Husavik

At the edge of the continental rift, Husavik (translated as “the bay of houses”) was named after the houses of the Viking Gardar and his men in 870 AD before the official settlement of Iceland.
The Husavikurfjall mountain is named after the town and is eye catching in its summer cloak of purple lupines.

At the edge of the Skjalfandi Bay, the town is widely known as the whale watching capital of Iceland. The surrounding waters are home to up to 23 species of whales, and the islands of Lundey and Flatey host a variety of seabirds including the puffin.

Today the town is home to approximately 2200 people and has a charming downtown area with colourful houses, a variety of interesting museums and the GeoSea baths. The pretty wooden church, built in 1907, is the most important landmark of the town.

A whale watching tour from Husavik is always a good choice but many of Iceland’s most incredible natural attractions are a short drive away from this fishing town.
The town is perfectly located as a starting point for a sightseeing loop called the Diamond Circle, which takes you to the volcanic Myvatn lake area, the powerful Dettifoss waterfall and the stunning Asbyrgi canyon.
Off the beaten path options include the Arctic Coast Way to the Melrakkasletta Peninsula and the Arctic Henge at Raufarhofn.