The 5 Best Puffin Tours in Reykjavik Iceland [2026]
Looking at Reykjavik Puffin tours? You’re in the right place! We’ve comprehensively reviewed the best 5 Puffin Tours in Reykjavik.
Puffins are adorable seabirds that flock to Iceland by the thousands between April through August. One popular nesting site is just outside of Reykjavik and you can take a fun boat tour to it. Below are the best options to see these cute little birds on your next trip to Iceland!
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Puffin Express Tour from Reykjavik
This guided boat tour from Reykjavik is the perfect choice to see Puffins in their natural habitat!
This 1 hour boat tour takes you to the shores of where thousands of Puffins nest between May through August. This experience is highly rated as one of the best ways to see Puffins in Iceland!
Looking to compare other options? Keep reading for full reviews on the 5 best Puffin Tours Reykjavik:
5 Best Puffin Tours Reykjavik
Below, you will find the 5 best Puffin Tours that can be taken directly from Iceland’s capital city.
1. Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik
⌚ Tour Time: 1 Hour | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5 Stars | ✅ Book Here
Why Take This Tour?
The Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik is an amazing boat tour for bird enthusiasts to see the charming puffins in their natural habitat. The tour takes you near the shores of Akurey Island, which is home to thousands of puffins from May through August.
One thing I love about this tour is that its main focus is getting close up to the Puffins, without disturbing their natural habitat. It is an incredible experience to see the Puffins up close and be able to get photos.
This tour is highly rated and has also earned over 250+ positive reviews.
What’s Included in the Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik?
✔️ 1 Hour comfortable boat ride that goes near the shores of Akurey Island
✔️ Expert guide that will share facts about Puffins and other birds in Iceland
✔️ Binoculars
2. Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching Tour from Reykjavik
⌚ Tour Time: 1 Hour | ⭐ Reviews: 5 Stars | ✅ Book Here
Why take this tour?
The Premium Small-Group Puffin and Bird Watching Tour from Reykjavik is an ideal experience for those seeking a more adventurous and up-close way to see puffins. Led by an expert captain, this tour is via RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). RIB boats can go much closer to the shores than other boats, allowing you to get up close to the Puffin sites.
What’s included in the Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching tour from Reykjavik?
✔️ 1-Hour small group tour on RIB Boat allowing you to get up close to the Puffins in their natural habitat
✔️ Expert guide to share interesting stories and facts about Puffins and other wildlife
✔️ Binoculars, warm overalls, gloves, and safety equipment
3. Reykjavik Classic Puffin Watching Cruise
⌚ Tour Time: 1-1.5 Hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5 Stars | ✅ Book Here
Why Take This Tour?
The Reykjavik Classic Puffin Watching Cruise is a great option for those who want to see puffins in their natural environment, but aren’t looking to take the smaller RIB boat. The boat tour is led by an experienced guide and captain, and takes you to the island shores of Akurey and Lundey. This is where you can spot Puffins in their natural habitats!
What’s Included for the Reykjavik Classic Puffin Watching Cruise?
✔️ 1-1.5 hour boat ride that goes close to the shores of where the Puffins are
✔️ Knowledgeable guide
✔️ Binoculars, rain coats if needed
4. 2 Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching and Puffin Tour from Reykjavik
⌚ Tour Time: 2 Hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5 Stars | ✅ Book Here
Why Take This Tour?
This is an exhilarating way to see some of Iceland’s most iconic marine wildlife, including both whales and puffins. On this tour, you will ride in a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) to explore the waters around Reykjavik and spot whales in their natural habitat, as well as go close to the shores of where the puffins nest.
What’s Included in the 2 Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching and Puffin Tour from Reykjavik?
✔️ 2 hour RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) ride led by expert captain and guide
✔️ Chance to see whales, puffins, and other wildlife up close
✔️ Warm overalls, lifevests, gloves and goggles
5. Iceland Super Saver: Puffin and Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik
⌚ Tour Time: 3-3.5 Hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4 Stars | ✅ Book Here
Why Take This Tour?
The Iceland Super Saver Puffin Cruise and Whale Watching Tour is a great way for nature enthusiasts to see both puffins and whales in their natural habitat. This tour is led by an expert guide that will help point out whale and puffin sightings while on the boat cruise. This tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience for anyone visiting Iceland.
What’s Included in the Iceland Super Saver Puffin and Whale Watching Cruise?
✔️ 3-3.5 hour tour on a comfortable boat with blankets
✔️ Expert guide to help sight and point out whales and puffins
✔️ Chance to see both whales and puffins on one trip
What are Atlantic Puffins?
Puffins are adorable little seabirds found along the North Atlantic ocean. Puffins are popularly known for their distinctive bright orange beaks. They are very different than penguins, but are also great swimmers!
Where Can you See Puffins in Iceland?
Yes, you can see Puffins in Iceland. Here is a list of the best places to see Puffins in Iceland:
- Reykjavik – along the shores of Akurey Island
- The Westman Islands
- Dyrhólaey and the nearby Reynisfjall cliffs
- Látrabjarg cliffs in the Westfjords
Can You See Puffins in Reykjavik?
Reykjavik is a great place to see Puffins as one of their popular nesting spots is on Akurey Island in the bay of Reykjavik. Therefore, it is a great option to take one of the above boat tours to see the Puffins!
Looking for places outside of Reykavik to see Puffins? Try renting a car and driving from Reykjavik to Vik. Once in Vik, you can check out Dyrhólaey and the nearby Reynisfjall cliffs, which is a popular Puffin nesting spot!
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What is the Best Time of Year to See Puffins in Iceland?
Puffins come to Iceland by the thousands between April through August for their breeding season. An estimated number of 8-10 million Puffins come to Iceland. They build nests along rocky cliff edges and costal islands.
The best time to see Puffins on a Puffin tour is in June and July as that is the height of their nesting season.
Important Things to Know about Bird Watching
A few important rules to follow when bird watching is to be respectful of the birds in their natural habitat. Don’t liter or do anything to disturb their nesting. Additionally, if you ever come close to a Puffin or other bird, do not touch them as it can damage their wings.
Puffin Tours Reykjavik: Is It Worth it to go on a Puffin Tour?
It is absolutely worth it to go on a Puffin Tour! In fact, the best way to see Puffins in Reykjavik is to go on a boat tour. This is the only way you can go close to the shores of Akurey Island, where thousands of Puffins call home between April through August. The experience of seeing Puffins in their natural habitat is incredible, and is so worth the trip.
