Overview
Húsavík is a town of approximately 2,500 inhabitants in North Iceland. It is the whale watching capital of Iceland, with whales sighted on over 95% of trips during the summer. Additionally, it gained some fame when it used to house the (in)famous Icelandic Phallological Museum, which has since moved to Reykjavík.
Get in
By plane You can get to Húsavík by car or by bus. The nearest domestic airport is Húsavík airport about 5 min drive to town, operated by Ernir. There is also an airport in Akureyri (about 1 hour by car).
By bus Strætó connects Húsavík with Akureyri with a bus one to three times a day. The bus is number 79.
Get around
Like most Icelandic villages, Húsavík is easy to cover by foot. There is no public transport.
See
The Exploration Museum. The Exploration Museum is dedicated to the history of human exploration, from the early explorers to the exploration of space. The main exhibition room features photographs and artifacts from the Apollo Astronaut Training near Húsavík in 1965 and 1967. Other exhibition rooms feature the history of Viking exploration, Arctic explorers and a timeline of exploration history.
Húsavíkurkirkja. This wooden church built in 1907 is probably the most recognisable landmark of the town.
Do
Húsavík is one of the main destinations for whale watching in Iceland. The species that can be seen on the tours include blue whale, humpback whale, minke, fin whale, harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, and rarely orca. Whale watching season is April through October.
Dress warmly for whale watching voyages, especially during colder months and even during warmer months. It generally feels much colder and windier on the water and it can be difficult to take shelter against the weather. Warm socks and gloves are especially helpful.
Tour companies will typically provide wet-weather gear that can be worn over your outfit, so a rain jacket and pants are not needed, but it's advisable to wear waterproof shoes.
Be careful taking photos on the boat. Use a tether or strap to prevent accidents.
If you are susceptible to motion sickness, consider proactively taking motion sickness medicine and research strategies to manage motion sickness while underway.
Gentle Giants. Whale watching, puffin watching, sea angling and other tours, depending on the season.
North Sailing. Whale watching, puffin watching and other tours, depending on the season.
Apart from whale watching, horse riding is another good option for tourists passing through the town of Húsavík. It's a good opportunity to come across the rugged Icelandic breed and also get to do some sightseeing on horseback at the same time.
Saltvík Hestamiðstöð. Horse riding tours are offered at Saltvík farm, about 5 km from Húsavík.
Eat
Gamli Baukur. They have an excellent selection of fish, soups, and salads. Downstairs is the small restaurant and upstairs a lively, little bar.
Salka. Restaurant/pizzeria, where is also possible to taste puffin.
Naustið. Nice and simple seafood restaurant.
Pallurinn. An interesting tent restaurant where they grill whole lambs. Very nice food with reasonable prices. Only open during the summer season.
Sleep
Húsavík guesthouse. A friendly guesthouse, built in 1947 and renovated in 2009. Open all year. Breakfast is served from 07:30 to til 10:00. Wireless Internet access in all rooms.
Kaldbaks-kot cottages. 1200 metres from the centre. Eighteen new cottages built of timber logs is 18-25 square metres, with all facilities (WC, shower, kitchen, TV, radio, refrigerator, kitchen utensils, toaster, stove, etc.) Big terrace. Beautiful view. Very private and convenient.
Guesthouse Arbol. Asgardsvegi 2. A small cozy guesthouse with 8 rooms near the waterfront. Prices vary from 8,800 kr. (single bed room) during off season to 10,600 kr. (single bed room) during peak season and includes breakfast. Bathrooms are shared but very clean and towels are provided.
Húsavík Cape Hotel. 16 room hotel at Húsavík Cape, with view over the town and Skjálfandi bay.
Fosshotel Husavik. Ketilsbraut 22. A well-equipped hotel in the centre. Single and double rooms, as well as superior "whale-themed" rooms. Restaurant/pizzeria and bar facilities. Internet access in the lobby.
Make Húsavík your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5351910 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-12. This is not a date of field verification.
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