Top Akureyri Whale Watching

Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

(1,078)

from $104

100% Whale Watching

Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central

4.8

(307)

from $90

Húsavík: Family-Run Whale Watching Tour

(51)

from $107

Special Offer

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

Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

4.7

(194)

from $195

Whale Watching from the Heart of Akureyri

4.9

(527)

from $178

Experience the enchantment of watching whales in their natural environment on a 3-hour whale watching tour from Husavik. Climb aboard a powerful boat and relax as an expert skipper sails to spots renowned for abundant whale sightings. Observe wild seabirds and playful dolphins in their natural environment while scouring the sea for sightings of colossal humpback, blue and Minke whales. Warm up with Hot cocoa and cinnamon buns served on your way back.

4.2

(54)

from $110

Whale Watching in Husavik

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

(125)

from $113

Special Offer

Whale Watching Adventure in Akureyri

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

Whale Watching on board a Traditional Oak Boat from Árskógssandur

4.4

(433)

from $101

Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour

4.7

(98)

from $90

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

4.7

(64)

from $100

Passengers watching a breaching humpback whale

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

(388)

from $118

Five humpback whales swimming by RIB boat in Eyjafjörður fjord, out of Akureyri.

Original Carbon Neutral Whale Watching Tour from Húsavík

(17)

from $189

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.

4.3

(98)

from $122

Original Big Whale Safari and Puffins from Iceland by Local Family Company in Húsavík

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

4.8

(466)

from $176

Top Attractions in Akureyri

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Attractions

What are people saying about Akureyri

100% Whale Watching

Clotilde_P, Aug 2026

An absolutely magical whale watching experience!

We were lucky enough to spot humpback whales as well as harbor porpoises multiple times, sometimes just a few meters from the boat. A truly unforgettable moment. Our guide was passionate and gave clear, easy-to-follow explanations in English. You could really feel her enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the local marine wildlife. A perfect experience from start to finish — highly recommend!

Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central

Mercedes_D, Aug 2026

Whale Watching 8.10.26

We are currently doing the ring road adventure. Yesterday was so beautiful out for whale watching and we got to see a few! Our tour guide was very informative and a great guide. I forget the young man’s name but he was amazing! Glad we got this opportunity.

Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

Scott_C, Jul 2026

Great whale watching experience!

Every experience is different as far as what to expect. Our guide told us the day prior to our tour that they saw whales within 8 minutes of leaving the dock. It took us over an hour getting out towards the open ocean before we saw them but ended up seeing three different humpback whales. We really loved it and the staff were all great! They even let you scan a QR photo to download the photos that they took on the tour as well.

Húsavík: Family-Run Whale Watching Tour

Raquel_M, Jul 2026

Incredible experience

We saw a humpback whale, a minke whale, puffins and a pod of dolphins stayed with us for quite sometime. Beautiful weather. The one guide from Spain was exceptional. And the tour narrator was very knowledgeable about whales.. I also appreciated the fact they were respectful of wildlife. Have already recommended to a number of tourists along the way.

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 Whale Watching from Húsavík by Local Family Company

James_R, Jun 2026

Whale watching

Had a good time on this 5 pm tour. We saw a humpback whale and followed him for about 30 minutes. The whale jumped all the way out of the water! My 2 kiddos got seasick so I would recommend taking some seasick meds before the ride. The oak boat is very jumpy. The guide was great and very knowledgeable.

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!