Is it worth it?

The Westman Islands are worth a night, not a rushed day

Short answer

Worth it, with conditions

Worth it with time: a ferry to Heimaey, the 1973 eruption story, a volcano to climb and, in summer, the country’s biggest puffin colony. As a day from Reykjavík it is a lot of travel for a short visit.

The short version

  • Worth it, with conditions. Worth it with time: a ferry to Heimaey, the 1973 eruption story, a volcano to climb and, in summer, the country’s biggest puffin colony. As a day from Reykjavík it is a lot of travel for a short visit.
  • We hold 4 day tours here from 4 operators, median €168 a person, cheapest €73.
  • Cheaper alternative: Dyrhólaey on the South Coast has puffins in summer and no ferry.

Worth it if

  • You can stay a night on Heimaey.
  • You are here May to August and want puffins from land.

Not worth it if

  • You get very seasick — the ferry crossing can be rough.
  • You only have a day and would lose half of it to travel.

What you are actually paying for

Mostly the ferry and a guide on the island. Many products we hold here are private, which is why the per-person range is thin.

Across our own contracted catalogue, sightseeing day tours day tours run to a median of €168 a person, with the cheapest we hold at €73, from 4 operators. Private and per-vehicle products are excluded, because mixing them into a per-person figure makes it meaningless.

The cheaper thing to do instead

Dyrhólaey on the South Coast has puffins in summer and no ferry.

If you decide it is worth it

What we actually hold, with live prices and departures. Nothing here is a placeholder listing — if it is on this page, it can be booked.

Southcoast Adventure

Vestmannaeyjar - The Westman Islands

from €498 per person4.70· 300 Google reviews of the operator

250% above the €142 typical

from age 6 · meet at the start point

8 h · from Hella & Hvolsvöllur

  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 2 days ahead

A friendly fishermen’s village that is full of both history and scenic wonders.

Check dates
⋯
Book this one on its own →

Keep reading

Questions people ask

Are the Westman Islands worth it?

Worth it with time: a ferry to Heimaey, the 1973 eruption story, a volcano to climb and, in summer, the country’s biggest puffin colony. As a day from Reykjavík it is a lot of travel for a short visit.

How do you get to the Westman Islands?

The Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjahöfn takes about forty minutes; there are also short flights from Reykjavík.

Why take our word for it

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 206 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Other things people ask about

All 42 verdicts →

Last updated · prices and departures checked 24 Oct 2026

Add us as a preferred source in Google