Whales of Iceland
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About Whales of Iceland
The Whales of Iceland museum is an indoor exhibition of 23 life-size whale models at Fiskislóð 23–25 in the Grandi harbor district of Reykjavík, about a 15-minute walk from the city center. You can walk the full length of a 25-meter blue whale and look a sperm whale in the eye, which is the closest most people get to the real scale of these animals.
Each model shows a species found in Icelandic waters and is based on an individual whale recorded in the wild. Panels explain every species, an audio guide comes in 17 languages, and live guided tours run daily at 11:00 and 15:00. The museum calls itself the largest whale exhibition in Europe.
Getting to the Whales of Iceland museum in Reykjavík is easy, and parking on site is free. Doors open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 all year, including holidays. Tickets cost 4,000 ISK for adults and 2,000 ISK for children aged 7 to 15, while under-7s go free and a family ticket for two adults and two children is 8,000 ISK.
Plan on an hour, or a little more with the guided tour and a coffee at the café. On a wet or windy day it is one of the best indoor choices in Reykjavík for families, and it pairs well with a whale-watching trip from the Old Harbour, since you will recognize the shapes you see from the boat. Some whale-watching tours include museum admission, so check before you buy a separate ticket.
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Good to know
How much does the Whales of Iceland museum cost?
Adult tickets are 4,000 ISK and children aged 7 to 15 pay 2,000 ISK. Under-7s are free, and a family ticket for two adults and two children is 8,000 ISK.
What are the opening hours of Whales of Iceland?
It is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00, all year round, including holidays.
Where is the Whales of Iceland museum in Reykjavík?
It is at Fiskislóð 23–25 in the Grandi harbor district, about a 15-minute walk from central Reykjavík. Parking on site is free.
How many whales are in the Whales of Iceland museum?
There are 23 life-size models of species found in Icelandic waters, including a blue whale about 25 meters long.
Is Whales of Iceland good for kids?
Yes. It is indoors, children under 7 get in free, and the life-size models give kids a real sense of how big whales are.
When can you see whales in Iceland?
Whale watching is possible most of the year, but the best odds are from about April to October, when food is plentiful. Minke whales, humpbacks and white-beaked dolphins are the most common sightings from Reykjavík.
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