Explore the Westman Islands on our day trip to stunning Heimaey Island.
We visit the island’s best places to see Atlantic puffins on its dramatic west coast, climb the Eldfell volcano, and learn about the island’s volcanic history. We introduce you to the best this Icelandic gem has to offer.
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Westman Islands Iceland Map
The Westman Islands (or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic) is made up of 15 islands and 30 small rocky islets populated by bird colonies and seals. The only inhabited island is Heimaey, the largest of the islands.
The Westmans were built up over the past 10,000 to 12,000 years through submarine volcanic eruptions. Many volcanoes of the system remain below sea level.
Enjoy these island attractions on our day trip on Heimaey Island.
One Day Itinerary – What To Do on the Westman Islands
Our day trip itinerary visits the highlights of the Westman Islands and its only town, Vestmannaeyjabær.
- Take the morning ferry to the Westman Islands.
- Search for adorable Puffins nesting along the cliffs of the Stórhöfði Peninsula.
- Hike the hills of the Herjólfsdalur Valley and discover even more puffins.
- Find stunning sea caves with a Boat Tour around the Westman Islands.
- Climb to Eldfell Volcano’s dramatic crater for stunning 360° views.
- Learn about Eldfell’s 1973 volcanic eruption at the Eldheimar Volcano Museum.
- Walk through the historic Vestmannaeyjar Cemetery.
- Discover island traditions at the Sagnheimar Folk Museum.
- Admire Norse architecture at the beautiful Stave Church.
- Learn about rescued marine life at the Beluga Whale Sanctuary Visitor Centre.
Westman Islands Puffins and Viewing Locations
For many, seeing Atlantic puffins is the main reason to visit the Westman Islands. The islands, particularly Heimaey, host one of the world’s largest puffin colonies. Up to 1.1 million breeding pairs nest here during breeding season, about 20% of the world’s population. Puffins typically arrive in mid-April. They dig burrows in the ground to lay their eggs and nest between mid-May and early June. Both parents raise the chicks or pufflings. They stay until late August.
A touching tradition involves local children rescuing disoriented juvenile puffins that are attracted to city lights and end up landing on the streets. These confused pufflings are collected by the children in boxes and released into the sea the next morning.
The best locations to view puffins are:
Stórhöfði Peninsula
At the southernmost point of the island, the Stórhöfði Peninsula is the best place on the island to see puffins. Formed 6000 years ago, as a separate volcanic island, it rises 121 metres above sea level.
The cliffs and the grassy slopes provide perfect nesting spots for the puffins. Puffins congregate above the protected cove on the northwest side. Observe them from the Puffin Observation Deck. We literally saw hundreds upon hundreds of puffins here, with some just a few feet away! We watched puffins swoop down from their cliffside nests to catch fish. It’s an essential stop for wildlife and nature photographers.
The peninsula is one of Europe’s windiest spots. In February 1991, the highest wind speed ever recorded in Iceland (220 kph) was measured at the meteorological observatory in the Stórhöfða Lighthouse on the southern tip of the peninsula. The first lighthouse was built in 1906. It was rebuilt in 1931 and expanded in the 1960s. It is one of Iceland’s oldest operating lighthouses. With its white exterior and red roof it stands out atop the peninsula.
A hike around the Stórhöfða Lighthouse and peninsula offers spectacular views of the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. You may see puffins on these cliffsides. We did not see any here on our visit in late August but the view along the cliff was worth the hike.
Leaving the peninsula, make a quick stop at Klauf Beach. This quiet beach, along the dramatic coastline of Heimaey, is a perfect photo stop. Its soft, black, volcanic sand is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and rugged rock formations. It was a former fishing boat landing site.
Stórhöfðavegur Road (Western Coast)
There are more opportunities to see puffins along Stórhöfðavegur Road, on the island’s west coast.
We pulled over at a parking lot (see Google location) and walked along the cliff edge. We didn’t walk far before we saw a number of puffins in their natural habitat, tucked into burrows at the edge of the cliff. We captured some great photos of puffins huddling in the grasses and rocks of the cliffs.
Continue to the massive cliffs straight ahead.
Herjólfsdalur Valley
The hills surrounding Herjólfsdalur Valley offer another excellent location for spotting puffins. The trail starts behind the amphitheatre. It’s a steep climb, but before long, you are rewarded with views of puffins nesting in the grasses of the hillside. The scenic view from the rugged cliffs is an added bonus.
In addition to hiking to see puffins, Herjólfsdalur Valley has an interesting cultural history. It is named after one of Iceland’s first Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. Archaeological excavations of the valley discovered ruins of one of Iceland’s oldest human habitation sites.
The Viking Wax Museum (Herjólfstown), is a replica of the first farmstead, showcasing Viking-era living conditions. Life-size wax figures depict Herjólfr and his family and bring to life their daily routines around 900 AD. Based on extensive archaeological research, the detailed exhibits showcase traditional Viking clothing, artifacts, and recreations of daily life.
The valley hosts the annual Þjóðhátíð Festival, Iceland’s largest outdoor multi-day festival, the weekend preceding the first Monday in August. Held almost annually since 1874, it is weekend of concerts with bonfires and fireworks displays capped off with a huge Sunday night crowd-sing. Attendance is over 15,000 annually.
Westman Islands Boat Tours
A boat tour offers a unique perspective of the Westman Islands. One of the most popular options is Seabirds and Cliff Adventures’ RIB Boat Tour.
From the Vestmannaeyjar port, the tour visits the dramatic cliffs where puffins and other seabirds nest. Explore hidden sea caves and remote beaches.
The 1-hour boat tour goes past Elephant Rock (Halldórsskora). This natural formation bears an uncanny resemblance to a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the sea. This is one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the Westman Islands. Elephant Rock can be seen from various points along Stórhöfðavegur Road.
Eldfell Volcano
Just after midnight on the 23rd of January 1973, a fissure opened on the eastern side of the island, just 200 metres from the town. The crack quickly stretched 3 kilometres across the island from shore to shore with multiple lava fountains, some reaching heights of 50 to 150 metres. In a couple days, the eruption became focused on a single vent and created the volcanic cone which is Eldfell today.
The eruption lasted nearly five months and added 2.5 square kilometres of new land. It forced the evacuation of 5,300 residents and destroyed nearly 400 homes. Thankfully it resulted in only 1 death. Heimaey’s fishing harbour, vital to the local way of life, was saved by an innovative operation of pumping seawater onto the advancing lava.
Hike to the summit, just over 200 metres above sea level, on an easily accessible trail. The panoramic views from the top are absolutely stunning and help provide a better perspective of the impressive size of the lava flow.
We hiked to the top of Eldfell in about 30 minutes from the parking lot just off Fellavegur. From the same parking lot, you can also hike up neighbouring Helgafell Volcano, just to the southwest of Eldfell. We chose to only hike Eldfell.
Helgafell Volcano is an inactive volcanic cone which stands 227 metres tall. It formed around 5,000 years ago in an eruption that lasted almost a year. It has not erupted in recorded history. While considerably older than Eldfell, its slopes remain bare and remind everyone of the volcanic nature of the island.
About 500 metres northwest of the parking lot is a unique museum.
Eldheimar Volcano Museum
At the heart of this building, built on the site of the 1973 Eldfell eruption, is the excavated remains of a home buried by volcanic pumice and ash. The museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the 1973 volcanic eruption.
Opened in 2014, the museum is built around the buried home, allowing a unique look into a 1970’s island home as it was left when its family evacuated. Multimedia displays and interactive exhibits include photos, videos and personal accounts from residents who lived through the eruption. Discover the human stories of survival, evacuation, and rebuilding following the natural disaster. Exhibits also explain how the community worked together to save their harbour by cooling the advancing lava with seawater.
On the upper floor of the museum is an exhibit about Surtsey Island, south of Heimaey, created in an eruption beginning in 1963.
Surtsey Island (UNESCO)
The volcanic eruption that created Surtsey began in November, 1963 and ended in June, 1967, one of the longest eruptions in Icelandic history. Over almost 4 years, lava erupted from several vents below sea level. Ultimately the lava reached the surface and created the new island which was 2.7 km² at its largest. By 2012 it was only half its original size due to erosion by wave action. Erosion continues but rates have decreased. Surtsey is expected to remain above sea level until at least 2100.
In 1965, as Surtsey continued to grow, it was declared a nature reserve to allow natural ecological succession to proceed undisturbed. Neither tourists or locals can visit the island. Access is carefully restricted to a few scientists to carry out research in this pristine natural laboratory. By studying Surtsey since its formation, new information has been discovered about how life colonizes new land. Plants and birds arrived within a few years and continue to evolve as the surface changes due to erosion. At least 5 species of birds are known to nest on Surtsey.
Surtsey is the 15th island in the Westman Islands archipelago. UNESCO added Surtsey to its World Heritage List in 2008.
Vestmannaeyjabær Town
Vestmannaeyjabær, the only town in the Westman Islands, is a charming fishing port. Its port serves both fishing vessels and ferries connecting to the mainland.
Vestmannaeyjabær is home to almost the entire population of the Westman islands (+/- 4,400 people). During the 1973 Eldfell eruption, the entire population was evacuated overnight and remained on the mainland for the entire eruption. Approximately one-fifth of the town was destroyed by advancing lava before the flow was successfully halted.
The rebuilt town showcases both its modern amenities and rich maritime heritage. There is everything from museums and restaurants to sports facilities and a unique golf course along the base of the hills of the Herjólfsdalur Valley. The whole town is involved in the annual Þjóðhátíð festival in August.
Vestmannaeyjar Cemetery
The cemetery, on the southeast side of town, contains graves dating back several centuries and memorials to many lost at sea reflecting the island’s long human history and strong maritime heritage.
Some of the cemetery was partially covered by lava and ash during the 1973 Eldfell volcanic eruption. Buried and damaged gravesites were restored through careful excavation and restoration efforts. Enjoy a walk through this peaceful place, past many graves with traditional Icelandic headstones crafted from local volcanic rock.
Sagnheimar Folk Museum
Learn about the Westman Islands’ rich history and culture at the Sagnheimar Folk Museum. The museum features interactive exhibits covering pivotal events, including the 1973 volcanic eruption and the 1627 Turkish pirate raid. Diverse exhibits, photos, multimedia displays, and historical artifacts showcase the island’s strong fishing heritage and the unique aspects of Westman Island culture and the significance of the annual Þjóðhátíð festival.
Town Hall is to the east of the museum and shares the parking area. This is a great place to park to visit the cemetery, the museum and the park, just to the north.
The green space north of town hall, called Stakkagerdi Park, is a small part of the area where the island’s first settlement was. Settlers cultivated the land around lava formations for grazing livestock. They survived on livestock, fish and sea birds. No evidence of the first settlement exists today. A small statue, in the northeast corner of the park, memorializes the women and children kidnapped and sold into slavery after the 1627 Turkish pirate raid.
The park includes a playground to the west and lots of lawn for the kids to play. Flower beds brighten the park’s centre. It is a gathering place for islanders’ celebrations on days such as Sailor’s Day and the national holiday on June 17.
The Tröllkonan sculpture, on the park’s south side, is a cast created in 1975 of the original “Troll Woman” sculpture by Ásmundur Sveinsson (1948) which is in the sculpture garden at Ásmundarsafn in Reykjavík.
Continue north to the downtown/harbour area for some local cuisine.
Westman Islands Restaurants
There are excellent dining options in Vestmannaeyjabær. Here are some of the town’s most popular restaurants. Parking is available near each.
| Name | Known For |
| Tanginn Restaurant | Harbour-front dining featuring fresh seafood and traditional Icelandic cuisine |
| Gott restaurant | Modern local cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. Try their chicken tacos. |
| Næs | Contemporary dining featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Creative and beautiful presentation. |
If you have additional time, we recommend visiting the Skansinn Historical area.
Skansinn Historical Area
Located near Heimaey’s harbour, the Skansinn Historical Area is an open-air museum showcasing centuries of island heritage, within the remains of the 16th-century Skansinn Fort walls. All that is left of the fort, Heimaey’s oldest structure, are these eroded lava stone walls.
Skansinn Fort was originally built to protect Danish merchant supplies from English raiders. During World War II, the fort was used as a British military base, confirming the strategic importance of the island. Lava from the 1973 Eldfell eruption reached the fort’s walls but did not overtop them.
Walk the historical area and visit the Stave Church and the Landlyst Medical Museum.
The Stave Church (Stafkirkjan), a replica of Norway’s Haltdalen stave church, was built in 2000 to commemorate 1000 years of Christianity in Iceland. A gift from Norway to Iceland, it was meticulously constructed using traditional Norwegian building techniques, and is the only stave church in Iceland. The church is built in a distinctive architectural style rarely seen outside Norway with its exterior featuring dark wood and dragon-head decorations. Inside, admire the replica of the St. Olav frontal, a medieval Norwegian altarpiece.
The Landlyst Medical Museum is housed in a 19th-century building originally Iceland’s first birthing centre. Later it was used as the Vestmannaeyjar Library. Museum exhibits explain early medical practices and healthcare development in Iceland’s island communities and include displays of medical instruments.
Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Puffin Rescue Centre
The world’s first open-water sanctuary for beluga whales is located just offshore in Klettsvík Bay. These sheltered waters are home to two rescued belugas. Covering an area of approximately 32,000 square metres to a depth of about 10 meters, it provides a more natural habitat for the belugas to engage in behaviours that are often restricted in traditional marine parks.
Drop by the Beluga Whale Visitor Centre, located near the Vestmannaeyjar Harbour. Its exhibits discuss marine conservation and the sanctuary’s important role in rehabilitating marine mammals previously held in captivity. Visiting the sanctuary requires booking an additional tour through a third-party operator.
The visitor centre building also houses a Puffin Rescue Centre, dedicated to caring for injured and orphaned puffins found on the island.
Westman Islands Accommodations
Are you staying overnight and looking for accommodation in the Westman Islands?
Check out these great options:
- Hotel Vestmannaeyjar – Fabulous hotel located in the centre of Vestmannaeyjar.
- Glamping – Great location surrounded by beautiful mountains. We stayed here!
- Here are other great hotels and inns in the Westman Islands.
Know Before You Go – Visiting the Westman Islands
How long is the ferry ride to the Westman Islands? How do I get to the ferry?
The ferry ride to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) takes approximately 35-40 minutes. There are 7 scheduled trips daily from Landeyjahöfn harbour on mainland Iceland to Vestmannaeyjar Harbour, and operated by the ferry service Herjólfur. Tickets can be purchased from the official Westman Islands ferry website.
From Reykjavík, Landeyjahöfn Harbour is about a 2-hour drive east along the Ring Road and south on road 254 for 12 kilometres.
What are the Westman Islands known for? Is it worth going to the Westman Islands?
The Westman Islands are known for having the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony. The islands are definitely worth visiting, not only for the chance to see puffins but to visit the Eldfell volcanic crater from the 1973 eruption and learn more about the archipelago’s volcanic landscape. A trip to the Westman Islands offers an authentic Icelandic experience without the crowds of the busy ring road.
What is the Best Time to See Puffins on the Westman Islands?
The best time to see puffins on the Westman Islands is during the summer months, particularly from May to August, when the birds nest in large numbers. Peak viewing season is typically in June and July, when the puffins are most active and accessible around the cliffs and nesting sites.
Best Time to Visit the Westman Islands?
Generally the best time to visit the Westman Islands is during the summer months from June to August, when the weather is generally more stable and all attractions are fully operational. Keep in mind that some museums and restaurants have limited hours outside of these peak summer months.
Why are they called the Westman Islands?
The name “Westman Islands” is the anglicized version of “Vestmannaeyjar” in Icelandic, which translates to “the islands of the west men”. It is believed that the islands were named for the Irish slaves, called “westmen” by the Vikings, brought by Norse settlers when they came to Iceland in the 9th century.
Do you need a car on the Westman Islands? Are the Westman Islands walkable?
You don’t necessarily need a car on the Westman Islands. We do recommend bringing your car on the ferry for added flexibility. It allows you to explore the entire island at your own pace.
Walking is possible around the island especially when combined with the Hop-on Hop-off bus. All sites in town are within easy walking distance of the Vestmannaeyjar Ferry Terminal.
To reach the puffin-viewing locations, purchase tickets for the Vestmannaeyjar Hop-on Hop-off bus. The route starts at the ferry terminal and conveniently loops around the island, stopping at the puffin viewing area and the town’s two museums.
How much time do you need to visit the Westman Islands?
A full day (8-10 hours) is recommended to properly explore the Westman Islands. This time frame allows enough time to visit the puffin colony, hike to the top of the Eldfell volcanic crater, and explore the town.
If you’re interested in additional hiking or boat tours, consider staying overnight for a more leisurely experience. We visited in late August, stayed 1 night on the island and left on the first ferry in the morning. This allowed us to maximize our time on the island without feeling rushed to pack everything in between same day ferry crossings.
Is there camping on the Westman Islands?
Yes, there is camping available on the Westman Islands. The campsite is located in the scenic Herjólfsdalur valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains. This is where we stayed!
The campsite offers facilities for tents and camper vans, including electrical hookups. Common buildings provide kitchens and showers for guests’ convenience. Additionally, there is a unique “glamping” option with barrel-shaped accommodation units available.
The campsite’s location also provides easy access to nearby hiking trails and is just a short distance from the main town.
Explore All of our Iceland Road Trip Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed Iceland Guides to help you plan your perfect 7 to14 day adventure.
Main Article: 7 to 14 Day Iceland Road Trip
Part 1: Reykjavík – Explore the Capital City
Part 2: Golden Circle – Geysers, Waterfalls, and Ancient History
Part 3: Westman Islands – Puffins and Volcanic Wonders (You’re reading this guide now!)
Part 4: South Coast Iceland – Black Beaches, Glaciers and Waterfalls
Part 5: Northern Iceland and the Diamond Circle – Geothermal Wonders and Mighty Waterfalls
Part 6: Akureyri – Capital of the North
Part 7: West Iceland – Mystical Landscapes and Hidden Gems
