15 Boat & RIB Tours in Reykjavík That Are Worth the Day

1.Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,911 reviews · 3 hours · from $107Our pick

Join a 3-hour whale watching cruise from Reykjavik Old Harbor on the Amelia Rose, with 3 viewing decks, expert spotting, and warm blankets.

“Super easy to find and check-in, no worries at all. The guide gave many explanations about the fauna and landmarks which were appreciated. We were lucky to see several whales from up close. The Amelia Rose is very comfy and spacious, whenever it gets too cold you can warm up inside and buy a hot drink! Overall we recommend, we really loved it!”

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2.Northern Lights Yacht Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,253 reviews · 2 hours · from $93

Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor on a 2-hour northern lights yacht tour with warm blankets, a cozy bar, and deck space for photos.

“We got very lucky with totally clear skies and a high probability of a sighting, saw the lights within 10 minutes of the boat sailing out and then they put on a show for a good hour. The guide was very helpful, explaining how to take the best photos, that the lights come in waves and she alerted those of us who were sitting inside shielding from the cold whenever a new wave of lights would come up. It is very cold on the boat (it was minus 10 degrees that evening) so I advise wearing a lot of layers, coat, gloves, snow shoes. Would definitely recommend.”

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3.Puffin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,052 reviews · 1 hour · from $64Best value

“Our guide Patrick “The Puffin Man” was great. Engaging, hilarious, and knowledgeable about the puffin. Saw plenty of them. Got to take some good photos and videos, and they provide binoculars to help you see up close. Ride can be a bit bumpy due to the waves so if you have motion sickness, take meds beforehand. Beyond that, excellent tour.”

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4.Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 707 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

A 3-hour Reykjavik yacht cruise in Faxafloi Bay to spot whales and dolphins, with warm blankets, WiFi, and live guide commentary.

“Out of this world!!!! This was the best thing I’ve ever experienced on a trip. The scenery is more than enough but to witness Humpback Whales & a super pod of Dolphins in the wild took out breath away! The boat was very roomy & clean. The staff were lovely - very friendly & informative. We were blown away with this activity & will return to Reykjavík in the future just to do this trip again.”

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5.Whale Watching Cruise on a Yacht in Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 684 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

A 3 hour yacht cruise from Reykjavik to spot whales and dolphins around Faxafloi Bay, with landmark views and a free return if none.

“We saw dolphins, porpoises and whales. It was wonderful and they told us all about whales and the different seasons and what to expect from season.”

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6.Whale-Watching Boat Tour with Expert Guide from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 651 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $86

Reykjavik whale watching with thermal overalls, heated indoor viewing, free Wi-Fi, and a naturalist guide. Pick 2.5 or 3.5 hours.

“The most memorable parts was NOT seeing any whales which we know can happen however the response from the boat staff was simply, "bad luck". No refund, partially or otherwise nor any possibility of a return trip was offered.”

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7.Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 621 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

2-hour RIB whale watching from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, on a small boat with warm gear, for a real shot at whales, dolphins, and puffins.

“We had a wonderful tour! Our guide, Claudia, was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and very pleasant throughout the trip. She explained everything clearly and answered to all our questions with patience and created a warm and enjoyable atmosphere. Claudia and the beautiful whales truly made the experience excellent. highly recommended! Love from the Israeli group ❤️”

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8.Whale Watching & Dolphin Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 488 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $108

Whale watching and dolphin yacht cruise from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor in Faxafloi Bay, with blankets, Wi-Fi photo sharing, and a second free tour if no sightings.

“Whilst we saw both a Minke whale and a Humpback whale on the trip, this tour could have been so much better. The commentary was very minimal; after a brief and basic welcome as we set off, we didn't hear anything for over another hour - and even that was just 5 minutes of telling us that there are 4 types of dolphins/whales that we might see. But that was largely it - nothing about the chances of seeing them, what our strategy for finding them was (we seemed to just be aimlessly sailing around for the first 90 minutes), do the animals live in the bay or further out,…”

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9.Northern Lights Yacht Cruise in Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 428 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $94

A 2-hour Reykjavik northern lights yacht cruise with warm interiors, onboard Wi-Fi, and whale-spotting in Faxaflói Bay, plus a return chance.

“This tour was well-organised and I would recommend it. We did see the Northern Lights but they were quite faint and not really visible with the naked eye so the tour company offered everyone a trip on another day which we thought was a nice touch. We didn't take them on their offer as (i) we did see the lights and (ii) not really fair on them as they can't control a natural phenomenon. We sat on the top deck and yes it was freezing so do wear your thermals! Below deck it was warm and there was a bar.”

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10.Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 393 reviews · 2 hours · from $194

Reykjavik RIB whale watching in Faxafloi Bay, plus puffin viewing and a museum ticket. Fast ride, warm gear, real wildlife.

“The highlight of our trip, I could have stayed out there all day :)”

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11.Best Value Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 300 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $103

Reykjavik whale watching from Old Harbour, 3.5 hours in heated cabins with free overalls. Look for minke, humpback, dolphins in Faxaflói Bay.

“Seeing & learningabout the whales from Badger. If cold can go inside. offer free anti tablets, which we did not know & bought. Provide warm clothing. Prices reasonable in cafe”

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12.Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 293 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

2-hour RIB whale and puffin safari from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour with a marine-biologist guide, warm gear, and close-up wildlife chances.

“Everything was amazing. Staff friendly, kind and funny and knowledgeable. Made the experience even better. We saw amazing wildlife.”

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13.RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 241 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $208

Small-group RIB whale watching from Reykjavik with a marine biologist guide, puffins in season, and close-to-the-water wildlife viewing.

“Definitely worth the extra money for the small group experience. The rib boat ride was exhilarating and we saw lots of puffins and whales. One humpback surfaced right in front of us. Our guide even provided photos she took during our outing.”

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14.Sea Fishing Boat Tour & BBQ with the Day’s Catch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 223 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $141

Reykjavik sea fishing from Old Harbor to Faxafloi Bay, then BBQ with your catch. Learn fast, spot puffins, whales, and eat fresh fish.

“Mates and captain were friendly and helpful. The captain really put us on the fish. Action was almost nonstop.”

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15.Speedboat Whale Watching Small-Group Tour in Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 223 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $164

Speedboat RIB whale watching in Reykjavik with waterproof gear, small-group thrills, and close-up chances for humpbacks and puffins.

“This was very memorable for us, we got to see a few whales, one came right up to our boat. The speed boat is quite fun and feels like the better option over the bigger boats, you will bounce up and down a lot but the seats have suspension so its not so bad. our guide, Rebekah was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the animals that we saw.”

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