Whale watching from the old harbour

Boats leave from Reykjavík Old Harbour, about 25 minutes away by bus or car.

Faxaflói bay is home to minke whales and white-beaked dolphins year round, with humpbacks common in summer. Between roughly May and August you can add puffins — over a million of them nest on the islands in the bay.

Success rates are high in summer and lower in winter, and most operators offer a free second trip if you see nothing at all.

Bring more clothes than you think. It is always colder on the water, and the boats hand out overalls for a reason. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before you board rather than after — and stay on deck looking at the horizon, not below deck looking at your phone.