April in Vestmannaeyjar hinges on one event in the natural calendar. The Atlantic puffins begin returning to their breeding cliffs at Stórhöfði around mid-month, and for birders, that alone might settle the question. For everyone else, this is still raw North Atlantic shoulder season. Expect highs around 6.7°C (44°F), lows near 4.3°C (40°F), and wind that can push those numbers toward freezing on exposed ground. The Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjahöfn crosses in about 35 minutes on calm days, but April sailings still get cancelled in rough weather, sometimes stranding visitors on Heimaey for a day or more.
Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the 15-island archipelago, is home to roughly 4,500 people. In April the town feels unhurried, even by its own standards. A few restaurants along the harbor keep limited hours, and you might walk the full length of Strandvegur without passing another tourist. The Eldheimar museum and Sæheimar aquarium stay open, but some seasonal tour operators won't start running until May. The smell of salt wind and diesel from the fishing fleet carries across town on most mornings.
That said, April has its quiet rewards. Daylight stretches past 16 hours by month's end, a dramatic gain from the 5-6 hours of December. The national holiday Sumardagurinn fyrsti (First Day of Summer) falls in late April, and the local celebration on Heimaey typically includes flags along Heiðarvegur and a small community gathering. Eldfell's summit trail is usually passable by mid-April, and on a clear morning you can stand alone on the 200-meter crater rim looking south across the archipelago's 14 uninhabited islands.
Why visit in April
- Atlantic puffins start arriving at Stórhöfði around mid-April, offering early-season sightings before the summer crowds. On a good day you might spot 20-30 birds settling into the clifftop turf.
- Daylight reaches 16+ hours by month's end, giving you long days for hiking Eldfell, Helgafell, and the coastal trails without a headlamp.
- Accommodation rates on Heimaey tend to run 20-30% below the June-August peak, and you likely won't need to book the Herjólfur ferry weeks in advance.
- The absence of tour groups means places like Eldheimar, Skansinn, and the Stafkirkjan stave church feel genuinely intimate. You can sit in the excavated house at Eldheimar for 20 minutes without another visitor walking through.
Worth knowing
- Wind is relentless. Stórhöfði holds a claim as one of the windiest measured points in Europe, and April gusts regularly reach 60-80 km/h (37-50 mph), making exposed hikes uncomfortable and occasionally hazardous.
- Roughly 14 rainy days and 110mm of precipitation mean you should expect wet weather more days than not. Some days combine wind and horizontal drizzle that soaks through anything short of proper waterproofs.
- Several seasonal tour operators, including most boat tours around the archipelago, don't begin running until May or June. Your options are more limited than summer brochures suggest.
- The Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjahöfn can cancel sailings in storms, potentially stranding you on Heimaey for an extra day. The backup route from Þorlákshöfn takes roughly 3 hours each way.
Best for
Think twice if
April on the Westman Islands feels like winter letting go reluctantly. Daytime temperatures hover near 6.7°C (44°F) and drop to 4.3°C (40°F) at night, though windchill often shaves another 5-8°C off those numbers. The 78% average humidity hangs in the salt air, and you feel it in your bones after an hour on exposed clifftops. Rain falls on about 14 of the month's 30 days, totaling around 110mm, often arriving as fine mist or sideways drizzle rather than heavy downpours. Fog can roll in off the North Atlantic with little warning and sit for hours. That said, April is actually drier than every month from September through March, and the occasional clear day reveals a pale blue sky stretching south over the full archipelago.
Seasonal caution
- Wind gusts at Stórhöfði and along exposed coastal paths regularly exceed 70 km/h (43 mph) in April. That is strong enough to knock an adult off balance on uneven lava terrain. Check vedur.is forecasts before any hike on the headland.
- Windchill can push the perceived temperature well below freezing, particularly on the southern headland and the Eldfell crater rim. Exposed skin risks frostbite in sustained 80+ km/h gusts combined with rain.
- The Herjólfur ferry cancels sailings when seas exceed safe thresholds. If you have a flight from Keflavík the following day, build in at least one full buffer day on the mainland to avoid missing it.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | 1 | 154 |
| Feb | 6 | 3 | 185 |
| Mar | 5 | 3 | 139 |
| Apr | 7 | 4 | 110 |
| May | 8 | 7 | 109 |
| Jun | 10 | 8 | 97 |
| Jul | 12 | 11 | 90 |
| Aug | 12 | 11 | 120 |
| Sep | 11 | 9 | 163 |
| Oct | 8 | 6 | 146 |
| Nov | 7 | 4 | 163 |
| Dec | 5 | 2 | 154 |
Best things to do in April
Early-season puffin watching at Stórhöfði
wildlifeThe Atlantic puffins (lundi) begin returning to their breeding burrows on the Stórhöfði headland around mid-April. You can walk right up to the clifftop viewing areas and watch them arrive from the open ocean, often landing clumsily on the wind-battered turf. The headland sits at the southern tip of Heimaey, about a 30-minute walk from town or a short drive.
Mid-April marks the puffins' annual return. You'll see the first arrivals before the colonies fill up in May and June, and without summer crowds at the viewing platforms.Booking tipNo booking needed. Bring binoculars and full windproof gear. The walk to the headland is exposed with no shelter at the viewing area.
Hiking the Eldfell volcanic crater
hikingEldfell erupted in January 1973 and nearly buried half of Heimaey under lava. The 200-meter summit is a 30-40 minute climb from the edge of town through red and black scoria that crunches underfoot. On a clear day the view from the crater rim takes in the entire archipelago, the Icelandic mainland to the north, and open Atlantic stretching south. The ground near the summit still radiates faint warmth where you dig your hand into the gravel.
Snow has mostly cleared from the lower slopes by mid-April, making the trail passable without crampons. Summer haze hasn't set in yet, so visibility on clear days tends to be the best of the year.Booking tipFree, no permit needed. Go on a morning with winds below 40 km/h. The trail is unmarked but obvious from the edge of the lava field. Allow 2 hours round trip with time at the rim.
Touring Eldheimar volcano museum
museumEldheimar was built around a house excavated from the 1973 lava flow. Ash buried it to the roofline, and the museum preserved it in situ, walls and furniture still visible beneath volcanic debris. The exhibits cover the eruption night, the evacuation of all 5,300 residents by fishing boat within hours, and the months-long effort to save the harbor by pumping cold seawater onto the advancing lava.
On rainy April days, and there will be several, Eldheimar is the best indoor option on Heimaey. In summer the museum gets tour-bus traffic from the ferry. In April you can stand in the excavated house alone.Booking tipOpen year-round. Check current hours before visiting. Allow 1.5-2 hours for the full exhibition.
Walking the 1973 lava fields
walkingThe eruption added roughly 2.3 square kilometers of new land to Heimaey's eastern side. Walking through this terrain over 50 years later is strange and absorbing. Bright green moss has begun colonizing the black basalt in patches, but much of the rock still looks freshly cooled. You can trace where the lava stopped against existing houses, some rebuilt right at the flow's edge.
April's low-angle light gives the lava fields a stark, sculptural quality that flattens under summer's higher sun. The moss is beginning its spring growth, creating vivid green-on-black contrast that photographs well.Booking tipFree and always accessible. Wear boots with thick soles. Lava rock is sharp and uneven enough to tear thin rubber.
Climbing Helgafell for a panoramic view
hikingHelgafell is the older, dormant volcano on Heimaey at 227 meters. The trail from the Skansinn area takes about 25 minutes. Icelandic tradition holds that you should climb without speaking, never look back, and make three wishes at the summit facing east. The view north toward the mainland on a clear day stretches to Eyjafjallajökull glacier, roughly 30 km away.
The trail is typically snow-free by mid-April. The combination of long daylight hours and clear polar air can produce visibility well over 50 km on good days, better on average than the hazier summer months.Booking tipFree, open year-round. The Skansinn trailhead is a 10-minute walk from the harbor. Allow 1.5 hours round trip.
Visiting Stafkirkjan stave church at Skansinn
culturalNorway gifted this replica Norse stave church to Iceland in 2000, marking 1,000 years of Christianity in the country. It sits in the Skansinn area above the harbor, surrounded by old fortification walls and grass. The dark timber structure is small, seating maybe 30 people, and the interior smells of tar and pine.
April's overcast skies give the dark timber a brooding quality against the just-greening grass of Skansinn. In summer, groups from the ferry queue to enter. In April you'll likely have the area to yourself.Booking tipFree to view externally. Interior access varies. Check with the tourist information office at the harbor.
Soaking at Sundlaug Vestmannaeyja
relaxationThe town's geothermally heated outdoor swimming pool on Illugagata is where Heimaey residents actually spend their free time. The main pool sits around 28-30°C (82-86°F), and several hot pots range from 38-44°C (100-111°F). Slipping into a 42°C hot pot after a cold, windy hike is the kind of contrast you feel in your whole body.
The gap between April's 4-7°C air and 42°C hot-pot water is at its most dramatic in spring. Summer visitors get a milder version. April gives you the full thermal shock, with steam rising off the water into cold salt air.Booking tipNo booking needed. Bring your own towel or rent one. Shower thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering, per Icelandic pool rules. This is enforced.
What to eat in April
On menus now
Fresh-caught Atlantic cod (þorskur)
April falls within Iceland's main cod season, and the Vestmannaeyjar fishing fleet brings catches to the harbor daily. You'll find it pan-fried with butter, baked, or in fish soup at restaurants near the harbor. The flesh is firm and clean-tasting, noticeably different from anything frozen and shipped.
Plokkfiskur
A traditional Icelandic comfort dish of mashed fish, typically cod or haddock, with potatoes, onions, and béchamel. Warming and filling after a cold day on the Eldfell trail. Most home kitchens on Heimaey have their own version, and a few harbor-area restaurants serve it in April.
Kjötsúpa
Icelandic lamb soup with turnips, carrots, and potatoes. The lamb is Icelandic-bred, free-range, and the recipe hasn't changed much in generations. In April the warmth of a bowl matters as much as the flavor after a wet afternoon on the lava fields.
Street food peaks
Kleinur
Twisted Icelandic doughnuts flavored with cardamom, fried and lightly sugared. The Heimaey bakeries make them fresh, and they pair well with strong Icelandic coffee on a cold April morning. Denser than American doughnuts, closer to a rich pastry in texture.
What to drink
Brennivín
Iceland's signature caraway-flavored spirit, sometimes called Black Death by locals with a dry grin. Served ice-cold in a small glass, traditionally alongside hákarl (fermented shark) if you feel like testing yourself. April evenings are long enough now to sit with a glass at one of the harbor spots.
In markets
Harðfiskur
Wind-dried haddock torn into strips and eaten with butter. The Westman Islands' constant wind makes for ideal drying conditions. High in protein, portable, no cooking required. You can pick it up at Krónan on Strandvegur for a fraction of what tourist shops in Reykjavík charge.
Regular events in April
Sumardagurinn fyrsti (First Day of Summer)Free
An Icelandic national holiday marking the old Norse calendar's start of summer, falling on the first Thursday on or after April 19. On Heimaey this typically means a small community gathering, Icelandic flags along the streets, and children receiving summer gifts. Schools and most businesses close for the day.
First Thursday on or after April 19 (varies annually, usually April 19-25)Páskar (Easter weekend)Free
Easter is a major holiday period in Iceland. Heimaey's Landakirkja church holds services, and many residents travel off-island to visit family. Krónan and other shops close from Skírdagur (Maundy Thursday) through Easter Monday. Expect reduced ferry schedules and limited restaurant hours across the long weekend.
Variable, late March to late April depending on the yearSpring puffin arrival at StórhöfðiFree
Not a formal festival, but a closely tracked seasonal event on the islands. Locals and researchers note the first lundi sightings of the year. The local paper Eyjar and Vestmannaeyjar social media carry reports when the first birds appear on the clifftop colonies.
Mid-April, typically around April 10-20Best places this April
Stórhöfði headland
natureThe southernmost point of Heimaey and home to one of Iceland's largest Atlantic puffin colonies. A weather station here has recorded some of the highest sustained wind speeds in Europe. In April the first returning puffins dot the grassy clifftops, and the views south over empty North Atlantic are vast. A small wooden shelter offers partial wind cover near the viewing area.
StórhöfðiEldheimar museum
museumBuilt around a house excavated from the 1973 Eldfell lava flow, still half-embedded in volcanic ash with walls and furniture visible. The exhibition covers the eruption night, the emergency evacuation by fishing boat, and the months-long fight to save the harbor. One of the best small museums in Iceland, and the island's primary rainy-day destination.
Town centerSkansinn historic area
historic siteA grassy plateau above the harbor where the Stafkirkjan stave church stands among remnants of a 17th-century fort. This is where the 1627 Tyrkjaránið (Turkish Abductions) began, when North African pirates raided the island and took hundreds captive. In April the turf is beginning to green, and you'll likely have the area to yourself.
SkansinnHerjólfsdalur valley
natureA broad, wind-sheltered valley on Heimaey's southwest side where the Þjóðhátíð festival draws thousands each August. In April the festival infrastructure sits empty. The valley floor has a campsite, a golf course, and remains of an ancient farm excavation. The natural amphitheater shape blocks much of the wind that batters the rest of the island, making it noticeably calmer for walking.
HerjólfsdalurSæheimar natural history museum
museumA small natural history museum and aquarium on Heimaey known for rehabilitating injured puffins and other seabirds. In April the staff may have early-season rescues on site. The collection includes taxidermied Icelandic birds, local marine life in tanks, and geological exhibits from the islands.
Town centerThe harbor at Básaskersbryggja
harborVestmannaeyjar's harbor is the economic heart of the island, home to one of Iceland's most productive fishing fleets. In April you can watch trawlers unloading fresh cod and haddock in the early mornings. The fish processing buildings along the waterfront fill the air with a sharp, briny smell. Several restaurants and the tourist information office sit along the harbor road.
Harbor areaEldfell and the 1973 lava field
geological siteThe 200-meter volcano and its surrounding lava flow reshaped Heimaey's eastern coastline in a matter of months. The hike to the summit crosses loose red and black scoria. In some spots near the top, the gravel still holds faint geothermal warmth from the eruption over 50 years later. The boundary where lava stopped against existing houses is visible throughout eastern Heimaey.
Eastern Heimaey
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Insider tips
The swimming pool at Sundlaug Vestmannaeyja on Illugagata is the island's true social center. Locals sit in the hot pots and talk for an hour most evenings. If you want to meet Heimaey residents and hear their stories, this is where it happens, not at restaurants.
Check vedur.is (the Icelandic Met Office website) every morning before planning your day. Wind forecasts are accurate to within a few hours, and the difference between a 30 km/h day and a 70 km/h day determines whether Stórhöfði is pleasant or genuinely dangerous.
If the Landeyjahöfn ferry gets cancelled due to weather, the backup sailing departs from Þorlákshöfn, about 30 minutes further from Reykjavík by road. The crossing from Þorlákshöfn takes roughly 3 hours instead of 35 minutes. Locals know to check the Herjólfur app before driving to the wrong terminal.
Dig your hand a few centimeters into the gravel near the top of Eldfell on the east side. Over 50 years after the 1973 eruption, the ground still holds noticeable warmth from residual geothermal heat. It is a small thing, but it makes the volcano feel alive under your fingers.
Krónan supermarket on Strandvegur is the island's main grocery store and your best option for affordable food in April, when restaurant hours are unpredictable. Stock up on harðfiskur, skyr, and rugbrauð for trail snacks at a fraction of Reykjavík tourist-shop prices.
Avoid these mistakes
- Booking a same-day round trip on the Herjólfur ferry. April seas are unpredictable, and a cancelled return sailing means you're on Heimaey until the next departure. If you have a Keflavík flight the following day, stay overnight and return to the mainland with at least one full buffer day.
- Dressing for the thermometer instead of the wind. A forecast of 6.7°C with 60 km/h gusts feels closer to -5°C on exposed skin. First-time visitors who pack a light fleece based on the temperature number end up cold and wet by midday.
- Assuming summer dining hours apply in April. Several restaurants on Heimaey run reduced hours or close entirely on weekdays during shoulder season. The harbor-area spots are your most reliable option, but even those might close by 20:00 or earlier.
- Walking to Stórhöfði without checking the wind forecast first. The headland is one of Europe's windiest measured points, and in a gale the path along the cliff edge is genuinely hazardous. There is no railing, and a stumble on wet grass near a 40-meter drop is not a theoretical risk.
Practical tips for April
Book the Herjólfur ferry at least 2-3 days ahead for the Easter long weekend and Sumardagurinn fyrsti, when islanders traveling to and from the mainland fill the boat. Download the Herjólfur app for real-time sailing status and route changes between Landeyjahöfn and Þorlákshöfn. Accommodation on Heimaey is limited to a few guesthouses and the Hotel Vestmannaeyjar, so book at least a week ahead even in April. Most places accept cards, but the island has a single ATM at the Íslandsbanki on Vestmannabraut, and it has been known to go out of service. The island has no public transit, though you can walk most of Heimaey in 30-40 minutes end to end. Renting a car from the harbor area helps in heavy rain or if you want to reach Stórhöfði and Herjólfsdalur without battling headwinds on foot. Mobile coverage is reliable in town but can drop on the more remote southern headland and the outer edges of the lava field.
FAQ
Is April a good time to visit Vestmannaeyjar?
It depends on what draws you there. April is solidly shoulder season, with cold temperatures around 6.7°C (44°F), persistent wind, and roughly 14 rainy days. Most boat tours and seasonal activities haven't started yet. That said, the Atlantic puffins begin returning to Stórhöfði around mid-April, daylight exceeds 16 hours by month's end, and you'll have the island largely to yourself. If you're a birder or someone who likes stark, wind-scoured landscapes with nobody else around, April works well. If you want warm weather, full restaurant menus, and organized tours, wait for June or July.
What is the weather like in Vestmannaeyjar in April?
Cold, wet, and windy. Average highs reach about 6.7°C (44°F) with lows around 4.3°C (40°F), though windchill regularly makes it feel below freezing on exposed headlands. Humidity sits at 78%, and rain falls on roughly 14 of the 30 days, totaling about 110mm. Wind is the defining feature. Gusts frequently exceed 60 km/h (37 mph), particularly at Stórhöfði on the southern tip. You'll need full waterproof and windproof gear, not light rain layers.
Can I see puffins in Vestmannaeyjar in April?
Yes, but it's the very start of the season. The Atlantic puffins typically begin arriving at their breeding colonies on Stórhöfði around April 10-15. In early April you are unlikely to see any. By the second half of the month, small numbers will be on the cliffs, though the colonies don't reach full capacity until May and June. If puffins are your primary reason for visiting, late April gives you a decent chance of sightings without summer crowds, but May or June offers more reliable numbers.
How do I get to Vestmannaeyjar from Reykjavík?
The main route is the Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjahöfn on Iceland's south coast, a roughly 35-minute crossing. Landeyjahöfn is about 130 km (81 mi) from Reykjavík, approximately a 90-minute drive east along Route 1. In rough seas the ferry reroutes to Þorlákshöfn, which is closer to Reykjavík but extends the crossing to about 3 hours. Eagle Air Iceland also flies small planes from Reykjavík domestic airport to Vestmannaeyjar in about 25 minutes. In April, always have a backup plan for ferry cancellations due to weather.
Is Vestmannaeyjar crowded in April?
Not at all. April is one of the quietest months on the island. You might encounter a handful of other tourists at Eldheimar museum or on the Eldfell trail, but it's entirely possible to walk Stórhöfði or Herjólfsdalur without seeing another visitor. The town has its 4,500 residents going about daily life, but tourism infrastructure runs at minimum capacity. If you value solitude and don't mind limited services, April is ideal for that.
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