Where to see Puffins in Iceland (A success story!)

When is puffin season in Iceland?

It’s important to remember that you can’t see puffins all year round in Iceland. 

Puffin season in Iceland is from late April to mid-August, with peak viewing months in June and July when these adorable, clumsy little birds are busy nesting and fishing.

By mid-August, most puffins head out to sea for the winter, so if you want to catch them waddling around their cliffside homes, summer is the best time to visit.

Bring your camera and prepare for some seriously cute photo ops!

Puffin season can change, and lots of puffin locations have live cameras for you to check if they’ve arrived. 

We saw the puffins at the end of April (the night before my birthday!). 

Do I need to go on a tour to find puffins in Iceland?

Simply put, no. If you’ve rented a car or campervan (or drove your vehicle over to Iceland like we did lol), then you can drive to the puffin locations yourself.

If however, you don’t then you’ll need to do a tour. I’ve had a look at tours on offer, and I think this one below looks pretty good. 

Where to see Puffins in Iceland

Okay, let’s get into it, let’s break down the best areas to see puffins in Iceland. 

1. Látrabjarg Cliffs (Westfjords) – The Largest Puffin Colony in Iceland

Best for: Huge puffin colonies & stunning cliffs

Látrabjarg is a remote, jaw-dropping cliff in the Westfjords, stretching 14 km long and standing up to 440 meters high. This is the largest seabird cliff in Europe, making it one of the best places in the world to see puffins up close! The birds are surprisingly unafraid of humans, so you can get fantastic photos—just don’t get too close to the edge, as the cliffs can be unstable.

How to Get There:

By Car:

• Látrabjarg is about 6 hours from Reykjavík.
• Drive Route 1 (Ring Road) north, then take Route 60 into the Westfjords. From there, follow Route 62 and then Route 612 to reach the cliffs.
• The last part of the journey (Route 612) is a gravel road, so 4WD is recommended, especially in bad weather.

By Tour:

• Due to the remoteness, there are fewer guided tours to Látrabjarg, but some companies offer multi-day tours to the Westfjords, including a stop at the cliffs.

 Best Time to Visit: Late April – Mid-August (peak season: June & July)

When we visited this area of the Westjords, it was early April and the puffins were not there yet. Actually, the road to the cliffside was still closed due to bad snow.

2. Dyrhólaey (South Coast) – Quick & Easy Puffin Spot Near Vik

Best for: Easy access & South Coast road trips

Dyrhólaey is a stunning coastal headland located near Vík, famous for its sea arch, black sand beaches, and puffin colonies. It’s one of the most accessible puffin-watching spots if you’re on a South Coast road trip.

How to Get There:

By Car:

• Only 2.5 hours (180 km) from Reykjavík, making it a perfect day trip!
• Take Route 1 (Ring Road) east toward Vík.
• Turn onto Dyrhólavegur (road 218), which leads to the parking area at the top of the cliffs.
• The road up is steep and sometimes closed in bad weather, so check conditions before heading up.

By Tour:

• Many South Coast day tours include a stop at Dyrhólaey, especially in summer.

Best Time to Visit: May – August (puffins usually nest on the cliffs)

3. Borgarfjörður Eystri (East Iceland) – This is where we went

Best for: Up close and personal 

East Iceland feels relatively undiscovered to the rest of Iceland when it comes to tourists. But it has some amazing places to see, including, Borgarfjörður Eystri.

This is one of the best places in Iceland to see puffins up close without disturbing them.

And when I say up close, I mean up close. 

You’re so close you could reach out and touch them (I didn’t obviously, and you shouldn’t obviously), but this meant we got to take some INCREDIBLE photos and I didn’t even need to use my zoom lens ;) 

There’s also a wooden viewing platform which allows you to see the puffins even if the weather is bad, making it one of the most intimate puffin-watching experiences in Iceland.

There’s an onsite cafe too where you can grab hot chocolate, and hot drinks, and cakes and snacks. From inside they have a big TV that connects to a live cam to the puffins, so you can see them from in there, or you can wait in there until they start appearing. 

What’s REALLY great about this spot, is that you can stay at the Blabjorg Resort which I highly recommend in general, but at the hotel, you can just check the live stream of the puffins, and when you see they are there, you can jump in your car and make the 5-6 minute drive to the puffins. 

This made it so convenient because we were able to chill in the comfort of our hotel room, and not battle the wintry weather until the puffins were definitely there. 

And when the puffins arrived, they arrived in their hundreds. 

It was crazy magical. 

And whilst you can get to other puffin viewing spots in Iceland more easily, if you want to get THIS CLOSE to puffins (no need for binoculars or zoom lens, they’re at your feet), then this is WORTH driving too.

Trust me. 

How to Get There:

By Car:

• Located 750 km from Reykjavík (about 9–10 hours by car).
• Follow Route 1 (Ring Road) east, then take Route 94 to Borgarfjörður Eystri.
• The last part of the journey is on a gravel road, but it’s well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles.

By Tour:

• Some multi-day tours to East Iceland include a stop at Borgarfjörður Eystri.

Best Time to Visit: May– Mid-August (puffins are very active in July!) They arrived on the 28th of April for us. 

4. Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) – The Largest Puffin Colony in the World!

Best for: The ultimate puffin experience & island adventure

The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) are home to the largest puffin colony in the world, with around 1 million puffins nesting here every summer! The best places to see them include:

• Stórhöfði – A scenic cliffside viewpoint with thousands of puffins.
• Boat tours – Some tours take you near puffin nesting areas for an even closer look.
• Puffin Rescue Project (August) – In late summer, locals rescue lost baby puffins (pysja) and help them find their way to the sea!

How to Get There:

By Ferry:

• Take the Herjólfur Ferry from Landeyjahöfn to Vestmannaeyjar.
• The ferry takes about 35 minutes and operates daily.
• Drive from Reykjavík to Landeyjahöfn (about 2 hours), then hop on the ferry.

By Tour:

• Several tour operators offer day trips to the Westman Islands, including boat tours and puffin spotting.

Best Time to Visit: May – August (peak puffin season: June & July)

5. Papey Island (East Iceland) – A Peaceful Puffin Paradise

Best for: Off-the-beaten-path adventure

Papey is a tiny, uninhabited island off the east coast of Iceland that was once home to a small human settlement but is now dominated by puffins! It’s an excellent place for peaceful birdwatching in a remote setting.

How to Get There:

By Boat:

• Take a boat tour from Djúpivogur (a small town in East Iceland).
• The boat ride takes about 1 hour each way.

By Car to Djúpivogur:

• Drive Route 1 (Ring Road) east, then turn toward Djúpivogur.
• From Reykjavík, it’s a 7–8 hour drive (ideal for those already exploring East Iceland).

 Best Time to Visit: Late May – Early August

Tips for seeing puffins in Iceland

1. Visit at the Right Time of Day

Early morning or late evening is best, as puffins spend much of the day out at sea fishing. They return to their nests in the morning and evening, making those the best times to see them in large numbers.

Avoid midday when they are likely out hunting for food!

2. Bring the Right Gear

✅ Binoculars – Puffins often nest on high cliffs, so a good pair of binoculars will bring them closer!
✅ Camera with a zoom lens – If you want great puffin photos, a telephoto lens (200mm or more) is ideal.
✅ Layered clothing & windproof jacket – Coastal cliffs can be cold & windy, even in summer.
✅ Sturdy shoes – Many puffin-watching spots involve hiking over uneven terrain.

3. Be Respectful of the Puffins & Their Habitat

Stay on marked paths – Puffins burrow underground to nest, so stepping off the trail can collapse their homes!
Keep noise levels low – Loud noises can scare puffins away from their nests.
Do NOT touch or feed them – Puffins are wild birds, and human interaction can stress them.

🔹 Fun Fact: Puffins mate for life and return to the same burrow each year! ❤️

4. Prepare for Icelandic Weather

Sunny one moment, stormy the next! Iceland’s weather is unpredictable, so always dress in layers and bring rainproof gear.

Be careful on cliffs – Many puffin hotspots (like Látrabjarg) have steep drops, and strong winds can be dangerous. Always stay a safe distance from edges!

5. Be Patient & Enjoy the Moment

Puffins are quirky, adorable, and sometimes clumsy on land. Watching them waddle around, take off into the wind, or interact with their mates is a joyful experience.

Instead of just taking photos, take a moment to enjoy watching them with your own eyes!

So there you have it, my guide on where to see the puffins in Iceland.

I hope you've enjoyed this post, and my puffin pics!

Want more Iceland inspiration?

• Diamond Circle Road Trip
• WestFjords Road Trip
• Golden Circle Road Trip