Puffin Tour from Seyðisfjörður

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

Seyðisfjörður cruise portMeet your coach at the harbour, clearly marked with tour signage.

Meet your coach at the harbour, clearly marked with tour signage, at the cruise terminal in Seyðisfjörður (Ferjuleira). Seyðisfjörður is a small town at the end of a long fjord with Norwegian-style wooden buildings from the late 1800s.

Read our Seyðisfjörður guide →

ÁlfaborgA hill said in folklore to be home to the elf queen.

A small rocky outcrop above Bakkagerði village, said in folklore to be home to the elf queen, with a viewpoint over the fjord and the mountains behind it. The path is short and easy.

Walking · short, easy path

Lindarbakki turf houseAn old turf-roofed house, still lived in today.

One of the last traditional turf-roofed houses in the area still used as a home, a quick photo stop of a few minutes in the village.

Time here · a few minutes

Hafnarhólmi puffin colonyThousands of nesting puffins, seen from viewing platforms.

A small breakwater islet by the harbour where thousands of puffins nest close to the path. Wooden platforms let you watch and photograph them at close range without disturbing the birds. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. The path is flat, with a short set of steps, and puffins are most active from late May to early August.

Time here · about 30–45 minutesWalking · flat path and a short set of stepsTip · puffins are most active late May to early August

Red house below the coloured mountains at Bakkagerði

Borgarfjörður Eystri villageA short stop in the village of Bakkagerði.

Borgarfjörður eystri, also called Bakkagerði after its village of about 100 people, is one of the quieter corners of East Iceland, reached by a mountain road from Egilsstaðir. Colourful rhyolite peaks rise on one side and the Dyrfjöll mountains on the other. People come for the puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi by the harbour, from mid-April to mid-August and best in June and July, and for the hiking around Dyrfjöll, much of which is summer only.

Read our Borgarfjörður eystri guide →

Gufufoss waterfallA 27-metre fall on the way back to the coast.

Gufufoss takes its name from the steam-like mist, 'gufa', that often hangs around it as the water breaks over the rock. It sits right beside Route 93, the road over Fjarðarheiði between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður, so most travellers see it without any detour. There is a small free car park and a flat path of about 150 metres.

Walking · short walk from the car park

Read our Gufufoss guide →

7Back to SeyðisfjörðurDrop-off at the cruise port.

About the puffin tour from Seyðisfjörður

Borgarfjörður Eystri is a small fjord community about an hour and a half from Seyðisfjörður, and it is one of the best places in Iceland to see puffins up close. At Hafnarhólmi, a little islet right by the harbour, viewing platforms let you get close to thousands of nesting Atlantic puffins without disturbing them.

On the way you pass Álfaborg, a rocky hill that local folklore says is home to the elf queen, and Lindarbakki, a small turf-roofed house that is still lived in. You also have time in the village itself before heading back over the mountain road to Seyðisfjörður, stopping at Gufufoss waterfall on the way.

Puffins are most active at the colony from late May to early August, when they come ashore to feed their chicks; outside that window you may see fewer birds. The tour runs in summer only, since the mountain road between Seyðisfjörður and Borgarfjörður Eystri is not reliably open the rest of the year.

Questions people ask

Are puffins guaranteed?

No wildlife can be guaranteed, but Hafnarhólmi is one of the most reliable puffin colonies in Iceland from late May to early August.

How close do we get to the puffins?

The viewing platforms bring you close to the colony without disturbing the birds, and a zoom lens or binoculars help for photos.

What if our ship's schedule changes?

The tour is timed to your call at Seyðisfjörður; check with the operator if your ship's arrival or departure time changes.

Is there much walking?

Walking is easy and mostly on flat paths, with a short set of steps at the puffin colony.

saw around 100 puffins!

We did this tour in 2026 and it was the best experience. We saw probably around 100 puffins and it was simply amazing

Jonas J. · September 2026

Peaceful Birdwatching, Beautiful Landscapes

Very peaceful tour. The puffins were cute and lively, and the setting was beautiful. Our guide was excellent & relaxed, which made the whole thing enjoyable. A highlight of our day

Traveller

Wonderful Family Tour

We did this with our two kids. They loved the puffins, and the guide really knew how to engage them—telling stories, helping them spot the birds. The stop at the café was nice and cozy. Great for families.

Emily P.

Quick & Delightful Wildlife Escape

Loved this excursion—just the right amount of time and so many puffins. The scenery on the drive was bonus. The guide was friendly and made sure everyone got good views. Perfect way to spend a port day.

Jonas W.

Fantástico Tour de Frailecillos

Ver los puffins tan de cerca en Hafnarholmi fue increíble. El guía era amable y explicó muchas curiosidades de las aves y del fiordo. También me gustó mucho la cascada de Gufufoss al final. Una excursión muy bien organizada.

Lucia M.

Magical Puffin Spotting & Eastfjords Beauty

Our stop in Seydisfjordur was supposed to be short, but this puffin tour made it unforgettable. The puffins were adorable and surprisingly close! Our guide Anna was so knowledgeable about bird behavior and local culture. The drive through some of the Eastfjords was stunning — mountains, fjords, and we even got to see some waterfalls. Highly recommend.

Traveller

Your day, stop by stop

About the puffin tour from Seyðisfjörður

Included

Not included

What to bring

Good to know

Questions people ask

Reviews

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