Húsavík, Iceland: travel guide
A picturesque fishing town on Skjálfandi bay in north Iceland, widely regarded as the whale-watching capital of Europe, with the wooden Húsavíkurkirkja church and the GeoSea geothermal sea baths.
- Country
- Iceland
- Currency
- ISK
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Reykjavik
Top places to visit in Húsavík
Húsavíkurkirkja
Church · about 0.3 h
A charming 1907 wooden church of Norwegian timber, the gingerbread landmark of Húsavík's harbour.
Húsavík Whale Museum
Museum · about 1 h
A non-profit museum on whales and the marine ecosystem of Skjálfandi bay, with full skeletons hung from the ceiling.
GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths
Activity · about 2 h
Infinity geothermal sea-water baths on the cliffs above Húsavík, with panoramic views over the bay and, in summer, the midnight sun.
Skjálfandi Bay
Wildlife · about 3 h
The whale-watching bay off Húsavík, where humpback, minke and even blue whales are regularly sighted on boat tours.
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Nature · about 2 h
A vast horseshoe-shaped canyon in Vatnajökull National Park, in legend a hoofprint of Odin's horse Sleipnir, with sheer 100 m walls and a woodland floor.
Dettifoss
Waterfall · about 1.5 h
Reputedly Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume, a colossal 44 m curtain thundering through the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.
Lake Mývatn
Nature · about 3 h
A shallow, birdlife-rich volcanic lake ringed by pseudo-craters, lava pillars and geothermal wonders — the heart of the Diamond Circle.
Hverir (Námafjall)
Nature · about 0.8 h
An ochre geothermal field of bubbling mud pots and hissing fumaroles beneath the Námafjall ridge near Mývatn.
Dimmuborgir
Nature · about 1.5 h
A surreal field of towering lava pillars and arches by Lake Mývatn, in folklore the home of the Yule Lads and trolls.
Mývatn Nature Baths
Activity · about 2 h
The north's answer to the Blue Lagoon: milky-blue geothermal baths overlooking Lake Mývatn, far quieter than the south-west.
Things to do
- Húsavík Classic Whale Watching Wildlife · 3 h · from ISK 12,900 per person
- Húsavík RIB Whales & Puffins Wildlife · 2 h · from ISK 19,900 per person
- GeoSea Sea Baths Wellness · 2 h · from ISK 6,200 per person
- Diamond Circle from Húsavík Sightseeing · 10 h · from ISK 22,900 per person
Day trips and tours
- Whales & Diamond Circle 10 h · from ISK 26,900
Where to stay in Húsavík
- Húsavík Harbour about ISK 28,000 per night
The whale-watching town's harbour area, steps from the boats, museum and church.
Hotels
- Fosshótel Húsavík 3-star · ISK 24,000 to ISK 46,000 per night
- Húsavík Cape Hotel 4-star · ISK 28,000 to ISK 54,000 per night
- Guesthouse Árból ISK 16,000 to ISK 34,000 per night
Where to eat
- Naustið Seafood, Icelandic · about ISK 7,000 per person
- Salka Restaurant Icelandic, Pizza, Seafood · about ISK 5,000 per person
- Gamli Baukur Seafood, Icelandic, Bar · about ISK 5,500 per person
- Heimabakarí Bakery, Café · about ISK 1,600 per person
Getting around
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.