Whales of Iceland (Hvalasýning)

TicketLens lets you:

Search multiple websites at onceand find the best offers.

Find tickets, last minuteon many sites, with one search.

Book at the lowest price!Save time & money by comparing rates.

Whales of Iceland, also called Hvalasýning, fills a vast hall in Reykjavík's Grandi harbor district with 23 life-size whale models, underwater soundscapes, and a surprisingly tactile museum mood just a short walk from the whale-watching docks. The 25 m (82 ft) blue whale overhead gives the place instant scale, but the soft models and low-lit theater keep it family-friendly too.

Start with a standard entry ticket, because it covers the full exhibition, the included daily guided-tour times, and an easy weather-proof stop you can slot into a harbor day.

Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:

Entry tickets

Choose these if you want full access to the life-size models, the Fin Whale Theatre, and a flexible self-paced route through Whales of Iceland.

Reykjavik: Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket

4.3(779)

Go to offer

Tickets to Whales of Iceland Museum

4.3(159)

headout.com

Go to offer

Whales of Iceland: Entry Ticket

4.0(11)

tiqets.com

Go to offer

6 tips for visiting the Whales of Iceland (Hvalasýning)

Pair it with the harbor

If you already plan whale watching or a walk through Grandi, place Whales of Iceland directly before or after it. The harbor departures are only a short walk away, so the stop works best as one shared marine block instead of a separate cross-town errand. That way you save transfer time and keep the day coherent.

Give it real time

If you want the audio guide, the theater, and more than a quick selfie under the blue whale, give yourself about 60 to 90 minutes. Families and curious repeat visitors often stay longer, especially once the softer models become part of the fun. This keeps the stop memorable instead of rushed.

Aim for the live tour

If live context matters to you, build your visit around the included guided tours at 11 am or 3 pm. Arriving a little early is the simplest move, especially on a short city day, because it lets you settle in before the group starts. So you get the science and stories without doubling back.

Let kids get close

If you are visiting with children, do not treat this like a look-don't-touch museum. Several models are deliberately soft and tactile, which turns the scale lesson into something they can actually feel. That usually lands better than another wall of text.

Walk or use bus 14

If the weather is decent, the walk from central Reykjavík along the harbor is easy and pleasant. If the wind starts doing its Iceland thing, bus 14 stops outside and free parking makes the fallback simple. That way the visit starts smoothly, not windswept.

Build a Grandi cluster

For a compact harbor half day, pair Whales of Iceland with Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center if you want another indoor science-style stop, or continue to Harpa Concert Hall for architecture and waterfront views. If the weather is rough and you still want a bigger museum day, finish later at Perlan. So you keep the route logical instead of zigzagging across Reykjavík.

How to plan a Whales of Iceland stop in Grandi

This visit works best when you treat it as part of the harbor day, not as an isolated trek across town. One early decision about pace and nearby pairings makes the exhibition feel much easier.

Start with the standard entry ticket

Choose this if you want the full hall without overcomplicating the day. You get the life-size models, the Fin Whale Theatre, and access to the daily guided-tour times while keeping your own pace, which is usually the best fit for first-time visitors and families. Book now.

Use the museum as your weather-proof harbor anchor

If wind, rain, or sea spray starts dictating the day, let Whales of Iceland absorb that pressure. The exhibition sits in Grandi, about a 15-minute walk from central Reykjavík, so it works neatly between waterfront wandering, coffee, and nearby departures. This is the calmest way to keep a harbor day interesting when Icelandic weather gets opinionated.

Add only one nearby extra

After Whales of Iceland, choose one clear follow-up. Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center keeps the day indoor and science-leaning, while Harpa Concert Hall gives you architecture and bay views; on a longer museum day, Perlan is the bigger citywide add-on. One deliberate pairing beats three rushed checkmarks.

Why Whales of Iceland feels bigger than a typical museum

The place works because scale hits first and facts follow. You are walking under animals that usually exist only as distant silhouettes at sea.

23 life-size whales change the mood immediately

The exhibition's strongest move is simple: it puts 23 full-scale cetacean models from Icelandic waters in one darkened hall, including a 25 m (82 ft) blue whale that resets your sense of size in seconds. Because the models were based on specific real animals, the room feels more personal than a generic natural-history display. First-time visitors usually remember that physical jolt most.

2014 to 2016: the exhibition finds its voice

The core models arrived in August 2014, some in sections because they were too large for normal shipping and the entrance itself. In January 2015, an interactive minke-whale anatomy installation was added; in November 2015, the museum deepened its research story with new whale-tracking content around Iceland; and by February 2016, it had expanded again with its own app and audio guide. That short timeline explains why the museum feels carefully built rather than decorative.

Soft models, sound, and conservation keep it human

This is not a cold hall of facts. Low lighting, underwater sound, touch-friendly surfaces, and the Fin Whale Theatre make the visit immersive, while the multilingual audio guide and conservation angle keep it grounded. Families get an easy entry point, repeat visitors get more depth, and even a rainy-day stop still feels purposeful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Whales of Iceland exactly?

Whales of Iceland is an indoor whale exhibition in Reykjavík, not an aquarium or a live-animal attraction. You walk among 23 life-size models of species found in Icelandic waters, with sound, light, interpretation, and conservation-focused displays shaping the visit.

How long should I plan for the visit?

A practical baseline is about 60 to 90 minutes. If you use the audio guide, join the live tour, or linger in the cafe, 1.5 to 2 hours feels more comfortable.

Are guided tours included?

Yes. Ticket holders can join live guided tours daily at 11 am and 3 pm. It is wise to arrive a little before the start if you want the easiest beginning.

Is it good for children?

Yes. The giant models, touch-friendly surfaces, and one-floor layout make Whales of Iceland easier for families than a drier museum format. It works best when you give children room to look up, move, and ask questions.

Can I touch the whale models?

Part of the appeal is that several models are soft and tactile, so the exhibition does not feel overly hands-off. Be gentle and follow any current on-site instructions, but this is one reason the visit feels unusually physical.

Is it accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. The exhibition is on one floor with no stairs or thresholds, accessible parking is marked outside, and a wheelchair can be borrowed if needed.

Can I combine it with whale watching?

Very easily. The harbor where whale-watching trips depart is only a short walk away, so many visitors pair the museum with a real sea outing before or after. It is one of the cleanest same-neighborhood combinations in Reykjavík.

What are the current opening hours and ticket prices?

Whales of Iceland usually opens daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Temporary notices and the possible December 25 closure can override that schedule. Adult, child, and family admission may display lower amounts of 4000 ISK, 2000 ISK, and 8000 ISK, while 4300/2150/8600 ISK may still appear before payment; confirm the final checkout price. Children ages 0 to 6 enter free.

General information

opening hours

The regular public schedule is daily year-round from 10 am to 5 pm. Temporary notices can override this, and December 25 may be closed, so check same-day notices around holidays or planned works. Included live guided tours are normally offered daily at 11 am and 3 pm, but screening and tour times can change for lectures or events.

address

Whales of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25
101 Reykjavík
Iceland

how to get there

Whales of Iceland is in Grandi at the old harbor, about a 15-minute walk from central Reykjavík. City bus 14 stops outside, the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus also serves the museum, and free visitor parking is available onsite. The whale-watching harbor is only a short walk away, so nearby pairings are easy.

website

Official site: https://whalesoficeland.is/

tickets

Admission can display different adult, child, and family amounts before checkout. Use these lower displayed prices as a guide:
- Adult: 4000 ISK
- Child ages 7-15: 2000 ISK
- Family (2 adults + 2 children): 8000 ISK
- Child ages 0-6: free
- Individual multipass: 9900 ISK
- Family multipass: 14900 ISK
Multipasses are valid for 10 visits within 2 years. Higher adult, child, and family amounts of 4300/2150/8600 ISK may still appear as comparison or checkout prices, so confirm the final amount before payment. Senior, student, and Reykjavík City Card discounts are available onsite, and the audio guide, Fin Whale Theatre, and daily live tours are included with admission.

accessibility

Whales of Iceland is fully wheelchair accessible, with the entire exhibition on one floor and no stairs or thresholds. There is an accessible restroom, extra-wide marked parking near the entrance, and a wheelchair available to borrow. For visually impaired and hard-of-hearing visitors, the museum also offers descriptive audio guides, printed guide copies, and subtitled videos.

How useful was this page?

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0.

Compare prices for more top sights in Iceland:

Reykjavík343 tickets & guided tours

Landmannalaugar28 tickets & guided tours

Thórsmörk18 tickets & guided tours

Silfra Rift16 tickets & guided tours

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon23 tickets & guided tours

Eyjafjallajökull4 tickets & guided tours

Húsavík18 tickets & guided tours

Goðafoss Waterfall7 tickets & guided tours