What to do in Húsavík besides whale watching? 

Húsavík is known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland - if not Europe - thanks to bay full of plankton and a harbor lined with charming oak boat sailing out for another tour. But what else is there to do in this northern town – and how to best see those whales? 

GeoSea 

What says ‘Iceland’ more than watching the Northern Lights while bathing in salty geothermal water? The GeoSea is a bath resort with a view. The waters are distinctive in that they are hot seawater, rather than a mix of seawater and fresh water.  

You might catch a glimpse of humpback whales surfacing below, and the icy Kinnarfjöll mountains in the distance.  

Picking the Right Whale Watching Tour  

All whale watching tours from Húsavík essentially do the same by sailing into Skjálfandi Bay and look for whales. The season runs March to November, but peaking over summer when the waters are calm and a range of migratory whales feeds in the bay. Humpback whales are most common but there is a change to spot a blue whales and orcas.

Whale watching vessels in Húsavík are, by and large, former fishing boats made of wood. North Sailing, Gentle Giants and Friends of Moby Dick offer three hour tours where passengers stay outside the entire time, on deck, in warm sailing suits.

North Sailing also has four sailing boats in the fleet, a fantastic experience when the wind allows.

Gentle Giants and Húsavík Adventures have more exclusive tours on speedy RIBs, moving twice the speed of others. Passenger number is limited, making the RIBs the most expensive option. The boats are a strong option when the whales are far out.

Land based whale watching is the final – and free option – sometime possible from the cliffs of the yellow Húsavík Lighthouse.  

The Húsavík Whale Museum  

The ambitious Húsavík Whale Museum, housed in a renovated slaughterhouse overlooking the harbor, is one of the few museums in the world solely dedicated to whales. The most interesting item is also the largest: a blue whale skeleton recovered from a 2010 corpse found on a remote beach in northern Iceland. The whale is displayed upside down, with the rib bones reaching towards the ceiling, and isn’t visible until halfway through the museum. Other parts include Iceland’s whaling history and, most recently, an installation about plastics in the ocean.  

Húsavík Mountain and Lake Botnsvatn

For a great view of the northeast corner, hike the Húsavík Mountain (Húsavíkurfjall). At 417m, it takes approximately one hour to reach the but 4WD cars can also take the road all the way up. At the top, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Skjálfandi Bay.

From the top, south of Húsavík, is a view over lake Botnsvatn, a popular outdoor area among locals, with walking and cycling paths.

Walking, running and cycling tours, guided by a local, are available over summer.

The Eurovision Museum  

The 2020 Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga made Húsavík known as the ‘Eurovision town.’ In the film, Húsavík is the hometown of Lars and Sigrid (Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams) who eventually make it to beloved Song Contests. The film prompted so much interest from Eurovision fans that a local entrepreneur – who also operates a bar called ‘JaJa DingDing’ – decided to open a small museum about Iceland’s role in Eurovision. Netflix contributed items from the film, too.

Húsavík Museum

Heritage artifacts from the region's nautical and agrarian history is displayed at the Húsavík Museum, located above the local library. The marine side of the museum showcases the Nordic clinker boat traditions, a design honored by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the other end is the permanent exhibition Daily Life and Nature – 100 Years in Þingeyjar Counties exploring the connection between man and nature in the period 1850-1950.

The museum is part of a network of The District Cultural Center in the Þingeyjar Counties. Other three locations - at Grenjaðastaður, Snartarstaðir and Sauðaneshús - are rural locations preserving unique places, along with objects.

Húsavík Öl  

The local micro-brewery in Húsavík has won international awards for craft beers using local ingredients such as blueberries and herbs. Attached to the operation is a bar with evening hours. Cans are available for purchase during opening hours and some restaurants in town have the beer on draft.  

Kaðlín

Kaðlín is a store operated by a local handknitting co-op, selling just about everything made from Icelandic wool. Members take turns shopkeeping, offering expert advice on the lopapeysa woolen sweater.