Wooden boats moored in Húsavík harbour, with the town's white wooden church and a green hillside behind

Wildlife · Húsavík, North Iceland

Húsavík whale watching

Harbour town on Skjálfandi Bay, known as Iceland's whale-watching capital

Photo: Maarten Wijnants (@maartenwijnants) / Unsplash

Discover Húsavík whale watching

Húsavík is a small harbour town on the eastern shore of Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, with snow-streaked mountains across the water and a wooden church at its heart. It is widely called the whale capital of Iceland: several companies run whale-watching tours from the harbour, and the bay is regularly visited by many species of whales and dolphins.

Beyond the boats, the town has a whale museum displaying a blue whale skeleton, geothermal sea baths overlooking the bay and an easy, walkable centre. It forms one corner of the Diamond Circle route, with Lake Mývatn and Dettifoss within reach.

Don’t miss

01Whale-watching trips on Skjálfandi Bay from the harbour
02Húsavík Whale Museum with a 22 m blue whale skeleton
03Húsavík Church, consecrated in 1907, with a 26 m tower
04Geothermal sea baths overlooking the bay
05Puffin colonies in and around the bay in summer

History & culture

The story of Húsavík whale watching

Húsavík has a strong claim to be one of the oldest settlements in Iceland. The Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson is said to have spent a winter here around 870, and the name, meaning bay of houses, may refer to his homestead. A man called Náttfari stayed behind and established a farm.

For centuries the town lived from trade and fishing. The wooden Húsavík church was consecrated in 1907 and remains its best-known landmark. In more recent decades whale watching has transformed the local economy, and the Húsavík Whale Museum, founded in 1997, documents the whales of Skjálfandi Bay. The town also gained international attention as the setting of the 2020 film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Local life & traditions

Húsavík is the largest town in its district and a service centre for the farms and villages around it. Life still revolves around the harbour, where fishing boats share the quay with whale-watching vessels. The community has embraced its role as a whale-watching hub while keeping a strong connection to the sea and to traditions of coastal North Iceland.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Whale-watching tours leave the harbour throughout the main season, run by several local companies on different types of boat. Sightings depend on nature and are never guaranteed, so check each operator's trip length, what is included and their policy if no whales are seen.

On land, visit the Whale Museum to understand what you might see, stroll around the harbour and church, and finish with a soak in the geothermal sea baths. The Húsavík Museum covers the folk and maritime history of the region.

When to go

The main whale-watching season runs through the warmer months, roughly spring to autumn, with summer offering the most departures, calmer seas and long daylight. Puffins are present around the bay in summer. Some operators run limited trips outside the main season, weather permitting. Check current schedules with operators.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Whale species: Up to 23 whale species, including the blue whale, can be found in or around Skjálfandi Bay. Source: northiceland.is ↗
Whale Museum: Founded in 1997; displays a 22 m long blue whale skeleton. Source: northiceland.is ↗
Getting there: Served by Húsavík Airport and part of the Diamond Circle route in North Iceland. Source: northiceland.is ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Dress in warm, windproof layers; it is cold on the water even in summer.
Take seasickness precautions if you are prone to it, especially on RIB tours.
Book a morning trip so you have a second chance later in the trip if the weather turns.
Choose operators who follow responsible whale-watching practices and keep a respectful distance.
Bring binoculars and keep the camera ready; whales can surface briefly.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Húsavík whale watching: food, markets & places to stay

The harbour area has cafés and shops, and the town has a supermarket, fuel, a geothermal swimming pool and accommodation. Lake Mývatn is to the south, Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss to the east and Akureyri to the south-west, all reachable by car.