Atlantic puffins breed in Iceland in their millions each summer. Here is when puffin season runs, the best spots to see them, and the boat tours that get you closest.
Puffin watching in Iceland is one of the country's most rewarding wildlife experiences — and one of the easiest to slot into a summer itinerary. Somewhere between eight and ten million Atlantic puffins breed around the island each year, making Iceland home to the largest puffin population on Earth. From a clifftop or the deck of a boat, watching these comical, fast-whirring seabirds shuttle between the open sea and their burrows is a highlight for first-time visitors and seasoned birdwatchers alike. This guide covers when puffins arrive, where to see puffins in Iceland, how they behave, and the tours that get you closest.
When is puffin season in Iceland?
Puffins are seasonal visitors to land. They spend autumn and winter far out on the North Atlantic and come ashore only to breed. The puffin season in Iceland runs from roughly mid-April to early or mid-August, but the reliable window for visitors is May to early August.
Mid-April to early May: the first birds return to their colonies and begin pairing up.
Mid-May to July: peak season. Adults excavate burrows, incubate a single egg, then ferry beakfuls of sand eels to their chick — known as a puffling.
Early to mid-August: adults and pufflings slip away to the open ocean and colonies empty fast.
By late August most colonies are deserted, so timing matters. If puffins are the reason for your trip, aim for June or July.
Where to see puffins in Iceland
Reykjavík Old Harbour
You do not have to leave the capital. Two small islands in Faxaflói Bay — Akurey and Lundey, whose name literally means ‘Puffin Island' — host thousands of breeding pairs within a short boat ride of Reykjavík's Old Harbour. This is the most convenient option if you are short on time.
Vigur Island, Westfjords
In Ísafjarðardjúp in the remote Westfjords, tiny Vigur Island is one of Iceland's classic seabird sanctuaries, home to puffins, eider ducks, Arctic terns and black guillemots. It is a memorable stop for travellers exploring the Westfjords or arriving by ship into Ísafjörður.
The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
The Westman Islands, off the south coast, hold one of the largest puffin colonies in the world. The town of Vestmannaeyjar is also famous for its annual puffling patrol, when local children rescue disoriented young birds and release them safely out to sea.
Dyrhólaey and the south coast
The Dyrhólaey promontory near Vík is one of the easiest places to see puffins from dry land. From late afternoon into the evening you can watch them on the grassy cliff edges, though parts of the reserve close during the height of nesting season to protect the birds.
Borgarfjörður Eystri, East Iceland
In the remote east, Borgarfjörður Eystri has a purpose-built viewing platform at Hafnarhólmi harbour that lets you stand within a few metres of nesting puffins — arguably the closest and most relaxed land-based viewing in the country.
Puffin behaviour and what to look for
Puffins are surprisingly small — around 25 cm tall — and faster than they look. Watch for their frantic wingbeats, which can reach 400 per minute as they come in to land, the comic crash-landings on the grass, and the way they stand sentry outside their burrows. Their famously colourful bills are brightest during the breeding season and fade once the birds return to sea. Activity tends to peak in the calmer hours of early morning and evening.
Photography tips
Bring a telephoto lens (200mm or longer) — even at close colonies, a tight crop makes the shot.
Shoot in the soft light of early morning or late evening; Iceland's long summer days give you hours of golden light.
Pre-focus on a burrow entrance or landing spot and wait, rather than chasing birds in flight.
Use a fast shutter speed (1/1000s or quicker) to freeze those blurred wingbeats.
Watching puffins responsibly
Puffin colonies are fragile. Keep to marked paths and platforms, never block a burrow entrance, and give nesting birds plenty of space — a stressed adult may abandon its egg or chick. Keep dogs well away and respect any seasonal closures. On a boat tour, a good skipper keeps a respectful distance and lets the birds come to you.
See puffins on a Sterna tour
Two Sterna experiences pair beautifully with puffin season. The Whale Watching & Puffins cruise from Reykjavík combines a Faxaflói Bay search for minke whales, dolphins and porpoises with a close pass of the puffin islands just off the Old Harbour — ideal if you are based in the capital. The Vigur Island Puffin Tour takes you out into the Westfjords' birdlife haven, a quieter and more remote way to meet puffins alongside the island's other seabirds.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see puffins in Iceland?
June and July are the most reliable months. Puffins are on land from roughly mid-May to early August, but by mid-August most colonies have emptied as the birds head back out to sea.
Where is the easiest place to see puffins near Reykjavík?
The puffin islands of Akurey and Lundey in Faxaflói Bay are just a short boat ride from Reykjavík's Old Harbour, making them the most convenient option for visitors based in the capital.
Can you see puffins from land, or do you need a boat?
Both work. Dyrhólaey on the south coast and the viewing platform at Borgarfjörður Eystri in the east offer excellent land-based viewing, while boat tours from Reykjavík and out to Vigur Island bring you closer to the colonies on the water.
How close can you get to puffins?
At purpose-built sites such as Borgarfjörður Eystri you can stand within a few metres of nesting birds. On the water, responsible skippers keep a respectful distance and let curious puffins approach the boat. Always keep to paths and avoid disturbing burrows.
Are puffins hard to photograph?
They are small and fast, so a telephoto lens and a quick shutter speed help. Pre-focusing on a burrow or landing spot and waiting usually produces better results than trying to track birds in flight.
