The 6 Most Popular Whale Watching Cruises in Reykjavik

1.Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for a three-hour search for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals. Guides such as Maria and Lucky share clear wildlife facts while you watch from outdoor decks or heated cabins. The boat has toilets, WiFi, snacks, and hot drinks for purchase.

“Amazing experience! This tour was one of the highlights of my trip and something I will remember for the rest of my life. Thank you!!”

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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 aboard the Amelia Rose, an offshore yacht with three panoramic decks, a cozy bar, WiFi, blankets, and a smoother ride than many smaller boats. Guides such as Lucky and Roman explain whale behavior as you search Faxaflói Bay for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and perhaps orcas.

“The yacht is very nice and sails smooth. We saw several humpback and minke whales along with dolphins. The guide was great and very helpful to point out where to look and also gave a lot of information on each species.”

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3.Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor aboard MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose for three hours of wildlife watching in Faxafloi Bay. English and Icelandic guides, warm blankets, WiFi, a bar, and indoor and outdoor viewing areas make this a comfortable choice. Guides such as Lucky and Rebecca have helped guests spot humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and summer puffins.

“Even though the weather was really unpredictable we were able to see whales and puffins Due to choppy seas one of our party was feeling quite queasy and they had sickness tablets available for free Friendly staff who were very informative”

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4.Whale Watching Cruise on a Yacht in Reykjavik

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for about three hours. An onboard guide explains whale behavior while the crew searches for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sometimes orcas. You’ll also pass Harpa, Engey, Lundey, and Viðey. Dress warmly, since the viewing decks are cold.

“Tour was very good, staff were very friendly and good at spotting the whales and ensuring we got a good view of them. Guide was very informative as well! We got to see Humpback whales and Minke Whales and a lot closer than I thought we would get! Only small drawback for our experience was that we were told to arrive for 08:30, but boarding wasn't until 9am and the boat didn't set off until almost half past. Which obviously wasn't the case for others on the tour as we were the only ones to arrive at this time...”

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5.Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 552 reviews · 4 hours · from $153

Pair a one-hour puffin cruise on the shallow-draft Old Skúli with a whale trip aboard the spacious Andrea or a faster express boat. Guides such as Patrick, Alex, Oscar, and Celine have brought the wildlife to life with clear facts and humor. Expect overalls, binoculars for the puffin trip, and a free return whale ticket if no whales appear.

“Essentially two separate tours as you come back to the harbour for a quick half hour change over. We did the Puffin tour first and it was fantastic, the guide had really good knowledge of the birds, the boat got nice and close to the colony and they were in good form flying around us and making a lot of noise. We then did the whale tour and whilst the whales were sadly being shy, we still got a few glimpses. The tour provider gave us a free return because the whales were not showing themselves as much as normal. Top set of tours, highly recommend.”

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6.Whale Watching & Dolphin Yacht Cruise

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor aboard Harpa or Amelia Rose for roughly three hours on Faxafloi Bay. Watch for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and summer puffins while guides explain the wildlife. You’ll have outdoor viewing decks, warm indoor areas, blankets, Wi-Fi, a bar, and a free second tour if no wildlife appears.

“Highly informative and well- organized whale watching ride. Our guide was passionate about sharing the types and habits of whales and dolphins. And was just as passionate about the science of finding the sight of them. You have to be quick, however to not only be where you need to be to view the latest sighting but be mindful of the overzealous who will cut in front of you. Nice boat with inside and outside options.”

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