Seeing whales is always a special moment. But it can be tricky to find them, and I'm not sure I would recommend you make a special trip to look for whales. But there are a few things that can increase the likelihood of you seeing one of those gentle giants.

WHEN?

It does depend on the type of whale, but generally, the best time for whale watching in Iceland is considered to be from April to early October, with the summer months of June, July and August recognized as the peak whale watching season. You can still have success during winter but the daylight window is shorter and the weather is colder. Some tour operators stop doing whale watching in the winter months but the ones that do should have way fewer people and less crowded boats. During winter, orcas (Westfjords & Snæfellsnes) and belugas (North Iceland) can be common around Iceland so keep an eye out.

WHERE?

The most popular places for whale watching in Iceland are Húsavik, Akureyri, Reykjavik, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords. As for random sightings from your car, I have had the most success in the Westfjords for sure - so keep an eye out on the ocean!

ARE TOURS WORTH IT?

For sure! I have been on a few and it's incredible how high their success rate is. I personally prefer the wooden sail boats (especially the ones with electric engines) but each to his own. The reason is mainly that I feel it interferes less with the animals but I know the smaller and faster boats can get really close. My favourite whale watching operator is North Sailing in Húsavík.

QUICK NOTES:

• What it is: The best spots to see whales in Iceland.

• Best season: Late spring, SUMMER, early fall.

• Best time of day: Any.

• Nice to know: Whale watching tours are usually well worth it, but you can also often spot them just driving around Iceland, especially in the fjords.