The 15 Best Whale Watching Tours in Iceland

Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise - The first hour: searching, watching, and learning

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

Cruise Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavík for whales, dolphins, seals, coastal views, expert guides, and a warm cabin when the wind bites.

“This was by far the best experience we had in Iceland. It was so emotional seeing the whales. They jumped so many times and we were so lucky to see that in-person. Our guide, Maria, was also so knowledgeable and I learned so many things about whales with her. I highly recommend this tour!”

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Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship

2.3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,000 reviews · 3 hours · from $108

Search for humpback whales in Eyjafjord on a comfortable three-hour cruise from Akureyri, with guides, thermal suits, Wi-Fi, and a whale guarantee.

“A great excursion! Everything was on time, and the guide was so informative, sharing lots of information about our cetacean friends. Even though it was the last day of November, we sighted humpback whales several times, and a more elusive minke whale! The boat was comfortable, and the free flowing hot chocolate was much appreciated. Recommended!”

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Reykjavík: Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht

3.Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht

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

See whales, dolphins, and porpoises from Reykjavík’s comfortable Amelia Rose yacht, with three decks, expert guides, and a cozy onboard bar.

“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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Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Guide

4.Whale Watching Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,761 reviews · 3 hours · from $115

Cruise Skjálfandi Bay from Húsavík on a traditional oak boat, watching whales, dolphins, seabirds, and enjoying cocoa with a cinnamon bun.

“Did a 3.45 hr ride fir a 2 hour booking due to some rare sightings of bottle-nosed dolphins and pilot whales which excited our guide and crew so much that they forgot about the time and simply jndulged all on board by chasing the pod of dolphins and school of whales for a full hour. Couldn’t have asked for more. It was simply fantastic…hats off to the crew for indulging us.”

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The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik

5.The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik

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

Search Faxaflói Bay for humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds on a well-run Reykjavik cruise with warm gear included.

“A great trip, was so lucky to see some whales, well organised & informative, wrap up warm before you go !”

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Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour with Expert Guide

6.Whale Watching Tour with Expert Guide

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

Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour aboard Andrea to spot whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with warm overalls, expert guides, and a free return ticket.

“Whale watching was great! Our guide had a wealth of knowledge to share and was enthusiastic for the duration of the activity!”

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Húsavík: Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company

7.Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,735 reviews · from $91

Sail Skjálfandi Bay from Húsavík on a traditional oak boat, with warm gear, expert guides, and strong chances of seeing whales.

“Great! I decided to go even with the gloomy weather and it was still a great time! Staff were very polite and knowledgeable! A lot of passion behind all the employees as well. Made for a great tour during my trip!”

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Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

8.Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Race across Skjálfandi Bay from Húsavík to see whales, dolphins, and summer puffins aboard a warm-suited 12-seat RIB boat.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) We went on the Big Whales Island Speedboat Tour in Húsavík and had a wonderful experience! The guide was fantastic — very knowledgeable and passionate about the whales and the local nature. I really loved his explanations and the great vibes he created throughout the trip; it felt both educational and fun. What I liked the most was how close we could get to the whales while still respecting their space — it was truly unforgettable! The scenery around the island was breathtaking, and the speedboat made the whole experience exciting and dynamic. I highly recommended if you visit Húsavík!”

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Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

9.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 973 reviews · from $159

See puffins, humpback whales, dolphins, and possibly blue whales on a fast, warm, small-group RIB tour from Húsavík.

“The activity was great despite bad weather, our trip was not canceled even though the weather was dodgy, our guide was very informative and kind and well as our captain. We got to see humpback whale up close. If you want to enjoy your experience just take sea sickness pills and you are good to go.”

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Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

10.Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 971 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $104

Sail from downtown Akureyri into Eyjafjord for humpback whales, mountain views, warm gear, expert guides, and flexible viewing areas.

“I would highly recommend this. I have been whale watching a few times and in this one we saw by far the most ever. Amazing creatures and a great few hours!”

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Reykjavik: the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

11.the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

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

Sail from Reykjavik into Faxafloi Bay to see humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds with an eco-certified marine team.

“we saw two whales and a seal, which was amazing. Being on the top front deck gave us the best view, but it was very cold and we couldn’t hear the tour guide. Luckily, a professional photographer took photos of the view and sent them to us, which was a really nice touch.”

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Whale Watching Tour with Professional Guide from Reykjavik

12.Whale Watching Tour with Professional Guide from Reykjavik

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

Review of Reykjavik’s 3.5-hour whale tour, with local guides, warm overalls, Faxaflói Bay wildlife, practical tips, and honest value advice.

“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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From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour

13.Whale Watching Tour

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

Review of Reykjavik whale watching in Faxaflói Bay, with minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, warm overalls, guides, and no-sighting backup.

“We went 2 adults and 2 kids (6 and 2). We have seen a lot of whales that day. Sea was tough but captain navigated us through the waves so that we didnt feel sea sick. They provide overalls so you dont feel cold. You can purchase snacks onboard. The guide is very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the activity very much!”

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Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

14.Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

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

Review of Reykjavik’s Harpa Yachts whale cruise, with yacht comfort, wildlife odds, seasonal puffins, costs, weather tips, and booking advice.

“The guide was excellent taking us to spots where the whales had been seen earlier that day. We were lucky to see several sightings of the Humpback Whales.”

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Árskógssandur: Whale-Watching Boat Trip

15.Árskógssandur: Whale-Watching Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 695 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $96

See humpback whales, dolphins, and seabirds from a traditional oak boat on a calm Eyjafjörður cruise from Árskógssandur.

“The area is breathtaking, host and guide very kind and caring. We have received interesting information on the tour about whales and the area. Boats from Akureyri were packed where as ours was very comfortable with a small group of people. Definitely recommend this spot! We were lucky and spotted one whale we followed for a good while, we nearly said 3 hours on the sea and the traditional boat mode it even more exciting! Loved every minute of it, thanks to the guide and captain 😍🤩 hot chocolate and bun was a nice supplement.”

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