Puffins in Iceland: when and where to see them?

Last update: May 4, 2026

Puffins in Iceland this is one of those views that can turn an ordinary stop on the route into the most beautiful memory of the trip. These tiny seabirds look like a combination of a penguin, a parrot and a cartoon character, but behind their colorful beaks lies a well-adapted fish hunter that spends most of its life in the open ocean.

To connect this topic with a wider northern travel plan, see the North section.

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You'll find the specific answer in this guide: when are puffins in Iceland, where is the easiest place to see them, which places should fit into the route around the island and what do they do outside the breeding season. I also added a part about where puffins can be found in the world, because Iceland is the most important, but not the only, destination for lovers of these birds.

If you're planning your first trip, start with a master guide Iceland – attractions, routes and travel plan. This is where it is easiest to plan a route, and treat this entry as a specialized supplement: where to include puffins in your roadtrip, the south coast, the Westfjords or a short stay in Reykjavík.

Iceland guide

Iceland - attractions, routes and itinerary

Start with the main Iceland guide and see how to combine Puffins with a South Coast itinerary, Ring Road, Reykjavík or the Westfjords.

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Quick answer: when and where to see puffins in Iceland?

The best time to see puffins in Iceland is usually June and July. Birds appear at the colonies from the end of April or May, and most leave the island in August. If you want the highest chance of observation, plan your trip between the second half of May and the first half of August, with an emphasis on June and July.

Easiest places to catch puffins are Borgarfjörður Eystri / Hafnarhólmi in the east of Iceland, Dyrhólaey on the south coast, Vestmannaeyjar, i.e. the Westman Islands, Látrabjarg in the Westfjords and short cruises from Reykjavík to the islands Akurey and Lundey.

What will you find in the guide?

• What are puffins and why are they associated with Iceland?
• Where are puffins found in the world?
• What do puffins do outside the breeding season?
• Interesting facts about puffins: diving, flight and life in the ocean
• When to see puffins in Iceland?
• The best places to see puffins in Iceland
• How to include puffins in your Iceland itinerary?
• How to observe puffins responsibly?
• How to photograph puffins?
• FAQ: puffins in Iceland

What are puffins and why are they associated with Iceland?

The puffin that is most often seen in Iceland is common puffin, also called the Atlantic puffin. Its Latin name is Fratercula arctica. In Icelandic they call him lundi, and in English Atlantic puffin or simply puffin.

It is a seabird from the auk family. It looks a bit clumsy on land: it walks swinging on red-orange legs and has a large, colorful beak. However, in the water it is an excellent hunter. It can dive after fish, move its wings like fins and return to the burrow with several prey items placed crosswise in its beak.

Puffins are so strongly associated with Iceland because the island is one of the most important breeding places for Atlantic puffins in the world. In summer, the birds return to cliffs, islands and grassy slopes where they dig burrows, lay a single egg and feed their young. After the season, they disappear from the landscape because they spend most of the year far from the shore.

Where are puffins found in the world?

Puffins don't only live in Iceland. They occur all over the world three species of puffins. The Icelandic hero of this guide is the common puffin, a species of the North Atlantic. The other two, the horned puffin and the tufted puffin, are associated with the North Pacific.

The most famous Atlantic puffin sightings outside Iceland include: Mykines in the Faroe Islands, island Skomer in Wales, Farne Islands and the coast of Scotland, Norwegian islands and cliffs, Witless Bay, Newfoundland and selected places in Maine, USA. However, if you want to combine puffins with a road trip, glaciers, volcanoes and black beaches, Iceland is one of the easiest choices.

What do puffins do outside the breeding season?

This is one of the most important things when planning a trip: Puffins don't sit on Icelandic cliffs all year round. They return to land mainly to breed. When the season ends, they leave the colonies and move to the open ocean.

In autumn and winter, puffins live far from the shore. They forage at sea, rest on the water and are much less social than in the breeding colony. Therefore, a traveler going to Iceland in winter can see aurora borealis, glaciers and waterfalls, but he should not treat puffins as a real point of the program.

After the season, their appearance also changes. The colorful beak that we know from summer photos is primarily a decoration of the breeding season. In winter, it becomes less intense, and the birds are far out at sea, so tourists almost never see them in such plumage.

Interesting facts about puffins: diving, flight and life in the ocean

Puffins look cute, but their lives are much harsher than their postcard appearance suggests. These are birds created to live on the border of three worlds: air, ocean and steep cliffs.

April 10 is the day when Puffins have been appearing in Iceland for years like clockwork

When to see puffins in Iceland?

Puffin season in Iceland lasts approximately from May to August. In practice, the best period is June and July, because the colonies are active then, birds often return with fish, and the days are very long.

At the end of April and in May, the birds return to the colony. In June and July, the chances of observation are highest. In August, some birds can still be seen, but the closer to the end of the month, the greater the risk that the colony will start to become empty. On Vestmannaeyjar, the end of August and the beginning of September are also associated with young puffins that leave their burrows and sometimes go to the city, confusing artificial lights with the natural direction towards the sea.

The best time of day is often morning or evening. During the middle of the day, some birds may feed in the ocean. In practice, this does not mean that you will not see anything at noon, but if you want photos and greater activity of the colony, it is worth planning the observation outside the most touristic hours.

The best places to see puffins in Iceland

There are many puffin colonies in Iceland, but not all of them are equally convenient for travelers. Below are the places that work best in a realistic trip plan: from a short stay in Reykjavík to a full route around the island.

Borgarfjörður Eystri / Hafnarhólmi

Borgarfjörður Eystri, or more precisely, the observation point at Hafnarhólmi, is one of the best places in Iceland for people who want to see puffins up close, but without going onto dangerous slopes. There are platforms and stairs that organize tourist traffic and reduce the risk of destruction of burrows.

This location is particularly suitable for traveling along the Ring Road and eastern Iceland route. It requires leaving the main road, but the reward is very peaceful bird watching. If you are planning a full loop around Iceland, it is worth considering staying overnight in the area so that you can arrive at the colony in the morning or evening.

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey it's the easiest place to connect to Iceland's classic south coast. It is located close to Vík, the beach Reynisfjara and road number 1, so it naturally fits into the first trip plan. This is a good choice if you are not doing a full tour of the island, but are heading south.

However, remember that Dyrhólaey is a protected area. Access restrictions may occur during the breeding season, especially from May to the end of June. Before leaving, it is worth checking current messages from the Environment Agency of Iceland and sticking to marked paths.

If you are planning a route through Vík, Reynisfjara and the southern glaciers, see also the guide Ring Road Iceland – south coast. This is the best context to plan Dyrhólaey without adding a chaotic detour.

South Iceland route

Ring Road Iceland - South Coast

Find out how to combine Dyrhólaey, Vík, Reynisfjara, waterfalls and glaciers into one logical route around southern Iceland.

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Vestmannaeyjar, i.e. the Westman Islands

Vestmannaeyjar is an archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland and one of the most important places for puffins. The largest island, Heimaey, combines nature, the history of the Eldfell volcano eruption and the iconic local tale of baby puffins.

At the end of summer, young puffins, that is pufflings, they leave their burrows. Some of them confuse city lights with natural light leading to the sea. Residents, often children with their families, collect such birds in boxes and later release them in a safe place by the ocean. This is one of the most moving stories related to puffins in Iceland.

Vestmannaeyjar is best planned as a separate day or overnight stay. You have to add the ferry, weather and logistics. However, if you want to see puffins in a place where they are part of the local identity, this is one of the strongest choices.

Látrabjarg

Látrabjarg in the Westfjords is a spectacular bird cliff and one of the most photogenic places in Iceland. The cliffs are about 14 km long and over 400 meters high, and puffins often stay in the upper, grassy parts.

However, this place requires great caution. The edges are brittle, a fall would be fatal, and there may be burrows under the grass. Don't go right to the edge just to take a photo. In Látrabjarg the rule is simple: beautiful shots yes, risk no.

Reykjavík: Akurey and Lundey

If you don't have time for a long roadtrip, puffins can also be seen from Reykjavíku. In summer, short cruises depart from the port to the islands Akurey and Lundey, where birds have breeding grounds. This is a good option for the first day, a short stay or traveling without a car.

This variant is the simplest logistically, but less "wild" than Borgarfjörður Eystri or Látrabjarg. This works well when you want to see puffins without having to rebuild your entire itinerary.

Ingólfshöfði

Ingólfshöfði is a less obvious, but very interesting point in the southeast of Iceland. It lies between black sands, glaciers and the coast, so it fits well with the rest of the southern route, especially if you're heading towards Skaftafell and the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón.

Access to Ingólfshöfði usually requires an organized tour, so it is not a spontaneous stop like Dyrhólaey. However, it can provide very good conditions for bird watching and the feeling of a place more isolated from the main tourist traffic.

How to include puffins in your Iceland itinerary?

The biggest mistake when planning puffins in Iceland is that someone does the route first and then tries to "throw in" the birds. It's better to decide right away whether puffins are to be a quick stop or one of the main goals of the trip.

If you are planning your first trip and want to have a specific arrangement of days, see the guide Iceland in 7 days – day by day sightseeing plan. This is a good starting point for deciding whether it's better to go south, a fuller loop, or a slower pace.

Itinerary

Iceland in 7 days - day by day sightseeing plan

See the ready-made layout of the Iceland route and check where it is easiest to include puffin observations without breaking the entire plan.

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How to observe puffins responsibly?

Puffins are very photogenic and often do not seem shy, but this does not mean that you can approach them without restrictions. Many colonies are located on grassy slopes with burrows hidden beneath them. Any step outside the path can damage the nest.

• Keep to marked paths and platforms - especially in Borgarfjörður Eystri, Dyrhólaey and Látrabjarg.
• Don't go right to the edge of the cliff — the ground can be fragile and falling very dangerous.
• Do not block the birds from entering the burrow — if a puffin stands with fish in its beak and doesn't return to its nest, it's probably waiting for you to leave.
• Don't touch the birds or feed them — they are wild animals, not an attraction to interact with.
• Do not use a drone near the colony — drone noise and movement can stress birds.
• Check local restrictions — during the breeding season, some areas may be temporarily closed to protect birds.

How to photograph puffins?

Patience, light and a reasonable distance are best for puffin photos. You don't have to approach at all costs. In good spots like Hafnarhólmi or Látrabjarg, the birds are often close enough to take beautiful photos without breaking the rules.

• The best light: in the morning and evening, when the sun is lower and colonies are more active.
• Lens: preferably a telephoto lens, but in places with platforms a shorter scope is often enough than for other wild birds.
• Settings: Use a fast shutter speed and burst mode when flying.
• Personnel: look for birds with fish in their beaks, pairs near their burrows and moments of takeoff or landing.
• Security: A photo is never worth climbing a fragile cliff edge or trampling into burrows.

Sources and news

This guide is based on ornithological sources and Icelandic local materials: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, Environment Agency of Iceland, Visit Iceland, Visit Westman Islands, Visit Westfjords and local information about Borgarfjörður Eystri / Hafnarhólmi. Before leaving, it is worth checking current announcements regarding the availability of Dyrhólaey and local paths, because protection rules may change depending on the season.

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Atlantic Puffin Life History
• Audubon - Atlantic Puffin
• Environment Agency of Iceland – Dyrhólaey access and management
• Visit Iceland – Puffin Express / Reykjavík
• Visit Westman Islands – bird watching and puffins
• Visit Westfjords – Látrabjarg
• Borgarfjörður Eystri – more about puffins

FAQ: puffins in Iceland

Read also / further

If you're planning a trip to Iceland during puffin season, combine this guide with OndaTravel itineraries and practical plans. This will make it easier for you to decide whether to choose Dyrhólaey, a cruise with Reykjavík, Vestmannaeyjar, Borgarfjörður Eystri or the Westfjords.

• Iceland – guide, attractions, routes and travel plan
• Iceland in 7 days – day by day sightseeing plan
• Iceland in 4 days – day by day sightseeing plan
• Ring Road Iceland – south coast
• Reykjanes Peninsula – attractions in Iceland