Name: Papey Island, Iceland cruise port
Address: IS

About the Port

Papey lies a short sail from the East Iceland coast near Djúpivogur, a low-lying island of grassy cliffs and rocky shoreline shaped by centuries of isolation. Once home to a small farming community, it was abandoned in the mid-twentieth century and now stands uninhabited, its weathered wooden church and lighthouse among the only structures left standing. The island's cliffs and coastal ledges shelter one of Iceland's notable puffin colonies alongside other seabirds, making it a quiet haven for wildlife watching.

Access to Papey is by small boat only, as there is no pier for larger vessels, and landings depend on calm seas and weather. Wooden walkways cross the island's turf and rock, leading past the old farmstead buildings to viewpoints over the water. The absence of permanent residents lends the island a stillness rare along Iceland's more traveled coastline, rewarding those who make the crossing with a genuine sense of remoteness.

Pavlus Recommendations

How our planners would spend a day in Papey Island.

Watch the Puffin Colonies

Grassy ledges along the cliffs host one of Iceland's accessible puffin gatherings; walk the wooden paths quietly in early-mid summer for close views without disturbing nesting birds.

Visit Iceland's Smallest Church

The island's tiny black-and-white wooden church, built in the 1800s, still stands amid the abandoned farmstead—a short walk from the landing point and a poignant relic of the vanished community.

Climb to the Lighthouse

Follow the boardwalks to the old lighthouse for sweeping views over the surrounding sea cliffs and coastline, a good vantage for spotting seabirds and passing whales.

Cruise Lines That Call Here

Seabourn · 4

Cruises That Visit Papey Island

Departs	Cruise Line	Ship	Nights	From
Jun 7, 2027	Seabourn	Seabourn Venture	26	$26,898
Jun 7, 2027	Seabourn	Seabourn Venture	40	$43,298
Jun 19, 2027	Seabourn	Seabourn Venture	28	$31,598
Jun 19, 2027	Seabourn	Seabourn Venture	14	$16,798