Why You Need to Go Whale Watching in Akureyri
Are you planning on going whale watching in Akureyri? This is one of the best things we’ve ever done in Iceland and here’s everything you need to know.
Akureyri is one of the whale-watching capitals of Europe. While many people rush to the neighbouring Husavik for whale-watching tours, you really shouldn’t discount Akureyri.
The city is often referred to as the “Capital of the North” in Iceland. It’s the second-largest city but, despite this, it really feels like a small town.
With colourful buildings and surrounded by towering mountains, it’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve visited in Iceland.
Plus, it has a fjord full of fantastic marine life right on its doorstep!
So, if you’re planning a trip to Northern Iceland, here’s why whale watching in Akureyri should be at the top of your bucket list.
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❤️ We highly recommend this whale-watching tour – we had the most amazing trip!
Why Akureyri is a Whale-Watching Hotspot
We recently spent 3 days in Akureyri, and this was one of the best things we did on that trip. Akureyri’s location is the reason it’s such a prime location for spotting whales. It’s situated on the shores of the Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland.
Because the fjord is sheltered by the mountains on either side, it provides the perfect habitat for a variety of marine life.
The nutrient-rich waters attract an array of whale species, especially during the summer months when there is plenty of food like krill and small fish.
However, you can see whales here all year. Unlike some whale-watching spots where sightings are very hit or miss, Akureyri offers an exceptional opportunity to see these magnificent mammals.
The waters are so calm because of how sheltered they are, which makes it much easier to spot the whales when they come up for a breath. Plus, the fjord is protected which means so are the whales that call it home.
When to go Whale Watching in Akureyri
This is one of the places in Iceland where you can spot whales year-round. We visited Akureyri in the middle of winter – mid-January, to be precise – and spotted a humpback whale on our tour. It was absolutely incredible.
Nonetheless, the prime whale-watching season runs from May to September. There’s typically more food in the fjord during this time so the whales come here to feed.
The summer (June to August) is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit Iceland. Visiting in May or September can be a great way to avoid the crowds while still enjoying excellent whale-watching conditions.
The winter months are also good times to spot whales in Akureyri. It’s a different experience with snow-capped mountains framing the fjord and icy waters.
Despite it not being the peak season, our tour operator still reported a 96% sighting success in Akureyri January.
So, overall, while peak season is the summer months, you can see whales in Akureyri any time!
❤️ This is the best whale-watching tour in Akureyri and we had such an amazing trip!
What types of whales can you expect to see?
This also depends on the season.
During the summer, the fjords are busier with more whales coming to feed. You’ll have a higher chance of seeing orcas, humpback whales, dolphins, minke whales, harbour porpoises, and even the occasional blue whale.
In Iceland in winter, there’s less variety as some whales move on to warmer waters. However, you can still spot humpback whales, dolphins, harbour porpoises, and northern bottlenose dolphins.
The Best Whale Watching Tour in Akureyri
In our opinion, the best whale-watching tour in Akureyri by far is Whale Watching Akureyri. Their guides are knowledgeable and the tours are well-structured and highly successful.
This is the tour we used and we had the absolute best day.
We wanted a company that promoted sustainable practices, had indoor and outdoor seating, and was run by expert guides. Whale Watching Akureyri ticked all our boxes.
If you do want to book this tour, spots can sell out, especially in the summer, so we recommend booking well in advance.
❤️ You’ll need to book this in advance to be sure it doesn’t sell out!
What to Expect on a Whale Watching Tour
Before we boarded the boat, we honestly had no idea what to expect from this tour. I was a little nervous, as I get quite seasick, so I had taken a lot of different travel sickness precautions before boarding the boat.
But honestly, I needn’t have worried so much!
We went on their Classic Whale Watching tour which takes place on a specially modified boat, designed specifically for safe whale encounters.
It has 3 different levels of viewing platform plus seating, space to warm up below deck, and a coffee machine inside.
We boarded the boat and the first thing we did was ask about the sea conditions. The guide reassured us that it was fairly calm but offered seasickness tablets just in case we were especially susceptible to it.
Luckily, we didn’t need them, but it’s nice to know they’re there!
As we were sailing out of the harbour, they ran through the safety features on board the boat and what to do in case of an emergency.
They also told us that we could help ourselves to a free drink from the coffee machine. There were also warm overalls available for us to wear as it was bitterly cold on the top decks, especially when the boat picked up speed.
The team ended up letting us have two free drinks in the end because it was so cold. Trust me, warming up with a hot chocolate was a fantastic way to end the tour!
Sailing out of Akureyri
Once we’d left the port, we first sailed a little bit past the harbour to see one of the most unique and beautiful things to see in Akureyri – a hot waterfall.
This thermal waterfall plunges into the Eyjafjörður and is one of the most unique sights you can see in the north.
The boat got so close that you could feel the heat coming off it!
Once we’d all taken a lot of photos of the hot waterfall, we turned around and headed out to the fjord. The views were fabulous.
You could see the lights from the town slowly being replaced with snow-capped mountains and the boat was crunching through sheets of ice on the water. Thankfully, throughout the whole trip, the waters were nice and calm.
During the journey, we had the choice to spend our time either up on the deck or inside in the warm.
We tried to stay outside as long as possible, but the nippy January air made this quite tricky, so we switched between admiring the scenery outside and warming up with a hot drink.
About halfway through our tour, we’d just decided to head back outside when we heard the tour guide say “1 o’clock!” on the speakers.
Spotting a Whale
Everyone immediately rushed outside just in time to see the tail of a humpback whale dip below the surface.
Our guide informed us that this is normal humpback behaviour. Humpbacks usually come up to breathe and then do a deep dive where they can stay below the surface for up to 30 minutes. So, they cut the engine and we waited.
Sure enough, about 10 minutes later, we saw the dark back of the humpback break the surface again. It was beautiful. It breached the surface several times before doing another deep dive below the waves.
The guides at Whale Watching Akureyri are very knowledgeable about the whales in the Eyjafjörður. They can recognise them via patterns or markings on their bodies and even have names for many of them.
The whale we were watching was called Piccolo.
We loosely followed his movements through the fjord for about 30-45 minutes, watching him come up for air and then dip back below the surface.
It was an absolutely incredible experience.
Eventually, however, we had to say goodbye to Piccolo and head back to Akureyri for the end of our tour.
Top Tips for a Memorable Experience
When we say this is one of the best experiences we’ve ever had in Iceland, we aren’t exaggerating. The only things we’ve done in Iceland that came close to this experience were glacier hiking in the south and husky sledding.
To see these incredible mammals in their natural habitat is amazing and we will always remember the first time we saw a whale in the wild.
Here are a few things we did to ensure we had a positive experience on the tour:
Dress for the weather
You need to wear appropriate clothes. We did this whale-watching tour in January, and the temperature was -3°C but it felt much colder due to the wind on the boat.
Even if you’re visiting Iceland in summer, it can be very cold on the water, so make sure you wrap up warm. They do provide warm overalls, but be sure to bring a hat, gloves, and sensible, flat footwear.
👉 Grab our downloadable winter packing list for Iceland.
Bring your camera
This may seem like an obvious one, but a good zoom lens will help you get some fantastic shots of these creatures. If you don’t have a camera, don’t worry. The guides provide a link to a folder of images after the tour.
Book in advance
Whale watching in Akureyri is a popular activity. If you want to secure a spot on these tours, you’ll need to book well in advance. The tours sell out, especially in summer.
Be patient
Whales are wild animals. Nobody can predict their movements and the tour guides do not train them. While chances of spotting whales are likely, it’s not guaranteed so you’ll need patience.
Even when you spot a whale, you won’t be seeing them constantly. You’ll need to wait while the whales dive below the water and come up to the surface to breathe again
How long does the tour take?
The Classic Tour we went on took roughly 3 hours. We sailed at 11am and were back in Akureyri by 2pm.
In the summer months, Whale Watching Akureyri also offer an Express Tour on a smaller boat that only fits 12 people. This lasts about 2 hours and, although more expensive, will give you a much closer experience with the whales.
❤️ We highly recommend this incredible whale-watching tour!
Can you do the tour if you get seasick?
Yes! Akureyri is one of the best places to go whale watching if you are susceptible to seasickness.
The waters in the fjord are much calmer than the open ocean because they are sheltered by the mountains.
Not only does this make it much easier to spot the whales than amongst rough waves at sea but it also means that the boat rocks less.
Admittedly, I did take a seasickness tablet before we sailed and was wearing acupressure wristbands. But, I often get quite travel-sick in cars and planes but was completely fine on this tour.
NOTE: The waters here are not always flat and I am by no means guaranteeing that you won’t get sick. This will depend on how susceptible you are and the wind speed which, on the day we sailed out, was about 2 m/s. If you are concerned about seasickness, check with the captain beforehand and take a seasickness tablet regardless.
Is Whale Watching in Akureyri Worth It?
Yes, 100%! This is such an incredible experience and we cannot recommend Whale Watching Akureyri enough. Even if you only have one day in Akureyri, we recommend booking this tour.
The guides were fantastic and knowledgeable, and we had a wonderful time onboard. Seeing Piccolo in his natural habitat was just unreal.
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a unique way to experience Iceland’s natural beauty, whale watching in Akureyri is a bucket list experience in Iceland.
We truly loved our tour with Whale Watching Akureyri and definitely recommend booking with them next time you’re in Northern Iceland.
If you have any questions about this experience or Iceland in general, ask us anything in our free Facebook Group.
👉 Don’t know where to stay yet? Here are our favourite hotels in Akureyri!
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