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! It was made from wood imported from Norway and built within a 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.