Most reviewed
By the Hof cultural centre
Classic cruise from Akureyri with a heated cabin
For the most reviewed tour in the fjord, with a heated cabin and large windows.
Whale watching in Akureyri
8 tours on Eyjafjörður from €67: from the centre of Akureyri, or from the villages up the fjord.
- From
- €67
- Duration
- 2 to 3 h
- Best season
- All year, best from April to October
- Tours compared
- 8
Are there whales in Akureyri?
Yes: Visit Akureyri says humpbacks are seen in the fjord all year.
The tourist office says Eyjafjörður is considered one of the best places to watch whales, and that some have been seen right in front of the town. It also lists minke whales, dolphins and bottlenose whales as often spotted.
Whale Watching Akureyri is more careful: it says the number of animals is unpredictable and follows the food in the fjord. Whale Watching Hauganes wrote on 5 November 2026 that it was still seeing humpbacks on all its tours, up to 12 on a tour.
Which whale watching tour from Akureyri?
Stay in town for the heated boats, drive 25 minutes for the oak boats and the lowest prices.
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From Akureyri
No driving: the boats leave from the town itself.
Lower price in town
Strandgata 14
Fast catamaran from Akureyri
For a lower price in town, on a fast catamaran.
Summer evening
By the Hof cultural centre
Evening cruise from Akureyri in the summer light
For a summer evening on the fjord.
RIB
Oddeyrarbót 2
Two hours by 12-seat RIB from Akureyri
For 12 passengers at most and a fast boat from town.
From the villages up the fjord
25 to 30 minutes' drive from Akureyri.
Lowest price
Hauganes
Oak boat from Hauganes, with cinnamon buns
For the lowest price in the fjord, on an oak boat, from a firm that sails all year.
Highest rated
Árskógssandur
Oak boat from Árskógssandur
For the highest rating here, on an oak boat, with a warm drink and a bun.
Free parking
Dalvík
Three hours from Dalvík, parking included
For a full three hours. The firm reports whales or dolphins on 98% of tours.
Lowest RIB price
Dalvík
Two hours by RIB from Dalvík
For the lowest RIB price on this site.
Compare in detail
Prices and ratings are read from GetYourGuide. Prices are rounded up. Last checked on 4 Nov.
Every tour here is free to cancel up to 24 hours before it starts.
| Tour | Duration | Starts | Min. age | Rating | From | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Akureyri | ||||||
Most reviewed in the fjordClassic cruise from Akureyri with a heated cabinWhale Watching AkureyriBoat: Large boatIf no whales are seen: A free ticket, valid 2 years in Reykjavik and Akureyri.Keep in mind: A free ticket valid 2 years if neither whales nor dolphins are seen. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 3 h | By the Hof cultural centre, Strandgata 12, Akureyri | €102 | See dates: Classic cruise from Akureyri with a heated cabin | ||
Fast catamaran from AkureyriSpecial Tours IcelandBoat: CatamaranIf no whales are seen: A ticket for a second trip.Keep in mind: A little shorter than the classic cruise: 2 h 30. What's includedIncluded
Not included
| 2 h 30 | Strandgata 14, Akureyri | €92 | See dates: Fast catamaran from Akureyri | ||
Evening cruise from Akureyri in the summer lightWhale Watching AkureyriBoat: Large boatKeep in mind: Summer only: check the dates when you book. What's includedIncluded
Not included
| 3 h | By the Hof cultural centre, Strandgata 12, Akureyri | €86 | See dates: Evening cruise from Akureyri in the summer light | ||
Two hours by 12-seat RIB from AkureyriWhale Watching AkureyriBoat: RIBGroup size: 12 people at mostKeep in mind: From age 10 and 145 cm. No toilets on board, and you sign a waiver on arrival. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 2 h | Oddeyrarbót 2, Akureyri | 10 years | €170 | See dates: Two hours by 12-seat RIB from Akureyri | |
| From the villages up the fjord | ||||||
Lowest price in the fjordOak boat from Hauganes, with cinnamon bunsWhale Watching HauganesBoat: Oak boatKeep in mind: GetYourGuide's title for this tour quotes 99%: that is the firm's own figure for summer 2025. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Not suitable with
| 2 h 30 | Hafnargata 2, Hauganes | €67 | See dates: Oak boat from Hauganes, with cinnamon buns | ||
Oak boat from ÁrskógssandurNorth SailingBoat: Oak boatIf no whales are seen: Another tour for free.Keep in mind: Another tour for free if no whales are seen. No pickup. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 2 h 30 | Ægisgata 25, Árskógssandur | €69 | See dates: Oak boat from Árskógssandur | ||
Three hours from Dalvík, parking includedArctic Sea ToursBoat: BoatKeep in mind: Its page says it runs in rain or shine. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 3 h | Hafnarbraut 22, Dalvík | €80 | See dates: Three hours from Dalvík, parking included | ||
Two hours by RIB from DalvíkArctic Sea ToursBoat: RIBKeep in mind: From 120 cm. Not for pregnant women or people with back problems. What's includedIncluded
Bring
Not suitable with
| 2 h | Hafnarbraut 22, Dalvík | €140 | See dates: Two hours by RIB from Dalvík | ||
Where do the boats leave from?
From Akureyri and three villages on the same fjord.
Akureyri
No driving
The large boats leave from the pier by the Hof cultural centre, the RIBs from Oddeyrarbót.
Hauganes
About 25 minutes
Whale Watching Hauganes has run tours since 1993, and says it sails all year.
Árskógssandur
About 30 minutes
North Sailing's oak boat for this fjord.
Dalvík
About 30 minutes
Arctic Sea Tours, with a boat and a RIB, and free parking on the classic tour.
Akureyri or Húsavík?
Akureyri if you don't want to drive, Húsavík if you are heading east anyway.
They are about an hour apart by road.
Akureyri and the fjord
The largest choice of departure points in the north, and tours in the town itself. Visit Akureyri says humpbacks are seen in the fjord all year.
- From
- €67
- Tours compared
- 8
Húsavík
A town on Skjálfandi Bay, with a Whale Museum. Boats sail from April to October, and one firm continues into November.
- From
- €71
- Tours compared
- 6
Is Akureyri or Reykjavik better for whale watching?
IceWhale says humpbacks are most often seen in the north, so it depends on your route.
When can you see whales in Akureyri?
Visit Akureyri says humpbacks are seen all year, and Whale Watching Hauganes says it sails all year. IceWhale gives April/May to September/October as the main months in the north.
The best timeIs Hauganes or Akureyri better?
Hauganes costs less, from €67 against €92 in town, but you need to get there: about 25 minutes by car.
Is the 99% at Hauganes true?
It is the firm's own figure for summer 2025. We have no independent count, and it says nothing about your day.
What happens if no whales are seen?
It depends on the tour. Whale Watching Akureyri gives a free ticket valid for 2 years. Other pages, like Hauganes and Dalvík, don't say.
Can children go?
The large boats lend overalls in children's sizes. The RIB from Akureyri starts at age 10 and 145 cm, the one from Dalvík at 120 cm.
Further on your route?
Húsavík is an hour's drive; Reykjavik sails all year.