Reykjavik Whale Watching Cruise

Reykjavik Old Harbour

The Old Harbour, built in the early 20th century, was once the centre of Reykjavik's fishing industry, and fishing boats still unload here next to the whale watching ships. Its quays have been reborn with colourful sheds turned into cafés, galleries and small museums, including the Reykjavik Maritime Museum, all within a short walk of Harpa concert hall.

The cruise leaves from the pier at Ægisgarður, in the middle of the harbour. If you arrive early, walk along the waterfront towards the Grandi district, where the Whales of Iceland exhibition shows life-size models of the species you may see at sea. How to get to the Old Harbour on your own is easy: it is about ten minutes on foot from the main shopping street.

Faxaflói Bay

Faxaflói is the wide bay between the Reykjanes peninsula and the Snæfellsnes peninsula, stretching about 50 kilometres across. Cold, nutrient-rich water from the Atlantic mixes with the currents of the coast, feeding plankton, krill and huge schools of fish such as herring and capelin, which in turn attract whales, dolphins and seabirds.

On clear days you can see Mount Esja rising above the city and, far to the north, the glacier-capped volcano Snæfellsjökull. The captain and guides follow reports from other boats and signs such as diving birds to find the animals, so no two trips follow the same route. Whale watching in Reykjavik is possible all year, with the main season from spring to autumn.

Whales and Dolphins of Iceland

Over twenty species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in Icelandic waters. In Faxaflói Bay the most common are the minke whale, a small, fast baleen whale, and the white-beaked dolphin, which often races alongside the boat. Humpback whales, famous for lifting their tails and sometimes leaping out of the water, are regular visitors, and harbour porpoises are frequently seen.

With luck you may also meet orcas or other larger whales, though sightings are never guaranteed because these are wild animals. Is whale watching in Reykjavik worth it? For most guests the first sight of a whale's back curving through the waves, heard before it is seen, is unforgettable. Bring binoculars for the best view.

Puffins and Seabirds of Faxaflói

From about May to August, thousands of Atlantic puffins nest on the small islands of Lundey and Akurey, close to Reykjavik. With their colourful beaks and busy flights back and forth with fish, they are among Iceland's favourite animals, and the whale watching route often passes near these islands.

The bay also shelters gannets, which dive into the sea like arrows, as well as fulmars, arctic terns, kittiwakes and eider ducks. Watching where seabirds gather is one of the ways the crew finds feeding whales. The best time to combine whale and puffin watching is early summer, when daylight lasts almost around the clock.