Find the best puffin viewing locations in Iceland with expert photography tips and monthly sighting guides.
June – July
Peak Season
10 sites
Locations
~60% in Iceland
World Population
10M+ birds
Largest Colony
Home to the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony with 8–10 million birds nesting here each summer. The island of Heimaey is the hub, offering close encounters on the cliffs and in town—puffins literally nest under houses.
★World's largest puffin colony — 8–10 million birds
Colony Size
8–10 million puffins (world's largest colony)
Best Time
Evening (6–10 PM) when puffins return from sea with sand eels
The westernmost point of Europe, these 14km-long sea cliffs rise 441m and host millions of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, and guillemots. Puffins here are famously unafraid of humans — you can photograph them at arm's length.
★Closest puffin approach in Iceland — arm's length photo opportunities
Colony Size
Millions of puffins and other seabirds
Best Time
Anytime 9 AM–9 PM in peak summer
A hidden gem in East Iceland with around 10,000 puffin pairs and a purpose-built wooden viewing platform right at the colony. This is the single best place for relaxed, very close puffin photography without crowds.
★Purpose-built platform at eye level with the colony
Colony Size
~10,000 pairs
Best Time
Morning (7–10 AM) and evening (5–9 PM)
A dramatic volcanic peninsula near Vík with puffins nesting in the grassy cliff slopes. The iconic sea arch is backdrop for stunning photography. Note: The upper promontory is closed 1 May–25 June to protect nesting birds.
★Dramatic volcanic arch backdrop for photography
Colony Size
Several thousand pairs
Best Time
Late afternoon and golden hour
An isolated nature reserve headland accessible only by tractor-drawn hay wagon across tidal sands. One of Iceland's most special wildlife experiences — puffins, great skuas, and grey seals in a pristine setting.
★Exclusive tractor-wagon tour to a pristine nature reserve
Colony Size
Significant colony with great skuas
Best Time
Tours run morning and afternoon
Iceland's only inhabited island on the Arctic Circle, home to puffins, arctic terns, and an extraordinary variety of seabirds. The island itself is mostly cliffs with birds nesting on every ledge. Cross the Arctic Circle marker while you're here.
★Puffins at the Arctic Circle with midnight sun
Colony Size
Large mixed seabird colony
Best Time
All day — midnight sun means 24-hr light in June
The closest puffin colony to Reykjavík — just 30 minutes by boat from the Old Harbour. "Lundey" literally means Puffin Island in Icelandic. A perfect half-day trip from the capital between May and August.
★30 minutes from Reykjavík — Iceland's most accessible puffin spot
Colony Size
~30,000 puffins
Best Time
Morning departures (best light), evening for returning birds
A second puffin island near Reykjavík, accessible via the same harbour boat tours as Lundey. Often combined into a single tour. Less visited than Lundey, offering a quieter puffin experience with a backdrop of the city.
★Puffins with Reykjavík skyline backdrop
Colony Size
~30,000 puffins
Best Time
Evening for puffins returning with fish
A magical remote island off Djúpivogur in East Iceland, named after Irish monks (papar) who once lived here. Puffins nest alongside eider ducks, grey seals bask on rocks, and the old lighthouse dates from 1922. Very few tourists visit.
★Remote island with puffins, seals, and a 19th-century church
Colony Size
Significant colony, exact count unknown
Best Time
Afternoon when tour boats typically visit
A dramatic sea stack island in the Fáskrúðsfjörður fjord, one of Iceland's most spectacular seabird cliffs. Puffins nest alongside thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots, and razorbills on vertical basalt columns rising from the sea.
★Dramatic vertical cliff faces with dense mixed seabird colonies
Colony Size
Large mixed colony on dramatic cliffs
Best Time
Mid-morning when birds are most active
Atlantic puffins are in Iceland May through August. Select a month to see what to expect.
Fratercula arctica — "Little Brother of the North"
Puffin name in Icelandic: "Lundi"
Iceland hosts approximately 60% of the world's Atlantic puffin population — roughly 8–10 million breeding pairs. The country is the last major stronghold for this species, making responsible tourism critically important.
Expert advice for photography, wildlife watching, and responsible encounters.
April
Arriving
May
Arriving
June
Peak season
July
Peak season
August
Late season
September
Departing
Everything you need to know about seeing puffins in Iceland.
Atlantic puffins are present in Iceland from approximately late April to August, with peak viewing from mid-June to late July. They arrive from the open North Atlantic in April–May to breed, raise chicks through summer, and depart by September. Outside this window, there are no puffins in Iceland — they spend winters far out at sea.