What to Do in Húsavík
Húsavík is known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland, but there is so much more this little fishing village has to offer. Not only during the busy summer season when boats from four whale watching companies sail in and out of the harbor non-stop, but also in the winter, when the town is quiet and empty of tourists, but still full of life and history.
According to Landnámabók ("Book of Settlement"), Húsavík was the first place in Iceland to be settled in. During the 860s the Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson sailed into a storm on his way to the Hebrides, which pushed his ship far north until he reached the eastern coast of Iceland. He circumnavigated the island, becoming the first known person to do so and thus establishing that the landmass was an island. He went ashore here at Skjálfandi bay, where he built himself a house and stayed for the winter. Since then, the place located in North Eastern Iceland has been called Húsavík - "Bay of Houses" (Hús - House, Vík - Bay).
Náttfari was a crew member who escaped his master, Garðar Svavarsson, and may have become the first permanent resident of Iceland in the 9th century. Náttfari escaped when Garðar set sail to the Hebrides from the newfound island which he named Garðarshólmi ("The islet of Garðar"). Even though this island doesn't bear his name, he still left a mark on Húsavík. Our main street is named Garðarsbraut and there's a boutique called Garðarsholmi still operating today. In addition, there are whale watching boats called Náttfari and Garðar.
On Garðarsbraut lies one of the most prominent landmarks of the town - Húsavíkurkirkja. This beautiful wooden church was officially first used on the 2nd of June 1907. It had seats 400 people - more than all inhabitants in Húsavík at that time! Húsavíkurkirkja was made from wood imported from Norway and built within just one year in the Swiss chalet style. The church was designed by Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, the first Icelander to study architecture abroad, and is considered one of his finest works.
Inside, it is cozy and welcoming, featuring elegant wooden craftsmanship and still to this day plays an important role in the community. In addition to religious services, it is a popular venue for concerts and cultural events, as it is one of the few places in town that can accommodate a large audience indoors. Be sure to have a look when walking by! The entrance is from the south side, not by the main street.
Húsavík is home to four unique museums, all worth discovering and reading about in length, so we've dedicated a separate page just for the museums.
First and foremost, this is still the whale watching capital and there are also four different tour operators in town: Gentle Giants, North Sailing, Húsavík Adventures, Friends of Moby Dick. All of them are great and offer an opportunity to get closer to nature and learn about the famous inhabitants of Skjálfandi Bay. Most common whales in this area are the humpback whales, but depending on the month and your luck, there is also a possibility to see Blue, Minke, Fin and Killer Whales among others.
White-Beaked Dolphins are also a common sighting and from mid-April to mid-August there are more than a 100 000 puffins in the area. Most of them nest in Lundey, literally called the Puffin Island. Choose the RIB boat tour during this period to visit this island as part of your whale watching tour and see the clowns of the sea up close.
Though most people visit Húsavík in the summer, there is still plenty to do in the area even in deep winter, when snow covers the mountains and auroras fill the dark night skies of Northern Iceland. Unlike the capital area, there is much less light polution here and you can even find areas in town, where you can stand in darkness and admire the wonderful show northern lights can produce. One of the best places to look up to the night sky is GeoSea. The geothermal baths are open all year round, giving visitors and locals alike the opportunity to soak in hot water with a cold drink in hand and enjoy your vacation without hordes of tourists all around you.
You can also take a short drive out of Húsavík to reach areas with zero light pollution or photograph the northern lights in some of the most famous places on the Diamond Circle - Ásbyrgi canyon, Góðafoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn. All of these places are less than a 45-minute drive away and unlike in the summer, most likely completely empty giving you a wonderful chance to experience the beauty all by yourself.