from $104 Akureyri: classic whale watching by ship
A three-hour cruise down Eyjafjörður from the centre of Akureyri on a stable ship with indoor seating. Runs for most of the year.
North Iceland: tours & tickets
Whale boats from three harbours, day tours to Mývatn and Dettifoss, and two geothermal baths with a view.
Our picks
North Iceland: top tours & tickets
North Iceland is one of the strongest areas on GetYourGuide for this portal, with thousands of reviews on the main whale-watching and Mývatn tours. Húsavík offers the widest choice of boats — traditional oak ships, quiet electric vessels and fast RIBs that also visit a puffin island. Akureyri departures suit travellers without a car and cruise passengers. GetYourGuide does not list a bookable Grímsey trip at the time of writing; the ferry and flights are booked directly.
from $104 
from $97 Húsavík: whale watching tour with guide
The standard Skjálfandi Bay trip from Iceland’s whale-watching capital, with a naturalist guide and warm overalls.
from $168 Húsavík: big whale safari and puffins by speedboat
A fast RIB that reaches the feeding grounds quickly and, in season, circles the puffin colony on Lundey island.
from $58 Húsavík: GeoSea geothermal sea baths ticket
Infinity pools of naturally heated seawater on a clifftop above the bay, looking across to snow-streaked mountains.
from $79 Akureyri: Forest Lagoon admission with towel and drink
A geothermal spa set among birch and pine across the fjord from Akureyri, open into the evening.
from $179 From Akureyri: Lake Mývatn, craters and waterfall tour
A day tour to Goðafoss, the pseudo-craters, Dimmuborgir lava field and the boiling mud at Hverir.
from $204 From Akureyri port: Diamond Circle day trip with lunch
The full circuit in one long day: Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi or Húsavík, with lunch included.
from $90 From Dalvík: Arctic whale watching
A well-reviewed trip from a fishing town 40 minutes north of Akureyri, closer to the mouth of the fjord; often includes a taste of the catch.
Prices are indicative “from” prices in US dollars and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide when we last checked; both change often.
GetYourGuide
Live availability in Akureyri and North Iceland
Real-time tours and tickets from GetYourGuide for North Iceland and its gateways.
Booking tips
- Húsavík’s sightings peak from June to August. Akureyri and Dalvík boats also sail in winter, when humpbacks often stay in Eyjafjörður.
- Traditional boats are steadier and cheaper; RIB speedboats cover more water and get closer to the puffin island but are bumpy and not suited to bad backs or small children.
- Overalls are provided, but wear a hat, gloves and warm layers even in July — it is cold on the bay.
- Tours timed for cruise ships at Akureyri port sell out on ship days; book ahead or pick another day.
- Combine a morning whale trip in Húsavík with an afternoon soak at GeoSea, a ten-minute walk from the harbour.
Destinations
Combine it with
Iceland & Greenland East Greenland
The empty side of Greenland: Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on Earth, and the mountain-ringed settlements of Tasiilaq and Kulusuk — expedition country.
Iceland & Greenland West Greenland
Ilulissat and Disko Bay: a fjord choked with icebergs the size of city blocks, whales among the ice, sled dogs and the midnight sun — with Nuuk as the gateway.
Norway & Svalbard Svalbard
Norway’s high-Arctic archipelago, halfway between the mainland and the North Pole: glaciers, polar bears, walrus and the world’s northernmost town.
Plan your trip
Book tours in North Iceland
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.