Reykjavík Whales & Viðey Island

📍 Reykjavík, Iceland

4.5 ( 4,879 reviews)

See them in the wild

From

Duration7 hours

FitnessEasy

CancellationFree cancellation 24 hours before starting time.

🔒Secure payment

✅Instant confirmation

🏅EarthCheck

🏅World Cetacean Alliance Approved

Overview

This tour combines the best of Reykjavík's surrounding waters. Before or after exploring the wonders of the whales and seabirds in Faxaflói, it is ideal to visit Viðey Island and experience its tranquillity and sense of bygone centuries. On Viðey, you can enjoy a relaxing getaway from city life in nature, see one of the oldest houses in Reykjavík and the first one made of stone in Iceland. There are also nice walking paths and beaches along the shore, as well as artworks such as Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower and Richard Serra's 'Áfangar'. Viðeyjarstofa café is open from 11:00-18:00 every day in summer, where you can enjoy refreshments before or after exploring the island.

wildlife highlights

Why you'll love it

🔹 A conservation success

Commercial whaling in the 20th century killed around 2.9 million whales, with some populations, such as humpback whales, lost 90% of their global population. In 1986, commercial whaling was banned, and species were able to recover (although three countries continue to hunt whales - Japan, Norway and Iceland).

🔹 Support local communities

Whale watching is a major source of income for some communities, especially those around no-take Marine Protected Areas, where fishing and other commercial activities are banned. There are strict guidelines for responsible whale watching, which largely involve speed limits, never chasing the pod, never separating mother and calf, and not getting too close.

🔹 See them in their natural habitat

Seeing them in the vast ocean is an experience one’ll never forget. We believe responsible whale watching is a great way to educate the public about these majestic giants and to support their conservation.

What you will be doing

9:00 departure

You start the day at the Old Harbour to join the whale watching tour starting at 09:00. After exploring the wonders of the whales and seabirds Faxaflói offers you return to the harbour around 12:00. You have some time to explore the harbour area before catching the Viðey ferry at 14:50 just steps from where the whale watching boats dock.

11:00 departure

ou start the day at the Old Harbour to join the whale watching tour starting at 11:00. After exploring the wonders of the whales and seabirds Faxaflói offers you return to the harbour around 14:00. You have some time to explore the harbour area before catching the Viðey ferry at 14:50 just steps from where the whale watching boats dock.

11:50 departure

You start the day by walking down to the Old Harbour in Reykjavík for the ferry departing at 11:50. After exploring the beautiful island of Viðey you head down to the ferry point to get back to the old harbour at 15:30. You have some free time to walk around before the whale watching starts at 17:00.

Things to know

AccessibilityChildren friendly

Fitness levelEasy

Tour languageEnglish

Licence requiredNone

Roundtrip ferry ticket is included

Inclusions and Exclusions

✅ Included

Guide
Free WiFi
Use of warm overalls onboard
Viðey ferry (return ticket)

❌ Not included

Meals

Where we'll meet

Meet up/Pick up location: Elding's ticket office, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, IS

Instruction: Meet 15min before departure time

ReturnThis trip returns to meeting point

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