Best Things to Do in Husavik Iceland in a Day

There are so many wonderful things to do in Husavik, Iceland. It's a charming small town in the north that's most known as the whale watching capital of Iceland. Justin and I spent one day in Husavik on our two week road trip of Iceland. It's one of the best places to visit in Iceland and it's the perfect detour off the Ring Road between Myvatn and Akureyri, especially for those who love wildlife.

While whale watching tours are the main reason why many people visit Husavik, it's worth spending more time in the town. We had a few hours in Husavik before our whale watching trip, and I'm glad we explored Husavik beyond that excursion. Here are the best things to do in Husavik, including a whale watching excursion, of course!

Fun Facts About Husavik

Husavik, Iceland is about an hour's drive from Akureyri, a short drive from the unofficial capital of northern Iceland. The harbors and shorelines of the Skjálfandi Bay are lined with wooden boats and sailboats, primarily used for sightseeing and whale watching tours. The most famous landmark in town is the Húsavíkurkirkja church, built in 1907.

As of 2019, Húsavík has a population of 2307, and its main industries are tourism and fishing. It was the first place in Iceland to be settled by a Norseman. The viking, Garðar Svavarsson, stayed for one winter in 870 AD. He left behind a crew member, Náttfari, and two slaves, who were quite possibly the first permanent residents of Iceland.

Húsavík means "bay of houses", which may refer to Garðar Svavarsson's house there. At the time, this was likely one of the only houses in Iceland. In July, Husavik holds an annual festival called Mærudagar ("Candy Days") where people from all over Iceland celebrate with food and drink, music, and colorful decorations.

Husavik has several sister cities around the world: Karlskoga, Sweden; Fredrikstad, Norway; Riihimäki, Finland; Aalborg, Denmark; Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland; Fuglafjørður, Faroe Islands; and Eastport, Maine, USA.

Things to Do in Husavik: Explore the Town

One of the best things to do in Husavik is explore by foot. When I travel to new towns and cities, I love wandering around to soak up the vibes, and this was no exception in Husavik. The village is not very large, and the beautiful landscape is dotted with colorful houses.

The main hub of the town is centered around the port. We parked our car in front of the whale watching tour offices as we had booked an excursion for later that afternoon. From there, we admired the spectacular views of Skjalfandaflói Bay. The water was so still, save for the boats sailing in and out of the harbor. The snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance.

You'll notice art relating to animals as you walk around town. As Husavik is the whale watching capital of Iceland, it's only fitting that whale imagery is everywhere. The whale watching museum has a fantastic mural featuring a pod of whales.

See the Husavik Church

One building that you must see is the Húsavíkurkirkja (Husavik Church). It's very close to the harbor, and it's a beautiful landmark that you cannot miss. Húsavíkurkirkja is a white and green wooden building built in 1907, featuring a deep green steeple.

Back when it first opened, it could seat all of the towns inhabitants (Husavik's current population is around 2600 people). Though we did not venture inside, you can visit for free from 9am-11am and 3pm-5pm daily in June, July, and August.

Things to Do in Husavik: The Husavik Whale Museum

Speaking of whale imagery on buildings, this one is covered in whales...and for good reason. It's the Hvalasafnið á Húsavík (Husavik Whale Museum), and it's one of the best things to do in Husavik.

The Husavik Whale Museum, founded in 1997, serves as an educational component to accompany whale watching trips from the town. It aims to provide a comprehensive background with intriguing information about cetaceans. The building itself is an abandoned slaughterhouse, re-purposed and designed as a museum. It's now one of the most visited places in Husavik.

There are several whale skeletons to check out. Please note that no whales were killed for the museum - the bones of deceased whales are used for this display. Some of the whale skeletons are gigantic. In particular, there's an enormous skeleton of a blue whale, a cetacean that frequents this region of Iceland.

It really puts into perspective just how massive whales truly are. It's nearly impossible to photograph the entire set of bones in one frame. You just have to see it with your own eyes.

Children's Whale School

There's also an educational component for local school children at the Husavik Whale Museum. It's called the Children's Whale School, and it aims to educate children of all ages (from Kindergarden to University) about whales. Whales are such a vital aspect of living in the town, and it's important that Husavik's citizens grow up learning about these majestic creatures.

Children will visit the Whale Museum at least four times throughout their school years - in Kindergarden, 2nd grade, 5th grade, and 9th grade. There's an exhibition at the museum devoted entirely to the art created by children attending the Children's Whale School.

You can see drawings made by second graders, small sculptures created by those in grade five, and even small works of art by children with special needs. It's very reassuring that the children of Husavik will grow up with a deep appreciation for whales and wildlife conservation. It must also be so exciting for them to see their art on display in a museum.

There's also some short films about whales, and you can purchase books about them, too. If you decide to check out a museum in town, make sure you pay a visit to the Husavik Whale Museum. It's educational, fascinating, and fun!

Best Things to Do in Husavik: Go Whale Watching

This is the main reason why we traveled to Husavik, and why it likely appears on your Iceland road trip bucket list, too. Whale watching is truly one of the best things to do in Husavik, Iceland. After all, this is the whale watching capital of the country.

As we demonstrated in our full review of the Iceland whale watching tour, we had an amazing day. Although there are several whale watching companies in Husavik, we booked our tour with North Sailing. Why did we choose this company over the others?

First, this is home to the "Original Húsavík Whale Watching Tour" and I appreciate choosing a renowned company with excellent practices. The main reason why we chose this whale watching tour in Husavik is due to its eco-friendly, sustainable, and responsible practices towards the wildlife.

There's an excellent chance that you'll see many species of whales in their natural environment. In the summer months, there's nearly a 96% chance of spotting whales. In the winter, there's a 92% chance of viewing whales. Those are pretty great odds, and it's truly the best spot for spotting humpback whales, minke whales and more in their natural habitat.

This half day journey enabled us to view adorable puffins as we sailed past Puffin Island. Then, we spotted so many whales, with many surfacing so close to our boat. This tour was one of the most memorable aspects of our Iceland trip and it's an unforgettable experience. If you love animals and wildlife, it's not to be missed.

Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths

Iceland has a longstanding tradition of bathing in its natural geothermal waters. Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths allows you to soak in rejuvenating waters that combine mineral-rich seawater and heat from the Earth's core. Essentially, it's a wonderful hot springs bath resort with an epic view.

The healing waters are packed with minerals and the warm water relaxes the muscles and stimulates circulation within the body. There's also a steam room on site, as well as a swim-up bar where you can enjoy a soft drink or alcoholic beverage in the warm geothermal water.

Geosea sits on a western-facing cliffside where you can admire views of Skjalfandi Bay and the Arctic Circle. It's possible that you might spot a whale or two while you relax in the natural beauty of the region, and it's the perfect location for viewing the northern lights in the wintertime. There's an endless amount of beautiful scenery. Book your tickets to Geosea here.

The Eurovision Museum

While Husavik was well known as a whale watching town for decades, the 2020 Netflix Comedy, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, made the town even more famous. Husavik is now known as "the Eurovision town" as the hometown of Lars and Sigrid (Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams). Visiting the Eurovision Museum is one of the best things to do in Husavik.

A local resident of Husavik decided to open a small museum and bar/cafe called Jaja Ding Dong, named after the song in the movie. The museum covers the history of Iceland competing in the real Eurovision contest, and there's also some memorabilia from the film as contributed by Netflix.

Enjoy a Meal or a Coffee Break in Husavik

Justin and I didn't dine in Husavik, though we did stop for coffee. We stopped at a restaurant next to the North Sailing, Gamli Baukur, which is situated inside a unique building constructed entirely out of driftwood found along the coastline of Husavik. The restaurant has a few vegan entrees, as well as a vegan special each day, like burgers, tacos and pasta. There's also oat milk for coffee.

Lemon is a juice bar with several establishments around Iceland. In addition to juices, there's also a spicy vegan falafel sandwich that I've heard is quite tasty.

As we were heading out of town and towards our cottage near Akureyri for the night, I suggest visiting the local Netto grocery store for some groceries. It's right across the street from the North Sailing ticket office.

There are some meals for takeaway, and you'll find lots of ingredients to prepare a small picnic. Netto sells vegan cheese and bread, granola bars, fruit, and vegan chocolate bars. We bought ingredients there to make dinner at our cottage that evening.

Visit Húsavík öl (Local Brewery)

This one is for the craft beer fans out there. Húsavík öl is a micro brewery in Husavik where you can stop by to savor a pint. They've won international awards for their beer, and there's also an emphasis on using local ingredients like blueberries and herbs. They occasionally have food pop-up events, as well as other special events at the brewery.

Getting There

We highly recommend that you rent a car in Iceland. It gives you the freedom to go wherever you'd like to go. In the land of the midnight sun, we visited some places later at night because there was still plenty of daylight (we traveled to Iceland in June).

I recommend using Discover Cars to compare the rates of car rentals in Iceland. Their booking site is so easy to navigate. Enter the dates of travel and where you'd like to pick up the rental car (the most popular spots are the Keflavik airport or downtown Reykjavik).

Looking for more things to do near Husavik and the surrounding area? Husavik is part of the Diamond Circle, the north's version of the south's popular Golden Circle tour. Some of the best attractions include Lake Myvatn, Namafjall Hverir geothermal area, Dettifoss, Godafoss, and several other sites.

Want to see more photos of Husavik?

View all of our travel photography in one place! You can browse and buy any of our pictures in the form of canvas prints, things for the home, and more!

View All Photos Here

Where to Stay in Husavik, Iceland

Justin and I didn't spend the night in Husavik. We stopped here as a full day trip between Lake Myvatn and Akureyri. We stayed at a cottage outside of Akureyri called Ytri Vik Cottages. It's a beautiful collection of wooden huts with hot tubs, facing the spectacular mountains. We truly adored staying here and I highly recommend you check it out. Read our full review or book your stay here.

If you are looking to stay in Husavik, there are a few properties that I'm sure you will love. There aren't as many places to stay in Husavik, so you may need to book early (especially if you're travelling in the summertime). Try the Husavik Apartments, Fosshotel Husavik, and Svartaborg.

You can also use the handy map below to find a place to stay in Husavik. It displays all hotels, apartments and vacation rentals in one place. Enter your travel dates for more accurate information, and click on each property to learn more and book your stay.

Best Things to Do in Husavik Iceland in a Day

Fun Facts About Husavik