The Icelandic ocean waters are the perfect habitat for whales. The combination of cold ocean water and warm currents is the perfect condition for their food supply to thrive in. Shallow fjords also make it much easier to feed. All of these reasons also make it the perfect breeding ground.
With these conditions drawing a variety of whales to its shores, whale watching in Iceland is a pretty big tourist attraction. Even though we locals also still stand in awe of these giants of the sea.
In this article we tell you what month is best for whale watching in Iceland, where to whale watch in Iceland, how much whale watching is in Iceland, and which whales you might come across on your whale safari in Iceland.
When is Whale Season in Iceland?
Technically, you can go whale watching in Iceland all year round. If you’re waiting for all the migratory whale species, the Iceland whale watching season is considered to be from April to September.
As this happens to fall over the summer season in Iceland, the weather will also be nice and warm, making it another reason why this is the best time to see whales in Iceland.
Where to Go Whale Watching in Iceland
Five places in Iceland are considered whale watching hot spots:
Husavik
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Husavik in Iceland is a popular whale watching spot. The town is known as the whale capital of Iceland after all. In fact, some consider it the best whale watching spot in the world! The secret ingredient to why this is such a popular area for the whales is plankton.
Long-lasting summers, rivers rich in nutrients, and melting snow that flows into the ocean lead to large amounts of plankton which is one of the main food sources for whales. You’re almost guaranteed to spot a Humpback whale or two, although many more whale species also visit the Husavik coastline.
Akureyri
Another whale watching hot spot in Iceland is Akureyri (the second largest city in Iceland). The reason why this is such a popular whale watching spot in northern Iceland is because of the low wind and calm waters of the Eyjafjördur fjord where most of the whale watching takes place.
These conditions make it easy to spot them. It also helps that there are an incredible amount of whale watching tours operating within the area, most of them also credited as very family-friendly.
If you get a little squeamish on boats, don’t worry, the mountains surrounding the fjord shelter the area from the elements. So you’re not in for such a bumpy ride as you would be on the choppy ocean.
Reykjavik
Whale watching in Reykjavik is a popular activity for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it’s a convenient place to go whale watching in Iceland since most end up in the capital city at one or another stage of their Iceland trip. Secondly, Reykjavik also offers visitors a variety of whale watching tour options.
And, thirdly, and most importantly, The neighboring bay of Faxafloi is shallow as well as incredibly nutrient rich which, once again, makes it catnip for whales. Here you can spot Humpback whales, Minke whales, porpoises, and dolphins. All just a short distance away from having dinner or shopping in the city center.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula area offers some of the most interesting whale watching opportunities in Iceland. Because the ocean waters of the region have much larger populations of bigger sea creatures, it’s a favorite place for large Orca pods to come and visit.
Especially winter and spring are considered prime times to do some of your best Orca whale watching in Iceland. You also have a good chance to spot Sperm whales in this area.
Westfjords
The Westfjords truly is the definition of “the road less traveled”. Because it is such a remote region, not many tourists visit the area. We cannot emphasize enough how big of a mistake that is.
The remoteness of the region is exactly what gives it its natural and unspoiled magic. And whichever place is left fairly untouched by humans, wildlife abound. That’s why you’ll not only get to see numerous whale species when visiting, but if you come at the right time (between May and August), you’ll also be able to spot the infamous Puffins.
How to Go Whale Watching in Iceland
How you plan on going whale watching in Iceland is completely up to you. At certain places such as Husavik and Reykjavik, you merely need to take a walk along the harbor to spot whales somewhere in the ocean water.
It’s recommended that you book one of the Iceland whale watching tours, especially if you want to get up close to these magnificent giants of the deep.
If you’ve got a few other things on your Iceland bucket list that fall within the same region of the island, you might want to incorporate certain attractions and activities. A good example of this would be the whale and Puffin tour in the Westfjords of Iceland.
The Types of Whales You Can See When Whale Watching in Iceland
There are roughly 23 different species of whale that call Iceland home for at least a certain period of time each year. The following are some of the whales you can look out for:
Sperm Whales
The Sperm Whale’s claim to fame is that it is the largest toothed whale on the planet, so seeing these beauties along the Icelandic coast is quite a spectacular sight to see. What makes a Sperm Whale sighting even more special is the fact that they are actually very rare to spot.
This might seem odd considering their enormous size, but these giants can hold their breath for up to 2 hours. To put this into perspective; a whale watching tour averages between 2-4 hours, so you’ll need to be super aware of your surroundings to be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these Houdinis of the ocean.
Long-finned Pilot Whales
This specie also makes for some incredibly interesting whale watching in Iceland experiences. The biggest reason is that these guys are not actually whales at all, but a large species of dolphin! They are a very rare sighting in Icelandic waters, but when they are around, it’s easy to identify them from their long pectoral fins.
Minke Whales
You are almost guaranteed to see a Minke whale on a whale watching tour in Iceland. They migrate to the Icelandic coast in droves during the summer months with many simply opting to not leave during the winter months. These whales are considered to be small in comparison to other whales, but can still reach up to 9+ meters in length.
Humpback Whales
These are some of the migratory visitors to the Icelandic coast during the summer months. These guys are known for their playfulness and incredible showmanship as they lunge out of the water or perform all sorts of water aerobics.
If you go on a whale watching tour in Husavik or Akureyri during the so-called whale watching season, you’re likely to spot them slapping their tails on the water’s surface or even see full-blown breaches.
Harbor Porpoises
These are the cutest species of whale you can see when going whale watching in Iceland. They are the smallest of the whale species and can be spotted in Icelandic waters all year round. But they are incredibly shy, so will only come up for air very briefly before disappearing under the water again.
That’s why they can be quite tricky to spot from the shore if you don’t really know what you’re looking for (this is when roping in a local might come in handy). If you’re lucky you might find them on a whale watching tour whilst roosting.
No, you won’t find these cuties sitting on eggs out in the ocean somewhere. Roosting is quite a dramatic display where they race across the surface while splashing their tail during times that they are feeding or feeling threatened.
Orcas
These bad boys of the ocean are the reason many want to go whale watching in Iceland in the first place. But the most interesting thing about them is that, just like with the Long-finned Pilot Whales, they are not whales at all, but the world’s largest dolphin species.
They are also quite dramatic which makes them exceptionally entertaining and provide some of the best whale watching Iceland has to offer. Although they can be found in the Icelandic waters all year round, they only come closer to shore during the summer months.
Come Have a Whale of a Time in Iceland!
Many who travel to Iceland say that the whale watching tours and sightseeing in and around Iceland are some of the most memorable times on their trip and are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that they will cherish forever. So, use this article as a guide, plan that trip, book that flight, and come have a whale of a time whale watching in Iceland!
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