Help

#8 out of 25 in Reykjavik

Experience the best of Whales of Iceland

Dive into the world of whales at Whales of Iceland Museum. Explore life-sized whale models and unravel the secrets of these majestic creatures in Reykjavik.
4.5/5
2,034 travellers from around the world love this
Slide 1 of 10, Whale models and skeletons displayed at Whales Museum, Iceland.
Whale models and skeletons displayed at Whales Museum, Iceland.
Visitors watching whale exhibit at Whales Museum, Iceland.
Visitors interacting with an exhibit at Whales of Iceland Museum.
Family enjoying drinks under whale skeleton at Whales of Iceland Museum.
Family exploring whale exhibits at Whales Museum, Iceland.
Child exploring whale exhibit at Whales Museum, Iceland.
Hanging whale model and cafe area at Whales of Iceland Museum.
Children playing on a whale skeleton structure at Whales of Iceland Museum.
Visitor interacting with a whale exhibit at Whales of Iceland Museum.
Whales Museum Iceland interior with whale model and cafe tables.

Tickets to Whales of Iceland Museum

Explore at your pace
1 more

  • Learn of the local hermits of the ocean in Iceland, and the whales in an educational, interactive experience like no other.

  • Enjoy an audio-guided tour throughout the museum, available in 16 languages.

  • Interact and navigate through the life-size models of 23 whale different whale species.

  • Explore the Museum in an immersive experience with whale calls, beach-like floors, and visual treats.

  • Visit the Fin Whale Theatre and watch the Sonic Sea documentary to learn about the threats to whales today and how we can help them.

More details

  • Learn of the local hermits of the ocean in Iceland, and the whales in an educational, interactive experience like no other.

  • Enjoy an audio-guided tour throughout the museum, available in 16 languages.

  • Interact and navigate through the life-size models of 23 whale different whale species.

  • Explore the Museum in an immersive experience with whale calls, beach-like floors, and visual treats.

  • Visit the Fin Whale Theatre and watch the Sonic Sea documentary to learn about the threats to whales today and how we can help them.

from
€29
Slide 1 of 8, Whale watching boat near Iceland with whale tail visible in the water.
Whale watching boat near Iceland with whale tail visible in the water.
Whale exhibit at a museum in Reykjavik, part of Northern Lights sightseeing cruise.
Breaching whale during a whale watching cruise near Iceland.
Whale breaching near tour boat on Iceland whale watching cruise.
People interacting with a digital display on a Northern Lights cruise from Reykjavik.
Whale surfaces near tourists on Iceland cruise during whale watching tour.
Whale watching boat on Icelandic waters with mountains in the background.
Whale watching boat with tourists in Icelandic waters, whale surfacing nearby.

Whale Watching Cruise & Admission to Whales of Iceland Exhibition

4 hrs
2 more

  • Combine time on Faxaflói Bay with a visit to Iceland's largest whale exhibition, featuring 23 life-size models and immersive displays.

  • A knowledgeable guide shares insights throughout the voyage, while thermal overalls, Wi-Fi, and a multilingual app enhance comfort.

  • Minke whales are frequent sightings in the bay, alongside white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, and humpback whales.

  • Choose an option with hotel transfers for a smoother experience between your accommodation and Reykjavík's Old Harbour.

More details

  • Combine time on Faxaflói Bay with a visit to Iceland's largest whale exhibition, featuring 23 life-size models and immersive displays.

  • A knowledgeable guide shares insights throughout the voyage, while thermal overalls, Wi-Fi, and a multilingual app enhance comfort.

  • Minke whales are frequent sightings in the bay, alongside white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, and humpback whales.

  • Choose an option with hotel transfers for a smoother experience between your accommodation and Reykjavík's Old Harbour.

from
€118.82

Pro tips to help you make a pick

There is no formal skip-the-line ticket tier. Pre-booking mainly saves the payment step at the front desk and helps secure your preferred day or timeslot, especially in summer or on busy cruise days.

Standard museum entry is the base ticket and typically includes all exhibition areas, interactive displays, and the audio guide. If you want a live staff-led talk, make sure your ticket explicitly includes the guided tour add-on.

Reduced child, student, and sometimes family ticket variants are available, but the exact age bands and ISK prices can change. Carry ID for reduced-rate tickets and confirm current concession rules before booking.

If you already plan to go whale-watching from Reykjavík harbor, compare combo tickets with buying the cruise and museum separately. Combos are often better value, but refunds and rescheduling then follow the operator’s policy.

Plan about 60–90 minutes for the museum alone, or around 1.5–2 hours if you join a guided talk. For a whale-watching combo, allow roughly ~3.5–6 hours including the boat tour, walking, and breaks.

Mid-morning or later afternoon is often calmer than rainy midday periods, when families and tour groups tend to arrive. Booking ahead is most useful if you want one of these quieter windows.

Opening hours and guided-tour times can change seasonally. Check the museum’s current schedule before booking, especially if you are fitting it between harbor departures or other timed Reykjavík attractions.

If your ticket uses the audio guide app, set it up before arrival and bring your own headphones. Many visitors find the audio guide makes the single-hall layout feel more structured than relying on panels alone.

Similar things to do in Reykjavik

Visitors watching Northern Lights display at Perlan Museum, Reykjavik.
Perlan Museum Ticketsfrom €51.35
Guest standing on wooden deck at Vok Baths, surrounded by icy water in Iceland.
Iceland Hot Springsfrom €32.23
Whale breaching in ocean during cruise whale watching tour.
Whale Watching Husavik Toursfrom €75.57
Person relaxing in Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, Iceland, surrounded by snowy landscape.
Blue Lagoon Icelandfrom €128.85
Old stone building by the Secret Lagoon with steam rising from the water, Iceland.
Secret Lagoon Ticketsfrom €32.23
Humpback whale breaching in ocean waters.
Whale Watching Reykjavik Toursfrom €58.57
Man standing on a wooden platform at Vök Baths, surrounded by icy water in Iceland.
Vok Baths Ticketsfrom €55.08
Group watching Northern Lights in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Reykjavik Northern Lights Toursfrom €71.35
Guests exploring snow-covered Raufarhólshellir Lava Cave, Iceland.
Lava Experiences Icelandfrom €46.80

About Whales of Iceland Museum

Whales of Iceland centers the entire visit on life-size cetacean models instead of display cases or skeleton galleries. Ocean-themed lighting, ambient whale sounds, and interactive displays make the single hall feel immersive, while the focus on species found in Icelandic waters gives clear context for Reykjavík whale-watching trips and local marine conservation.

Did you know?

The whale models are built from steel and foam, then hand-painted to match real animals’ markings; some are based on individuals recognized by local researchers and whale-watching crews.

The exhibition covers both baleen and toothed whales, moving from species such as blue, fin, humpback, and minke whales to sperm whales, orca, beaked whales, and dolphins.

Whales of Iceland includes exhibits on Iceland’s whaling history and the later shift toward whale-watching tourism, so the museum covers cultural and policy context as well as biology.

Its educational content is developed in collaboration with marine biologists and local whale-watching partners, helping connect the museum to species behavior and sightings in Icelandic waters.

The main whale-watching piers at Reykjavík old harbor are roughly ~1.5–1.8 km from the museum, usually an ~18–22 minute walk, so combo days still require some transit planning.

Why visit Whales of Iceland Museum?

~23 Life-Size Whales from Icelandic Waters

The museum’s core draw is its ~23 full-scale models of whale and dolphin species found in Icelandic waters. You can compare the size of animals such as the blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale, sperm whale, orca, and white-beaked dolphin in one walk-through exhibition.

Species Guides for Reykjavík Whale-Watching Trips

Whales of Iceland helps visitors connect what they might see on Reykjavík cruises with the animals’ real scale and behavior. Panels, audio content, and displays explain migration, feeding, and seasonal presence in Icelandic waters, making the museum a practical stop before or after a harbor whale-watching tour.

Whaling History and Modern Conservation Displays

The exhibition goes beyond species identification by covering Iceland’s whaling history and the shift toward whale-watching tourism. It also addresses current threats including plastic pollution, ship strikes, noise pollution, and climate change, adding environmental context to the large models.

Immersive Hall with Sound, Light, and Film

Instead of a standard gallery layout, the museum uses dim ocean-themed lighting and ambient whale sounds to create an underwater atmosphere. Interactive displays and a film or projection room add more depth for visitors who want to stay longer and explore whale communication, diving, or conservation stories.

Step-Free Indoor Visit in Grandi Harbor

The museum is fully indoors and generally visited in about 60–90 minutes, which makes it useful in Reykjavík’s windy or rainy weather. Step-free access and wide paths suit wheelchairs and strollers, and the Grandi location pairs easily with nearby harbor attractions, a café stop, or a half-day district plan.

Plan your visit

Main Entrance – Fiskislóð 23–25

Located at Fiskislóð 23–25 in Reykjavík’s Grandi harbor district, this street-level entrance is the museum’s only public visitor entrance and is marked with Whales of Iceland signage. All visitors, including online ticket holders and walk-up guests, check in at the front desk inside for ticket validation before entering the exhibition. This is the best entrance for everyone, including wheelchair and stroller users, thanks to step-free access and wide interior pathways. Entry is usually quick, though rainy weekends and cruise days can create short queues at the desk.

Browse by themes

Nearby cities to explore

See all