The 14 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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7.Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 127 reviews · 6 hours · from $205

Spend the day looking for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Faxaflói Bay, then return after dark for a two-hour Northern Lights cruise. Guides such as Rebekka and Lucas have helped make past trips memorable. Warm overalls, heated cabins, WiFi, and a free retry for missed sightings are included.

“Thankfully, the weather cooperated and our expectations were met with seeing both a whale and the Northern Lights! Our tour guide, Lucas, and crew were entertaining and helpful throughout our experience.”

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8.Iceland Super Saver: Puffin Cruise plus Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 110 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $156

From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, combine a whale-watching cruise with a short trip around Akurey puffin island. Guides such as Jo, Lucas, Blanca, and Patrick have helped guests spot humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and seabirds. Expect warm overalls, Wi-Fi, onboard commentary, and wildlife that may stay at a distance.

“A wonderful experience ! We saw so many whales. Some of them very close. Absolutely fantastic !!! Very friendly and helpful guide and crew. Highly recommended !!!”

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9.Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 61 reviews · 3 hours 50 minutes (approx.) · from $108

Leave Reykjavik Port for a 3-hour-50-minute whale-watching trip around Faxaflói Bay. Your guide explains local cetaceans, geography, and wildlife while you watch for minke and humpback whales, porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, puffins, and gannets. Choose a leisurely or high-speed boat, use thermal coveralls, and try again free if nothing appears.

“The tour was well-organized, we boarded and left on time and there were warm, waterproof jackets available for those that were underdressed. It was easy to hear the guide throughout the boat with the installed speakers and she made a point to orient us to the position of the animals so we could all find them quickly no matter where we were. Dominiki was our guide and she had a lot of great information about the local whale and other cetacean species, local geography, and we felt like we learned a lot despite having taken other whale-watching tours in the past. The captain did a great job of making sure…”

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10.Midnight Sun Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 34 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $106

Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor at 9 PM aboard Rósin, a whale-watching boat with indoor and outdoor decks, restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a snack bar. An English-speaking guide helps you search Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises beneath the late Icelandic sun.

“It was exciting!! Take the anti-sickness pill if you want to be able to move back and forth, to follow the whale whilst the boat is moving. It was a great night! TIP: I have my binoculars and a camera attach to it, and that levelled up my experience!💕”

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11.Iceland Super Saver: Northern Lights Cruise plus Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $186

From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, you’ll take a 3.5-hour Faxaflói Bay whale-watching cruise and a 2.5-hour Northern Lights boat trip. Guides search for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises, then explain the aurora’s science and myths. Thermal overalls, heated seating, WiFi, and a free retry for missed wildlife are included.

“Really good northern lights tour, lucky to see them sue to activish and clear skies. Good smooth sail on both. Unfortunately not able to see whales/dolphins - but company did offer another trip free of charge was our last day so couldn't capitalise. Very good tour guides/speakers. Entertainment was a bit novel on northern lights tour, and speaker system not so great on whale watching tour. Definitely worth the money though.”

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12.Winter Whale Watching and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $198

Spend about three hours looking for whales from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, then return for a two-hour Northern Lights cruise. Elding supplies warm overalls, blankets, English commentary, wildlife exhibition access, and a free return option when sightings do not happen. Pickup costs extra, and poor weather can change the schedule.

“We set off on 3hr whale watching trip and we managed to spot a whale not far from the harbour. We spent about an hour watching the whale dive and surface and it was fantastic to experience the sighting in the whale’s nature environment. unfortunately the northern lights evening excursion was cancelled due to bad weather. Highly recommend this operator for a whale watching excursion ❤️”

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13.Whale Watching Cruise and FlyOver Combo Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $153

Join a guided whale watching cruise from Reykjavík, with heated cabins, flotation overalls, Wi-Fi, and a free return trip if no whales appear. Then ride FlyOver Iceland’s motion platform through aerial views, wind, scents, and special effects. Plan the two time slots carefully, since each activity must be visited separately.

“La croisière d’observation des baleines était vraiment géniale. Le Flyover pourrait être amélioré.”

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14.9pm Whale Watching Cruise in the Arctic Sun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $106Top rated

Join an English-speaking guide on the Arctic Sun for a 2.5-hour evening cruise from Reykjavik into Faxaflói Bay. Look for humpback and minke whales beneath the late Arctic light, with puffins possible in the distance. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, and motion-sickness protection. If no whales are seen, you receive a free return ticket.

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