Puffins & Birdwatching

Meet puffins and vast seabird colonies.

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Summer of the puffin

Iceland hosts some of the world's great seabird colonies, and in summer its cliffs come alive with millions of nesting puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes.

From the Latrabjarg cliffs to the gentle fjords of the east, you can watch puffins up close in their breeding season.

Good to know

Puffins are ashore roughly from May to August, when colonies are busiest. The best viewing is at cliff colonies and on boat trips to bird islands, often paired with whale watching.

Best season: May to August
Where to do it: Borgarfjordur Eystri · Latrabjarg · Dyrholaey · Vestmannaeyjar · Grimsey
Good for: Families, photographers, nature lovers
Booking: Local operators through Bókun
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Puffins & Birdwatching

What to expect

Cliffs alive with wings

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Latrabjarg

One of Europe's great bird cliffs, with famously close puffins.

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Eastern fjords

Borgarfjordur eystri has an easy puffin viewing platform.

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Island colonies

Vestmannaeyjar and Grimsey host huge seabird gatherings.

Tours & activities

Puffins & Birdwatching experiences with trusted local operators. Reserve in minutes once booking goes live.

We are bringing together puffins & birdwatching operators from across Iceland through Bokun, so you can compare and book trusted experiences in a few clicks. Live pricing and instant booking arrive with our marketplace.

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Good to know

Quick answers for planning.

When can I see puffins in Iceland?

Puffins are ashore to breed from roughly May to August. After that they head back out to sea for the winter.

Where are the best places to see puffins?

Latrabjarg in the Westfjords, Borgarfjordur eystri in the east, Dyrholaey on the south coast, and the islands of Vestmannaeyjar and Grimsey.

Can I see puffins on a boat tour?

Yes, many puffin trips sail to bird islands, and they often combine with whale watching.

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