Population
~4,500
Heimaey is the only permanently inhabited island in the Westman Islands archipelago.
Heimaey: The Inhabited Westman Island
The largest and only inhabited Westman Island, where a fishing town coexists with a volcano that nearly buried it in 1973 and millions of nesting puffins.
Location
Westman Islands, South Iceland
One of Europe's largest puffin colonies nests here each summer.
Heimaey is a colourful harbour town set between two volcanoes, where fishing boats bob beside lava fields less than 55 years old. The 1973 Eldfell eruption buried part of the town in lava and ash, and the community rebuilt in the years that followed. In summer, Atlantic puffins nest on the cliffs, and the island is compact enough to explore on foot.
Sources and last reviewed
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
This guide is a travel-planning summary, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly; check official alerts, roads, and weather before driving, hiking, or booking around volatile conditions.
Pages are reviewed for practical usefulness, source quality, and volatile claims before publication.
Official sources to check
Eruption
1973
Eldfell erupted on January 23, 1973, burying 400 buildings and nearly closing the harbour.
Puffin Season
Apr–Aug
Millions of Atlantic puffins nest on the island's cliffs from mid-April through mid-August.
What to Expect
Eldfell Volcano Hike
A short hike up the 1973 eruption cone. The ground is still warm beneath your feet in places, and the summit looks out over the whole archipelago.
Eldheimar Museum
Walk through a house excavated from the 1973 ash and learn the story of the night 5,300 people were evacuated by fishing boats.
Puffin Watching at Stórhöfði
The southern headland is one of Europe's windiest spots and the island's best place to see puffins up close in summer.
Harbour & Town
A working fishing harbour surrounded by colourful buildings, with seafood restaurants and the Sagnheimar Folk Museum close by.
Sea Cave Boat Tours
Zodiac tours visit sea caves, elephant-shaped rock arches, and nesting bird cliffs around the archipelago.
Sprangan Cliff Swing
A local tradition where islanders swing on ropes from cliff faces to collect eggs and herbs, now also a tourist attraction.
Getting There
The Herjólfur ferry sails from Landeyjahöfn to Heimaey in about 35 minutes, with multiple departures daily in summer. Landeyjahöfn is about 130 km east of Reykjavík. In winter or heavy seas, the ferry sails from Þorlákshöfn (about 3 hours). Domestic flights from Reykjavík take roughly 25 minutes. Cars can be brought on the ferry, but the island is small enough to explore on foot or by bicycle.
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June to August) is the best time. Puffins are present from mid-April through mid-August, all tours and restaurants are open, and the weather is mildest. The Þjóðhátíð festival on the first weekend of August fills the island with music and bonfires. Shoulder months (May and September) are quieter but pleasant. Winter visits are possible but tours are limited and ferry disruptions more frequent.
Planning help
Heimaey FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.