Reykjavik: Traditional Sea Fishing with BBQ Feast

GYG

Reykjavik: Traditional Sea Fishing with BBQ Feast

★ 4.8(171 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 3 hours

from $173

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

Three hours out on Faxaflói Bay with a meal at the end

This tour takes you out of Reykjavik’s old harbour on a traditional Icelandic fishing boat for a three-hour trip across Faxaflói Bay. You will drop lines over the side and haul up whatever is biting, then the crew cooks your catch on board. The price starts at 173 USD, and the tour runs in English with Icelandic also spoken by the guide. It suits travellers who want to try their hand at sea fishing without committing to a full day on the water. The boat departs from Reykjavik, so you do not need to factor in a long transfer before the trip begins. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and you will need to make your own way to the departure point, as hotel pickup is not part of the arrangement.

Photographs from the operator Happy Tours Iceland Reykjavik. They show the listing, not your day.

What the 173 USD covers and what you arrange yourself

The entry price of 173 USD covers the boat trip, the fishing gear, and the guide who works with you in English or Icelandic. The meal is explicitly included, which is the detail that sets this tour apart from most of the other boat trips in Reykjavik. Only one other listing in the same category offers food as part of the price. The crew cooks the day’s catch on board, so the barbecue is not an optional extra that you pay for later. You will not be charged admission or parking at any point on the itinerary. The operator does not offer hotel pickup, and only three other boat tours in this group say the same, so plan to reach the harbour on your own. Beyond the listed price, no official surcharges are published for this tour.

A strong score from a modest number of travellers

The tour holds a rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on 171 reviews. That score is high, but the number behind it matters more than the decimal. With 171 ratings, this tour ranks sixth in its category of 31 boat tours by volume of feedback. The two comparable sea fishing trips in the same group have drawn more reviews: one has 1,340 ratings at 4.4, and another has 272 ratings at 4.7. This tour’s 4.8 is the best of the three fishing options, though it rests on a thinner base of opinions. The rank of 7 out of 31 in the category reflects both the score and the evidence behind it, not the score alone. In short, the rating is credible and positive, but it comes from a smaller sample than some of its competitors.

What the season means for a three-hour trip

The boat runs year-round, but the experience changes with the calendar. From June through August, daytime highs reach 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, and the low sits around 7 to 9 degrees. That is the most comfortable window for standing at the rail with a line in the water. May and September are workable too, with highs of 10 to 11 degrees, though you will want a warm layer. From October to April, highs hover between 3 and 8 degrees, and the low drops to freezing or below from December through February. A three-hour trip in winter means you are out on the bay during the coldest part of the day, so dress for wind and cold rather than for the air temperature in the city. The tour’s short duration works in your favour here: you are not committed to a full day in the elements, and you can pick a departure when the morning frost has lifted or the afternoon is still bright.

Getting on board and what happens once you are out

You will need to reach the harbour in Reykjavik on your own, since the operator does not provide hotel pickup. Once you are on the boat, the guide takes over. The crew hands out the fishing lines and shows you how to use them, then the trip proceeds out into the bay. The weather has the final say over how far you go and how long you stay at the fishing grounds. If the sea turns rough, the guide may shorten the time on the water or adjust the route, which is the sensible call on a small vessel. There is no admission gate or ticket office at any of the places you visit, because the entire trip happens from the boat itself. The barbecue happens on board, so the meal is part of the flow of the trip rather than a stop on land.

Who this tour fits and who should look elsewhere

This tour suits travellers who want to fish, eat what they catch, and be back in Reykjavik within half a day. It works well for first-timers because the guide is on hand to help with the gear, and the three-hour format is short enough to keep children engaged. It is not the right choice if you need wheelchair access, as the operator states the tour is not wheelchair accessible. It also does not suit anyone who expects to be collected from their hotel. If you want a longer day on the water, the Small Group Golden Circle from Cruise Terminal runs for 6.5 hours and costs from 162 USD, though it is a sightseeing trip rather than a fishing one. For a shorter and cheaper alternative, the Sea Fishing Boat Tour & BBQ with the Day’s Catch runs for 2.5 hours from 149 USD. If your priority is the northern lights rather than fishing, the two-hour yacht tour or the two-hour sightseeing cruise offer that focus instead, both at a lower price point.

GYG

Reykjavik: Traditional Sea Fishing with BBQ Feast

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $173

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