Puffin Watching Tour from Reykjavík

A short puffin watching tour by boat from Reykjavík's Old Harbour. In summer, the boat takes you out to one of the small islands where Atlantic puffins nest close to the city.

• Puffins nest on islands just a short boat ride from downtown Reykjavík
• A quick trip, about an hour, that fits easily into a day
• Guides point out puffins and other seabirds along the way
• Departs right from the Old Harbour, no drive needed
• Runs only in the summer nesting season

Your day, stop by stop

2Out to the puffin islandA short crossing to one of the islands where puffins nest.

A short crossing from the Old Harbour to one of the small islands near Reykjavík where puffins nest in summer. The boat gets close enough to see the birds well without disturbing them.

3Watching the puffinsTime near the colony watching puffins fly in and out with fish.

Puffins nest in burrows on the cliffs and headlands and are most active flying to and from the sea with fish for their chicks. You stay on the boat for the whole trip of about an hour. Raincoats and binoculars are provided.

About the puffin watching tour Reykjavík

Puffins nest on a few small islands just off Reykjavík, and this short boat trip goes out to see them without needing to travel far from the city. It's a quick outing, generally around an hour, so it works well combined with sightseeing in Reykjavík itself.

The tour only runs during the puffin nesting season, from late April to mid-August. Outside that window the birds are out at sea, so there is nothing to see close to shore. Numbers and activity vary through the season, with the birds usually most visible in June and July.

It's an easy, low-effort trip: you stay on the boat the whole time, so there's no walking involved. As with any wildlife tour, the guide can point out likely spots but sightings still depend on the birds.

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