Whale Watching from Downtown Reykjavik by RIB Speedboat
by Sea Trips Reykjavík · Whale watching · Boat tours · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
- Couples
- Good with teenagers
- Eco-certified
from €157.76 per person
Next departure: Thu 22 Oct
1 / 24
Duration
2 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Please check-in 30 minutes before departure at the Old Harbour House
Ægisgarður 2, Reykjavík
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00 …
Minimum age
10
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Come aboard an exciting RIB speedboat and see the incredible wealth of marine wildlife that lives in the waters just off the shores of Reykjavík City. Nature lovers looking to see some of Iceland’s majestic whales, dolphins, and porpoises, but who wish to do so in a small group, should grab this chance now.
The tour starts from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour and during your journey, you will travel among the small islands in Faxaflói Bay, as well as along the coast of Reykjavík, providing you with a fantastic view of the city as you search for wildlife in the water.
If that is not enough, on this tour, you don’t have to worry about overcrowding or not getting the right spot to see the whales. You will be sailing on Faxaflói in a small group which will make your experience personal, meaningful, and memorable.
Description from the operator, Sea Trips Reykjavík. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Included
- Up to a 2-hour exciting tour in a small group 12-seater RIB boat.
- Reykjavík sightseeing with panoramic views of the Harpa Concert Hall and Sun Voyager.
- Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and all necessary safety equipment.
- Pickup is available for an extra charge
Good to know
We recommend all guests dress warmly in layers and good footwear it is always colder on the water and don´t forget your camera.
Please check-in at the Old Harbour House at Aegisgardur 2, 101 Reykjavík 30 minutes before departure.
Not suitable for:
- Children under 10 years
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People under 4 ft 8 in (145 cm)
Since this is a wildlife tour we can never predict or guarantee sightings of any kind. In the event that we don't encounter any whales and dolphins, we do not offer refunds, but instead, we offer our passengers a free return to join our tour depending on availability, valid for up to three years.
We may cancel or reschedule the tour due to unfavorable weather or if the minimum number of participants is not reached.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure; in winter this happens often. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Sea Trips Reykjavík decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Sailing with Giants: Whale Watching from Reykjavik from Your Friend in Reykjavik is €79 — €79 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Sea Trips Reykjavík · €158 | Your Friend in Reykjavik · €79 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 2 hours | 3.5 hours |
On everything we can measure, the Your Friend in Reykjavik tour is the better buy. The €79 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 10 cannot join this one.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Sea Trips Reykjavík is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Sea Trips Reykjavík
Read all 348 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · a month ago
Luckily, the boat wasn't crowded at all, which we were really happy about. The vessel was very comfortable, and having multiple decks meant we could enjoy the scenery from different viewpoints. Unfortunately, despite the beautiful weather, we didn't spot any whales, and only a few of us caught a brief glimpse of white-beaked dolphins swimming alongside the boat. But no worries—better luck next time! Since the tour wasn't successful in spotting whales, we received a voucher to book another trip for free within the next three years.
★★★★★ · a month ago
An absolutely incredible experience out on Faxaflói bay with Sea Trips Reykjavík. We were lucky enough to spot several whales, which made the trip truly unforgettable. The crew onboard were wonderfully friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the entire sailing. On top of that, the tour was very reasonably priced for such a fantastic adventure. Highly recommended if you’re visiting Reykjavík!
★★★★★ · a month ago
Puffin Watching Yacht Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík – Small Group Experience https://seatrips.is/tour/puffin-watching-yacht-cruise-from-downtown-reykjavik/ It was a really smallest group experience, like a private tour for both of us, we booked way before our trip, very easy, and once over there, the day before someone from the tour operator called me to see if we were willing to move our tour time from 2:30 pm to 12 pm, because some technical issues, I know things happen, so no problem, we went there around 11:30 am, nobody was in the office because all shops around there were doing some painting, we went to a restaurant across the street, and Ana was there, we did the check in and ready to go on board the “Sea Ranger”, small powerful and beautiful yacht and guess what? We were the only passengers, the whole boat just for us! Ana was the guide and a young nice man the pilot, they took us to 2 small islands near the port, no more that 15 minutes away, and we were able to see those beautiful, colorful, small and fast elusive sea birds, it was worth and we took several pictures /videos from them very close, you cannot step on land, it’s forbidden, and they don’t stay put for the pictures! You need to know, the birds have their own “calendar for the year” , that day (8/19/26) was the last day for the season, they go and live on the sea and come back next year in early April, how? Good question. In the background you can see the Tall ship ARC Gloria from the Colombian Navy on its yearly cruise with Naval Cadets on board
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
Claudia was an incredible guide for our northern lights tour on March 22, 2026. She was very attentive and informative, giving constant updates on light activity and giving us all tips for photographing. Inside the boat was warm and cozy, and you can’t beat having bathrooms and a bar available! The boat wasn’t packed full of people which we appreciated. It was very easy to move around. Highly recommend this tour!
Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026
Read before you book
- Whale watching in Reykjavík: RIB or yachtTake the yacht unless you are fit, fond of speed and over 145 cm. The RIB is faster and closer, costs about €60 more, and is shorter and rougher.
- Whale watching with kids: age limits and toursWhale watching with children from Reykjavík: Elding and Reykjavik Sailors take any age on the big boats; the RIB speedboats start at 7 to 10.
- What to do on your arrival afternoon in ReykjavíkFood walk, whale watching or bed on the afternoon you land — which one survives a red-eye, which one wastes the day, and the combo we'd actually book.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Whale watching — questions people ask
When is the best time for whale watching in Iceland?
April to October, with June to August the most reliable. Humpbacks and minke whales feed in Faxaflói off Reykjavík and in the northern fjords all summer, and white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises turn up on most trips. Winter boats still sail from Reykjavík, but sightings drop and the sea is rougher. If whales are the point of your trip, come in summer and book an early departure; seas are usually calmer in the morning.
Can you see whales from Reykjavík in December?
Sometimes. Boats run from the Old Harbour all year, and winter trips do find whales, mostly humpbacks and the occasional orca. But December means short daylight, cold wind and a higher chance the operator cancels for weather. Sightings are noticeably less frequent than in summer. If you are here in winter, go anyway, but treat it as a sea trip with a chance of whales rather than a whale trip. Most operators offer a free second trip if nothing shows.
Is Húsavík or Reykjavík better for whale watching?
Húsavík, if you can get there. Skjálfandi Bay in the north sees humpbacks close to shore from May to September, and the small family-run boats like Friends of Moby Dick (/experience/752602/) keep group sizes down. Reykjavík is more convenient: boats leave the Old Harbour five minutes from most hotels and run all year. Akureyri and Dalvík in Eyjafjörður are also strong. If you are only in Reykjavík, go from Reykjavík and do not feel short-changed.
Will I get seasick on a whale watching tour?
You might. Faxaflói is open sea and the boats roll, especially in wind. Take a tablet an hour before departure, stay on deck in fresh air and watch the horizon rather than your phone. Morning trips tend to be calmer than afternoon ones. If you know you suffer badly, a two-hour RIB trip (/experience/155331/) is faster and bumpier but shorter, or pick a northern fjord like Eyjafjörður, which is more sheltered than the bay off Reykjavík.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.
from 16.181 kr.Lowest price
Guesthouse · Reykjavík
Old Town Reykjavík
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 41.790 kr.Mid-range
Hotel · Reykjavík
Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 60.840 kr.Top end
Hotel · Reykjavik
Hótel Holt
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €7 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
Elding Adventure at Sea
Reykjavík Whales & Snowmobile
153% above the €139 typical for whale watching tours
from age 7 · meet at the start point
6 h · from Reykjavík
- Gear included
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Elding Adventure at Sea
Whale Watching from Reykjavík & Akureyri
32% above the €139 typical for whale watching tours
meet at the start point
6 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Sea Trips Reykjavík
Puffin Tour by RIB Speedboat from Downtown Reykjavik
27% below the €110 typical for puffin tours
from age 10 · meet at the start point
1 h · from Reykjavík
- Age 10+
- Gear included
- Family friendly
Iceland Discover
Ultimate Whale Watching Adventure on a RIB Speedboat in Reykjavík Bay, Iceland
about the usual price for whale watching tours
People who have done a big-boat whale trip before
2 h · from Reykjavík
- Age 10+
- Gear included
- Free cancellation 24 h
Reykjavik Sailors
RIB Whale Expedition: 2-Hour High-Speed Adventure
29% above the €139 typical for whale watching tours
Moderate · from age 10
2 h · from Reykjavík
- Age 10+
- Free cancellation 24 h
VAREN Iceland
Keflavik Area Hotels to or from Reykjavik Cruise Port: Private Transfer by Sedan or Van
pickup included
45 min · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Book the night before