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In Húsavík

Slider Húsavík harbour in summer time © Húsavíkurstofa
Húsavík harbour in summer time © Húsavíkurstofa

Everything mentioned on this list is located within walking distance in and around town.

Árholt in winter © Gaukur Hjartarson

Árholt
One of the oldest houses in town, named Árholt, is situated just beneath the dam at Húsavík park. The house is definitely among the most romantic and picturesque buildings in town. Read more>

Geosea

Bathing and Swimming
Being part of a geothermal area Húsavík offers several options for swimming and relaxing in warm water. Read more>

Bird Watching
Kaldbakstjarnir ponds, just south of Húsavík, are home to over 90 species of birds, including the Great Northern Diver and the Horned Grebe. Read more>

Botnsvatn

Botnsvatn Lake
Deep-set beneath the colourful slopes of Húsavík Mountain, a fair distance from civilisation, Lake Botnsvatn is a particularly serene and peaceful location to visit. Read more>

Exploration Museum logo © Exploration Museum

Exploration Museum
The Exploration Museum is closed at the moment. Read more>

The old elementary school in Húsavík © Húsavíkurstofa

Gamli Skólinn Old School
The old schoolhouse in Húsavík dates back to 1908 and served as such until 1960. Read more>

Humpback blows in front of schooner Haukur © North Sailing

Garðar Svavarsson First Settler of Iceland
Garðar Svavarsson was the first settler to arrive in Iceland and erect housing. The winter camp stood where Húsavík is now. Read more>

Geosea

GeoSea
The GeoSea sea baths enables you to enjoy nature in a unique manner. 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 itself on the horizon. Read more>

Handicraft

Handicraft
Húsavík´s number one location to buy traditional Icelandic crafts is right next to the Whale Museum. Kaðlín, directly below the museum, and Prjónakofinn, the little wooden cottage next to it, are great places to buy presents during your stay. Read more>

Húsavík mountain in summer © Húsavíkurstofa

Húsavíkurfjall Húsavík Mountain
Squeezing Húsavík towards Skjálfandi Bay, Húsavík Mountain seems to watch over the town and it plays a major role in the landscape, despite the far from impressive elevation of 417 mt a.s.l. Read more>

Húsavík church

Húsavíkurkirkja Húsavík Church
Adding a distinctly quaint feel to the town, one of the most significant landmarks in Húsavík is the church. Read more>

This figure shows the locations of the major deformation zones in Iceland. The thickest line represents the divergent plate boundary © Wikipedia

Húsavíkurmisgengið Continental Rift
Most people coming to Iceland know about the continental rift at Þingvellir and the possibility to literally hop between continents. What most people do not know is that just a few hundred meters north of Húsavík it is also possible to cross tectonic plates. Read more>

Whale Museum logo © Hvalasafn

Húsavík Whale Museum
The Húsavík Whale Museum is one of the few museums in the world solely dedicated to whales. Inside lies a fantastic cross-section of the marine mammals that inhabit the Icelandic coastlines. The highlight of the museum is the 23m long skeleton of a Blue Whale. Read more>

Observation hut at Kaldsbakstjörn © Húsavíkurstofa

Kaldbakstjarnir Lake/ Goldfish Ponds
Offering fantastic views back towards Husavik Mountain and across the bay to Flateyjarskagi Peninsula, the lakes of Kaldbakstjarnir are a wonderful place to take a walk at any time of year and a great spot for bird-watching. Read more>

Guests enjoying the sunshine at Salka restaurant

Kaupfélag Þingeyingar
The first co-operative in Iceland was founded on 20. February 1882 close to Húsavík. The co-operative brought many changes and innovations to Húsavík and surrounding. Read more>

Kvíabekkur as it looks today © Húsavíkurstofa

Kvíabekkur Turf House
Kvíabekkur was built in turf in 1893 by Baldína Hallgrímsdóttir and her husband Jósep Kristjánsson. The remains of the house can still be seen today and are slowly being restored. Read more>

1906-Skiing-Aija-Kotleva-5

Nikulás Buch
Who would have thought that the first documented skiing school in the world was founded in Húsavík in 1777 – with special permission of the Danish king? Read more>

Menningarmiðstöð Þingeyinga logo © Menningarmiðstöð Þingeyinga

Safnahúsið Húsavík Museum
Everyday ephemera jutted up next to squiffy-looking stuffed rodents, this is a great place to delve deeper into Iceland´s history and learn how-on-earth people survived in such challenging conditions all those years ago. Read more>

First bathtub of Húsavík © Húsavíkurstofa

Sel
The first bathtub that came to Húsavík in 1930 is still on display and odorant with a fresh smell of flowers. Read more>

Shorebirds by Sigurjón Pálsson

Shorebirds
The shorebirds became a design icon known around the world for their minimalistic simple design. Their designer Sigurjón Pálsson is born and raised in Húsavík. Read more>

Orca in Skjálfandi Bay © Belen Garcia Ovide, Gentle Giants

Skjálfandi Flói Shaky Bay
Shaky Bay or Skjálfandi Flói is a large bay on the north coast of Iceland, known around the world for its wildlife, especially its whales. Read more>

In summertime the park is in full blossom © Húsavíkurstofa

Skrúðgarður Húsavík Park
For those looking for a gentle stroll, the town’s park (Skrúðgarður) is an attractive place to visit at any time of year. Small wooden bridges criss-cross the bubbling brook of Búðara, while picnic benches offer spots to sit a while and enjoy the view. Read more>

Húsavík lighthouse overlooking Skjálfandi Bay © Húsavíkurstofa

Viti Húsavík Lighthouse
The lighthouse stand at the edge of a cliff 49m above see-level and offers a great view over the bay. Read more>