a Reykjavík whale watching trip costs, from operators' own price lists and the tours on this page. Krónur are converted at 1 USD = 123 ISK.
| Item | Adult | Child | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whale and dolphin boat tour | from $98 | see listing | cheapest tour on this page |
| Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise | from $99 | see listing | nearly 12,000 reviews |
| Special Tours classic, direct | ISK 12,490 (about $102) | ISK 6,245 (ages 7-15), free 0-6 | overalls, Wi-Fi, free retry ticket |
| Elding classic, direct | ISK 14,500 (about $118) | ISK 7,250 (ages 7-15), free 0-6 | 2.5-3.5 hours, sails all year |
| Hotel pickup with Elding | ISK 3,750 (about $30) | ISK 1,875 | skip it if you stay downtown |
| Whale watching plus Whales of Iceland exhibition | from $119 | see listing | museum entry included |
| Elding Premium RIB | ISK 24,900 (about $202) | same price, ages 10-15 | 2 hours, small fast boat |
| Whale watching and Golden Circle day | from $193 | see listing | about 10 hours |
To keep the cost down, walk to the Old Harbour instead of paying for pickup, bring your own snacks and pick a large classic boat. Children under 7 ride free on the classic boats with both operators.
Source: Elding, Special Tours.
Can you go whale watching in Reykjavík in winter?
Yes. Elding sails its classic Reykjavík whale watching trip all year, at 9:00 and 13:00 in winter, and Special Tours also runs year-round. In winter you mostly see minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, humpbacks stay in some years depending on food, and orcas are possible. Humpbacks even sing in Icelandic waters from November to February.
Winter means fewer departures, shorter daylight and rougher seas, so more trips are cancelled. Some operators sell evening Northern Lights cruises from the same harbour.
Source: Elding, Guide to Iceland, Visit Reykjavík.
What is the best month to go whale watching in Reykjavík?
May to September is the best time for whale watching in Reykjavík, with June to August the peak for humpbacks and long evening light. May has a bonus: across Iceland it had the fewest weather cancellations in Guide to Iceland's booking data, 6.7 percent, against 17.7 percent in March and 10.4 percent across the year.
Source: Visit Reykjavík, Guide to Iceland.
How likely are you to see whales in Reykjavík?
In summer you have about a 90 percent chance of seeing whales on a Reykjavík trip, but sightings are never guaranteed. If no whales appear, operators usually give you a free ticket to try again on another day, and Special Tours lists the retry ticket as part of every booking. Book your trip early in your stay so you have time to use it.
Coming into Akureyri on a cruise ship or touring the north? Akureyri's boats leave from the town centre next to the cruise port, and the fjord is usually calmer than Faxaflói Bay: see Akureyri whale watching tours.
Source: Visit Reykjavík, Special Tours.
Whale Species & Best Months in Reykjavík
| Species | January–March | April–June | July–September | October–December | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback Whale | — | Arriving | Peak | Departing | ~80% Jun–Sep |
| Minke Whale | Present | Present | Common | Present | All year, most often May to September |
| White-beaked Dolphin | Occasional | Common | Common | Occasional | High Apr–Oct |
| Orca | Rare | Rare | Rare | Rare | Rare, more often in winter |
What to Expect on the Day
Depart Reykjavík Old Harbour (Ægisgarður)
All tours depart from the Old Harbour, a working fishing port 10 minutes on foot from Hallgrímskirkja church and the city centre. The harbour is directly below the Harpa Concert Hall. Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure. The harbour area has cafés and the Kolaportið flea market nearby. The Whales of Iceland Museum is a 5-minute walk for the combo tour.
Into Faxaflói Bay
Faxaflói is a wide bay on Iceland's southwest coast, bounded by the Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas. The shallow feeding banks that attract whales are 10–30 minutes from the harbour. In good conditions, the journey out gives views of Esja mountain (914m) rising behind Reykjavík and the glacier on Snæfellsjökull volcano (70 km away) on clear days.
Humpback and minke whale sightings
Humpback whales are the main draw June through September: large (12–15m), active, and prone to spectacular breaching and tail-slapping. Minke whales are more frequent in May and early June and are smaller and faster, often seen feeding at the surface. The naturalist guide identifies individuals and explains feeding and migration behaviour in English and usually Icelandic, French, or German.
White-beaked dolphins
White-beaked dolphins are Iceland's most acrobatic cetacean and one of the fastest marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Pods of 10–50 animals frequently approach the boat to bow-ride, leaping and spinning alongside for extended periods. Their white beak, dark back, and pale flank patch make them instantly distinctive.
Midnight sun or long summer light
June and July departures in the evening operate under the midnight sun, and whale watching at 9pm in full daylight is a uniquely Icelandic experience. The light turns golden and horizontal in the long evening hours, giving spectacular photography conditions. Afternoon tours in August and September catch the long golden-hour light before sunset.
Watch: Humpback Whales in Reykjavík
Reykjavik Iceland Whale Watching Tour
What to Bring and What to Leave at Home
✓ Bring
- Warm, windproof layers: Faxaflói Bay is cold and exposed even in July
- Waterproof outer jacket (not just water-resistant)
- Warm hat and gloves (even in summer, mornings on deck are cold)
- Seasickness tablets if prone: the bay can be choppy
- Camera with telephoto or optical zoom
- Sunglasses
✗ Leave at home
- Thin summer clothes without layers: Iceland's summer is cool and windy on the water
- Pets
Where Tours Depart From
| Port / Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Reykjavík Old Harbour (Ægisgarður) | Ægisgarður 5–7, 101 Reykjavík. The working fishing harbour directly below the Harpa Concert Hall. 10-minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja church, 15 minutes from Laugavegur shopping street. Free street parking nearby. Buses 14 and 15 stop at Harpa. Exact dock confirmed in your GYG booking confirmation. |
How to Choose an Ethical Tour
What ethical operators do
- Maintain 100-metre distance from cetaceans (Icelandic law)
- Switch off engine when drifting alongside whale pods
- Choose operators with Responsible Whale Watching certificates (Íslandsstofa)
- Report stranded or entangled cetaceans to the Icelandic Coast Guard (Landhelgisgæslan) immediately
Red flags to avoid
- Boats accelerating toward surfacing whales
- Multiple boats surrounding the same whale pod from different directions
- Using underwater noise-making devices near cetaceans