The vibrant and colourful Húsavík is located in North East Iceland, 480 km from the capital Reykjavík and about an hour drive from the biggest town in North Iceland, Akureyri.
The local name Húsavík is believed to be one of the oldest toponyms known in Iceland. Húsavík, rather than Reykjavik, was the first settled place in Iceland: The “Book of Settlement“ tells about the Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson, who sailed around Iceland in the year 870 and spent one winter in Húsavík.
Yes, Husavik itself is tiny with only around 2300 inhabitants but well worth a visit. Skjálfandi Bay is arguably the best place to see whales in Europe. Our favourite time is between March and November due to the abundance of whale sightings. For the last 27 years (1995 – 2021) the overall whale sightings in Skjálfandi Bay is a noteworthy 97,33%. The reason for such a high sighting rate in this area is the thriving ecosystem in the bay. Melting snow and rivers bring nutrients from mineral-rich locations and meet three ocean currents in Skjálfandi bay and all this complemented by the endless summer sun! The result? Massive plankton blooms, masses of fish, countless seabirds and the perfect feeding ground for baleen whales.
North Sailing Ticket office
When you come to Húsavík, you’ll easily find the North Sailing ticket office. The church is quite prominent in the centre of the town and across the street from the church is the North Sailing’s main ticket office – “Whale Watching Centre”. You can take the stairs from the ticket office that lead down to the harbour, passing Gamli Baukur restaurant.
Bustling little town Húsavík
Husavik is a bustling little town, where you can easily spend a few days of your holiday.
After the mesmerizing experience of seeing whales on our tour, you can also visit the Húsavík Whale Museum and immerse yourself in an underwater world of marine mammals. When you feel like tasting some delicious fresh fish, vegetarian tacos, and local beer, head to Gamli Baukur restaurant in the harbour. And if you are looking for a place to finish your adventurous day in Húsavík, then we highly recommend dipping in Geosea! Great place to calm your mind, body and spirit by soaking in the infinity pools overlooking the Skjálfandi bay.
Have you ever heard of the Diamond Circle?
Húsavík and its near surroundings offer a uniquely wide variety of natural and cultural attractions. There are many things to see within walking distance in Húsavík! Húsavík is also the main town and the obvious starting and ending point of the Diamond Circle. The Diamond Circle can be described as a magnificent circuit of 250km in the Northeast of Iceland, which includes some of the most stunning sights and spots for unearthly landscapes.
And if you think you have seen it all, then venture off the beaten path and follow the Arctic coast way! An unforgettable journey in the spirit of adventure and exploration takes you through the unspoiled natural wonders of North Iceland.
