Reykjavík evening on the water: jet ski, SUP or fishing
Three evening trips on Faxaflói Bay: jet ski at €219, sunset fishing at €146 and a private paddle board at €514. Who each suits and what you get.
The short version
- Cheapest evening on the water: sunset sea fishing at €146, 2.5 hours, no minimum age, and the catch is fried on board.
- Fastest: the sunset jet ski tour at €219 for 2 hours, minimum age 8, with a puffin stop at Lundey from May to late August.
- Quietest: the private sunset paddle board tour at €514, 2.5 hours, in a drysuit. It is weather dependent.
- All three have free cancellation until 24 hours before departure.
If you want an evening on the water in Reykjavík, fishing is the easy and cheap one, the jet ski is the fun one, and the paddle board is the calm one that costs the most. Pick by who is coming, not by price.
Short evenings are the catch. Between November and February the sun is down early, so these trips are really a spring to autumn idea. Check the departure times before you plan dinner.
Sunset sea fishing: €146
Sunset Fishing in Faxaflói Bay leaves the Old Harbour at 17:00 and runs two and a half hours. Reykjavik Sailors supply the rods, protective clothing and crew. The description promises you catch fish, and you can keep your catch or have it fried on board with potatoes.
This is the one for mixed groups. No minimum age is set, nobody needs experience, and nobody has to be fit. It is also the only one of the three where you eat something at the end.
The downside is the sea. Faxaflói can be lively, and a boat that rolls does not suit everyone. Take a seasickness tablet if you are unsure. Also, as with all fishing trips, this is a shared boat, so you will be elbow to elbow with strangers. For a longer look at this kind of trip, see our sea angling guide.
Sunset jet ski: €219
Sunset Jet ski tour on Reykjavík Bay is two hours, with departures at 19:00, 19:30 and 20:00. You get a fleece suit, a drysuit, life vest, helmet, shoes and gloves, then ride out from Gufunes. The first stop is Lundey, where puffins nest from May to late August, and then Viðey for the sunset view and photos. Minimum age is 8.
It is the fastest way to see the bay, and the bay looks good at that hour. But it is loud, it is wet, and you will not talk much. Do not book it expecting a quiet, scenic evening. For the full comparison of the day and evening jet ski options, read the jet ski guide.
Sunset paddle board: €514 (private)
PRIVATE: Reykjavik Sunset & Paddle Board Tour is two and a half hours, with start times from 17:00 to 20:00. The price is for the private booking, not per seat, and the operator provides Red Paddle boards, an instructor and a drysuit that leaves hands and head exposed. They say they are the only operator running it, so the water should be quiet.
It is the calmest of the three, and the one that works best for couples or a small family who want photos. But it is the dearest by a wide margin, and it is very weather dependent. Wind cancels it. It is also not recommended for people with back problems, heart conditions or pregnancy.
How to choose
- Mixed ages, tight budget: fishing.
- Teenagers or adults who want speed: jet ski.
- Two or three people who want calm and are happy to pay for it: paddle board.
- Wet-weather fallback: none of these. Pick a museum instead.
Our honest take
Book the fishing trip. It is €146, it suits almost everyone, and you get dinner out of it. Take the jet ski if everybody is 8 or older and wants noise and speed. Choose the paddle board only if you have the budget and a flexible evening, because wind can move it.
Whichever you pick, book the earliest slot that still falls inside daylight in your month. Be at the harbour or base early, dress warmer than you think, and do not promise anyone a sunset.
