Top 8 Whale Watching Cruises in Iceland

1.Reykjavík: Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht

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

Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor aboard the spacious Amelia Rose for about three hours. Guides such as Lucky and Roman help you spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Three viewing decks, a warm lounge, bar, WiFi, blankets, and optional hotel pickup make this a comfortable cruise.

“So beautiful and fun! I got to see humpback whales and it was such a special encounter! highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Whale Watching Cruise on a Yacht in Reykjavik

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

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay aboard a spacious yacht for about three hours. An onboard guide explains whale behavior as the crew searches for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and perhaps orcas. You also get fine views of Harpa, Engey, Lundey, Viðey, and the coast.

“We saw dolphins, porpoises and whales. It was wonderful and they told us all about whales and the different seasons and what to expect from season.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 444 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

From Húsavík, you spend about 3.5 hours on a traditional oak boat in Skjálfandi Bay, looking for whales, dolphins, and puffins. English-speaking guides, warm overalls, hot chocolate, and cinnamon buns are included. Guides such as Jess and Chris have brought marine science and years of whale-watching experience to past trips.

“We very much enjoyed our puffin and whale watching trip. The crew took safety seriously and explained the boat and what to do if there was a problem. The guide was very informative and this kept us interested in the gaps between wildlife sightings. We were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins and three humpback whales.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise

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

From Skarfabakki Harbour, cruise Faxaflói Bay for porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales and humpbacks. Choose a leisurely 3.5-hour boat or a 2.5-hour high-speed option. Guides such as Dominiki explain local wildlife, while thermal overalls, WiFi and seasickness tablets are included.

“We only saw a tip of whale's spine. We did enjoy our tour guide and boat ride but you could see other passengers getting frustrated and queezy. The boat kept driving in circles chasing down a whale that barely surfaced once. I recommend showing a real status of the tour. I was expecting to see what you advertise with this whale leaping out of the water. This did not meet our expectations.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Reykjavík: Midnight Sun Whale Watching Cruise

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

Leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbor at 9 PM aboard Rósin, a whale-watching boat with indoor and outdoor decks, warm overalls, Wi-Fi, restrooms, and a snack bar. An English-speaking guide searches Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and harbor porpoises before your return near midnight.

“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!💕”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Icelandic Horse Riding and Whale Watching Cruise from Reykjavík

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $280

Ride for 1.5 hours through the lava fields near Hveragerði on a sturdy Icelandic horse, with instruction and warm riding gear provided. Then join Elding’s three-hour whale cruise from Reykjavík for chances to see minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

“This was a fantastic day. We actually saw quite a number of whales which was so exciting. We saw hump back and minky whales. The boat was a great size to enable you to see the whales comfortably. The guide was very informative and helped us spot the whales. The Horse riding tour was great fun. I had never ridden a horse before so was a little anxious but you get the basic training and it is quite sufficient. The were old and young on it and everyone had a great time. You ride for approx 1.5 hrs or so. The horses are lovely and you are matched with one…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Reykjavík: Whale Watching Cruise and FlyOver Combo Ticket

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

Set out from Reykjavík with an English-speaking guide, warm flotation overalls, and a heated cabin while looking for whales. Then ride FlyOver Iceland’s motion platform through aerial footage, wind, scents, and special effects. Check both start times carefully before booking.

“tuvimos el problema de que, despues de ir a ver ballenas, en el flyover, no digeron que nuestra hora havia pasado porque era a la misma hora que ver a las ballenas. las dos actividades eran a las 13h y obviamente no se puede estar en dos sitios a la vez. en flyover nos resolvieron el problema perrfectament y pudimos disfrutar de las 2 actividades.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Reykjavik: 9pm Whale Watching Cruise in the Arctic Sun

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

Set out from Reykjavik at 9pm for a 2.5-hour cruise across Faxaflói Bay. An English-speaking guide helps you watch for humpback and minke whales beneath the Arctic evening light. Bring warm layers, binoculars, and motion-sickness protection. If no whales appear, you receive a free return ticket.

Check availability →Read our full review