Whale Watching Reykjavík – Our First-Hand Review with Special Tours
Whale Watching in Iceland
Whale Watching from Reykjavík – Our Experience with Special Tours
We joined Special Tours for a whale-watching trip from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour aboard Andrea. Here’s our first-hand experience of the journey into Faxaflói Bay, the wildlife, the views and what you should know before you go.
Reykjavík old harbor, Capital RegionExperienced April 20263 hours
Quick take
4.0 / 5Our verdict
A memorable whale-watching experience from Reykjavík's Old Harbour with a friendly and knowledgeable crew. The journey across Faxaflói Bay offered beautiful views of Reykjavík, Mount Esja and Snæfellsjökull, while the excitement of searching for wildlife made the trip enjoyable from start to finish.
Would we do it again?Yes, absolutely.Best for:Travellers staying in Reykjavík who want a wildlife and ocean experience without renting a car
There is something different about heading out onto the North Atlantic knowing that somewhere beyond Reykjavík, beneath the surface of Faxaflói Bay, whales may be waiting.
We joined Special Tours for a whale-watching trip from Reykjavík's Old Harbour on a bright April morning. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and Reykjavík looked beautiful — but this was still Iceland in April, and the cold air coming in from the sea made sure we didn't forget it.
This wasn't a tour we were researching from behind a desk. We were there, on the boat, experiencing it ourselves.
Reykjavík
Arriving at Reykjavík's Old Harbour
We arrived at Reykjavík's Old Harbour in the morning, where we were greeted by a cheerful member of the Special Tours team.
After welcoming everyone, we were invited aboard Andrea, the boat that would take us out into Faxaflói Bay.
There was already a noticeable sense of excitement among the passengers.
People found their places around the boat, cameras and phones came out, families gathered together, and everyone seemed to be looking toward the harbour entrance wondering the same thing:
Would we see whales today?
Soon, the engines started and Andrea began moving away from the harbour.
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Visit this place
Reykjavik Old Harbour
Historic harbor area with museums and restaurants
Explore more — waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs and more.
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ISK 14,490
Reykjavík slowly started to disappear behind us.
Andrea
Leaving Reykjavík Behind
The first part of the journey is an experience in itself.
As we sailed out of the Old Harbour, the Reykjavík waterfront opened up behind us and the view changed completely.
From the sea, the city takes on a different perspective.
The buildings along the coastline gradually become smaller, while the mountains surrounding Faxaflói Bay begin to dominate the landscape.
On a clear day, the view is spectacular.
Mount Esja rises prominently across the water, one of Reykjavík's most recognizable landmarks. Looking back, you can see the capital stretching along the coastline, while farther out the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic.
And in the distance, when visibility allows, Snæfellsjökull glacier can be seen across the bay.
Standing on the deck with Reykjavík behind us, Esja to one side and Snæfellsjökull far away on the horizon made us realize that this trip isn't only about the whales.
The journey itself gives you a beautiful view of Reykjavík and the landscape surrounding Faxaflói Bay.
Faxaflói
Heading Out into Faxaflói Bay
Once we were outside the harbour, Andrea picked up speed and we headed farther into the bay, roughly in the direction of Akranes.
A guide was travelling with us and introduced herself and the crew before explaining what we could expect during the trip.
One thing we particularly liked was that she didn't pretend that seeing whales was guaranteed.
These are wild animals in the North Atlantic.
There are no fences, feeding stations or controlled encounters.
The crew has to find them.
Our guide explained some of the things the crew looks for while searching the bay.
Years of experience help them understand where whales are likely to be found, but conditions change from day to day. The crew watches the water and the surrounding wildlife carefully, looking for the signs that might reveal where whales are feeding or travelling.
Sometimes they find them quickly.
Sometimes the search takes longer.
And nature never offers a 100% guarantee.
For us, that uncertainty actually added something to the experience.
Everyone on board started watching the water.
Searching the Water
Once you know what you're looking for, you find yourself scanning every part of the ocean.
A splash in the distance suddenly gets everyone's attention.
A dark shape in the water makes people reach for their cameras.
Someone points toward the horizon and within seconds half the boat is looking in the same direction.
The atmosphere changes when the search really begins.
The passengers aren't simply sitting on a sightseeing boat anymore — everyone becomes part of the hunt.
Meanwhile, the crew continues watching the bay.
Their experience becomes obvious here. They aren't randomly driving around hoping to get lucky. They're reading the conditions, watching wildlife activity and constantly scanning a huge area of water.
And then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for.
Our First Whale Sighting
A dark back suddenly appeared above the surface in the distance. Within seconds, everyone was looking in the same direction. The whale disappeared beneath the water, and for a moment the entire boat seemed to wait in silence for it to surface again.
What the Experience Is Really Like
Whale watching is very different from visiting a waterfall or geothermal area.
You don't arrive knowing exactly what you're going to see.
Part of the experience is the search.
You are travelling through a huge natural environment looking for wild animals that are completely free to move wherever they want.
That means there can be periods where seemingly nothing happens.
But that's also why the moment something finally appears in the water feels special.
There is an unmistakable reaction around the boat when somebody spots something.
People point.
Cameras come up.
The guide starts explaining what we're seeing.
And suddenly everyone is focused on one small area of an enormous bay.
Don't Forget to Look Around
Even while searching for whales, take some time to look away from the water.
The scenery around Faxaflói is worth it.
From the boat you get perspectives of Reykjavík that most visitors never see.
Behind you is the city.
Across the bay is Mount Esja.
Farther away are mountains stretching along the coastline, and on a clear day Snæfellsjökull can appear on the horizon.
The combination of open ocean, mountains, Reykjavík and Iceland's constantly changing light makes the sailing itself surprisingly memorable.
For photographers, this is also worth remembering.
Don't spend the entire trip pointing a telephoto lens at the water.
Take some wide shots of the boat, passengers, Reykjavík disappearing behind you and the mountains surrounding the bay.
Those photographs often tell the story of the experience better than a distant whale fin alone.
It Can Be Cold — Even When Reykjavík Is Sunny
This is something we would definitely tell anyone taking the tour.
Dress warmer than you think you need to.
It was sunny when we left Reykjavík, but once we were out on the water the temperature felt completely different.
Wind and cold air coming across the North Atlantic can make the deck significantly colder than the streets around Reykjavík.
In April, we would recommend warm layers, gloves and a hat even when the weather looks good from your hotel window.
A waterproof or wind-resistant outer layer is also a very good idea.
And don't let sunshine fool you.
This is Iceland.
Who Would We Recommend This Tour For?
We think whale watching from Reykjavík works particularly well for travellers who want to experience something beyond the usual driving itinerary.
It is especially convenient if you're staying in Reykjavík because the departure point is right at the Old Harbour.
You don't need to rent a car or dedicate an entire day to travelling somewhere else.
You simply arrive at the harbour and head out into Faxaflói Bay.
It is also an experience where the journey is part of the attraction.
Even before seeing any wildlife, you're already getting a boat trip, views of Reykjavík from the sea and a completely different perspective on the mountains surrounding the capital.
Would We Do It Again?
Yes.
What we liked most wasn't simply being able to say that we'd been whale watching.
It was the combination of everything around it.
Walking down to Reykjavík's Old Harbour on a cold but sunny April morning.
Meeting the crew.
Boarding Andrea.
Watching Reykjavík disappear behind us.
Seeing Esja across the water and Snæfellsjökull in the distance.
Listening to the guide explain how the crew searches for whales.
And then standing on deck with everyone else, scanning the North Atlantic and waiting for something to appear.
That's what made the experience memorable.
Whale watching isn't a performance where the animals appear on schedule.
You're entering their environment.
And that's precisely what makes finding them exciting.
Our verdict
Would we do it again?
Yes, absolutely.
Pros
Departs from Reykjavík's Old Harbour — no car or travel outside the city needed
Knowledgeable guide who was upfront and honest about wildlife uncertainty
Spectacular views of Reykjavík, Mount Esja and Snæfellsjökull from the open sea
Engaging collective atmosphere — passengers actively join the spotting effort
Cons
Significantly colder on the water than in Reykjavík — dress much warmer than you think you need to
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed — there can be quiet periods during the search
Best for
Travellers staying in Reykjavík who want a wildlife and ocean experience without renting a car
