Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Located on the shores of Eyjafjordur, Akureyri is one of the best places to go whale watching in Iceland as humpback whales can be seen in the fjord all year round. Daily whale watching tours offer you a unique opportunity to get some up-close sightings of these majestic creatures in the wild. Whale watching tours in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur offer the chance to see more than humpback whales too, as a number of whale species can be seen in the fjord including minke whales, blue whales, northern bottlenose whales and more. We took two unforgettable whale watching trips in Akureyri where we saw humpback whales and more, which is right up there amongst the highlights from all our travels including seeing blue whales in Sri Lanka. This blog post covers all you need to know about whale watching in Akureyri to have an amazing trip!
Wondering where to stay for your trip? Check out our guide to the best hotels and places to stay in Akureyri!
What species can you see Whale Watching in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur?
Whale Species in Akureyri
There are a range of whale species in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur, including humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, northern bottlenose whales, sei whales, sperm whales and even blue whales! It’s possible to see any of these species on a whale watching tour from Akureyri, depending on the time of year and your luck on the day.
One of the main draws of whale watching in Akureyri is the chance to see humpback whales in the wild all year round. These majestic creatures come into the fjord to feed, and there is a good success rate for sightings. We took two whale watching trips in Eyjafjordur and were fortunate enough to see three humpback whales – which was an unforgettable experience!
The chance to see humpback whales in the wild is why Akureyri is considered to be one of the best places to go whale watching in Iceland. Whilst humpbacks can be seen in the area all year round, sightings of other whales do vary. The list below gives you an idea of when different whale species can be seen in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur.
Humpback whales – All year round.
Minke whales – Frequently seen in the summer months.
Blue whales – Occasionally seen in summer months, with most luck between mid-June and mid-July.
Northern bottlenose whales – Occasionally sightings in both winter and summer months.
Long-finned pilot whales – Occasional sightings.
Sei whales – Rarely seen.
Sperm whales – Rarely seen.
Fin whales – Rarely seen.
We took two whale watching tours in Akureyri, and on the first trip we got particularly lucky as we saw two humpback whales, a pod of 20-25 long-finned pilot whales, and 2 northern bottlenose whales. It is a matter of luck when it comes to sightings, but this shows you how amazing whale watching can be in the area.
If you want to experiencing seeing humpback whales in a warmer climate then consider visiting Mooloolaba in Australia, as it’s possible to see these magnificent creatures there too!
Other Species in Eyjafjordur
Other species found in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur include orcas (which are actually dolphins, despite also being known as killer whales), white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Sightings of orcas in Akureyri are quite rare and mainly occur in winter or spring. Harbour porpoises can be seen during the summer months, and in recent years white-beaked dolphins have been seen in both summer and winter.
There are also some interesting bird species that can be seen on whale watching tours in Akureyri, including northern fulmars, gannets, and Arctic terns.
How to book a Whale Watching Trip in Akureyri, North Iceland
The easiest way to arrange a whale watching tour in Akureyri is to book online in advance via Get Your Guide. They offer two different amazing whale watching experiences with the area’s best tour operator – Whale Watching Akureyri.
We strongly recommend booking your whale watching tour in advance in case they sell out for your preferred dates. Get Your Guide offer free cancellation on tours, so we suggest booking now and then changing dates later if you need to!
Classic Whale Watching Tour
The classic whale watching tour is the cheaper of the two options, costing just €86 per person. It’s an amazing whale watching experience over the course of three hours, with knowledgeable and experienced guides helping you to spot whales.
This tour is undertaken on a boat which can hold up to 200 people, with both inside and outside areas. Plenty of seating is available both inside and outside, and warm overalls are provided free of charge on request if you want to protect yourself against the cold.
Click here to book your classic whale watching tour now through Get Your Guide!
Express Whale Watching Tour in a Rib Speedboat
The second option is to take Akureyri Whale Watching’s express tour on a RIB speedboat, at a cost of €150 per person. These tours only last 2 hours, but as the boats are much faster they’re able to cover a much bigger area in search of whales.
Another advantage of these tours are that the boats are much smaller, which means you’re closer to the water and can have some incredible up-close views of the whales. These boats seat a maximum of 12 passengers, so it’s well worth paying extra for a more intimate and up-close whale watching experience in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur.
Click here to book a RIB speedboat whale watching trip now through Get Your Guide!
Best time to go Whale Watching in Akureyri
There is no specific whale watching season in Akureyri or Iceland, as whales can be found around the country at any time of year. The number and species of whales seen in Akureyri and Eyjafjordur varies from year to year depending on the availability of food sources in the fjord for the whales.
Although there is no specific season, the summer months are generally considered the best time to go whale watching in Akureyri. This is considered to be the best time for whale watching as a number of whale species visit the fjord during these months, alongside the humpback whales which can be seen year round.
In terms of weather it’s best to try and take a whale watching trip between April and October. Tours are less likely to be cancelled when the weather is good, and the water is often less choppy than in the winter months – which makes being on a boat a nicer experience!
RIB speedboat whale watching tours in Akureyri only run from April to October, so if you plan to take one of these trips then you will need to visit between these months. The classic whale watching tours run all year round, so whenever you visit Akureyri you will have the chance to spot some whales if you wish!
As with any form of safari or wildlife watching tour, sightings can never be guaranteed. There are very high success rates for sightings on whale watching tours from Akureyri, but even still there are some tours where you won’t see any. Thankfully if you book with Whale Watching Akureyri then they offer a complimentary classic whale watching tour if you see no whales or dolphins on your trip.
If you want to try and see the Northern Lights then we recommend visiting between September and April. This way you can hopefully see a number of whales and the incredible Aurora in the same trip! Make sure to check out our guide to the best place to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri to maximise your chances of success!
Akureyri vs Husavik for Whale Watching
Around a one-hour drive away from Akureyri is the small town of Husavik, which is sometimes referred to as ‘the whale watching capital of Iceland’. Husavik is located on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay, which is a haven for marine life.
If you have the time and budget, it can be worth going whale watching in both Husavik and Akureyri – which is what we did on our trip. Both tours have similar success rates for seeing whales, and during our stay in Iceland the trips in Akureyri were having more luck with sightings.
Even still, it’s nice to see whales in another spot and enjoy different scenery on your trip in Husavik. We still managed to see one humpback whale on our Husavik whale watching trip, so we had a great time even though we saw more in Akureyri.
Whale watching tours in Husavik start from around €80 per person, and there are a variety of tours available with some offering the chance to see puffins on Lundey Island and one eco-friendly tour being on a carbon neutral boat.
Click here to see the great whale watching tours available in Husavik on the Get Your Guide website!
One of our top money saving tips for Iceland is to rent a car, which means getting from Akureyri to Husavik is straightforward. If you’re thinking of renting a car for your trip then we recommend checking the latest deals on the Discover Cars website, as they compare between a number of operators to get you the best price!
Click here to see the latest car rental deals on the Discover Cars website!
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