Best Puffin Tour in Iceland (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Which puffin tour to book in Iceland, from a one-hour Reykjavík boat to the Eastfjords and Westfjords. Real prices, season and honest tradeoffs.
The short version
- Best for most people: Elding's Classic Puffin Watching from Reykjavík's Old Harbour, €63 for about an hour.
- Cheapest: Reykjavik Sailors' Puffin Express, €60, also from the Old Harbour.
- Want whales too: Elding's Whales & Puffins, €153 for both trips in one booking.
- Puffins are in Iceland roughly May to August. Outside those months, every puffin tour stops.
The best puffin tour for most people is Elding’s Reykjavík Classic Puffin Watching: €63 per adult, about an hour from the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík, out to the small islands where puffins nest in summer.
You don’t need to travel far to see puffins in Iceland. The islands in Reykjavík’s bay hold nesting colonies, and the boats are a short walk from most city hotels. The longer trips only make sense if you are already in that part of the country. For more on the Reykjavík options, read puffins from Reykjavík, May to August.
1. Elding Classic Puffin Watching — best for most people
- Book: Reykjavík Classic Puffin Watching
- Operator: Elding Adventure at Sea
- Length: about 1 hour
- Price: from €63 per adult
- Starts: Old Harbour, Reykjavík (meet there or pickup)
A slow boat out to one of three islands near the city. You watch from the water; you don’t land.
Suits: anyone in Reykjavík with an hour to spare, including families. Skip it if: you want close-up photos with a long lens and steady footing. A moving boat makes that hard.
2. Reykjavik Sailors Puffin Express — the cheapest
- Book: Puffin Express: 1-Hour Close Encounter
- Operator: Reykjavik Sailors
- Length: about 1 hour
- Price: from €60 per adult
- Starts: Old Harbour, Reykjavík (meet there or pickup)
Same idea, same harbour, €3 less.
Suits: budget trips and anyone whose time slot fits better than Elding’s. Skip it if: you are choosing on price alone. The difference is tiny, so pick the departure time that works.
3. Elding Whales & Puffins — two trips, one booking
- Book: Reykjavík Whales & Puffins
- Operator: Elding Adventure at Sea
- Length: about 6 hours including both trips
- Price: from €153 per adult
- Starts: Old Harbour, Reykjavík
A puffin trip and a whale-watching trip from the same dock on the same day.
Suits: people who want both and only have one free day in town. Skip it if: you get seasick. That is a lot of hours on the water.
4. Puffins from Seyðisfjörður — best in East Iceland
- Book: Puffin Tour from Seyðisfjörður with Gufufoss
- Operator: BusTravel Iceland
- Length: about 5 hours
- Price: from €196.69 per adult
- Starts: meet in Seyðisfjörður
A drive out of Seyðisfjörður to a puffin colony, with Gufufoss waterfall and a village stop on the way. Check the tour page for how close you get; it is a road trip, not a boat.
Suits: ferry and cruise arrivals in Seyðisfjörður, and Ring Road drivers in the east. Skip it if: you are based in Reykjavík. It is a full day’s drive away. See East Iceland: Seyðisfjörður, Stuðlagil and puffins.
5. Puffin Party from Ísafjörður — best in the Westfjords
- Book: Puffin Party
- Operator: Sjóferðir
- Length: about 2 hours 15 minutes
- Price: from €103.78 per adult
- Starts: meet in Ísafjörður
A boat trip around Ísafjörður bay to watch puffins and other seabirds.
Suits: people already in the Westfjords. Skip it if: you would need to travel there for it. The Reykjavík boats show you puffins for €40 less.
Our honest take: how we picked
- Distance from where you are. Most people see puffins from Reykjavík. The regional picks are for people already there.
- Real adult prices from Bókun.
- Boat or road. We say which, because it changes the day you get.
- No tour-level reviews are recorded for these five yet, so we judged on route, price and what is included.
When to go
Puffins come ashore to nest roughly from May to mid-August, and the tours run in that window. Late June and July are the surest months. By late August most birds have left for the open sea, and none of these tours run in winter. Sightings in season are likely but never certain, and boats cancel when the sea is too rough.
FAQ
When is puffin season in Iceland?
Roughly May to August. June and July are the best months.
Can I see puffins from Reykjavík?
Yes. The islands in the bay have colonies, and the boats take about an hour.
Boat or land: which is better?
Watching from land gives steadier footing for photos. Boats are easier to fit into a city stay.
Can I combine puffins with whale watching?
Yes, Elding’s Whales & Puffins does both. Some whale tours pass the puffin islands too.
Will I definitely see puffins?
In season, it is very likely. We still won’t promise it. They are wild birds.
Are puffin tours good for children?
The one-hour Reykjavík boats are. They are short and calm on most summer days.
