Water activity

Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition

4.4  / 5167 reviews
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Water activity
Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour, Whales of Iceland Exhibition
4.4  / 5167 reviews

First, take a whale-watching boat out to spot the majestic whales in their natural habitat. Then, visit a spectacular museum where you can learn about whales in an interactive way.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 3.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Audio guide included
English, German, Icelandic, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, French, Polish, Finnish
Wheelchair accessible

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

D
Dawn – United Kingdom

A wonderful trip by Special Tours. We met at the office about 40 mins before the expected tour as we needed to ensure my disabled daughter could manage gang plank and secure a seat. We opted for a seat upstairs to get the best views. The tour took around 3 hours and we spotted a dolphin and humpback as well as a seal. My daughter is fanatical (or fin-atical) about whales and this was the reason for our trip to Iceland. This made her trip! Tour guides were knowledgeable although a little difficult to hear as so windy. Top tip: layers,layers, layers! It is very cold up top but so worth it! The whales of Iceland Museum is great too... Soooo big !

C
Carina – Norway

Very good guide (Lucas), and we saw many humpback whales (and minky whales) :)

Experience

Highlights

  • Sail on one of the largest whale-watching boats in Iceland
  • Spot marine life, including whales, in beautiful Faxaflói Bay
  • Visit the Whales of Iceland museum, with its fascinating life-sized whale models

Full description

Board your boat in Reykjavík's Old Harbor and sail to Faxaflói Bay. Faxaflói has a rich variety of wildlife, but you'll most commonly spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and humpback whales. Ask your knowledgeable guide any questions you have throughout the tour and they'll be happy to answer.  You'll also visit the Whales of Iceland Exhibition. The exhibit features 23 life-size models of all the whale species found in Icelandic waters. Immerse yourself in the exhibit with virtual reality headsets, information stands, audio guides and videos. After the exhibition, grab a coffee and pastry at the café and relax in the exhibit's dreamy ambiance. Whales of Iceland offers two live-guided tours every day, available at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. This is free for all ticket holders. Note: You can choose the order in which you do these two activities.

Includes

  • Guided boat tour
  • Thermal overalls on boat (also available in children's sizes)
  • Free WiFi
  • Free ticket to visit again if there are no sightings on your tour
  • Museum entrance fee
  • Parking
  • App available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese
  • Hotel transfers
  • Food and drinks

Select participants and date

Participants

Meeting point

Meet at the local partner's office for the tour. The Whales of Iceland Exhibition is located at Fiskislod 23.

Open in Google Maps

Important information

Know before you go

  • Please be aware the best time for whale watching in Iceland is during the summer months (from April-September). The chances of spotting whales may be lower at other times of the year
  • To make your excursion even more pleasurable, be sure to bring warm and comfortable clothing and shoes. Sunscreen is also recommended in the summer
  • Please note that wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If you do not see anything on your tour, you will get a complimentary ticket to visit again
  • German available as a second language on the Andrea (from May 1 - September 30)
  • Whales of Iceland offers audio guides in many different languages, just ask for your language when you arrive

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 167 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.3/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Value for money
    4.1/5

Customer photos

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D
Dawn – United KingdomFebruary 17, 2025 – Verified booking
A wonderful trip by Special Tours. We met at the office about 40 mins before the expected tour as we needed to ensure my disabled daughter could manage gang plank and secure a seat. We opted for a seat upstairs to get the best views. The tour took around 3 hours and we spotted a dolphin and humpback as well as a seal. My daughter is fanatical (or fin-atical) about whales and this was the reason for our trip to Iceland. This made her trip! Tour guides were knowledgeable although a little difficult to hear as so windy. Top tip: layers,layers, layers! It is very cold up top but so worth it! The whales of Iceland Museum is great too... Soooo big !
C
Carina – NorwayOctober 7, 2024 – Verified booking
Very good guide (Lucas), and we saw many humpback whales (and minky whales) :)
G
Gemma – United KingdomFebruary 23, 2024 – Verified booking
This experience was incredible. the guides were wonderful. there was lots of information about the area and what we were seeing and we spent 3 hrs with 3 humpbacks playing around the boat and staying quiet shallow. the shared trip photos are such a great idea and we will not hesitate to recommend Special Tours (Via G.Y.G app) and the museum was such a great was of putting what we saw into a real context. don't hesitate, book this one.

Product ID: 149819

Activity provider:Special Tours Iceland

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