By Monika
How to See Puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri: a Complete Guide.
If seeing puffins in Iceland is high on your bucket list, Borgarfjörður Eystri is one of the very best places to make it happen.
Tucked away in Iceland’s Eastfjords, this remote fishing village is home to one of Iceland’s most accessible puffin colonies.
During the summer months, thousands of these charming seabirds nest on the cliffs at Hafnarhólmi, where specially built viewing platforms let you watch them from just a few feet away without disturbing their habitat.
Getting to Borgarfjörður Eystri takes a little more effort than visiting some of Iceland’s other, more famous attractions, but that’s exactly what makes it so special.
The scenic drive over a mountain pass can be challenging, but your reward is a truly unforgettable puffin-watching experience.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about seeing puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri – how to get there, what the drive is like, what to expect, plus some practical tips from my visit.
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- How to See Puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri: a Complete Guide.
- Where is Borgarfjörður Eystri?
- How to Get to Borgarfjörður Eystri
- Hafnarhólmi parking
- How to see the puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri
- Best time to visit Borgarfjörður Eystri
- How much time do you need for Borgarfjörður Eystri?
- Hiking near Borgarfjörður Eystri
- Where to Stay at Borgarfjörður Eystri
- Is Borgarfjörður Eystri worth visiting?
- Nearby attractions
Where is Borgarfjörður Eystri?
Borgarfjörður Eystri is a fjord located in East Iceland (Eastfjords), along route 94 (Borgarfjarðarvegur), about an hour’s drive (70 km) from the nearest larger town, Egilsstaðir.
The main village (or rather a small settlement) in the area is called Bakkagerði.
How to Get to Borgarfjörður Eystri
Drive
The best way to get to Borgarfjörður Eystri is to drive.
Your starting point will typically be Egilsstaðir, and you’ll just very briefly follow rt. 1 (the Ring Road) to rt. 93, then take rt. 94 all the way to the Puffin Marina (Hafnarhólmi).
Helpful hint: Hafnarhólmi is about 10 minutes past the village of Bakkagerði.
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The last 25-30 minutes you’ll be driving over the mountain pass (Vatnsskarð Pass) I mentioned earlier.
That was the part I was really nervous about – I’m not the biggest fan of steep mountain roads with switchbacks and hairpin turns with no guardrails, but I really wanted to see this puffin colony so – I decided to go for it.
Earlier that day we drove to Seyðisfjörður, which also requires crossing a mountain pass, and I did just fine, so we put on some good music in our campervan, I gripped the wheel, and off we went!
Luckily, it was a beautiful, calm and sunny evening in June, so I didn’t have to worry about daylight, the winds, or fog, so it made the drive much easier and much less nerve-wracking for me. And the road is fully paved and well maintained.
It was beautiful! The landscapes were stunning – the scenery almost (almost!) made me forget that I was driving around the mountain, turn after turn, with some guardrails but – most of the time – only yellow sticks marking the edge and no shoulder…
Once you reach the village, you’ll drive by the famous Borgarfjörður Eystri Swing (it will be on your left) – you can stop there and take some photos.
We passed it on our way up, as it was very busy, and stopped on our way back.
It was getting late so my picture isn’t the best, but you can still see it.
Just a minute past the swing, on the other side of the road, there is Lindarbakki, a historic farmhouse and an example of how residents of this area lived in the past.
Don’t miss it! I was so focused on getting to the puffins that I drove right by, but here is a screenshot from my dashcam.
After about 10 more minutes of driving, you’ll reach Hafnarhólmi.
Watch a video of our drive here:
Public transport
In theory, there is a public bus (van) from Egilsstaðir to Borgarfjörður Eystri, but it drops you off at the campsite in the village, and you’ll have to either walk the last part to Hafnarhólmi (about 6 km uphill) or find a ride from a local.
Helpful hint: if you choose this mode of transportation, pay attention to the bus times – you’ll have to be prepared to spend the night in the village.
Tours
There are no tours to Borgarfjörður Eystri and Hafnarhólmi from Egilsstaðir, but if you arrive on a cruise ship in Seyðisfjörður, you can join this tour and see the puffins and the village.
Hafnarhólmi parking
The parking lot at the marina is large. You do have to pay for it – there is a sign with a QR code to scan. The fee is 1000 ISK.
There is a nice café (Hafnarhúsið Café) near the parking lot, where you can get some coffee, pastries and sandwiches; just keep in mind that it closes at 5 pm.
We got there close to 9 pm, so we weren’t able to check it out.
How to see the puffins at Borgarfjörður Eystri
From the parking lot, just follow the gravel path, go down the stairs, past the abandoned fishing boat and along the water towards the stairs up – that’s where the puffins are.
There were so many of them!
Some were already inside their burrows, but most of them were still on the cliffs, enjoying the late evening sun.
Despite the late hour, there were still many people visiting.
As I mentioned, we had great weather, but in case it’s not the case, there is a small viewing hut to provide shelter.
I’ve seen puffins before, at Dyrhólaey Cliffs, but there were many more here, at Hafnarhólmi, and you can get very close to these adorable birds without disturbing them.
Fun fact: there are close to 10 000 pairs of the Atlantic puffins nesting at the Borgarfjörður Eystri puffin marina each year.
READ MORE: 5 Best Places to See Puffins in Iceland.
Best time to visit Borgarfjörður Eystri
Puffin season typically runs from mid-April to mid-August, so that’s usually the best time to visit Borgarfjörður Eystri and Hafnarhólmi.
If you’re wondering if it’s a good time to make the trip, check out the live webcam to confirm the puffins are still there.
How much time do you need for Borgarfjörður Eystri?
You need to allow at least an hour for the drive each way – that’s in good weather conditions.
Vatnsskarð Pass tends to get foggy, so always check the weather forecast and road status before you head out.
Then add time to visit the puffins – I recommend at least an hour.
If you want to add a hike (read below), add an appropriate amount of time to complete it.
Hiking near Borgarfjörður Eystri
There are many hiking trails around the village, the most popular being the trail to Brúnavík Beach and Stórurð – the famous “Giant Boulders Trail”
Before you embark on a hike, it is recommended that you purchase a hiking map of the area – either at the Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður tourist info center or in the village.
Where to Stay at Borgarfjörður Eystri
If you have a campervan or you’re tent camping, you can stay at the Borgarfjörður Eystri Álfaborg Campsite.
If you’d rather stay at a hotel, consider Álfheimar Country Hotel or Blábjörg Resort.
Your other option is driving down to Egilsstaðir.
Is Borgarfjörður Eystri worth visiting?
Absolutely!
The drive is beautiful, the Puffin Marina is one of the best places to see these adorable birds up close without disturbing them, and the landscapes around the village are stunning.
The hike to Stórurð is still on my list, so I’ll definitely be returning to Borgarfjörður Eystri!
It is 100% worth visiting, and if you have space in your Iceland itinerary, take this detour from the Ring Road – you won’t regret it!
Nearby attractions
- Seyðisfjörður
- Vök Baths in Egilsstaðir
- The Reindeer Park in Fellabær
- Stuðlagil Canyon
- Rjúkandi Waterfall
- Hengifoss Waterfall
- Vestdalur Valley Hike
- The Waterfall Circle Trail
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About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
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