Whale watching in Iceland

Coming to Iceland on a cruise and want to get up-close-and-personal with the ‘gentle giants’ on a whale watching adventure?
We’ve made it easy for you with some great options for whale tours across Iceland:

Husavik & Akureyri

Known to be the whale watching capital of Europe, Husavik offers tours on traditional wooden boats or modern RIB boats. The memorable trips can also include puffin watching in the summer, and you can finish your adventure with a visit to the whale museum.

Although some cruise ships stop at Husavik, most cruise visitors take a tour from Akureyri, which includes a stop at Godafoss, the ‘waterfall of the gods’.
Husavik is ideal for spotting whales, as it is in a sheltered bay that directly faces the Arctic Ocean.

There are also boat tours from Akureyri to see the giants of the sea. Akureyri lies at the landward end of Eyjafjordur, Iceland’s longest fjord, which makes for breathtaking views.

Reykjavik

Whale watching tours in Reykjavik set out from the charming old harbour, in the heart of the city, and can be perfectly combined with a day in the capital.
The main cruise ship port is on the other side of town, so it can be most convenient to take a tour of the city, where you can explore the famous landmarks, museums and culture of the Icelandic capital, and then to go whale spotting before you head back to your ship.

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Breidafjordur Bay is a fantastic place for a boat tour. It has rich birdlife, views of supposedly ‘uncountable’ islands and, of course, the Snaefellsjokull glacier volcano. It is also the best place in Iceland to see orcas.
Whether your cruise ship stops in Grundarfjordur, Olafsvik or Stykkisholmur, we can make your Iceland whale watching dreams a reality, with pickup and drop-off at the dockside. If you have a bit more time, we recommend also checking out beautiful Kirkjufell mountain and waterfalls, or taking a walk through the offbeat Berserkjahraun lava fields.