Reykjavík Whale Watching & Puffins Tour

This whale watching and puffins tour from Reykjavík combines two boat trips from the Old Harbour: a whale watching cruise and a shorter run out to the puffin colonies. It runs only through the summer, while the puffins are on the cliffs.

• Two boat trips in one day: whales and puffins
• Departs from the Old Harbour in central Reykjavík
• Warm overalls provided, including children's sizes
• A guide on board points out wildlife as you go

Your day, stop by stop

2Whale watching cruiseOut into Faxaflói Bay to look for whales and dolphins.

A guide on board watches for whales and points out what is around, from minke whales and harbour porpoises to the occasional humpback. There are toilets and a snack bar on board, and warm overalls are provided over your own clothes.

Facilities · toilets and a snack bar on boardBring · warm overalls are provided over your own clothes

3Puffin watching cruiseA shorter run out to the islands where puffins nest.

A smaller boat takes you to the islands where puffins nest, getting close to the nesting cliffs so you can watch the birds coming and going. Binoculars are provided on board. Puffins are on the islands from roughly May to mid-August.

Season · puffins are on the islands roughly May to mid-August

About the whale watching and puffins Reykjavik

Faxaflói Bay, right outside Reykjavík's harbour, is one of the more reliable places in Iceland to see whales, and this tour pairs a whale watching cruise with a shorter trip out to the islands where puffins nest in summer. You do both from the same harbour, usually with a gap between the two.

The whale watching boat covers more open water and can take a few hours, while the puffin boat is smaller and quicker, built to get close to the nesting cliffs without disturbing the birds. Species seen change through the season, but minke whales and harbour porpoises are the most regular sightings, with occasional humpbacks.

Puffins are only in Iceland from spring to around mid-August, so this combination only runs in that window. The boats provide warm overalls over your own clothes, since the sea can be cool and breezy even on a sunny day. Sailings can be affected by weather and sea conditions.

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