Spotting Puffins in Iceland at Dyrhólaey & Reynisfjara Beach

Hoping to see puffins in Iceland?

A late spring or summer visit to Iceland comes with a lot of perks, including mild weather and seemingly endless hours of daylight. In addition, a trip during these months gives you the opportunity to view puffins in Iceland.

These adorable birds come to Iceland to nest in the spring and summer. Two of the best places to spot them along the south coast are Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Beach.

We visited each of these locations during our summer trip to Iceland, and were instantly captivated by these lively little birds.

Spring and summer visits to Iceland bring the opportunity to spot puffins. Along the south coast, near the town of Vík, Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Beach are great viewing locations. Enjoy watching these adorable birds – from a respectful distance – as they nest.

A Bit About Puffins in Iceland

Puffins are adorable black and white birds with bright orange beaks, legs, and webbed feet. The puffins you’ll see in Iceland (and Atlantic puffins in general) spend most of the year at sea. They come to Iceland (and other North Atlantic lands) to breed in the spring and summer months.

Puffins in Iceland tend to form breeding colonies on coastal cliffs and islands.

If you’ve got a bit extra time on your visit, you can take a day trip (or spent a few nights on) the Westman Islands just off Iceland’s south coast.

However, if you have less time and plan to be along Iceland’s south coast, Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Beach offer great viewing opportunities.

When can you see puffins in Iceland?

Time of year

Puffins can typically be found in Iceland from late spring through summer. You’ll see various month ranges listed online, but you should have the best chance to spot puffins in Iceland between May and August.

We visited Iceland in late July and saw plenty of puffins in the locations we’ll discuss here.

Time of day

Even while they’re nesting in Iceland, puffins spend a lot of time at sea. They fly out during the day to catch fish. As a result, “peak” viewing times for puffins tends to be early in the morning and late in the afternoon or evening.

That said, both times we visited these locations, it was midday, and we saw tons of puffins. If you happen to be passing through this area and it isn’t early morning or evening, it’s probably worth a quick stop to see if you can spot some puffins.

Do you need to book a tour?

We looked into booking a tour to see puffins in Iceland, but decided we’d try spotting them on our own first, and bring in the professionals if needed.

We’re happy to report we were able to spot them twice on our own – both times we went looking – with minimal effort. The key is knowing where to look.

That said, if you’d like to book a tour to see puffins, there are plenty of options. Most of the tours leave from Reykjavik. You could book a brief one-hour tour that stays close to Reykjavik, or splurge for a full day trip to the Westman Islands.

Getting to Dyrhólaey Cliffs & Reynisfjara Beach

Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Beach are located next to each other, along Iceland’s south coast, near the town of Vík.

You can see Reynisfjara Beach from atop Dyrhólaey.

Since Dyrhólaey is located on top of a cliff, you’ll need to drive between the two spots. It’s about a 20 minute drive between the two locations.

Getting to Dyrhólaey Cliffs

To get to the Dyrhólaey viewpoint, enter “Dyrhólaey View Parking Lot” into Google Maps (or follow this link).

You’ll turn off Highway 1 and drive along a peninsula for about 5 kilometers until you reach a gravel parking lot. There is a small facility with toilets you can use for a minimal fee (by card only).

From the parking lot, it’s a short few minutes walk to the cliffs, where you can observe puffins from various locations.

Getting to Reynisfjara Beach

To reach Reynisfjara Beach, enter “Reynisfjara Beach” into Google Maps (or follow this link).

You’ll turn off Highway 1 and drive about 5 kilometers until you reach a gravel parking lot in front of the beach. Note that visiting Reynisdrangar requires paying a small fee, which you can pay online.

There is a small cafe near the beach with facilities, should you need a bite to eat or a nature break.

From the parking lot, head to the beach and walk toward the basalt sea stacks (toward the left of the beach, if you’re looking toward the ocean). If you walk past the sea stacks a bit, you’ll turn a corner and sea a cliff face, where puffins nest.

Spotting Puffins at Dyrhólaey

We visited Dyrhólaey on our way to Southeast Iceland for canyon hiking and glacier lagoon kayaking at Jokulsarlon. Dyrhólaey made for a great car break along the route.

Of the two locations we’re detailing here, Dyrhólaey was our first – and favorite – spot for viewing puffins. This is likely because we were able to see the puffins up close, near their nesting area.

If you’ve seen pictures of puffins online and think they’re adorable, just know they’re ten times cuter in real life. We loved watching them fly back and forth, out toward the water, then back toward the cliffs and in for landing.

Note that there are ropes along the path at Dyrhólaey, and they’re here for good reason. You’re mere feet (or meters) from hundreds of puffins. While it’s great we can see them in their natural habitat, we also need to respect it.

Spotting Puffins at Reynisfjara Beach

We visited Reynisfjara Beach on our way back toward Reykjavik and the Golden Circle area.

Compared to Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara Beach is a much more popular location. This is because of its beautiful black sand and basalt sea stacks. Essentially, people come to this beach for multiple reasons, and puffins are just one of those reasons.

CAUTION! Be careful at Reynisfjara Beach. Many visitors are tempted to walk toward to the water. Stay back – this isn’t the place to dip your toes in the Atlantic Ocean. Reynisfjara Beach is known for “sneaker waves” which are extremely hazardous.

As much as we loved Dyrhólaey, viewing puffins at Reynisfjara Beach allowed us to see them flying right over our heads as we stood on the beach.

We didn’t get to see the puffins as closely here as we did at Dyrhólaey, but it was special to see them flying all around us.

Plus, we got to walk along a black sand beach and see the natural beauty of the basalt sea stacks.

Bonus: Our Favorite Stop in Vík

Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Beach are located near the town of Vík. Whether you’re just passing through Vík or staying the night, don’t miss a visit to Skool Beans.

It’s an old school bus converted into a unique coffee shop, and makes for the perfect boost after an afternoon of puffin viewing or whatever else may have led you into town.

Skool Beans closes during the winter, but if you’re here in spring, summer, or fall, stop in. You won’t regret it!

Wrapping Up: Spotting Puffins in Iceland

Iceland’s south coast has so much to offer, but seeing puffins in the wild was something truly special. Both of our puffin viewing visits were unforgettable experiences that added so much joy to our Iceland trip.

Whether you’re watching them nest on the cliffs of Dyrhólaey or soaring above Reynisfjara Beach, these adorable birds are a must-see during a late spring or summer visit. Just remember to respect their space and enjoy the moment.