The 15 Whale Watching in Reykjavík That Earn Their Price

1.Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9,838 reviews · 3 hours · from $87Our pick

Cruise Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavík with trained guides who help you spot minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and seabirds. The trip includes indoor and outdoor seating, heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, and a café. Guides such as Maria, Lucky, and Gunther have been praised for their clear wildlife commentary and patient spotting.

“This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever done on holiday. Getting to see two humpback whales in their natural habitat was absolutely phenomenal. The boat was comfortable with many vantage points, and it had a fully stocked bar with loads of snacks and a variety of drinks to choose from. The staff were friendly and informative.”

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2.Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,911 reviews · 3 hours · from $107

Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor for up to three hours aboard the Amelia Rose, an offshore yacht with three viewing decks, a warm lounge, bar, WiFi, and blankets. Guides such as Lucky and Roman help you spot minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Hotel pickup is optional, and a return ticket is offered if no wildlife appears.

“We really loved our time whale watching on the Amelia Rose Yacht! We were lucky with good weather in the morning and saw a few Humpback whales and many Minke whales. The guide was very helpful teaching us how to spot the first signs of whales coming to the surface. The wind on the deck of the boat does get cold so bundle up! And there is a nice seating area inside with a bar and a bathroom if needed. We also enjoyed the smaller crowd on this boat and were able to see most of the whales spotted between the three levels of decks available.”

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3.The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,626 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $105

Sail from Reykjavik with Elding Whale Watching for about three hours across Faxaflói Bay. A live guide such as Pedro or Kylie may explain the marine life, while the crew provides warm overalls, raincoats, blankets, WiFi, and access to a wildlife exhibition. Humpback whales and minke whales are the main targets.

“Great tour - tour guide was knowledgable and all the staff were friendly. Sea sickness tablets were provided incase anyone needed them, and we saw whales! A great experience”

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4.Whale Watching Tour with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,307 reviews · from $90

Cruise from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour aboard Andrea, Iceland’s largest whale-watching ship, with guides such as Patrick sharing facts about minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and more. You get indoor seating, heated areas, WiFi, warm overalls, a café, and a free return ticket if no whales or dolphins appear.

“Saw two humpback whales and a couple of seals up close. Food was affordable and good, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and also taught us a lot about the animals. Very easy ride, the sea wasn’t rough at all!”

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5.the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 908 reviews · 3 hours · from $108

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói bay with Elding Adventure at Sea. A marine biologist guide explains the wildlife while you watch for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and seabirds. Warm overalls, onboard WiFi, professional photos, and a free return trip if you see nothing are included.

“Saw two beautiful humpback whales on my tour. The best part of this tour is the company being aware of the whales and not distrusting them too much. Allowing them their space and not using sonar! Do this tour if you want to go on a tour that is respectful of the environment and animals. P.s their hot chocolate is fantastic!!!!!!! And it’s cheap”

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6.Whale Watching Tour with Professional Guide from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 744 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $97

Set sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for about 3.5 hours with professional guides, including guides such as Patrick and Joe. Look for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and summer puffins. Warm flotation overalls, indoor cabins, WiFi, toilets, and a return ticket if no whales appear are included.

“We had such a fantastic time on the boat looking out for the whales. And we managed to see a few up close which was exhilarating! The crew on board were all so nice and lovely and we had a wonderful afternoon! It was also really nice to hear the commentary with regards to facts about the whales and we learned so much.”

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7.Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 711 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $103

From Geirsgata 11, you’ll cruise through Kollafjörður and into Faxaflói Bay for up to two hours of whale and dolphin watching. English-speaking guides such as Patrick, Patrik, and Lukas add facts and humor, while warm flotation overalls, indoor cabins, WiFi, and a free return trip after no sightings make this a practical choice.

“Amazing! Patrik was increble, so funny and knew exactly where to find the humpback whales. He took photos for us which meant we were free to enjoy and immerse ourselves in the experience”

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8.Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 707 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

Set out from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor aboard MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose for a three-hour wildlife cruise. Guides such as Lucky and Rebecca share sharp spotting tips as you search Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, seabirds, and summer puffins. Warm blankets, Wi-Fi, a bar, and a return ticket after a no-sighting trip add practical value.

“Very good, boat was lovely and we did manage to see a few whales”

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9.Whale Watching Cruise on a Yacht in Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 684 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

Set out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for about three hours in Faxaflói Bay. A guide helps you search for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and perhaps orcas, while the crew shares facts about marine life and the city’s islands. The yacht has indoor seating, outdoor viewing areas, toilets, and a café-style bar.

“The boat was great, lots of places to watch for whales and places to sit! Clean and comfortable.. Crew was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable!! Great trip”

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10.Whale-Watching Boat Tour with Expert Guide from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 651 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $86

Set out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor for a 2.5-hour express or 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise across Faxaflói Bay. Your naturalist guide helps spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises and puffins. Thermal coveralls, indoor seating, Wi-Fi and a second-chance ticket if no wildlife appears are included.

“We had an amazing experience on this tour. Although there are obviously no guarantees that you'll see wildlife, we were very fortunate to see Humpback whales, Minke whales and Harbour porpoises. It was really incredible! Amongst the birds were puffins as well. Would definitely do it again!”

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11.Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 621 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Join a 12-seat RIB from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour for two hours among Faxaflói Bay’s islands. Expect fast runs to whale areas, city views, puffins near Lundey, and guides such as Claudia, Julian, or Julien sharing clear marine facts. Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety gear are included.

“We had a fantastic experience going on a whale safari with this company. We saw several whales and dolphins close to the boat. The guide was very enthusiastic and had a lot of knowledge. The captain was very experienced and we felt safe. Highly recommend it.”

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12.Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 493 reviews · 1 day · from $34Best value

At Whales of Iceland in Reykjavík, you’ll walk among life-size models of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters. Use the audio guide in 17 languages, study interactive displays, and watch Whale Wisdom, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, or Sonic Sea in the Fin Whale Theatre. The museum is family-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and easy to visit in under an hour.

“Very interesting to see the life size models of the whales. There was a big screen that showed a video about how and why the world should look after these wonderful creatures.”

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13.Whale Watching & Dolphin Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 488 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $108

Cruise Faxafloi Bay for about three hours aboard Harpa or Amelia Rose, looking for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and summer puffins. An English-speaking guide explains the wildlife, while the yacht offers outdoor viewing decks, indoor seating, blankets, a bar, snacks, and Wi-Fi. If no wildlife appears, you receive a free second tour.

“Fantastic trip, crew were very friendly and welcoming. We saw whales up close and it's a memory that'll stay with us forever”

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14.Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 442 reviews · from $148

Pair a one-hour puffin cruise on the shallow-draft Old Skúli with a 2 to 3.5-hour whale trip aboard the spacious Andrea. Guides such as Patrick and Rebecca have brought lively stories and clear wildlife facts to the boats. You may see minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and plenty of puffins.

“It was very nice with all the Whales . We were quite lucky how close we could see them . Also the Puffins we could see a lot of them . The guide was kind and interesting to listen . He told some funny storys as well. So all in all very recommendable. Thanks again !”

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15.Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 393 reviews · 2 hours · from $194

Search Faxaflói Bay for whales and dolphins aboard a fast RIB boat with shock suspension seats. Your English-speaking guide points out marine life, birds, and Reykjavik’s coast. Summer trips stop near Akurey puffin island, and the $194 price includes warm flotation gear and entry to the Whales of Iceland Museum.

“Honestly such a cool experience! We’ve whale watched a few times, but always by bigger boats. Highly recommend giving the RIB a try, it’s honestly so cool to be that close to whales and puffins! We even saw some dolphins on our trip. Highly recommend!”

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