Westman Islands are Iceland’s best kept secret, found off the southern coast of Iceland the Westman Islands are a breathtaking archipelago and few travellers venture over to explore, making it a quiet and off the beaten path place to visit.
There are 15 islands in total but only one is inhabited, and it’s the biggest of them all, Heimaey. The charming town is full of character and resilience, the islands last volcano eruption in 1973 destroying a lot of homes and the whole island, worked together to evacuate, luckily everyone survived.
It’s a volcanic wonderland and Westman is a place full of adventure and wonder, whether you’re walking on rugged lava fields, meeting the local beluga whale sisters or gazing at the iconic puffins from the cliff tops.
This is the place to be for a real Icelandic adventure, with an abundance of wildlife and nature at its finest, the Westman Islands are calling out. Let’s jump into this guide so you can start planning your journey!
Best Time to Visit Westman Islands
The best time to visit Westman Islands has to be the summer months from June to August. You’ll have the ideal mild weather, with longer days under the midnight sun you can have endless adventures exploring the Island.
This time of year ifs perfect to admire the wildlife , especially the Islands famous residents, Puffins! They’ll be nesting from the end of May to August so great timing for you to meet these cute locals.
During the first week of August the annual Þjóðhátíð -National Festival takes place, this festival is a big one, a time where everyone comes together to celebrate this wonderful country. Bonfires, live music, parties all through the sun filled night. If your time aligns while visiting here, it would certainly be a time to remember.
Weather and Climate
Spring (March to May) Temperatures range from 0°C to 10°C, in March the temperature and weather is still cold and if winter is a long one it can take over. Around May it starts to warm up and a sense of calm approaches before summer. It can be quite windy during spring, so hold on to your hats.
Summer (June to August) Temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C, it can be hotter even reaching in the 20°C’s but it’s not always guaranteed. The summer months are the best time to visit, the midnight sun provides endless daylight. With less wind but perhaps some rain, the summer comes alive with vibrant greens and the wildlife is in abundance during these months.
Autumn (September to November) Temperatures vary during these months, September still has slightly mild weather but come October it drops and you can feel the pull of winter round the corner, come November there’s a big drop in temperatures and you’ll feel a chill in the air.
Winter ( December to February) Temperatures range from -2°C to 4°C, this is the harshest time of year. Winter storms can be brutal and drawn out, strong Icelandic winds are more powerful on Westman due to the surrounding ocean. You would experience the Island in a different light during winter, or lack of light I should say with the dark polar nights, it can be a difficult season to navigate but witnessing the northern lights make’s it all worth it.
Northern Lights Tip!
Be sure to download a Northern Lights Forecast App to track the activity of the Aurora. You can even set alarms so you never miss a chance to witness the magical display of dancing colours. We personally use the My Aurora App which has always been accurate.
How to Get to Westman Islands
By Air
You can catch a flight from Reykjaviks City Airport (not Keflavik) to Vestmannaeyjar Airport. Check out Eagle Airline for more information on prices and times. This is a good option if you don’t have much time and you want to get there as quick as possible from the Capital.
By Ferry
Catching the ferry from the south of Iceland is by far the most exciting and adventurous option. The ferry is operated by Herjolfur, check out the website for prices and the ferry timetables.
You catch the ferry from Landeyjahöfn, a small harbour which is a 2 hour drive from Reykjavik. It’s a car and passenger ferry so, if you’re driving a rental you can take it over to the Westman Islands!
If you are doing your Iceland trip without a car, you can get there via public transport, take the number 3 bus from Ráðhúsið get off at Mjódd A, then jump on the number 52 bus and get off at Landeyjahöfn. You can also try hitchhiking as it’s very common in Iceland, stick your thumb out and see what happens!
Once you’re on Westman Island’s you can get local buses, taxi’s, rental bikes or cars, it’s super easy to get out.
Where to Stay on Westman Islands
On Heimaey there are many different types of accommodation to choose from to meet your budget, you’ll find lots of guest houses or hotels.
An Airbnb is a great way to save on eating out, having your own kitchen really keeps the costs down. Check out our Airbnb Money Saving Hacks to find out how to save money whilst making your booking.
Perhaps you would like to camp during your stay on this magical island, check out Herjólfsdalur’s campsite, they offer a place to pitch a tent or you can rent a cabin.
Things to See and Do
Eldfell Volcano
The Eldfell Volcano is a towering volcano that holds a very deep history with the Westman Islands, specifically Heimaey. After the 1973 eruption, it changed the Island and created new lava fields.
Hiking the volcano is a must on your visit to Westman Islands, the hike itself is a little steep but it’s an easy hike.
It takes around 30 minutes to reach the top, you’ll be struck by the red and orange colours on top, it’s a really unique sight. You get fantastic panoramic views of Heimaey and the surrounding islands, depending on the weather of course.
As Eldfell erupted less than 50 years ago, the ground is still hot, not enough to melt your shoes or anything, but enough to bake bread, we aren’t the best bakers but we did have our sandwiches with us, so we placed them in a little rocky nook and heated them up for lunch!
What an incredible experience eating our warm sandwiches heated by this phenomenal volcano, whilst taking in the dramatic views of Westman Islands, we won’t forget that in a hurry!
Eldheimar Volcano Museum
This museum is dedicated to preserving and walking you through the details and events of the evening in 1973 when the Eldfell Volcano erupted.
It features detailed exhibits from the eruption, photographs, personal stories and artefacts. You can even see a preserved house that was buried under lava during the eruption.
With interactive displays and stimulations that explain the process of a volcanic eruption, you’ll leave having more of an understanding of how volcanoes work and how this particular volcano shaped Heimaey.
It brought the local community together, everyone had to work together in keeping each other safe and rebuilding the island after it was buried by lava.
Scenic Boat Tours
Going on a boat tour is a fantastic way to get up close to the other islands and see everything from a different perspective. You’ll witness spectacular dramatic cliffs, you can even do whale watching tours from here if it’s the right time of year, these waters are rich in marine life.
Perhaps you fancy exploring one of the sea caves, the boat will take you to different caves around the islands, where you’ll see rock formations, colourful minerals and hear tales of local legends and myths.
You can get a boat tour of Surtsey which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this volcanic island rose from the sea during an eruption in 1963. The name “Surtr” means Fire Giant which comes from Norse Mythology and “er” means island. The island is a natural laboratory for scientists, it’s inhabitance allows an undisturbed habitat for nature and wildlife.
Puffin Watching and Rescue
The Westman Islands have one of the biggest Puffin colonies in the world! From late April to early August, the islands cliffs are heaving with puffins, they come here to breed and nest. Látrabjarg Cliffs is a great spot to do some puffin watching.
During the late summer, it’s time for puffin patrol on the island, that’s when pufflings (baby puffins) have hatched on the cliffs and the lights from the town disorientate them, they mistake the lights for stars. This results in pufflings stranded in town, on roads, at bus stops, the pufflings have landed!
Volunteers search around town with cardboard boxes and take the pufflings to the local rescue shelter Sea Life Trust, to be weighed and checked for injuries, there are then released back into the wild.
Meet Beluga Whales
In the Westman Islands you’ll find two beluga whale sisters, Little Grey and Little White. They were rescued from a Sea Zoo in Shanghai, the poor sisters had a tough life.
Captured from the wild when they were young and kept in small living conditions, they were made to perform to entertain people, how we still treat animals this way is beyond me.
Luckily the sisters caught the attention of a British charity, Sea Life Trust, and they made it their mission to rescue the sisters and bring them to Westman Islands, where the Beluga Whale Sanctuary was created.
They created the first ever natural bay for rescued whales, Klettsvik. A place for the sisters to live in natural surroundings, room to dive and play and have a sense of freedom. It’s incredible how much effort has been put into giving these beautiful beings the life they deserve.
The sisters had a trial in the bay but Little Grey became unwell, the girls aren’t used to the harsh Icelandic waters so Sea Life Trust is making changes to the bay to shield them from the harsh currents the best they can while giving them a natural home. They have said in 2025 they will release the sisters back in the bay.
You can visit the sisters in the Beluga Whale Sanctuary, they are mesmerising to see and I hope they get to live their best lives in the bay soon. You can watch the documentary that follows their journey from China to Iceland, John Bishop’s Great Whale Rescue, get the tissues ready it’s a tear jerker!