Birding in Iceland
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea, invisible and unreachable. For ten weeks each summer they come ashore to nest, and Iceland holds the largest puffin population in the world — roughly sixty percent of the global Atlantic puffin population breeds here. Látrabjarg in the Westfjords is the headline: a fourteen-kilometre cliff at the westernmost point of Europe where puffins nest in the hundreds of thousands and are so unafraid of humans that they will sit within arm's reach while you watch them.
Dyrhólaey near Vík on the South Coast is more accessible and almost as rewarding. The window is tight — puffins arrive in May and depart by mid-August, with peak activity in June and July when chick-rearing keeps them on the cliffs all day. If puffins are the reason you're going, June is the month: the colonies are full, the midnight sun keeps them active at all hours, and the summer crowds haven't peaked yet.
Weather & Conditions
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 48° / 36°F | 11 | Okay |
| Jun | 54° / 41°F | 10 | Peak |
| Jul | 57° / 45°F | 11 | Peak |
| Aug | 57° / 45°F | 13 | Good |
Where to Go
Base city. Restaurants, culture, Old Harbour whale watching, and the gateway to the South Coast.
Southernmost village. Reynisfjara black sand beach, Dyrhólaey puffin arch, and Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
Skógafoss waterfall and the Fimmvörðuháls trailhead. Gateway to the Laugavegur Trail from the south.
The premier whale watching base in Iceland. 97–99% sighting success rate May–September on Skjálfandi Bay.
Capital of North Iceland. Base for Húsavík day trips and domestic flight hub.
Europe's largest bird cliff. 14km of puffin colonies, peak June–July. Remote Westfjords — 5hr+ from Reykjavík.
Main town of the Westfjords. Boat tours to Vigur Island puffin colony. Domestic airport.
Snæfellsjökull glacier, lava fields, orca watching in winter from Ólafsvík.
Start of the Laugavegur Trail. Natural hot spring pools. F-road access — 4WD only, open July–September.
Glacial lagoon filled with icebergs calving from Vatnajökull. Accessible year-round on the Ring Road.
Waterfall you can walk behind. South Coast. Accessible year-round but icy path in winter.
Know Before You Go
Iceland's weather is genuinely unpredictable at any time of year. Sun, rain, wind, and sleet in a single afternoon is not unusual. A waterproof outer layer, warm mid-layer, and base layers are non-negotiable in every month. The Icelandic saying — 'if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes' — is not an exaggeration.
Northern Lights tours are not guaranteed. Cloud cover — and Iceland is one of the cloudiest countries in northern Europe — will cancel out even a strong aurora display completely. Staying for at least five nights significantly improves your odds. Single-night trips built around aurora viewing are a gamble. Check Veður, the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast, the evening of your planned viewing — not the day before.
The Laugavegur Trail, Landmannalaugar, and the central highlands are accessible only from approximately late June through September, and only in a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. River crossings are common and real — standard rental cars are not covered by insurance on F-roads. If the highlands are on your list, book the right vehicle and go in July or August.
The ice caves inside Vatnajökull glacier are only accessible from approximately November through March, when cold temperatures stabilize the glacier and make guided entry safe. In summer the ice melts and shifts — tours do not operate. All ice cave visits require a certified glacier guide; going independently is not permitted and genuinely dangerous. Book well in advance for December and January, which fill months ahead.
Hotels & Lodges for Birding
Umi Hotel
A volcanic sanctuary where the mountains meet the black sand coast.