Things to Do in Húsavík: Whale Watching, the Exploration Museum, the Whale Museum and Húsavík Church

Húsavík is the oldest settlement in Iceland, and its harbor on Skjálfandi Bay is where the boats leave for the whales. The town is known as the Whale Capital of Iceland, so a whale-watching tour comes first. The Exploration Museum and the Húsavík Whale Museum are the two stops to add to it.

At a glance

• Top sights to see first: whale-watching tours, the Exploration Museum, the Húsavík Whale Museum
• Whale-watching season (North Sailing, Original tour): March 1 to November 30
• Length of a North Sailing tour: 3 hours (3.5 hours for Whales & Puffins)
• Puffin tour season: April 16 to August 19
• Midnight Sun Whale Watching: June 1 to July 31

What are the best things to do in Húsavík?

Whale watching from the harbor

Over 7 whale species visit Skjálfandi Bay during the summer.

North Sailing runs the Húsavík Original Whale Watching tour from March 1 to November 30, for 3 hours. The Silent Whale Watching tour runs from May 1 to September 30, also for 3 hours. Whales & Puffins sails from April 16 to August 19 and lasts 3.5 hours. Húsavík Adventures runs Midnight Sun Whale Watching from June 1 to July 31. Pick the tour that matches your month, and book ahead in summer.

The Exploration Museum

The Exploration Museum is dedicated to the history of human exploration. Its main exhibition covers Apollo astronaut training near Húsavík in 1965 and 1967.

The Húsavík Whale Museum

The Húsavík Whale Museum was founded in 1997. It exhibits 11 full whale skeletons, including a blue whale.

It makes a good indoor stop before or after a boat tour, so you know what you’re looking for out on the bay. Check opening hours locally before you go.

Húsavík Museum

Húsavík Museum, also called Safnahúsið, has two permanent exhibitions. “Daily Life and Nature” covers the years 1850 to 1950, and the other is the Maritime Museum.

The museum is at Stórigarður 17. Pair it with the harbor, since the maritime exhibition fits the town’s history on the water.

The Eurovision Song Contest Exhibition

The Eurovision Song Contest Exhibition is at Húsavík Cape Hotel, Höfði 24. The Eurovision Museum opened in 2021.

It sits at the hotel, so plan it as a separate stop from the harbor and the museums. Skip it if Eurovision holds no interest, since the other museums cover the town’s whales, sea and exploration.

Húsavík Church and Húsavíkurfjall

Húsavík Church was consecrated in 1907, and its tower is 85 feet (26 meters) high. Húsavíkurfjall stands 1,368 feet (417 meters) above sea level just behind the town. Lake Botnsvatn lies just southeast of the town and covers 1.05 square kilometers (0.4 square miles).

The church is an easy stop in town. For the mountain and the lake, wait for a clear day so the view over the bay is worth the effort. Gamli Baukur restaurant, at the harbor, is a natural place to end the day.

When is the best time to visit Húsavík for sightseeing?

Summer is the easiest season for sightseeing: July has a high of 58°F (14°C) and a low of 45°F (7°C), and all the North Sailing tours are running, along with the Midnight Sun tour in June and July. May reaches 51°F (11°C) in the afternoon, and Silent Whale Watching starts then. Winter is cold, with a January high of 34°F (1°C) and a low of 24°F (-4°C), and only the Original tour sails from March, so winter visits are better spent in the museums.

Beaches and outdoor things to do in Húsavík

The water is the main outdoor draw in Húsavík. Boat tours on Skjálfandi Bay are the way to see the whales, and Gentle Giants has offered tours from Húsavík since 2002. Dress warmly even in July, when the high is 58°F (14°C).

The GeoSea sea baths overlook Skjálfandi Bay and the Arctic Circle to the north. A soak there works well after a cold morning on a boat.

Day trips from Húsavík

Húsavík is on the Diamond Circle tourist route, which makes it a stop on a longer loop through the north.

Flatey Island lies in Skjálfandi Bay, 14.7 nautical miles from Húsavík.

Things to do in Húsavík at night

Mærudagar, the Candy Days town festival, takes place on the last weekend of July. The Explorers Festival runs from November 19 to 22, 2026, and the first Húsavík Youth Film Festival is on February 27 and 28, 2027.

In June and July, the Midnight Sun Whale Watching tour turns the late evening into an outing on the bay.

Things to do in Húsavík with kids

Children get the most from a boat tour, since Over 7 whale species visit during the summer.

A 3-hour tour is a long time on deck for small children, so dress them warmly and bring a hat.