Top Akureyri Whale Watching

Maximize your chances of seeing whales in the wild on this half-day boat cruise from Akureyri. Iceland’s longest fjord is known for attracting humpback whales; travel aboard a specially adapted ship that covers all the likely viewing areas to increase the odds of seeing them. Choose from several departure times to fit your schedule, and stay cozy on board with thermal overalls, and raincoats or blankets.

Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

Iceland’s north coast is one of the best places in Europe to see whales in their natural environment—but it can be hard to spot them from land. Maximize your chances of seeing the giant marine mammals by taking to the water on a whale-watching cruise from Akureyri. A speedy rigid inflatable boat (RIB) takes you to the best locations, while a local guide is on hand to help you spot pods when they appear.

Akureyri Express Whale Watching by RIB boat

Whale Watching from the Heart of Akureyri

Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central

Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Heated Indoor Seating

Discover Iceland’s most iconic wildlife with a 2 hour whale and puffin tour from Húsavík on an RIB speedboat. Enjoy views of the Skjálfandi Bay as you skim along the coast, covering an expansive territory in the high-powered craft. Watch for massive blue whales and acrobatic humpbacks, and learn about life beneath the surface from your experienced guide. During the breeding season of mid-April through mid-August, visit ‘Puffin Island’ to find a thriving colony of brightly-colored birds before returning to Húsavík.

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

Whale Watching on board a Traditional Oak Boat from Árskógssandur

Watch for nimble humpbacks and massive blue whales on this whale watching adventure from Húsavík on a traditional Icelandic oak boat. Enjoy stunning views of the Skjálfandi Bay and Vík mountains as you explore the coastline, a thriving pilgrimage place for marine mammals in the summer season. Learn about Iceland’s wildlife and culture with live commentary from your experienced guide.

Traditional Whale Watching from Húsavík by Local Family Company

Witness the majestic humpback and minke whales in their natural habitat on a thrilling whale-watching adventure aboard the Lilja. This tour, set against the stunning backdrop of Akureyri's fjords, offers an intimate encounter with these magnificent creatures. With an expert crew providing insights into marine life, you'll deepen your appreciation for the ocean's wonders. Enjoy comfortable seating options, both indoors and outdoors, ensuring great views while adhering to sustainable practices that protect the delicate ecosystem. - Observe humpback and minke whales in their natural playground - Expert crew shares insights into marine biology and whale behavior - Comfortable cruiser with indoor and outdoor seating options - Committed to sustainable practices for preserving marine life

Special Offer

Whale Watching Adventure in Akureyri

Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

Realize your dreams of watching humpback whales in their natural environment on this half-day tour from Húsavik, the capital of whale-watching in Iceland. With multiple departure times to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional Icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whale-watching destination on the ocean. With luck, marvel at the majestic mammals as they dive and plunge before your eyes, listening to commentary from your guide as you observe.

Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

RIB boat express: Whales, Eyjafjord and Akureyri

Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour

Must-Dos in Akureyri

1 / 2

What are people saying about Akureyri

Barbara_R, Sep 2026

Loved it!

Absolutely amazing. Clear instructions when you arrive, plenty of space on board for everyone. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate and cinnamon biscuits some time halfway through the excursion. We seen some whales which was amazing and of course the whole reason for the excursion 😁

Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Heated Indoor Seating

Jennifer_D, Sep 2026

Fun experience, but be prepared

Seeing whales is not guaranteed, but we got lucky and saw a few. Boat/tour staff was knowledgeable and friendly. There is about 45 minute boat ride one way so be prepared. Probably 2/3 of the people on our ride got seasick. And while staff was prepared with bags for those that got sick it could be a lot to watch so many get sick around you. Staff did a good job checking on those getting sick and tending to everyone’s needs.

Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

Angela_M, Sep 2026

Exciting and Informative Whale Watching

It was a cool, rainy day just as anticipated in Iceland. The gear provided kept us comfortable to enjoy the adventure. Our guide was fabulous. Her enthusiasm and knowledge of the whales and other wildlife was contagious. We saw numerous whales, dolphins, and jellyfish. It was a fulfilling day.

100% Whale Watching

lindafeinman, Aug 2026

Saw lots of whales very close to boat!!

Excellent as far as whale watching! We’ve done a variety of whale watching trips in different places we’ve traveled and never have we seen as many whales (and very close to the boat). The only caveat is that we were visiting on a cruise ship docked in Akureyri and this was at a different harbor located 25 minutes by taxi from our port. Cost of taxi was $160 USD each way. The tour company offers transfers on some of their tours but not the 11:00 one we were booked on so we paid $160 to get there and the very nice lady made arrangements to have us driven back by her husband at no charge. Kudos for them saving us the cost of the return taxi ride!

Traditional Whale Watching from Húsavík by Local Family Company

carmen_s, Aug 2026

First Marine Biologist on...

First Marine Biologist on their tours. Ours, Andre was knowledgeable professional and fun. There was a hitch due to my error...but Andre our guide arranged a ride to the port so we wouldn't miss our cruise ship! God Bless you and the gentleman in the blue truck!!! above and beyond!!! book with confidence saw whales galore even bubble feeding. magnificent

RIB boat express: Whales, Eyjafjord and Akureyri

JEFFREY_R, Aug 2026

Saw Whales Up Close

Had a super time. Captain and 1st mate were cordial, educational and professional. We were fortunate with the whale viewing, though it was the same hump whale, it put on a good show and stayed close with our captain. One warning though, Viator advertised 2 hours, but count on about 2.5, and allow 15 min up front for suit fitting, etc.

Akureyri Express Whale Watching by RIB boat

Carl, Jul 2026

Amazing well guided experience..

Excellent experience and well organised and our tour guide was amazing and she is also a qualified Spanish marine biologist (Im really sorry I can't remember her name) ...but thank you for your excellent knowledge.... We got to see Bob the humpback whale and a Pod of bottle noses Dolphins- hundreds of them....

Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

Carlos_L, Jun 2026

Fantastic experience whenever nature cooperates (which was the case)

This was one of the highlights of our trip around the whole of Iceland. Obviously the fact that nature cooperated on the day and that we did see various whales contributes to how good the experience was but in general, everything was excellent: the pre-explanation, the sailing speed/observation positions, the boat and the guide. We saw thousands of puffins, many extremely close, and out of the 5 humpback & sperm whales that we saw, one of them actually breached and that was the most incredible moment, everyone was a bit emotional about it, even the guide. The said she has an average of 20 trips per year where whales breach, so we felt a bit lucky. When I came back and bought a jacket at a store nearby the tour guide office, we had a discount by showing our whale watching ticket of this operator, quite nice.

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

Christina_A, Jun 2026

Layer up for the cold...

Layer up for the cold weather and sea spray. The tour guide didn't talk too much, and the captain did a great job getting us near the whales quickly. Originally, I debated between this type of boat and the traditional oak boats, but my daughter and I were so happy that we went with this one. It was an unforgettable experience, and Puffin Island was the "icing on the cake."

Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

Natalie_G, May 2026

We had a great...

We had a great experience! We saw 7 whales (humpbacks and minkes) and many puffins out in the water. They provided us with a very warm suit to wear so we were very comfortable. Tour guide was great and informative. Loved the hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies we received on the way back to the harbor. Great tour!