In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Whale-watching cruises depart year-round from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour (Gamla höfnin) into Faxaflói bay. Two vessel styles operate: classic cruisers (Elding charges 14,500 ISK) with heated saloons and outdoor decks, and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs, Elding’s Premium tour is 24,900 ISK) that sit at water level and race out quickly to active feeding pods. Holders of the Reykjavik City Card receive a 10% discount on select harbour tickets. Or book a tour: secure a spot on the water with thermal overalls and a two-year retry guarantee via GetYourGuide’s Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruisead.
Faxaflói bay forms an expansive sub-arctic marine basin sheltered between the Reykjanes peninsula to the south and the Snæfellsnes mountains to the north. Fed by deep upwelling oceanic currents and rich summer blooms of krill, sand eels, and capelin, these sheltered waters serve as an abundant summer feeding pasture for migratory baleen whales, toothed cetaceans, and sea mammals.
The Old Harbour in Reykjavik. Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Tour options, vessel types and pricing
Ticket pricing varies primarily by boat design, group capacity, and duration:
| Tour | Price | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elding classic whale watching | 14,500 ISK adult, 7,250 ISK ages 7–15, under 7 free | 2.5 to 3.5 hours | Large boat with heated saloon |
| Elding Premium (RIB) | 24,900 ISK; ages 10–15 pay the same | 2 hours | Fast open boat, minimum age 10 |
| Elding classic puffin watching | 8,300 ISK adult, 4,150 ISK ages 7–15 | 1 hour | Summer |
| Amelia Rose yacht (GetYourGuide) | From about 13,500 ISK | 3 hours | Heated lounges |
| Reykjavik City Card | 10% off Elding tours | Show the card at Elding’s office |
Elding’s prices are valid until 31 March 2027; hotel pick-up adds 3,750 ISK for adults.
A humpback whale in Faxaflói bay. Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wildlife you are likely to encounter
The biodiversity of Faxaflói bay shifts with water temperatures and migratory patterns. Four marine species account for the vast majority of sightings:
1. Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The headline sight of Faxaflói. Reaching lengths of 14 to 17 metres and weighing up to 40 tonnes, humpback whales are celebrated for their acrobatic surface behaviours. Lucky observers may witness full-body breaches, pectoral fin slaps, and tail flukes raised high into the air prior to deep feeding dives.
2. Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
The most common baleen whale in Icelandic coastal waters. Measuring 7 to 10 metres, minke whales are sleek, fast swimmers that frequently surface two to three times in quick succession before executing a shallow dive. They often surface near seabird feeding frenzies.
3. White-Beaked Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)
Social and inquisitive, these stout marine mammals travel in active pods of 5 to 20 individuals. White-beaked dolphins regularly approach tour vessels to ride the pressure wave created by the bow, leaping clear of the water in synchronized displays.
4. Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
One of the smallest cetaceans in the northern hemisphere, measuring roughly 1.5 metres in length. Porpoises travel in small, shy family groups, surfacing with a brief rolling motion and a faint puff of breath resembling a quiet sneeze.
Seasonal seabirds: Atlantic puffins
Between mid-April and mid-August, millions of Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) return from the open ocean to breed on small rocky islands in Faxaflói, notably Akurey and Lundey. Nicknamed “Clowns of the Sea” for their colourful striped beaks and rapid flapping wings (up to 400 beats per minute), puffins raft in communal groups on the water around the tour vessels.
Tour options and bookings
Booking online in advance guarantees your departure time, especially during peak summer months when midday sailings routinely sell out.
Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruisead
From 12,100 ISK · 4.5 stars from 11,969 reviews · 3 hours · Warm overalls included
A classic whale-watching cruise from the Old Harbour on a large boat with outdoor decks and heated lounges. Warm overalls are provided.
Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboatad
From 23,200 ISK · 4.6 stars from 874 reviews · 2 hours · Small RIB
A rigid inflatable boat that speeds across the bay and sits low at water level, close to surfacing dolphins and whales.
Reykjavik: Whale-Watching Cruise on the Yacht Amelia Rosead
From 13,500 ISK · 4.5 stars from 3,227 reviews · 3 hours · Yacht with heated lounges
A whale-watching cruise on the yacht Amelia Rose, with heated lounges and open decks.
Understanding the sighting guarantee policy
Sightings are never certain, and some sailings see no whales or dolphins. Terms differ by operator, so check what yours offers if you see none.
- Booking tip: Schedule your whale-watching cruise for the very first full day of your holiday in Reykjavik. If your sailing is cancelled due to heavy sea swells, or if you encounter no wildlife, you retain sufficient time over subsequent days to reschedule without disrupting your overall itinerary.
Essential packing and seasickness advice
Conditions out on open sea waters can be significantly colder and windier than on the sheltered city streets of downtown Reykjavik:
- Thermal Layers: Dress in a windproof and waterproof outer jacket, warm fleece mid-layer, thermal long underwear, woollen beanie hat, neck gaiter, and gloves. Operators lend warm overalls at the boarding gate to wear over your normal clothes.
- Footwear: Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking boots with non-marking rubber soles. Wet metal boat decks can become slippery in ocean spray.
- Seasickness Prevention: Faxaflói bay can experience ocean swells, particularly when winds blow from the west or south-west. If you are prone to motion sickness, take an over-the-counter travel sickness tablet (ferðaveikilyf) approximately 30 to 60 minutes before boarding.
Whale-watching boats Hafsúlan and Eldey moored at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Departure logistics from the Old Harbour
All whale-watching operations cluster along the wooden quays of the Old Harbour (Gamla höfnin):
- Location: The main ticket offices and boarding gangways line Ægisgarður and Geirsgata, opposite the Grandi creative quarter.
- Walking Transit: The harbour is an easy 5 to 10-minute stroll from City Hall, Lake Tjörnin, and Harpa Concert Hall.
- Check-in: arrive at the ticket office before your departure time to show your voucher and collect your overalls.
- Post-Cruise Dining: After returning to the quayside, warm up with traditional Icelandic lobster soup at the historic Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron) or enjoy fresh fish and chips at Vagninn on the pier, as detailed in our guide to where to eat in Reykjavik.
For evening marine excursions, consult our guide to viewing the Northern Lights in Reykjavik by yacht, and see our Reykjavik travel guide for complete city planning.
Common questions
How much does a whale watching tour cost in Reykjavik?
Elding's classic whale watching costs 14,500 ISK for adults and 7,250 ISK for children aged 7 to 15; under-7s sail free. Its 2-hour Premium tour in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) costs 24,900 ISK, and children from 10 to 15 pay the same. Prices on GetYourGuide start lower, from about 12,100 ISK for the classic cruise.
When is the best time of year for whale watching in Reykjavik?
Whale-watching excursions operate year-round from the Old Harbour. Summer, from May to September, has calmer seas and nesting puffins. Winter sailings from October to April see humpback whales and white-beaked dolphins with snow on the coastal mountains.
What happens if no whales or dolphins are spotted during the tour?
Operators do not refund a sailing that has gone out, but many offer another tour if no whales are seen. Read the terms on your booking.
Where do whale-watching boats depart from in Reykjavik?
All scheduled whale-watching vessels depart directly from the piers at the Old Harbour (Gamla höfnin) along Ægisgarður and Geirsgata in downtown Reykjavik, situated an easy 5 to 10-minute walk from Harpa Concert Hall and central hotels.
