Guide to Seeing Iceland Puffins: Locations, Tours, and Rental Car Tips

There are several activities that make Iceland stand out as a prime holiday destination, including popular Iceland hot springs and volcano views, but few are as exciting as spotting wildlife like the elusive Iceland puffins. The wildlife in Iceland is unique to the rest of the world but Iceland puffins are truly special.

Puffins are migratory birds which spend most of their time in the ocean but migrate to Iceland during the spring and summer months to create nests and breed. The species of puffins that are native to Iceland is the Atlantic puffin which inhabits the country in the months between April and September every year. 

In this article, we will guide those wanting to catch a glimpse of the Iceland puffin on puffin locations in Iceland, what tours they can take, as well as what cars they will need to reach these areas. We’ll also cover the best seasons and times for prospective watchers to see the puffins in all their glory. 

Related links: Find a rental car in Iceland, check the available rental cars in Iceland

Table of Contents

1. Best time of the year to see puffins in Iceland
2. Best time of the day to see puffins in Iceland
3. Best locations to see puffins in Iceland
4. Map of the best spots to see puffins in Iceland
5. Rental car recommendation for your self-drive tour
6. Where can you join a puffin tour and see them on the sea?
7. Local Tips about watching puffins in Iceland
8. How to be responsible when watching puffins in Iceland

When Can You See Puffins in Iceland?

The puffin is not the largest species of bird. Standing at only 26-29cm tall, weighing around 450-500g, with a wingspan of between 47-65cm. Iceland puffins are especially attractive birds with the adults standing on orange legs, and their bodies resembling that of a penguin. The puffin has a white underbelly and black exterior, as well as its iconic bright orange flat-sided beak. 

The puffin eats a diet of sand eels, capelin, snake pipefish and krill. As the puffins rely on a fish-based diet, they spend most of their time in the ocean. While there, they employ their diving skills to hunt prey and can reach up to 60 meters underwater without having to come up for air for a full one and a half minutes, according to Fuglavernd.

Even though they spend most of their life around the water, they need to stop for a few months on land during the Iceland puffin season, which runs from May to mid-August when the puffins come to Iceland to breed and create the next generation. This is the only time when you can get to see puffins on land in Iceland. So, if you want to see one, then this is the best time to visit Iceland. During the spring and summer month, puffins adorn the coastlines of Iceland making them a popular tourist attraction. 

During the spring and summer months, around 8-10 million Atlantic puffins (the United Nations notes that nearly 60% of the entire puffin population) retire to Iceland to procreate. 

The large congregation of birds mating during this season means that there is no better time than the months between late April and September to go visit puffin locations in Iceland. As an activity, it can be combined with many of Iceland’s other intriguing attractions and tours. 

What Is the Best Time of Day To See Iceland Puffins?

The best time of day to see Iceland puffins are when they are the most active. The optimal time is when the sun is not at its harshest, but still enough to keep them warm. You’re most likely to spot a puffin during the morning and evening periods during the Icelandic summer, from the end of April until the start of September. This is usually in the mornings between 07:00-10:00 before the sun hits its peak, and in the evenings between 20:00-22:00, just as the sun is setting.

Where Can You See Puffins in Iceland?

During the months when puffins are closest to the shores, there are a number of ways to get close enough to watch them. There are certain areas of Iceland where you are more likely to get a good view of the puffins, and you’ll want a rental car to get to these spots. 

Best Spots to See Puffins in West Iceland

In the westernmost parts of the county, the Iceland Westfjords, The Látrabjarg birdwatching cliffs are the most popular areas to see Iceland puffins. They are more than 400m off the ground and 14km long, so there is an extensive span of landscape to catch a glimpse of the birds. The western region of Iceland also contains the Breiðafjörður fjord which is the largest Icelandic fjord and is a haven for puffins. 

Best Spots to See Puffins Near Reykjavik

For visitors staying in Reykjavik, the islands of Akurey and Lundey in the Faxafloi Bay are your best bet for seeing puffins. Both islands are uninhabited, close to the capital and accessible by a short boat ride from the city. They are also heavily inhabited by puffins.

Best Spots to See Puffins in North Iceland

Northern Iceland is home to The Tjornes Peninsula which is a great site for bird and whale watching, and offers a great chance to see the Iceland puffins as well. The trails in the peninsula lead to the Voladalstorfa and Skeiðsöxl areas which are usually inhabited by a colony of puffins, as well as other birds, making them a great destination for bird watchers. 

Best Spots to See Puffins in South Iceland

The Ingólfshöfði Nature Reserve located in the south of Iceland is another major attraction for puffin watchers. They can reach the more remote and conservative reserve with a 30-minute drive from the Skaftafell National Park in South Iceland. 

Best Spots to See Puffins in East Iceland

Papey Island, which can be found after a short boat trip from Djúpivogur, is the puffin watching gem of East Iceland. The island has lacked a full-time human population since 1948 as well, meaning it is the most natural habitat for puffin colonies. 

Map of the Best Spots To See Puffins in Iceland

Best Rental Cars for Puffin Viewing in Iceland

The choice of car to use when embarking on a mission to see some Iceland puffins depends on a number of factors, including the time of the year when you decide to go see them.

In the times closer to winter or fall, the Icelandic roads can still pose challenges that would require a 4X4 SUV for greater comfort and safety.

SUVs will also come in handy if you intend to visit harder to reach areas of Iceland that lack tarred roads, like The Westjords, while other cars are suitable for easy access locations along Iceland’s Ring Road that don’t require extra safety measures. 

A larger group, above five people, would also require a 4X4 SUV while a medium-sized group of about 3-5 people can fit into an Intermediate or full-size in fair weather. 

A smaller group of 2-3 people can fit in a larger car, but they might feel more comfortable in economy or compact option. Economy and compact cars are also best used during the summer periods when roads are completely snow-free.

If you intend to camp while in Iceland, then getting a campervan is the best way to do it. You can camp as you go, which will enable you to reach the areas where some other cars cannot. 

Where Can You Join a Tour and See Puffins on the Sea?

As with most other activities in Iceland, puffin watching is best experienced as part of a group, and there are a few tours which offer the opportunity to go puffin watching as part of their packages. 

There are some affordable tour options that include boat trips starting at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour that take you out to the nearby islands to see their many puffins. In the summer months, Akurey and Lundi, which are two of Faxafloí’s islands, become nesting grounds for puffins and popular destinations for watchers. With this trip, you also have the opportunity to add on a whale watching tour while navigating the harbor on small boats, which are ideal for getting close to puffin nests without disturbing or disrupting them. The boats are also equipped with binoculars that can allow an even closer look at the puffin nests. 

In the Akureyri and Húsavík regions, it is also possible to join puffin tours on which you can watch puffins. These tours usually combine puffin and whale watching as well. They start out in the Eyjafjörður and Skjálfandi regions, before reaching other towns on RIB vessels where you’re most likely to see Iceland puffins.

Boat tours leaving from Heimaey are also a big tourist attraction, with one-hour trips that go around the island of Vestmannaeyjar. These tours go through five caves and do not advertise puffin watching as part of the tour, but sightings are commonplace nonetheless. 

The Island of Papey is home to a large colony of puffins that attracts tourists as well. The tour to Papey usually starts out by boat in the city of Djúpivogur. The trip to Papey can also be part of a self-driving tour that passes through the Jökulsárlón/Höfn area of the south coast of Iceland to Egilsstaðir, where a boat to Papey can also be boarded. 

Additionally, ferries from Akureyri also play host to tours to Grimsey Island which is another large settlement for puffins. The island is north of the Arctic, and the puffins are usually gone by mid-August so it is best to visit the island during the peak summer months of June to July.

You can find all the Iceland puffin tours here and book with our partners.

Tips From Locals About Watching Puffins in Iceland

Regardless of which location you choose to visit to see Iceland puffins, here are some insider local tips to keep in mind:

1. The best times to visit Iceland to see Iceland puffins are the periods between May and mid-August. This is due to the puffin breeding season being between late April to early September, and the largest concentrations of birds being in these periods.

2. The best places to find puffins are in the many breeding colonies around the country, and the best times are in the early mornings or late evenings when the birds are resting in their nests and burrows. The afternoons are usually spent in the waters, and the land colonies are likely to empty out at those times.

3. To see a puffin, you have to be extra stealthy and careful so you don’t scare away the birds. This might involve having to crawl on your stomach around the nests, and although this might seem odd, it also carries the added advantage of being less likely to slip on a rock and fall around the edge of the cliffs. 

How To Be Responsible When Watching Puffins in Iceland

As fun as bird watching is, it still has to be done in the proper, ethical way to avoid negative effects to the environment or to the puffins themselves. This is necessary so that we can all continue to enjoy the beauty of the puffins for years to come and ensure that they don’t suffer. Some ethical steps that can be observed while puffin watching in Iceland include:

• Stay on paths that have been marked out for humans to walk on, and avoid encroaching on the nesting areas of the puffins, as well as other sensitive vegetation. 

• When you’re close to nesting areas or around puffin chicks, ensure you spend only a resonable period of time observing them, rather than sticking around sensitive areas for too long. 

• Bird watching can be exciting and it is easy to lose yourself in the thrill, but remember to be aware of your immediate surroundings. This is especially true when you’re around cliff edges, as it’s easy to lose your footing on loose gravel in those areas. 

• Even though puffins appear very cute, it is imperative that you do not touch or feed puffins. They might look as adorable as pets, but they are still very wild birds. 

• Puffins are jumpy birds, so when approaching, do so quietly and with caution to avoid startling them. 

• When approaching a puffin on a cliff, do not get too close to the edge as you might destroy a puffin nest close to the edge of the cliff. Doing this could put both yourself and the puffin in danger if the patch of earth beneath your feet collapses. 

• The only occasion to ever touch a puffin is if they are hurt or in need of rescue. Otherwise, please admire them from a safe distance. 

• Even while watching on a boat, you will need to keep a reasonable distance from puffins as some boats have loud engines that can startle the birds. 

• Once again, feeding the puffins is not allowed. They do not need food handed to them, as they are expert hunters who can easily fend for themselves. 

Where To See Iceland Puffins With a Rental Car?

Puffins can be found in most regions of Iceland. Where you choose to go see them is up to you, and should be based around what other activities you are planning for your Iceland itinerary.

All these regions can be accessed by a rental car, especially during the summer periods which are the peak puffin months. You can also choose to join some very exciting tours with puffin watching activities as part of their itinerary. Most importantly, make sure you handle the entire experience responsibly to avoid any danger to you or the birds.

If you’re planning on getting a rental car to view the puffins always book online and in advance, especially in the high season, to ensure you get the right car for your group.