Húsavík, with a population of 2,400, has undergone significant transformation in recent years. Originally known for its maritime heritage and fishing industry, Húsavík has gained international recognition as the ‘Whale Watching Capital of Europe’.

The town’s reputation is not only due to the number and variety of whales seen in Skjálfandi Bay but also because many tours are conducted on beautifully restored oak fishing boats. The Húsavík Whale Museum, located by the harbour, offers a unique insight into the habitat and life of these ocean giants.

While open-air folk museums are common in Iceland, the one in Húsavík is considered among the best. The town’s church is also a beloved landmark for people across the country. Built in the shape of a cross, the wooden church was erected in 1906-07 and features a 26-metre steeple over the entrance, visible from throughout the town and the bay.

Beyond the town, visitors can explore the scenic beauty of Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland’s prettiest and most popular holiday destinations. Húsavík also serves as an ideal base for trips to Jökulsárgljúfur in Vatnajökull National Park, home to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall.

From its charming harbour and cultural landmarks to its proximity to natural wonders, Húsavík offers a perfect blend of history, adventure, and natural beauty.

Húsavík Town
Passengers can stroll around Húsavík Church, regarded by many Icelanders to be the most beautiful wooden church in the country.
A visit to the Museum-House offers an insight into the local community.
It is made up of the District Folk Museum and the Maritime Museum, along with a natural history collection, the district archives, and a selection of paintings.
The geothermally heated outdoor pool, with hot tubs and a steam bath, are very popular, as are the numerous shops.
One of Húsavík’s best-kept secrets is the beautifully maintained park which runs alongside the river, Búðará.
Just at the south edge of town is a challenging nine-hole golf course.
Further afield, tours are available to Lake Mývatn through Laxárdalur and Laxárvirkjun for camping, with approximately 45 minutes’ drive southwest to Goðafoss waterfall.
North of Húsavík, the Tjörnes peninsula is known for fossilized seashells from previous times.
Jökulsárgljúfur is a bit closer at 10 km northeast of the national park.
Nearby is Dettifoss, 44 meters high, it has a staggering average flow of 100 cubic meters per second.
Close by lies the Ásbyrgi canyon, which is believed to be the capital city of the elves or “hidden people” (huldufólk) who live in cracks within the surrounding cliffs.
Less than half a day’s drive from Húsavík, in the interior wilderness, are some well-known places of interest, such as the vast lava terrains around Herðubreiðarlindir, the volcanic caldera Askja, and Kverkfjöll, a geothermal area on the northern edge of Vatnajökull.
All these attractions, and more, are part of the magnificent Diamond Circle that stretches about 260 km around northeast Iceland.

Whale Watching Tour and The Whale Centre
While the leading industries in Húsavík are fishing and fish processing, tourism has proliferated in the last few years.
Whale-watching tours aboard beautifully renovated oak fishing boats are an unforgettable adventure, and the Húsavík Whale Centre is Iceland’s only museum dedicated to the study and appreciation of these amazing mammals.
Fact-filled and well-explained displays inform and enthral people of all ages.

Geo Sea
For centuries, the geothermal heat north of Húsavík has been known to residents, who have utilized it for bathing and washing.
Drilling for hot water at Húsavíkurhöfði in the mid-20th century revealed water that turned out to be hot seawater, too rich in minerals to be suitable for heating houses.
GeoSea sea baths enable you to enjoy nature uniquely.
Thanks to the underground heat, the seawater in the baths is warm and comfortable, and the mineral-rich water will caress your skin.
While the warm sea works its miracles, you can enjoy the view of the mountain range to the west, Skjálfandi Bay beneath the cliffs, and the Arctic Circle on the horizon.
Due to its great popularity and the limited number of guests per day, it is strongly recommended that guests reserve your visit in advance online.

Lake Mývatn and Mývatn Nature Baths
Located in the heart of Northeast Iceland, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, Lake Mývatn, with its unique nature and rich birdlife, is one of Europe's greatest natural treasures.
The Diamond Circle travels through Mývatn area and includes many of the countries must-see.
At Mývatn, you will find Mývatn Nature Baths, which has grown to be one of the biggest companies in Mývatn area.
Drawing on a centuries-old tradition, the tastefully designed complex offers bathers a completely natural experience that begins with a relaxing dip amidst clouds of steam rising from a fissure deep in the Earth´s surface and ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2.
500 meters.
The use of geothermal water for bathing and steam baths has been a part of the lives of locals in Mývatn area since the settlement of Iceland.
According to the Icelandic Sagas, Guðmundur the Good, a bishop in Iceland, consecrated a steam bath in the early 12th century and recommended bathing there - as well as Bishop Gísli Oddsson, who claimed it to be cleansing and very healthy.

Diamond Cricle
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.
Húsavík is the main town and the obvious starting and ending point of the Diamond Circle.
It is famous worldwide for its great whale-watching but there are several other good attractions and reasons for coming here, to one of the most charming towns of Iceland, making it an excellent base to explore the Diamond.

Goðafoss Waterfall
The Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland.
The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters to a width of 30 meters.
The ring road passes the waterfall, with parking available on both sides of the river and paved walking paths to viewing platforms.
The history of the waterfall is connected to the conversion of Icelanders to Christianity.
Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, the country's law speaker, decided that the country's official religion should be Christianity as pressure grew from other European countries with Norwegians at the forefront.
The original Icelandic settlers mainly were Norwegians, and to keep the peace, Þorgeir decided on conversion.
Afterwards, he threw his idols of the Old Norse religion gods into the waterfall.
The Icelandic word for gods is goð, and so the waterfall has been called Goðafoss ever since.