
About this activity
Set out from Reykjavik's Old Harbour on a 3.5-hour guided boat tour targeting minke whales, humpback whales, and white-beaked dolphins in Iceland's rich marine waters. The Andrea, a spacious vessel with indoor and outdoor decks, combines comfort with hands-on marine education—examine whale bones, baleen plates, and sea specimens under a microscope while experienced guides share wildlife insights.
The Whale Watching Classic (3-3.5 hours) is normally operated on our largest boat, Andrea.
The Andrea gives extra comfort, with great inside and outside viewing areas. She is very family friendly with an educational and interactive focus with whale bones, baleen plates, teeth and a microscope on board to look at sea specimens. The Classic tours are guided in English year-round, with German guidance available May 1st - September 30th.
The Whale Watching Express (2-2.5 hours)
NEW
Special Tours Iceland app with 5 languages (English, German, French, Spanish and simplified Chinese) available for Android and Apple. It is available for all clients to download during their tour, with both text and audio information. The app is as close to an audio guided wildlife adventure as possible
The most common whales spotted include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.
Departure times:
Whale Watching Classic (All Year):
09:00 - March 1st - November 15th
13:00 - All year
17:00 - May 15th - September 30th
Highlights
- ✓Frequent sightings of minke whales, humpback whales, and harbour porpoises
- ✓Interactive marine biology displays: whale specimens, baleen plates, and microscope viewing
- ✓Large, comfortable boat with heated indoor cabin and open-air viewing decks
- ✓English-language guidance year-round; German available May–September
- ✓Family-friendly experience with educational focus
Insider tips
- ★Dress in waterproof layers even in summer—ocean winds chill quickly and sea spray reaches passengers on deck
- ★Arrive 30 minutes early to explore the Old Harbour area and secure your preferred vantage point on deck
- ★Peak whale activity occurs during migration seasons (April–May and August–October), though sightings happen year-round
- ★Bring binoculars and a camera with a good zoom to capture distant whale breaches and dorsal fins
Good to know
- •Tour departs from Reykjavik's Old Harbour; meeting point confirmed at booking
- •Waterproof jacket and non-slip footwear recommended; the boat rocks in rough seas
- •Accessible indoor seating available; mobility assistance should be arranged in advance
- •Tours operate in English year-round; German guides available 1 May–30 September
- •Motion sickness medication advisable if you're prone to seasickness—the North Atlantic can be choppy
Who it's for
Best time to visit
Spring (April–May) and autumn (August–October) offer the highest whale sighting rates during migration. The 17:00 summer departure (May 15–September 30) provides extended daylight for photography, though morning departures (09:00) suit all seasons.








