Whales of Iceland

Whales of Iceland is a natural history museum in the Grandi harbour district, a short walk west of the Old Harbour, and it bills itself as the largest whale museum in Europe. It opened to the public in February 2015, in a large hall on Fiskislóð, and its centrepiece is a collection of life-size models of the cetaceans, the whales, dolphins and porpoises, that have been sighted in Icelandic waters. The museum was later bought by a Reykjavik whale-watching company and is now part of the wider Arctic Adventures group.

Seeing the models at full scale is the main reason to visit. Walking among full-size models of the largest whales gives a sense of size that is hard to grasp from a boat, where you usually see only a back or a tail. There are 23 models in all, one for each species featured. They were made abroad, shipped in pieces, then assembled and hand-painted in Iceland. Around them are displays of bones, teeth and baleen, interactive exhibits, educational videos and a small theatre, and a conservation exhibit developed with the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The museum is open every day of the year, including holidays, from 10:00 to 17:00. An audio guide is available in 17 languages, and live guided tours run daily at 11:00 and 15:00, which are worth timing your visit around. Children under seven get in free, and there are family tickets and multi-visit passes. The museum describes itself as accessible and has a café.

Whales of Iceland suits families with children, wildlife enthusiasts and anyone planning a whale-watching trip, either as an introduction beforehand or to learn more about what you saw afterwards. It is also a good choice on a stormy day when boat tours are cancelled. Allow about an hour, or a little longer if you join a guided tour.

If you are planning to go whale watching, a visit here first helps you recognise species and understand what you might see from the boat.

The museum is in Grandi, the harbour district west of the centre. FlyOver Iceland is a few minutes away on the same street, and the whale-watching piers of the Old Harbour and Kaffivagninn restaurant are nearby. From the city centre, allow 15 to 20 minutes on foot along the harbour.