Updated in November 2026, this Whales of Iceland guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Whales of Iceland is a life-size whale museum in the Grandi harbour district of Reykjavík, about 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre. Soft, touchable models of 23 whale species fill one floor, with documentaries, a free audio guide and a café. You can book through GetYourGuide before you travel. As of November 2026, adult admission costs 4,000 ISK, down from the standard 4,300 ISK while a limited-time offer applies. The museum has 23 models, not the 25 some listings state, and it is open every day, including holidays.
Quick facts for Whales of Iceland
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Fiskislóð 23-25, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. |
| Opening hours | Daily 10:00 to 17:00, including all holidays |
| Adult | 4,000 ISK |
| Child (7 to 15) | 2,000 ISK |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | 8,000 ISK |
| Children (0 to 6) | Free |
| Guided tours | Daily at 11:00 and 15:00, included in admission |
| Nearest transit | Bus route 14 to the Fiskislóð stop |
| Parking | Free outside the museum |
| Typical visit | One to one and a half hours |
| Phone | +354 571 0077 |
Why book tickets for Whales of Iceland?
- 🐋 23 life-size whale models: A blue whale, a sperm whale and a North Atlantic right whale are among them.
- 🤲 Soft models you can touch: Each model copies an individual wild whale, with its personal markings.
- 🎬 Documentaries in the Fin Whale Theatre: Award-winning films play daily on an eight-metre screen and are included in your ticket.
- 🎧 A free audio guide in 17 languages: You scan a QR code at the front desk and listen on your own phone.
- 🧑🏫 Free live tours twice daily: A guide leads a 30-minute tour at 11:00 and 15:00.
Ticket prices for Whales of Iceland – and how to book
All prices are in Icelandic króna. Adult, child and family prices are 300, 150 and 600 ISK lower than the standard prices while the current offer runs.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4,000 ISK |
| Child (7 to 15) | 2,000 ISK |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | 8,000 ISK |
| Children (0 to 6) | Free |
| Individual multipass (10 visits within 2 years) | 9,900 ISK |
| Family multipass (10 visits within 2 years) | 14,900 ISK |
Admission includes the audio guide, the documentaries and the live guided tours. School and after-school groups should contact the museum for rates. You can book through GetYourGuide before you travel.
Opening hours for Whales of Iceland
The museum is open every day of the year, including all holidays, from 10:00 to 17:00. Weekday and weekend hours are the same.
| Item | Time |
|---|---|
| Museum opening hours | Daily 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Live guided tours | 11:00 and 15:00 |
| Whale Wisdom documentary | 10:20, 12:30 and 14:40 |
| Sonic Sea documentary | 11:20, 13:30 and 15:40 |
Screening times can change when lectures or events take place. Phone or email the museum to confirm the times for your date.
How to get to Whales of Iceland
The museum is at Fiskislóð 23-25, at the western end of Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. On foot, it is about 15 minutes from the city centre along the harbour. By bus, take route 14 to the Fiskislóð stop. The City Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off bus also stops here. By car, the museum has free parking outside.
Parking at Whales of Iceland
Parking is free outside the museum. Extra-wide accessible spaces are marked right outside the door.
How long to spend at Whales of Iceland
Allow one to one and a half hours. The audio tour takes about 30 minutes, and the live guided tour takes about 30 minutes. Add time for a documentary and a coffee in the café.
Accessibility at Whales of Iceland
The museum is 100% wheelchair accessible. The whole exhibition is on one floor with no stairs or thresholds. A wheelchair is available to borrow, and an accessible restroom is on site.
The free audio guide is highly descriptive for visitors with low vision. Printed copies of the audio guide are available at the front desk for visitors who are hard of hearing. All videos and documentaries have subtitles, and no interactive exhibit relies only on sound.
What to see at Whales of Iceland
The life-size whale models. Twenty-three models show the species found in Icelandic waters. Each copies a real whale in the wild, with its own markings, and the soft models invite touching.
The blue whale. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever existed. Females can reach 33 metres and 190 tons.
The sperm whale and the right whale. The sperm whale model shows a male that can reach 16 metres and 45 tons. The North Atlantic right whale is critically endangered.
The beaked whales, dolphins and porpoise. Models range from the 1.5-metre harbour porpoise, the smallest marine mammal in Iceland, to several dolphin species. Three beaked whales show the little-known deep divers.
The orca, the narwhal and the beluga. The orca model shows a species whose pods are led by the grandmother. The narwhal model has its spiral tusk, and the beluga can turn its head in every direction.
The interactive exhibits. Information stands, videos and a whale anatomy exhibit explain how whales live. Whale sounds and underwater lighting set the mood.
The Fin Whale Theatre. An eight-metre screen shows documentaries about whale intelligence and ocean noise. A conservation exhibit was developed with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and local whale scientists.
The café. The Whale Café serves coffee and freshly baked pastries after your visit.
Practical visitor tips for Whales of Iceland
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can book online and skip planning at the desk. Book tickets in advance for your chosen day. |
| Join a guided tour | Free live tours run at 11:00 and 15:00. A guide shows real whale teeth and baleen plates. |
| Bring headphones | The audio guide plays on your phone, so bring compatible headphones. |
| Pair it with a whale-watching trip | Whale-watching boats leave from the Old Harbour nearby, and some tours include museum admission. |
| Touch the models | The models are soft and made to be touched. |
Frequently asked questions about Whales of Iceland
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Daily from 10:00 to 17:00, including all holidays. |
| How much does admission cost? | Adults pay 4,000 ISK and children aged 7 to 15 pay 2,000 ISK. A family ticket costs 8,000 ISK, and children aged 0 to 6 are free. |
| Is the audio guide included? | Yes. The audio guide is free in 17 languages, and you use it on your own phone. |
| Is Whales of Iceland wheelchair accessible? | Yes. The exhibition is on one floor with no stairs, and a wheelchair is available to borrow. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | You can buy tickets online, and advance booking is recommended for busy summer days. |
Things to do near Whales of Iceland
Saga Museum: A museum of Viking history with life-size scenes at the Old Harbour in Reykjavík.
Reykjavík Maritime Museum: A museum about Iceland’s fishing history on Grandagarður beside the Old Harbour.
Aurora Reykjavík: A northern lights museum on Grandagarður in the Old Harbour area.
Flyover Iceland: A flight-ride cinema showing Iceland from above, in the Grandi district.
Reykjavík Old Harbour: A working harbour with cafés, restaurants and whale-watching departures.
Alternatives to Whales of Iceland
Perlan: A museum and viewing deck on a hilltop above Reykjavík with an indoor ice cave.
Whale watching from Reykjavík: Boat trips from the Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay to look for whales and dolphins.
National Museum of Iceland: A museum of Icelandic history in central Reykjavík.
Blue Lagoon: A geothermal spa on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about an hour from Reykjavík.
Thingvellir National Park: A national park and UNESCO World Heritage site in the Golden Circle, about 45 minutes from Reykjavík. You can snorkel in the Silfra Fissure here.
More Iceland travel
- Planning your trip: 24-hour Reykjavik itinerary · Jökulsárlón as a day trip · Seeing puffins in Iceland · Alcohol import rules · Icelandic waterfalls guide
- Reykjavik attraction guides: Hallgrímskirkja · Perlan · Reykjavik Lava Show · National Museum of Iceland · Geothermal Exhibition
- Golden Circle and glacier experiences: Strokkur geyser · Silfra fissure snorkelling · Viðgelmir lava cave · Langjökull glacier tunnel · Jökulsárlón RIB boat tour
- South coast attractions: Seljalandsfoss · Skógafoss · Reynisfjara black sand beach · Svartifoss · Horse riding near Vík
- Northern Iceland and the Diamond Circle: Goðafoss · Ásbyrgi Canyon · Húsavík Whale Museum · Dettifoss
