Spring birdwatching: Puffins in Iceland

Budding leaves and blooming bulbs may be springtime markers in other parts of the world, but in Iceland spring is heralded by the golden plover (the lóa in Icelandic, pictured below), a bird with pretty mottled feathers and an unmistakable call. 

Lóan er komin! (the lóa has arrived!) is both a well-known folk song and the headline of newspaper articles reporting the first sighting of the season. This welcome migrating guest normally arrives in the latter half of March. 

Iceland's bird species

Iceland is a summertime breeding destination for thousands of birds, and the locals pay heed to the arrival of these visitors: It signals that spring is finally arriving and long daylight and milder weather await. 

But it’s not just the locals who roll out the welcome mat for these stopover guests: tourists flock (sorry!) to anywhere that offers the promise of puffins. They’re everyone’s favorite bright-beaked clowns, but supporting these headliner acts is a magnificent cast of feathered co-stars, spread across the country. See our map below for some birding hotspots, and read on for some of the best and most surprising bird-loving locales. 

Best time to see puffins in Iceland

Puffins spend the winter at sea, and come to Iceland for spring and summer in their preferred breeding grounds: steep rocky cliffs by the ocean.

Fun fact: puffins return to the same breeding grounds, and are monogamous, breeding with the same partner for life.

They usually begin arriving in early April and stay as late as early September, so May to mid-August is the best time to be assured of seeing them in large numbers. (In 2023, the first puffins were observed at Grímsey on April 10.) They are best observed at the breeding grounds in the early mornings or evenings, as they often spend the day at sea.

Best places to go birdwatching in Iceland

Got a thing for feathers? Twitch away, friends. This map only scratches the surface of the avian riches to be found across Iceland, from tiny islets and soaring sea cliffs to lakes, ponds and lagoons that play host to countless visitors with a starring role on birders’ checklists.

Icelandair connects Reykjavík with domestic destinations close to some of the finest birdwatching and puffin-admiring locales:

• Akureyri in North Iceland acts as a gateway to birdwatching hotspots including Hrísey, Grímsey and Mývatn.
• Egilsstaðir in East Iceland serves as an access point to the secluded, puffin-rich jewel of Borgarfjörður Eystri.
• Ísafjörður in the Westfjords is a stepping stone to the island of Vigur and the magnificent bird cliffs of Látrabjarg.
  

Our favorite birdwatching locations in Iceland

Embarking on a birdwatching adventure in Iceland not only allows you to immerse yourself in the enchanting calls of countless avian residents, but is a chance to witness Iceland’s majestic landscapes, too. Some of our most cherished birdwatching hideaways include:

Reykjavík Birds enjoy city life too, if Tjörnin pond and the wetlands of Vatnsmýri are any indication, so don’t let that urban setting fool you. From Arctic terns to greater scaup to whooper swans, you can expect to find an array of winged creatures sure to leave an indelible mark on your heart. No puffins, though! However, boat tours operate from Reykjavík and offer puffin-watching cruises around the nearby islands of Akurey and Lundey. 

Birdwatching in West Iceland and the Westfjords

Arnastapi Rocky arches meet nesting seabirds at this quintessential beauty spot on the southern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. This unique geographical landscape serves as both a stage and a sanctuary for nesting seabirds such as the kittiwake, Arctic tern and fulmar.

Látrabjarg Venturing to the rugged reaches of Iceland’s westernmost point leads you to Látrabjarg. This hotspot is home to one of Europe’s grandest bird cliffs, and the unrivaled puffin paradise puts on a breathtaking spectacle.

Vigur Abundant eider ducks and puffins visit this view-enriched island, which beckons bird enthusiasts to its shores by boat from Ísafjörður. As the vessel approaches, expect a vivid tapestry of birdlife to unfold before your eyes. 

Birdwatching in North Iceland

Drangey An adventurous tour lets you clamber to the top of this northern islet in Skagafjörður, and the birdwatching (puffins, guillemots, gannets, kittiwakes, fulmar, shearwaters) is as exhilarating as the fjord views. 

Hrísey This small, low-lying island has glorious views of Eyjafjörður and surrounding mountains, and large colonies of Arctic tern and ptarmigan (but no puffins).

Grímsey As far north as you can go in Iceland, this island offers bountiful birds (plenty of puffins) plus the Arctic Circle crossing point. 

Langanes Fittingly, this remote duck-shaped peninsula has prolific birdlife, and there's a great viewing platform above a large gannet colony at Skoruvíkurbjarg. 

Mývatn This lake is actually named for its insect life (mý means midge fly) and is a magnet for ducks and other waterfowl. Note: no puffins!

Birdwatching in East Iceland

Borgafjörður eystri Come eye-to-eye with an abundance of puffin posses in this stunning, secluded Eastfjords spot. 

Djúpivogur At this renowned spot, trails weave through coastal wetlands full of ducks and waders (but no puffins). 

Birdwatching along the South Iceland coast

Ingólfshöfði Take a tractor ride to a promontory rich in birds (including puffins and the somewhat intimidating great skuas, known for divebombing), plus awesome panoramas, and unique history. 

Dyrhólaey This picturesque promontory is a scenic nesting place for puffins and seabirds. Its name translates to 'Door Hill Island'.

Reynisfjara The famed black beach near Vík has loads of appeal, especially when the puffins nest overhead.

Vestmannaeyjar Reached by ferry, these storied southern islands are overflowing with puffins.

Puffin-watching in Iceland

Puffins make up a large part of Iceland’s birdlife pull. And no birdwatching adventure in Iceland is complete without laying eyes on these sublime creatures.

Puffin-watching in South Iceland

Location: Ingólfshöfði

In the southeast region of Iceland, where all eyes are drawn to icy flows (and tours to icy endeavors), the summertime puffin tour of Ingólfshöfði warms hearts with its homespun charm. Not far from the national-park treasures of Skaftafell, visitors board a tractor-towed hay cart for a rustic journey to the Ingólfshöfði nature reserve, a 250ft (76-meter) headland where great skuas nest and puffins take up residence in the cliff edges. 

After a bumpy open-air ride of 3.7 miles (6km) across mudflats, the property owners (who have lived in the area for generations) guide guests up a steep sandy trail to an elevated position where the majesty of the Vatnajökull glacier is on full display (on a clear day, that is). The tour begins with a brief history lesson: This is where Iceland’s first settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, spent his first winter in A.D. 874. Then a leisurely 90-minute walk is taken around the flat headland, drinking in the views, marveling over seemingly misplaced sheep, dodging protective skuas, and ogling camera-ready puffin colonies. 

Tours to Ingólfshöfði run from mid-May to mid-August (when the puffins depart), and pre-booking is required. It’s worth noting that you are very exposed to the elements on this trip, so dress accordingly.

Tractor ride to Ingólfshöfði. Photo by Einar Rúnar Sigurðsson

Puffin-watching in East Iceland

Location: Borgarfjörður eystri 

I find it hard to sleep when I pay my regular summer visit to Borgarfjörður eystri. I usually arrive buzzing on a splendor-induced high after driving the spectacular approach road, 43 miles (70km) from Egilsstaðir, and sleep doesn’t come easily. On recent trips, I have developed the habit of paying a post-midnight visit to Hafnarhólmi, 3 miles (5km) outside the village, where I can sit alone on the viewing platforms among prolific birdlife, listening to puffins warble and gulls screech while admiring the pink summer sky that won’t darken properly for weeks. 

Hafnarhólmi is a small bird-filled hill by a picturesque marina, and a timber staircase climbs the hillside and levels out at platforms where you can observe puffins going about their business from marvelously close proximity; a small birdwatching hide is also available. The hill’s raucous cliffs are more than just a puffin playground from April to mid-August – thousands of kittiwakes, fulmars and eider ducks also nest here each summer.

Photo by Einar Rúnar Sigurðsson

Puffin-watching in North Iceland

Location: Drangey 

It’s no mean feat to combine a boat tour and adrenaline-inducing hike with superb birdwatching and storytelling, but a summertime trip to Drangey, a rocky volcanic islet in North Iceland’s Skagafjörður, does it with aplomb. 

From a tiny dock north of Sauðárkrókur, a morning boat sets off on one of Iceland’s least hyped but most fun adventures. After a 20-minute trip across the fjord waters, the boat reaches a small dock at the foot of this 590ft (180-meter) sheer-sided rock fortress, and the adventure begins: Rough-hewn steps, ladders and narrow trails climb up the cliff-edge to reach the grassy top, from where the 360° panoramas are mind-blowing and the birdlife magical. Sitting on the grass watching the comical take-offs and landings of puffins, auks and guillemots is entertaining enough, but the island’s connections to Grettis Saga, a tale of outlaws as recounted by guide Helgi, enrich the experience.

Note that this tour is physically challenging, and not for small kids or people with mobility issues or a fear of heights! Rest assured, you can go at your own pace, but at your own risk. The exhilaration of the climb is matched by the views.

The rocky islet of Drangey. Photo by Kári Heiðar Árnason

Book your birdwatching adventure in Iceland

Traveling transatlantic with Icelandair between North America and Europe, you have the opportunity to add a stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

Make the most of your time in Iceland with a puffin-watching tour or discover more of our day tours that are the perfect adventure for those who are short on time.

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Text by Carolyn Bain
Banner photo by Einar Rúnar Sigurðsson