Whale Watching Tours in Reykjavik

Getting on a boat and going whale watching is one of those things you can't miss in Reykjavík during the summer period, which is the time when these wonderful species come to Iceland's shores to feed.

This is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have, especially during midnight in the summer. I will tell you the details about some of the most impressive experiences to see this species at its best.

During this activity on board a large boat you will have the opportunity to depart from the shores of Reykjavík and head out to the open sea to see these wonderful species that come so close to Iceland. You will spend three hours enjoying the sea, the whales and the conditions of the boat inside.

One of the main objectives of this specific excursion is that you will have fun watching the whales but at the same time, the tour will be completely friendly and respectful with the environment and the fauna that lives in this area.

Details of interest

• Price: from 76 euros per person.
• Duration: around 3 hours of sailing.
• Means of transport: you will go by boat with all amenities to the whale watching area, which may change location depending on weather conditions. You must arrive on your own at the port from where the excursion will depart.
• Advantages of this tour: it includes a live guide who explains in detail everything you need to know about the whales and their habitat, you have access to thermal trousers, mackintoshes and blankets. In addition, entrance to the wildlife exhibit is included and you will have wifi on board throughout the tour.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Gratuities are not included, nor are any food and beverages of your choice. Transfer to and from your hotel is not included.

Faxaflói is one of the most popular whale watching spots in Iceland, which is why this is one of my favourite whale watching tours. During the tour, which lasts just over three hours, you can't lose sight of the sea or leave your camera unattended to take pictures of beautiful species such as white-snouted dolphins, porpoises and of course humpback whales.

One of the biggest advantages of this cruise is that you are practically guaranteed a whale watching experience, since if during the day you don't see any whales, you will receive an invitation to go whale watching again. This is a perfect tour if you are visiting Reykjavik for a short time.

Interesting details

• Price: this experience can be priced at around 78 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3.5 hours, or 2.5 hours if you choose the express version.
• Means of transport: to get to the port of Reykjavík you will have to do it on your own, while during the experience you will be on board a cruise ship with all the comforts.
• Advantages of this excursion: guaranteed sighting with an additional entrance fee and no charge in case the sighting is not achieved during the trip. You will have access to free wifi on board during the whole experience. Thermal overalls are included in the price, in case you need one, and also, if necessary, sea sickness tablets are included, should you need any. The interior seating area is heated, and an audio guide app is included which is available in several languages, including Spanish. It is fully wheelchair accessible and works in all weather conditions.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Gratuities are not included in the tour price. Meals and drinks are also not included, but you have the possibility to buy on board during the trip. Transfer from the hotel and back is not guaranteed.

This is a private experience, where only you and your group participate. It is one of the best things to do during your family visit to Iceland and things to do with children in Reykjavik, although children must be at least ten years old to participate in the tour.

During the cruise you will not only have the opportunity to see whales and dolphins, but also other natural species of Icelandic wildlife such as the typical puffins, all while having a fully personalised explanation of the whole species watching tour.

Interesting details

• Price: from 121 euros per person.
• Duration: this tour can take approximately two hours from the start of the tour at the harbour until you return to the starting point.
• Means of transport: to get to the port from where the experience starts, you will have to travel on your own, either by rented car or using public transport. Once on board the cruise, the experience will continue on the open sea.
• Advantages of this excursion: in addition to the whales, you will also have the opportunity to see dolphins, porpoises and puffins. Included is a professional guide who will narrate the whole experience. You are also entitled to use the overalls available to protect you from the cold. All safety equipment necessary to go on board is included. Public transport is nearby. In case you do not have sightings of these species during the tour, you will be offered an additional ticket to another tour.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Transfer from the hotel and back is not included, although you have the possibility to request it for an additional charge. This experience is not recommended for people with back problems or for pregnant women. It is not a wheelchair accessible experience.

On this experience the main idea is to get to see puffins, and this is one of the best puffin cruises in Reykjavik you will find, but additionally you will get to see whales, both in their natural habitat, so it is a very interesting combined experience if you have little time to visit the island.

This experience is divided into two parts, the first part is a tour of approximately one hour along the coast of Reykjavík to see the puffins in their natural habitat. Afterwards you embark into the open sea to enjoy whale watching. Depending on the departure time, the order of the two experiences may change.

Details of interest

• Price: from 100 euros per person.
• Duration: this complete experience can last approximately 4 and a half hours.
• Means of transport: to get to the port from where you will depart on the sightings experience, you will have to travel on your own. Once on board, the whole experience takes place on the cruise ship.
• Advantages of this excursion: you will have a sighting of both whales and puffins in their natural environments. You have access to a heated coverall in case you need it as an extra, you will also be able to use binoculars to appreciate the puffins during this experience. You will have access to an audio app of the experience which is available in different languages, including Spanish.
• Disadvantages of this tour: transfer from the hotel and back is not included, but it is possible to request this service at an additional cost.

During this tour you will depart from the coast of Reykjavík to go whale watching in the open sea. Once at the whale watching site your guide will explain everything you need to know about the whales and the different species you will see during the tour.

After you have finished your whale watching tour, it's time to continue to your next experience of this interesting excursion, visiting one of Iceland's best waterfalls, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the great Geysir.

Details of interest

• Price: this experience can be priced at around 165 euros per person.
• Duration: the whole experience can take around 10 hours from start to finish.
• Means of transport: the tour starts by bus, from your place of accommodation, to the port. From there onwards you will embark on a cruise. To go to the other places of tourist interest you will go by equipped bus.
• Advantages of this excursion: You are guaranteed a transfer to and from your accommodation. All required taxes and fees are included. Also included in the trip is the accompaniment of an expert guide and you will have access to free wifi on board the bus. The vehicle that will take you to the boarding point and back is equipped and air-conditioned.
• Disadvantages of this tour: food and drinks are not included. This tour is not wheelchair friendly. The weather must be good for the experience to take place, otherwise it may be cancelled. There is a minimum number of participants on this experience, if the minimum is not reached, then it is cancelled.

If you don't know what to do in Reykjavík in summer and want to have a truly unforgettable experience, I recommend a midnight sun whale watching tour. One of the best things about this experience is that you will be able to see large numbers of these marine species in the dim but sufficient light of the Icelandic summer midnight.

One of the things that will surprise you the most during this tour is the calmness of the sea at night. In addition, the sun, which never fully sets, will help you to see the different marine species that abound in the open sea. During the experience you will have access to an audio-visual that will teach you interesting details about the marine life in this area of the planet.

Interesting details

• Price: from 75 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately three hours from the time the boat leaves the port until it returns.
• Means of transport: to get to the port you will have to travel on your own either by rented car or public transport. After this, the tour is done by boat.
• Advantages of this excursion: you will have access to the Whale Watching Centre, it is possible to connect to the wifi on board during the whole excursion and you have a professional guide at your disposal. You can also make use of a thermal coverall whenever you need it. It is fully accessible for wheelchair users.
• Disadvantages of this tour: meals and drinks are not included. Tips are also not included in the price of the tour. This experience may be cancelled due to bad weather.

This experience is one of the most interesting because in addition to seeing the whales in the open sea, you have the chance to tour the entire south coast from Reykjavík, taking in every scenery and tourist attraction. The first thing you will do will be to go along the coast by land in a tour that will last no more than three hours.

Once you've finished your experience on land, you'll board a boat to continue your journey to the whale watching area and other marine life. The tour takes place around Faxaflói Bay, where there is approximately a 90% chance of spotting the species more easily.

Interesting details

• Price: from 74 euros per person.
• Duration: this trip lasts approximately four hours.
• Means of transport: during your trip along the coast you will board a bus equipped with all the amenities. Once the trip is over, you will board a boat where you will go out to sea to see the different marine species.
• Advantages of this excursion: in case it is not possible to see the marine species, you have an additional complimentary ticket to come back again. You also have access to wifi on board during the whole experience. You have access to thermal overalls, both for you and your children.
• Disadvantages of this excursion: drinks and meals are not included, nor are tips to the tour guides. This experience is only available in good weather and may be cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

This combined experience is one of my favourites because it takes you to see some of Iceland's most beautiful scenery found in the Golden Circle and the volcanic crater of Kerid in Reykjavik, but also takes you on a tour to see marine species native to this island.

The approximately ten-hour activity will start with whale watching and after this you will be taken straight to the most interesting places in the Golden Circle such as Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfalls or the Geysir thermal area.

Interesting details

• Price: around 148 euros per person.
• Duration: this experience can take approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: initially you will board a boat to go whale watching, and then you will board a fully equipped bus where you will visit the sights of the Golden Circle.
• Benefits of this tour: You are guaranteed to get to and from your hotel. Live commentary is also included and you have access to thermal trousers during the boat tour. You can use the free wifi on board.
• Disadvantages of this tour: It is not wheelchair accessible. The weather must be good for the experience to take place, if the weather conditions are unfavourable, the tour is cancelled.

Although whale watching is considerably more likely during the summer months than during the winter, it is still a valid option as a winter activity in Reykjavik. In this case the combined excursion is to see whales as well as the Northern Lights.

This experience is done in two parts. During the first part, you will leave Reykjavík harbour and head out to the open sea in search of the Northern Lights, clearly one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavík. In a second part, you will go whale watching on the high seas.

Details of interest

• Price: from 140 euros per person.
• Duration: this experience lasts approximately 5 and a half hours.
• Means of transport: you must make your own way to the port, either by rented car or public transport.
• Advantages of this excursion: you do two excursions in one. You have wifi on board, plus access to thermal overalls if you need them and you are offered an additional ticket in case the whale watching is unsuccessful. You have access to a tablet to kill sea sickness if required. You will be given access to a tour app which will be in Spanish, or other languages.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Transfers to and from the hotel are not included, although you can pay extra for this to be included. Drinks and meals are not included in the price, nor are tips.

During this whale watching experience, no matter what activities you combine this expedition with, you will always have the opportunity to see the most popular marine species in Reykjavik and throughout Iceland.

Among the species you will see during this tour are humpback whales, white-sided dolphins, porpoises and even, if you are lucky on some of these experiences, puffins typical of Icelandic wildlife.

• Take very warm and waterproof clothing so you can go sightseeing in the open sea without feeling cold.
• Also pack closed shoes, preferably boots that cover your feet well and do not allow the cold to circulate.
• In case you go with children, don't forget to ask what is the minimum age to attend the tour, since in some experiences it is necessary to be at least 10 years old.