הוסאוויק

Whale watching runs in the lighter, warmer months, with long days and cool weather. Humpback, minke and blue whales are all seen in the bay, but no sighting is guaranteed, so check with tour operators about the season.

Winter is dark, cold and snowy. Fewer tours run, and some roads can be icy. Clear winter nights give a chance to see the northern lights. In July the town holds its Sweet Days (Mærudagar) festival.

• Whale watching tours leave from the harbour in the town centre. Boats go out into Skjálfandi Bay, and trips usually last a few hours. Book ahead in summer.
• The Húsavík Whale Museum is in a former slaughterhouse by the harbour. It shows whale skeletons and exhibits on North Atlantic whales. It is a good first stop to learn what you may see at sea.
• Húsavíkurkirkja is a wooden church from 1907, built from Norwegian timber, in the town centre a short walk from the harbour.
• The Exploration Museum tells the story of exploration, from Vikings to polar expeditions. It also covers the astronauts who trained in northern Iceland in the 1960s.
• GeoSea geothermal sea baths overlook Skjálfandi Bay, a relaxing stop after a day at sea.

• By air: Most international visitors land at Keflavík (KEF) near Reykjavik. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger flights is Akureyri Airport (AEY), about 90 km away. It has domestic flights from Reykjavik.
• By bus: Strætó route 79 links Akureyri and Húsavík in a little over an hour. It runs year-round with only a few departures a day, and timetables change by season, so check them on Strætó before you travel.
• By car: From Akureyri, take Route 1 through the Vaðlaheiði tunnel, then Route 85 to Húsavík. The distance is about 90 km. A toll applies in the tunnel and is paid online. A car is the easiest way to reach Mývatn, Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss. In winter, check road conditions on Road conditions.

Quick practical facts for Iceland at a glance: