Akurey is a protected bird island in Kollafjörður near Reykjavík, best considered as a short boat-based puffin and seabird viewing add-on rather than a landing stop or self-drive attraction.
Coast snapshot
Akurey is a low, vegetated island of about 6.6 hectares in Kollafjörður, northeast of Seltjarnarnes. It became a nature reserve in 2019 to protect its important seabird habitat.
Puffins nest among the grassy ground above Akurey’s rocky shoreline. Eider ducks, gulls and black guillemots also use the island, while cormorants are part of its winter birdlife. View the reserve from the water and keep enough distance to avoid disturbing birds on the shore, sea or in flight.
The May 2019 designation explains why Akurey and its surrounding marine habitat are protected.
Add Akurey when a Reykjavík stay already has room for a harbor-based wildlife attempt and the traveler accepts uncertainty. Skip it when the day still needs Hallgrímskirkja, Perlan, food plans, or a more reliable city walk before the next driving day.
| Choice | Works when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Go | You want seabirds close to Reykjavík and boat-distance viewing is enough. | Wildlife, wind, and sea state can make the outing feel stronger or thinner. |
| Keep it optional | You have a flexible harbor day with a nearby city backup. | A tight arrival, departure, or booked city day leaves little room for changes. |
| Skip | You want a guaranteed landmark, museum, viewpoint, or walkable island. | Akurey is a protected reserve, not a normal island stop. |
For most travelers, Akurey is a boat-based viewing stop. The useful plan is to approach respectfully, stay off the island, and let the operator keep distance, speed, and wildlife behavior in view.
Akurey has no road connection to Reykjavík. The map pin identifies the island, not a harbor or departure point. Use the departure location supplied for your boat outing. Landing requires prior permission under the reserve rules, and drones are prohibited in the reserve; a general island description is not permission to go ashore.
Use for reserve rules, access limits, drone guidance, and protected-area context.
If you want a walkable island with paths and historic buildings, Viðey is the better fit. If you want another boat-distance bird island comparison, Lundey is the closest match. Akurey is strongest when you are comfortable with a brief, respectful look from the water.
Puffins are the draw, but the experience should be planned as wildlife observation rather than a guaranteed show. Expect seabirds, open water, low grassy shoreline, and a short break from the city’s built landmarks.
Official and city sources describe Akurey as an important seabird area, with puffins central to its identity. Other birds also use the island and surrounding water, so the most satisfying visit is often one where you enjoy the wider birdlife instead of judging the outing by one species alone.
Plan puffin viewing around the summer nesting season; do not treat Akurey as a year-round puffin stop. Other seabirds, including wintering cormorants, give the area value outside that season, but sightings still depend on weather, sea conditions and bird activity. Check what wildlife is being seen before making puffins the reason for an outing.
Choose Akurey or Lundey for boat-based bird viewing. Choose Viðey when you want a ferry-access island with walking paths, history, art, and more time on land.
Akurey and Lundey answer a similar Reykjavík wildlife question: do you want a short boat outing where the island is viewed from the water? The difference for most travelers is less about ticking off a specific island and more about the operator route, conditions, and bird activity on the day.
Viðey is a different planning choice. It can fill a slower Reykjavík half day because the ferry, walking paths, historic buildings, public art, and birdlife give you something to do after arrival. Akurey is narrower: stronger for seabird focus, weaker as a general city attraction.
On a 5-day Iceland itinerary, Akurey belongs in the Reykjavík portion of the trip, not in the Golden Circle or South Coast driving days. Keep Hallgrímskirkja or Perlan nearby as the practical city anchor if the boat idea becomes less appealing.
| Place | Choose it for | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Akurey | Protected puffin and seabird viewing from a boat. | You need a walkable stop or guaranteed wildlife. |
| Lundey | A similar puffin-island boat outing near Reykjavík. | You are already satisfied with Akurey or want time on land. |
| Viðey | Ferry access, paths, history, art, and a slower island walk. | You want a compact wildlife-only boat trip. |
Check the sources that can change the day: protected-area guidance, operator information, weather, sea conditions, and safety advice. Akurey is simple to understand, but not something to force into a rigid plan.
Use this guide for planning, not live safety or access confirmation. For Akurey, the responsible decision is to let official protected-area rules, weather guidance, safety advice, and operator judgment control the final call.
Background on Reykjavík’s islands and birdlife. Akurey’s specific reserve rules govern landing; the general description does not establish access permission.
Use for wind and weather checks before a boat-based plan.
Use for general travel safety and weather-aware planning.
These questions matter because Akurey is a protected wildlife island, not a normal walk-up attraction.
Most travelers should plan to view Akurey from a boat, not walk on the island. Protected-area rules restrict going ashore without permission, so follow official guidance and operator instructions.
Akurey is worth considering if you want a short wildlife outing from Reykjavík and accept boat-distance viewing. It is less worthwhile if you need a guaranteed landmark or a place to explore on foot.
Akurey and Lundey are both useful Reykjavík puffin-island options, but the better choice depends on operator routing, season, weather, and bird activity. Compare the outing details before treating one island as automatically better.
Families should choose Akurey only if everyone is comfortable with a short boat-based wildlife outing and uncertain sightings. Keep a Reykjavík city backup ready if weather or sea conditions make the trip feel forced.
By ThorPublished Updated
Map
Akurey is an offshore protected bird island, not a road destination or public landing. This pin shows the island, not a harbor departure point. View it from the water; landing requires prior permission under the reserve rules.
Interactive planning map for Akurey
Interactive map
Place context and external map links remain available without loading it.
Nearby coast
Use nearby places to balance scenery, safety, wildlife seasons, and how much time the coast deserves.
Engey is a low island in Kollafjörður, near Reykjavík, with former hayfields, nesting seabirds and traces of a long settlement history. It can be seen across the bay, while a landing requires separate boat arrangements and care around nesting birds.
Faxaflói is Iceland's largest bay, stretching between the Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas. Reykjavík's waterfront, Grótta, whale-watching waters and the ports of Akranes and Borgarnes are different windows onto the same broad coastal system.
Planning context
Open the region or practical guide that resolves the next planning decision.
Make the city day realistic
Next, decide whether Akurey improves your Reykjavík day or should remain a flexible boat-based option.
