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Iceland Bird Watching

8 hides mapped5 regionsPuffins Apr–AugNesting sites protected

Iceland is one of Europe's best places to watch birds, but timing matters: puffins and most seabirds are only ashore from roughly mid-April to mid-August. The headline spots are Látrabjarg (a huge seabird cliff in the Westfjords), the Westman Islands and Borgarfjörður eystri for puffins, and Lake Mývatn in the north for the widest range of breeding ducks in Europe. Nesting birds are legally protected — keep back, stay on marked paths, and never disturb a colony.

AI assistant

Ask anything about bird watching in Iceland

Quick answers — where to see puffins, when colonies are active, and the rules at nesting sites.

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Before you go
Season matters
Most seabirds are only ashore mid-April to mid-August
PuffinsApr–Aug
Nesting sitesKeep your distance
Sea cliffsUnstable edges
BringBinoculars + layers

Bird watching spots

Bird hides and viewing points from OpenStreetMap. We are enriching these with photos, species and access notes — the interactive map has every one plotted.

Cars & campers

−15%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −15%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −15%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −15%

Tours near Iceland's bird watching sites

Free cancellationSmall groups
Glacier & Golden Circle
Adventure

Glacier & Golden Circle

Snowmobile across a glacier, then hit the Golden Circle classics.

Duration10 hours
PickupReykjavík
ActivitySnowmobile
VehicleSuper Jeep
From
49.990 kr
View tour →

When & how to watch birds in Iceland

Timing is the whole game. Most of Iceland's famous birds are seabirds that only come ashore to breed from roughly mid-April to mid-August; outside that window the cliffs are empty. In the Westfjords, Látrabjarg is one of Europe's largest seabird cliffs, with puffins, razorbills and guillemots at close range — but the edge is undercut and unstable, so stay well back. The Westman Islands and Borgarfjörður eystri in the east are reliable puffin spots, and boat tours run to puffin islands off Reykjavík. For variety, Lake Mývatn in the north holds the widest range of breeding ducks in Europe. Arctic terns nest widely and will dive-bomb your head in June and July — hold an arm up and keep moving. Disturbing nesting birds is illegal; keep to marked paths, use binoculars, and check live road conditions before any remote drive.

Browse bird watching by region

West Iceland
2 bird watchingNorth Iceland
2 bird watchingEast Iceland
1 bird watchingWestfjords
2 bird watchingReykjavík Area
1 bird watching

Iceland bird watching sites, mapped

All 8 mapped bird hides and viewing points, by region. These come from OpenStreetMap and are being enriched with photos, species lists and access notes. Tap any name for its location and the drive from Reykjavík.

SiteRegionKnown for
Bird Hide, East IcelandEast IcelandBird hide in East Iceland
Bird Hide, North Iceland (1)North IcelandBird hide in North Iceland
Bird Hide, North Iceland (2)North IcelandBird hide in North Iceland
Bird Hide, Reykjavík AreaReykjavík AreaBird hide in Reykjavík Area
Bird Hide, West Iceland (1)West IcelandBird hide in West Iceland
Bird Hide, West Iceland (2)West IcelandBird hide in West Iceland
Bird Hide, Westfjords (1)WestfjordsBird hide in Westfjords
Bird Hide, Westfjords (2)WestfjordsBird hide in Westfjords

While you're planning

Bird watching pairs well with Iceland's coasts and protected land. Most birding days combine a few of these.

Nature Reserves
Protected wetlands and bird habitats
Cliffs
Sea cliffs where seabirds nest
Islands
Puffin islands and Breiðafjörður skerries
Interactive Map
Every bird hide, plotted and searchable

Bird watching
questions

When can I see puffins in Iceland?
Atlantic puffins are on land at their breeding colonies from roughly mid-April to mid-August. They spend the rest of the year at sea, so there is nothing to see on the cliffs outside that window. The most reliable colonies are Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, the Westman Islands (Heimaey), Borgarfjörður eystri in the east and Dyrhólaey on the South Coast.
Where is the best bird watching in Iceland?
It depends on what you want. Lake Mývatn in the north has the widest range of breeding ducks in Europe. Látrabjarg in the Westfjords is one of the largest seabird cliffs in Europe (puffins, razorbills, guillemots). The Westman Islands hold huge puffin numbers, and Jökulsárlón and the Reykjanes coast are good for gulls, skuas and Arctic terns.
Are Arctic Terns dangerous?
Arctic terns will dive-bomb and strike your head to defend their nests, especially in June and July. It hurts but is not dangerous — hold a stick or arm above your head so they hit that instead, and move through the colony quickly rather than lingering. Keep well clear of the nests on the ground.
Can I approach nesting birds?
No. Disturbing nesting birds is illegal in Iceland and can cause them to abandon eggs or chicks. Stay on marked paths, keep back from cliff edges and colonies, use binoculars or a long lens instead of getting close, and never handle eggs or young birds. Some sites restrict access entirely during the breeding season.
Do I need a guide to go bird watching?
Not for roadside wetlands and marked viewpoints — many of the best spots, like Mývatn and Dyrhólaey, you can reach on your own. Boat trips to puffin islands off Reykjavík and the Westman Islands run with operators, and a local guide helps for remote colonies or if you want to identify specific species. Check live road conditions before remote drives.
Is bird watching in Iceland safe?
The birds are not the main risk — the terrain is. Many colonies sit on unstable, undercut sea cliffs with no railings; every year visitors get too close to the edge. Stay back from cliff tops, watch your footing on wet grass, and on remote routes tell someone your plan and check safetravel.is before you go.