Where to See Puffins in Iceland

Best Time to See Puffins in Iceland

Timing really matters when it comes to seeing puffins in Iceland. Much like the northern lights, sightings can never be guaranteed. Still, understanding when puffins arrive and how long they stay can make a big difference.
This section explains how the puffin season works in Iceland, which months offer the best chances to see them along the coast, and when conditions are most favorable for spotting these charming birds up close.

Seeing Puffins in Iceland in Spring

Spring marks the return of puffins after a long winter spent out at sea. The first birds usually arrive in Iceland in April, when they begin settling into nesting areas along coastal cliffs.

At this time of year, puffins can be seen preparing their burrows, though numbers are still building and activity is quieter than later in the season. If you’re traveling in Iceland in spring, you may spot early arrivals at places like Dyrholaey or the Westman Islands. It is a great time to catch the very beginning of puffin season.

Seeing Puffins in Iceland in Summer

Summer in Iceland is the best time to see puffins. From May through mid-August, puffins are out in full force. This is when they nest along the cliffs, feed their chicks, and fly back and forth with fish tucked into their colorful beaks.

It is the perfect season to visit places like Latrabjarg Cliffs, the Westman Islands, or Borgarfjordur Eystri, where large puffin colonies are easy to spot up close. By late August in Iceland, the birds begin heading back out to sea, so it is best not to wait too long if puffins are high on your Iceland bucket list.

Seeing Puffins in Iceland in Fall and winter

By autumn, most puffins have already left Iceland. A few may still be around in early September, but by the middle of the month, they are usually back out at sea.

While Iceland in fall is still beautiful, it is not the best season if seeing puffins is a top priority. The busy cliffs that buzz with life during summer become much quieter.

Seeing Puffins in Iceland in Winter

During winter, puffins are far out in the North Atlantic and not around Iceland at all. These months are spent at sea, where they dive for fish and live a solitary ocean life.

If seeing puffins is a priority, winter is not the right time, and planning a summer trip is your best option. That said, a visit to Iceland in winter still offers plenty to love, from snowy landscapes to unforgettable northern lights tours and other winter experiences.

Best Time of Day to See Puffins in Iceland

The best time of day to see puffins in Iceland is usually early in the morning or later in the evening. This is when puffins are most likely to be at their nesting sites, resting in their burrows or moving around the cliffs.

During the middle of the day, many puffins head out to sea to fish, which can make nesting areas feel much quieter. This is also why many puffin tours in Iceland are scheduled for mornings or evenings, when sightings are more likely, and the experience is at its best.

Best Places to See Puffins in Iceland

Puffins love Iceland’s dramatic coastline, and in summer, they show up in some incredible places. They nest along grassy cliffs and rocky edges, often in huge colonies, which makes spotting them surprisingly easy once you know where to go.

One of the most fun ways to see puffins up close is from the water, such as on this puffin boat tour, where a boat cruises right next to cliffs. Luckily, there are also plenty of spots in Iceland where no boat is needed at all. From clifftop paths to coastal viewpoints, puffins can often be seen just a few steps away.

Keep reading to find the best places and the easiest ways to enjoy puffin sightings across Iceland.

The Best Places to See Puffins in Iceland from Land

Puffins are surprisingly picky when it comes to where they nest, so spotting one outside of well-known puffin areas is rare. Most of the time, if a place is not known for puffins, you will not find any there.

However, Iceland does have a few memorable puffin stories. One night, tour guides Paulina Pierzak and Armann Aegisson came across a puffling wandering through downtown Reykjavik, likely confused by city lights. After a night of rest in a simple cardboard box with water and a few crackers, the little bird was strong enough to be released back into the wild.

In another case, a horticulturalist named James McDaniel discovered a lost puffin hiding between two greenhouses in Selfoss, more than three miles (five kilometers) from the coast. With a bit of care, that puffin was also safely returned to nature.

Stories like these are very much the exception. For the best and most reliable chance to see puffins from land, it is far better to visit one of the well-known puffin spots listed below, where colonies return every summer, and sightings are far more predictable.

Puffin Watching at Latrabjarg

Sitting at the far western edge of Iceland, the Latrabjarg Cliffs are a paradise in the Westfjords.

While the cliffs are impressive year-round, summer is when they really come alive. Puffins are the main attraction, but they share the cliffs with other Icelandic birds like guillemots, northern gannets, auks, and an incredible 40% of the world’s razorbills. The sheer number of birds is hard to describe, with colonies covering the cliffs and filling the air with constant movement and sound.

Well-marked walking paths lead right to the cliff edges, making it easy to watch the birds as they nest or swoop out over the ocean. With a bit of care, it is possible to get close. Just remember to keep about three feet (one meter) from the edge to avoid disturbing hidden puffin burrows.

For a deeper experience, a friendly local guide can lead a scenic 7-hour puffin and bird-watching tour in the Westfjords from Patreksfjordur.

Puffin Watching at Dyrholaey Rock Arch

Latrabjarg is incredible, but getting there from Reykjavik is a serious journey. The drive takes around seven hours, which can feel like a bit of a mission if you are staying in the capital. The good news is that there are places to see puffins closer to Reykjavik, especially along Iceland’s South Coast. One of the most popular spots is Dyrholaey Rock Arch.

Dyrholaey curves out from the cliffs into the crashing ocean. Up close, the cliffs reveal striking hexagonal basalt columns. Seeing puffins here is easy too, whether you choose a summer self-drive along the Ring Road or join a South Coast day tour. It is a great stop if you are heading to the sites of the southeast, such as Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

Puffins nest all around Dyrholaey, and they can be spotted both from the beach and from the clifftop viewpoints. The colonies are smaller than at Latrabjarg, but there are still thousands of puffins throughout summer, often just a short walk away.

Puffin Watching at the Tjornes Peninsula

The Tjornes Peninsula is a small, remote peninsula in North Iceland, known for two things: ancient fossils along its west coast and rich birdlife on the east. The fossils attract visitors year-round, and birds like the rock ptarmigan stick around through winter. But when puffins arrive, the whole area really comes to life.

Several easy birdwatching trails wind along the coast, leading straight to puffin nesting areas. It is a calm, uncrowded place to watch them going about their day, with the sea stretching out in front of you.

A great advantage of birdwatching from Tjornes is the fact that, when looking out to the ocean, you have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins. Tjornes sits right next to Husavik and Skjalfandi Bay, often called the capital of whale-watching in Iceland, which makes this spot extra special for wildlife lovers.

Puffin Watching at Ingolfshofdi Cape

Further along the South Coast from Dyrholaey, between Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon, you can find Ingolfshofdi Cape and Nature Reserve. This hidden gem of a destination is surrounded by mighty cliffs and is only accessible by crossing the dunes to its northwest. Its sheltered, protected location makes it a thriving home for Iceland's puffins and other birds.

Like at Latrabjarg, you can expect to see the puffins nesting with a number of other species, such as kittiwakes and guillemots. You can also expect to see dozens of seafowl that include many of the country's saltwater duck species.

This nook on the South Coast is often overlooked by travelers, so it is the perfect place to come if you want to admire puffins without the crowds. A good way to take in the surroundings and, of course, get to meet the puffins is on a beautiful 1.5-hour hiking & puffin watching tour of Ingolfshofdi.

Puffin Watching in the Westman Islands

The Westman Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar, off the South Coast of Iceland, have the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world. Thirty different species nest over the archipelago, but puffins are by far the stars. They nest on most of the islands, including the only one with a human population, Heimaey.

On Heimaey, it is possible to take a boat tour, which will introduce you to islands teeming with puffin life. If you wish to spend more of your time on land, however, there are colonies in the cliffs here too. A highly recommended way of seeing the puffins and more of what the islands have to offer is on a scenic 1-hour small island boat tour in the Westman Islands.

One of the most up-close puffin viewing experiences on Heimaey can be found on the Storhofdi Peninsula. A scenic coastal path runs along the west side of the island, staying mostly flat and easy to walk. Along the cliffs, puffins nest right beside the trail, often just a few steps away, making it one of the easiest places in Iceland to observe them at close range.

The puffins are so numerous in the Westman Islands that there is a puffin rescue tradition in the town where the children help pufflings make it back to the ocean. These are puffins that have wandered away from the cliffs, confused by the lights of the town. Finding a lost puffin in the Westman Islands is a regular occurrence.

The Best Places to See Puffins in Iceland by Boat

There are several advantages to taking a boat tour to see puffins rather than just walking up to them on the shore.

A boat tour allows you to watch puffins doing more than just guarding their burrows, such as bobbing in the water and diving for fish. It also provides a better chance to see more of the animals that many hope to catch in Iceland, such as humpback whales (which also migrate to Iceland for the summer) and white-beaked dolphins.

Puffin Watching from Reykjavik

Taking a puffin boat tour from Reykjavik's Old Harbor seems too convenient to be true, but from May to August is more than a possibility. Two islands out in Faxafloi Bay, Akurey and Lundey, become the nesting grounds for thousands of these darling creatures every summer.

Boats on puffin tours in Reykjavik have been visiting these islands for years. They’re small enough to get close to the islands safely and quietly, yet still have a sheltered area in case the weather becomes problematic. There are binoculars on board so that you can get a perfect view of the nesting puffins.

It is also possible, however, to combine your puffin watching trip with whale watching. Faxafloi Bay has a wealth of life, with white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, minke whales, and humpbacks all frequently seen in the summer months.

Puffin Watching from North Iceland

It is as easy to take a puffin watching boat tour from the northern towns of Akureyri and Husavik as it is from Reykjavik. Throughout the summer, multiple operators set out into Eyjafjordur and Skjalfandi, respectively, and return with incredible success rates.

From Husavik, you can book a puffin and whale-watching tour on a RIB vessel to head out in search of diverse wildlife. From Akureyri, puffins are less concentrated, but whale-watching tours often keep an eye out for seabirds as well. These trips regularly pass along the rugged coastline of Eyjafjordur, where puffins and other seabirds are often spotted both on the water and along the cliffs.

Puffin Watching from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Breidafjordur is the fjord that separates the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords. It has many little islands dotting it and fertile waters, making it a perfect place for puffins to nest.

There are multiple boat trips you can take from the historic town of Stykkisholmur that will allow you to explore the fjord and see these birds, both nesting and hunting in the waters.

For example, you could take a magical 2-hour seafood cruise from Stykkisholmur, which combines a cruise with a freshly caught seafood dinner served as sushi. Though it is available throughout the year, taking this tour between May and September almost guarantees that you will see several islands in the distance with thriving puffin colonies.

Puffin Watching from East Iceland

Just off the shore of East Iceland is another enormous puffin colony that can be reached by boat. Papey is a small, low-lying island that’s long been uninhabited. Now, it is a paradise of birds (with puffins and guillemots being the main residents) and seals.

If taking a self-drive tour around Iceland, you can visit this town when you head from the Hofn area to Egilsstadir, the largest settlement in the east. This part of your journey is mainly comprised of sightseeing landscapes, so interrupting it with a boat trip to Papey can make for a great way to break up the day.

For one of the easiest and safest puffin encounters in Iceland, Borgarfjordur Eystri is hard to beat. Boardwalks and viewing platforms allow visitors to get remarkably close without disturbing the birds or damaging their burrows. Around 10,000 pairs of puffins nest here from mid-April through mid-August. While the detour off the Ring Road takes a bit of extra effort, the drive itself is stunning, and the experience feels well worth it once you arrive.

Puffin Watching on Grimsey Island

Another place in Iceland where you are guaranteed to see a great colony of puffins is Grimsey Island, the only Icelandic territory north of the Arctic Circle. Grimsey is technically in North Iceland, but it deserves its own section when talking about puffins.

Most people visiting come only for the novelty of having their passport stamped with the proof they entered a polar region, and are surprised to find the wealth of birdlife present.

Something to be aware of if planning a visit to Grimsey is that, because of how far north it is, the puffins tend to migrate a little earlier than in much of the rest of the country. While in September, there will certainly still be a few puffins at, say, Westman Islands, they are likely to have already left Grimsey by mid-August.

Tips for Responsible Puffin Watching in Iceland

When puffins are nesting, they are often easy to spot and surprisingly comfortable around people. In many places, visitors can get quite close without the birds reacting much at all. That makes puffin watching feel very special and personal.

At the same time, this closeness means it is important to be mindful. Puffins are wild animals, and small actions can make a big difference. Keeping a respectful distance and following a few basic guidelines helps ensure the birds stay calm and the experience remains positive for everyone (including the birds).

• Approach calmly and slowly - Move quietly and avoid sudden movements. Puffins are usually relaxed around people, but sudden noise or rushing can disturb them.

• Stay back from the cliff edges - If watching puffins from above, do not stand right at the edge. Puffins dig burrows into soft ground, and stepping too close can collapse a nest. Cliff edges can also be dangerous for visitors, especially in areas hundreds of feet or meters high.

• Do not touch puffins - Never try to touch a puffin unless it is clearly injured or lost and in need of help. Puffins are wild animals and should be left undisturbed whenever possible.

• Keep a distance when watching from a boat - Boat tours should keep a respectful distance from nesting areas. This is especially important for vessels with louder engines, which can stress the birds.

• Avoid feeding puffins - Do not try to feed puffins. They are excellent hunters and do not need human food, which can harm their health and behavior.

FAQs About Where to See Puffins in Iceland

Seeing puffins in Iceland often comes with a few common questions, especially for first-time visitors. Below, you will find quick, helpful answers to the most frequently asked questions about where and when to spot puffins, how close you can get, and what to expect during a puffin watching experience.

Can you hold puffins in Iceland?

No. Puffins are wild animals and should not be handled. The only exception is if a puffin is clearly injured or disoriented and needs help, which should always be done following local guidance.

Are puffins in Iceland friendly to humans?

Puffins are not friendly in the way pets are, but they are often calm around people, especially at nesting sites. This makes them easy to observe from a respectful distance.

Are puffins in Iceland dangerous?

Puffins are not dangerous. They may peck if threatened, but they generally avoid confrontation and pose no risk when left undisturbed.

Are there tours that allow you to see puffins in Iceland up close?

Yes. Puffin boat tours in Iceland are often paired with whale watching, and they offer close encounters with the country’s wildlife.

Can you see puffins in Reykjavik?

Puffins are not usually found in central Reykjavik, but they are easy to see just outside the city during summer. Boat tours in Faxafloi Bay visit nearby islands such as Akurey and Lundey, where puffins nest in large numbers. These short trips make it possible to see puffins close to Reykjavik without leaving the capital area.

What is the best time to see puffins in Iceland?

The best time to see puffins in Iceland is late spring to summer, from late April or early May through mid-August.

Where to See Puffins in Iceland: A Summary

Iceland offers some of the best puffin watching in the world. Its dramatic coastlines, remote islands, and easy-to-reach clifftops are the best nesting spots for colonies. Whether it is the famous Westman Islands or the vast cliffs of Latrabjarg, each location offers its own memorable way to watch puffins going about their day.

A little planning makes all the difference. Visiting at the right time of year, knowing where to go, and choosing between land-based spots or boat tours helps turn a lucky sighting into a highlight of the trip. With the right approach, seeing puffins in Iceland can be one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences the country has to offer.

If puffin watching is just one part of your Iceland trip and planning feels a bit overwhelming, these Iceland itineraries can be a great place to start. They help you see how different experiences fit together, from wildlife spotting to scenic drives.

And for those who prefer everything organized in advance, vacation packages in Iceland quietly take care of routes, tours, and accommodations, making the journey feel smooth and stress-free.

Is seeing puffins in Iceland on your bucket list? Do you have any stories of encountering these birds in Iceland? Let us know in the comments below!