Choose your perfect Icelandic experience
Select dates
Add travelers
Discover the advantages that make us the most trusted choice for your adventure in Iceland
Explore an unequalled wealth of tours and packages
Read first-hand reviews by customers from across the world
Heimaey is the only inhabited island in the Westman Islands, and it earns its place as one of the most memorable stops on any Iceland cruise. The best Heimaey shore excursions are built around your time in port, covering volcanoes, puffin colonies, sea caves, and cultural landmarks in just a few hours.
A single day here is enough to understand why Heimaey is a must-see on Iceland cruises. Hike to the top of Eldfell Volcano for sweeping views over the archipelago, explore the Eldheimar Museum where entire homes lie buried in ash, or take a RIB boat tour around the archipelago's fifteen islands, including Elephant Rock.
In summer, various Westman Islands tours bring you to the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony. A private tour of Heimaey and Westman Islands is also available for travelers who want a personalized experience with a local guide.
Heimaey is one of the few cruise ports in Iceland where you can step off the ship and start exploring immediately on foot. The harbor sits right in the heart of town, with restaurants, shops, and key attractions all within a short walk.
Though only about 5 square miles (13 kilometers), the island is packed with striking landmarks shaped by fire, sea, and history. These are the highlights worth prioritizing during your time in port.
A quiet but rewarding stop, the Sagnheimar Folk Museum covers island life, fishing traditions, and the 1627 pirate raid through exhibits that give Heimaey's history a deeply personal character.
Set in the scenic Herfjolfsdalur Valley, Herfjolstown Museum is a reconstructed Viking farm that offers a glimpse into life on the island long before the 1973 eruption. It is also the venue for Thjodhatid, Iceland's largest outdoor festival, held every August.
The southernmost point of Heimaey is on of the best puffin-watching spots in Iceland, with millions of Atlantic puffins nesting along cliffs from May through early August. The Puffins and Pirates ATV tour covers Storhofdi as part of its route, combining the puffin colony with Elephant Rock and the island's pirate history in a single hour.
The SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Puffin Rescue, the world's only open-water beluga whale sanctuary, sits just minutes from the dock in Klettsvik Bay. It's home to Little Grey ad Little White, two belugas rescued from a Shanghai amusement park, alongside injured puffins undergoing rehabilitation.
Access to the SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Puffin Rescue is easy to arrange in advance, with most visits taking around an hour. It's ideal for families with children and open from April through October.
Just a short walk from the harbor, Skansinn is a 16th-century fort built from lava blocks that failed to stop the 1627 Algerian pirate raid. The Stafkirkjan Stave Church nearby was gifted by Norway in 2000 to mark the millennium of Iceland's conversion to Christianity.
This dramatic basalt formation off Heimaey's coast looks uncannily like an elephant dipping its trunk into the ocean. It is only visible from the water, making a boat tour the only way to see it properly.
A sightseeing boat tour from Heimaey Harbor offers a relaxed, scenic way to take it in alongside sea caves and puffin colonies. For a more thrilling experience, a 2-hour RIB boat tour of the archipelago covers more at speed, with better chances of spotting whales along the way.
Known as the "Pompeii of the North," the Eldheimar Museum is built around homes preserved in volcanic ash from the 1973 eruption. Audio guides and first-person accounts make this one of the most powerful cultural experiences in Iceland, and it is about a 20-minute walk uphill from the harbor.
Born from the 1973 eruption, Eldfell's red crate is one of Iceland's most striking volcanic landscapes. The hike from the harbor is a 1.5 to 2-hour round trip on steep volcanic gravel, rewarded with panoramic views at the top. A 2-hour lava tour with a local expert covers the same ground and tells the full story of the eruption,
Heimaey sits just off Iceland's south coast and shares the country's famously unpredictable maritime weather and climate. As one of the windiest places in Europe, the island experiences sudden changes, with calm skies often giving way to gusts, fog, or rain within minutes.
Summer is the main cruise season in Heimaey, with average temperatures ranging from 46 F to 55 F (8C to 13 C) in June through August. June and July tend to be the driest months and offer the longest daylight hours, making them the best time for hiking, boat tours, and exploring the volcanic landscapes.
Windproof and waterproof outerwear is strongly recommended, especially for boat tours and the hike up Eldfell. Though conditions can be unpredictable, the wild coastal weather is part of what makes Heimaey so dramatic and memorable.
Heimaey is one of the easiest cruise ports to navigate independently. Here is what to keep in mind to make the most of your time ashore.
All major attractions, tour operators, and restaurants are within easy walking distance of the harbor. No shuttle or taxi is needed to reach the town center.
Larger cruise ships may need to tender into Heimaey Harbor rather than docking directly at the pier. Factor in tendering time when planning your day.
The hop-on hop-off bus from the harbor area serves the farther reaches of the island, including the puffin lookout at Storhofdi, for those who want to explore beyond the town center independently.
Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Heimaey, including for small purchases. The local currency is the Icelandic Krona (ISK), but you are unlikely to need cash. ATMs are available in the town center if needed.
Tipping is not expected in Iceland but is appreciated for exceptional service.
When hiking, stay on marked paths. Volcanic terrain can be unstable, and cliff edges near puffin viewing areas are often unfenced and slippery.
Boat tours are weather-dependent and may be cancelled or modified in high winds. Check weather conditions on the day and have a backup plan.
Conditions on exposed trails and cliff edges can change quickly, so always carry windproof and waterproof layers regardless of the forecast.
Puffin season runs from May through early August. If wildlife is a priority, plan your excursions accordingly.
From the summit of Eldfell on a clear day, you can see Surtsey, the neighboring island formed by an underwater volcanic eruption in 1963. Landing on Surtsey is prohibited, as it is a UNESCO World Heritage site accessible only to research scientists.
The harbor area has public heated toilets and a ferry office with additional facilities, useful to know before heading out for the day.
Heimaey has a small but rewarding food scene. Restaurants near the harbor serve fresh local seafood, and the town has a supermarket, a pharmacy, and a gas station for any essentials.
Heimaey rewards every kind of traveler, but its highlights are best experienced with a plan. Whether you have an hour to spare or a full day in port, booking your excursion in advance means you step off the ship with everything sorted and none of your time wasted.
Browse the full selection of Heimaey shore excursions, book with free cancellation and best price guarantee, and get instant confirmation straight to your inbox.
Download Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place
Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.
Book your complete trip with the best companies only
