Puffin Watching in Iceland: Where, When and How

Iceland hosts approximately 60% of the world's Atlantic puffin population — roughly 8 to 10 million birds nest on Icelandic cliffs, islands and headlands each summer. Atlantic puffins are remarkable birds — compact, improbably colourful during breeding season (bright orange beak and feet contrasting with black and white plumage), capable of diving to 60 metres underwater, and remarkably tolerant of human presence at their burrow entrances. Iceland offers the best puffin watching in the world, in locations accessible to any visitor with a rental car.

When Are Puffins in Iceland

Atlantic puffins arrive in Iceland in late April and early May to breed and depart in mid-August. The peak period for burrow activity — when birds are feeding chicks and are most visible at burrow entrances — is mid-June through mid-July. After late July, adults begin leaving individual burrows as chicks fledge. By early September, the vast majority have left for the open ocean, where they spend the rest of the year.

Best Locations

Latrabjarg (Westfjords): Europe's largest seabird colony and Iceland's best puffin watching location. The 14km long cliff face holds hundreds of thousands of nesting pairs. Puffins nest within metres of the cliff edge at human eye level — you can photograph them from a metre away without telephoto equipment. Access requires a dedicated Westfjords visit but the experience is unmatched.

Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands): The Westman Islands off the South Coast hold the world's largest puffin colony — approximately 1 million pairs on the island of Heimaey. The islands are accessible by ferry from Landeyjahofn in South Iceland (30 minute crossing) or by flight from Reykjavik. Staying overnight on Heimaey allows the full evening burrow activity experience.

Borgarfjordur Eystri (East Fjords): A small town on the East Fjords coast with a puffin colony directly accessible from the harbour on foot. One of the most accessible large colonies in Iceland. The harbour breakwater provides excellent views with the fjord mountains as background.

Dyrhólaey promontory (South Coast): The headland near Vik has puffin colonies on the sea cliffs. Access is restricted during nesting season to protect the birds, but the promontory viewpoint provides telescope-range views of nesting activity.

The Puffin in Context

Atlantic puffins are members of the auk family — they are related to razorbills and guillemots and share the remarkable adaptation of being equally at home underwater as in flight. A puffin in flight looks comically small relative to its beak; underwater, filmed through the surface or by diving cameras, it moves with the efficiency of a seal — wings folding into fins, diving to 60 metres after sand eels. Iceland hosts approximately 60% of the world's Atlantic puffin population — approximately 8 to 10 million birds in peak season. The puffin's lifespan (up to 30 years) and its habit of returning to the same burrow each year means Icelandic puffins are in many cases nesting at locations their parents and grandparents used.

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