Experience · Iceland

Puffins in the Westman Islands

The Westman Islands, a short ferry hop off Iceland's south coast, host the largest puffin colony on Earth — around a million pairs from May to August.

Best forFamilies · Wildlife & nature · Photographers
In October7°C · 15 rainy days
Ideal stay1–2 nights
Approx. flying time~8h 50m from Los Angeles

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Happens around Westman Islands, Iceland — nearest airport Reykjavík (KEF), about 131km away.

CurrencyISKIcelandic króna
LanguageIcelandic
Local time10:351h behind the UK
PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
Dialling code+354

The experience

Heimaey is the only inhabited island in the Vestmannaeyjar group off Iceland's south coast, and its cliffs hold one of the largest Atlantic puffin colonies anywhere. From May to August the birds are ashore in vast numbers, nesting in burrows on the grassy clifftops and whirring in from the sea with beaks full of sand eels. You watch from the paths above, close enough that binoculars are optional.

The ferry from Landeyjahöfn takes around 40 minutes and makes a day trip possible, though two nights lets you walk the whole island and catch the evening flights. Late August adds the pysjur season, when fledglings misled by town lights are collected by local children and released the next morning. Come outside the summer months and the puffins are simply not there. Crossings can be cancelled in rough weather.

Ideal stay: 1–2 nights
The vibe: Windy, green-cliffed, full of birds

From our guides

Walk the cliff paths at Stórhöfði for close-range views of the world's most cartoonish seabird. Time a visit for late August and children can join the local 'puffin patrol', rescuing disoriented fledglings from the town streets at night and releasing them to sea next morning. Unbeatable.

Featured in Ten wildlife holidays that beat any screen

Make a trip of it

Stórhöfði

The windswept headland at the island's southern tip, with a hide overlooking the burrows and some of the closest puffin views in Iceland.
Eldfell

The volcanic cone that erupted in 1973 and nearly closed the harbour. A short, steep climb over ground that is still warm in places.
Eldheimar museum

A house excavated from the 1973 ash and kept as it was found, with the story of the eruption and the town's overnight evacuation.
Boat trips round the islands

Small boats circle the sea cliffs and stacks, passing caves and nesting ledges from the water side. Sailings depend entirely on the swell.
The pysjur patrol

In late August, fledglings that land in town are gathered up by families at night and released at the shore the following day.
Herjólfsdalur

A grassy natural amphitheatre on the north-west side of the island, used for the summer festival and pleasant to walk at any time.

Getting there

Fly to
Reykjavík (KEF)

Nearest airport to Westman Islands, about 131km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Vestmannaeyjar

Most visitors arrive at Keflavik rather than the Reykjavik city airport (RKV), then drive or take a coach about two hours along the south coast to Landeyjahofn for the 35-minute ferry to Heimaey; small aircraft also fly from Reykjavik in around 25 minutes.
On the ground
Getting around

Heimaey town is walkable and the Storhofdi cliffs are a few kilometres south, an hour on foot or a few minutes by bicycle or taxi.

Public transport: Coaches run from Reykjavik to the ferry terminal and sailings are frequent in summer, so the trip works perfectly well without a car.

Flights

Los Angeles Westman Islands, Iceland

Flying from

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Roughly 8h 50m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about 2°C in December to 14°C in July. Wettest in May, with rain on about 19 days.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

October7° · rain 15 daysCold and often wet.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to base yourself

Guesthouses, apartments and a couple of small hotels on Heimaey, plus a campsite. No resorts, no chains, and the whole island runs out of rooms quickly.

Best base overall
Heimaey town

The islands' only town, small enough to cross on foot and a short drive from the Storhofdi cliffs. Beds are limited and the ferry timetable will shape your days.
Find stays in Heimaey town
Best with children
Heimaey harbour front

Apartments above the harbour put the swimming pool, the aquarium and the boat trips within a pram push, which matters when the wind gets up. Pick somewhere with a kitchen.
Find stays in Heimaey harbour front
Best value
Hvolsvollur

On the mainland near the ferry terminal, where guesthouses and farm stays cost far less than island rooms. The trade off is a crossing each way and no evening on Heimaey.
Find stays in Hvolsvollur
Quietest
Herjolfsdalur

The green bowl of a valley behind town, with the campsite tucked under the cliffs and puffin colonies a walk away. Tents and campervans only, and nothing indoors.
Find stays in Herjolfsdalur

Worth knowing before you book: Book well ahead for puffin season and avoid the early August Thjodhatid festival weekend, when the town is full and prices jump. Ferries also sell out in summer.

Search everything else in Vestmannaeyjar by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Vestmannaeyjar

Good to know

Timing: Puffins are ashore roughly from mid-April to mid-August and gone by early September. Outside that window there is nothing to see.
Getting there: Ferries run from Landeyjahöfn in about 40 minutes, with a longer sailing from Þorlákshöfn when conditions or the season require it.
Pack this: Windproof and waterproof layers, and shoes with grip. The clifftops are exposed and the weather turns without warning.
Etiquette: Stay on the paths, keep well back from burrow entrances and never block a bird's approach to the cliff edge.
Book ahead: Car spaces on the ferry and rooms on the island are limited in summer and during the early August festival weekend.