Westman Islands Day Trip Itinerary (+ where to see Puffins!)
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Why You Should Visit the Westman Islands
The Westman Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic, is an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast formed by underwater volcanic eruptions. The largest island, Heimaey, is the only inhabited island and it has two volcanoes you can hike for incredible views of the island. Visible from the shores are other small islands, including the Instagram famous island with only one tiny house on it. Spoiler alert: it’s actually a hunting lodge, so no one lives there full time. But the real reason you should plan a Westman Islands day trip while you’re in Iceland is for the puffins. During the summer, you are guaranteed to see the little black and orange birds flying to and from their nests as they hunt for fish. If you’re lucky, you might even catch one carrying a fish back to their home!
What You Need to Know Before You Go to the Westman Islands
General
The Westman Islands are off the southern coast of Iceland. There is no passport control to get on/off the island, since you would have already gone through customs upon entry to Iceland.
Money
While Iceland is already expensive, the Westman Islands are even more expensive since so much has to be imported to the island. You can pay for everything by credit card, so make sure you have a good international travel card that gets you lots of points!
Language
Icelandic is the national language, but pretty much everyone speaks English.
Safety
I felt very safe in the Westman Islands. Heimaey is small, and you can drive across the island in less than 15 minutes. Everyone is friendly, but use common sense and lock your car/hide valuables. Although, you won’t want to get too close to the cliffs edge. It’s a long, steep fall into the ocean with a strong gust of wind!
Tips for Travelers with Anxiety in the Westman Islands
Cliff face on western side of Vestmannaeyjar
If you are a picky eater or have food allergies, search for restuarants ahead of time. While there is a large variety of food options, I struggled to find any gluten free food, and all food was expensive. Save yourself and your travel buddies from the hanger that will ensue by planning ahead.
There are several gas stations where you can stop to use the bathroom. I recommend a stop at Penninn Eymundsson, a little bookstore that offers coffee and hot chocolate to warm up at some point during the day. You can also use the bathroom there.
It is extremely windy, which makes it feel colder even on a bright, sunny summer day. Wear a windproof jacket and sturdy shoes for exploring the Westman Islands! Also, beware of the cliff edges when the wind is strong. I defintiely felt it pull me around, especially near the Elephant Rock.
How to get to the Westman Islands for a Day Trip
To get to the Westman Islands for a day trip, you’ll have to take the ferry from Landeyjahöfn. This ferry is a drive on ferry, so when you rent your car at the airport, look up its dimensions on Google. You’ll need this information to book your ferry crossing, and I highly recommend booking your ticket ASAP because the prime times tend to sell out. The ferry takes about 45 minutes, but you’ll need to arrive at the port about 30 minutes prior to departure to ensure you have plenty of time to get your car on there. Once you exit your car, head upstairs and grab a snack, use the bathroom, and grab a comfortable seat indoors, or head out to the railing for incredible views of the Westman Islands or the Sólheimajökull glacier on the mainland.
Westman Islands Day Trip Itinerary
There are so many things to do in the Westman Islands, you could even stay overnight, but for a day trip to Vestmannaeyjar, these four items are enough. Other things to do in Heimaey include: a world famous golf course, cliff rappelling called Sprangan for the adventure lover, and boat tours around the islands.
Book a guided tour if you want to get an in-depth view of the island and its history from a local!
Beluga Whale Sanctuary
Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary is innovative in its approach to rescuing and rehabilitating beluga whales. With the prime location near the Artic Ocean, the sanctuary is able to reintroduce formerly captive whales to ocean life using a bay off the southern coast of Heimaey. Every dollar spent visiting the santucary goes straight to the care of the animals, including the puffins that come in for rehabilitation and the ones that cannot be re-released into the wild. Little Gray and Little White, the first two beluga whales rescued, will swim right up to the glass to say hi to any visitor. We loved watching them frolick and play in the water.
Elephant Rock
Elephant Rock
The famous Elephant Rock in the Westman Islands is best viewed via boat, but with the wind and water conditions being so rough, it is not for the faint of heart. If you’re like me and not a fan of small, rocking boats, head to the Beautiful Puffin and Shore View (marked on Google Maps) to get the best view on the island. There is a small gravel lot where you can park your car, and from there you’ll need to hike toward the golf course. You’ve gotten to the best spot when you see a small wooden bridge and a platform overlooking the water.
Near Elephant Rock is also the best place to view some of the uninhabited islands in the Westman Islands, including the infamous lone house situated on a small island called Ellidaey. The house is actually a hunting lodge, and I watched a YouTube video of a guy who went to stay there. To actually get on the island is insane. You have to jump from a boat onto a wet and slippery cliff to grab a rope and haul yourself up to the main land. Wild. But it is possible to rent and stay at the lodge. Maybe when I need a break from the world to write my next book 🤣
The wind was absolutely insane while we were here, and several times I had to stop walking and hang on to my husband or squat close to the ground to avoid being blown over. Needless to say, my hairbrush and I were well acquainted when we arrived back at our hotel that night.
Puffin Lookout
Arctic Puffin at the Puffin Lookout
The Westman Islands is home to the largest colony of puffins in Europe, which means your chances of seeing the cute birds is really high. You’ll see some flying around the ferry port when you disembark, near the Elephant Rock, and more cliffsides around the islands, but the absolute best spot is the Puffin Lookout.
The puffin lookout on the southern tip of the Heimaey has a small wooden hut with sliding windows where you can hide out and watch the puffins fly in and out of their nests. The puffins are most comfortable and will actually settle down if everyone is inside the house, though they definitely get closer than many animals I’ve seen in the wild even if people hang out on the deck!
If you are an avid wildlife photographer, you will need a longer lens to capture the puffins. Unfortunately, I only had my 24 to 105mm lens, which wasn’t the best for capturing the birds. Puffins are most active from sunrise to 11 AM and around 6 PM to sunset, and if you wait until 6 PM to go, there will be a lot fewer people competing for a chance to view the birds.
There are also trails all along the cliffside, so wander around for breathtaking views!
Volcano Hike
If you haven’t had enough of incredible views, there are two volcanoes you can hike in the Westman Islands: Helgafell and Eldfell. Eldfell is better, and you can stop at the muesum beforehand to learn about the 1973 eruption that formed it and caused an island-wide crisis. It came out of nowhere and led to an emergency evacuation of the entire island. The lava spread so far that it almost covered up the harbor, and they had to use cooled sea water to stop the advance of the lava flow. Talk about a crazy situation!
The trail is rough and slippery with loose volcanic rock, so wear good shoes to do this hike. If you’re in good shape, it should take about an hour round trip for the entire hike, including photos at the top. The contrast of the red rock with the rolling greens of the island makes for an incredible backdrop to any photo.
Eldfell Volcano
Final Thoughts on Westman Islands Day Trip
If you’re looking for something unique to add to your Iceland itinerary, look no further than the Westman Islands. Easily accessible from either Reykjavik or Vik, the Westman Islands make for an incredible day trip. Plus, who doesn’t love cute animals?
Check out my full 7 Day Iceland Itinerary for more information about the land of ice and fire!