Iceland Trip

Iceland Itineraries With the Westman Islands

The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) are a 35-minute ferry ride off the South Coast and feel like another country: the town of Heimaey half-buried by the 1973 eruption of Eldfell, which you can climb in an hour; the Eldheimar museum built around an excavated house; the largest puffin colony in the world at Stórhöfði in summer; and boat trips around sea cliffs and caves. It is an easy day trip and a better overnight.

The plans on this page fold the islands into a South Coast or Ring Road trip, usually with a night on Heimaey. Our editors picked them from real trips for booking the Herjólfur ferry early (the car deck sells out in summer) and for the timing from Landeyjahöfn. Duplicate one and make it yours.

Picked and reviewed by · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated

5–6 days

7 days

11–14 days

15+ days

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to the Westman Islands?

The Herjólfur ferry sails from Landeyjahöfn, about 30 minutes south of Hvolsvöllur on the South Coast, several times a day in summer and takes about 35 to 45 minutes. In rough winter seas it sails from Þorlákshöfn instead (about 2.5 to 3 hours). Book foot passengers and especially cars well ahead for June to August; a 20-minute flight from Reykjavík is the alternative.

Is one day enough for the Westman Islands?

One full day covers Eldfell, Eldheimar, Stórhöfði and a walk around Heimaey town if you take an early ferry and the last one back. Staying a night lets you add a boat tour, see the puffins in the evening when they return to the cliffs, and avoids building your whole day around the ferry times.

When can you see puffins in the Westman Islands?

From about mid-April to mid-August, with the most birds in June and July. Stórhöfði at the south tip of Heimaey has a hide with a view of the burrows, and boat tours pass the cliffs. In late August the town turns out at night to rescue disoriented pufflings and release them to sea, which visitors can join.

Deeper reading on iceland-trip.com

Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.

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