About Húsavík
Húsavík is a coastal town of around 2,300 people on Skjálfandi Bay in northeast Iceland, about an hour north of Akureyri on Route 85. It is Iceland's most established whale watching base, with tours operating from the harbour from April through October. The bay's nutrient-rich waters and calm conditions attract multiple species of cetaceans through the summer months.
The town has a well-preserved historic harbour district with wooden buildings from the early 1900s, a distinctive church built in 1907 with a red roof overlooking the bay, several museums, and a handful of good restaurants focused on local seafood.
Whale watching
Humpback and minke whales are the most commonly sighted species in Skjálfandi Bay. Blue whales visit occasionally, particularly in June and July. White-beaked dolphins are frequently seen, and orcas appear from time to time. Tours run on traditional oak boats, typically lasting around three hours, with guides providing commentary on species identification and behaviour. Smaller RIB speedboat tours also operate for those wanting a faster, more active experience. The peak season is June through September, though sightings are reported across the full tour season.
The Húsavík Whale Museum near the harbour has whale skeletons, exhibits on cetacean biology, and information about conservation. It is worth visiting before a tour to get familiar with the species you are likely to see.
Other things to see
Húsavík gained wider international recognition when it appeared in the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The town subsequently opened a Eurovision Museum with costumes, props from the film, and exhibits on Iceland's Eurovision history. It is a light-hearted stop in the town centre.
The Exploration Museum covers both space and ocean exploration, with a particular connection to the Apollo programme. In the 1960s and 1970s, NASA astronauts trained in the volcanic landscapes around Húsavík because the terrain resembled the lunar surface.
Húsavíkurkirkja, the wooden church above the harbour, was built in 1907 and is one of the most photographed churches in north Iceland. The town also has a geothermal swimming pool, which is a good option for warming up after a morning on the water.
Getting there
Húsavík is about an hour north of Akureyri via Route 85 and around 1.5 hours from Lake Mývatn. From Reykjavík it is roughly six hours by car. It sits on the Diamond Circle route and is commonly combined with Ásbyrgi canyon to the east and Lake Mývatn to the south.
