Attraction

A hike or drive (4X4 vehicles) up the Húsavík Mountain rewards an excellent view on a clear day from the top, at 417 m above sea level, of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle, and Vatnajökull to the south, Europe?s largest glacier.

One of our best kept secrets is our beautifully groomed park along the town river, Búðará.  Botanical identification along the wandering pathways and historical sites upstream from the duck pond make the relaxing stroll even more exceptional. Another beautiful botanical secret is located in “Hjartarlundur?.

Just at the south edge of town is a challenging 9-hole golf course.  A few kilometres past that is Saltvík where horseback riding tours are available at your request.  In between the golf course and Saltvík are two warm man-made lagoons, completed in 2000.  Trout fishing is free of charge in one of the lagoons as well as in Lake Botnsvatn, which also is an ideal area for a good hike. It is also possible to join special guided super-jeep tours to the peaceful highland and the wilderness.

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. 

Húsavík is a sporty town inviting plenty of healthy activity.  The geothermal heated outdoor pool, with hot tubs, a steam bath, a children?s pool, and slides, is open for a good workout or a leisurely soak.

Several hiking paths in town are marked, presenting a variety of local features.  For those who like a good workout, combine some of the paths while enjoying the scenery.

A trip to Húsavík isn?t complete without a visit to the Natural History Museum where an exhibit of a polar bear captured on Grímsey in 1969 ensures a memorable visit.  The museum also contains a Folk Museum section and District Archives, Photo Archives dating back to the last century, Icelandic art exhibitions, and the most recent addition, a magnificent Maritime Museum, opened in 2002.  The public library is in the same building as the museum, offering Internet access as well as books, music, videos, magazines and newspapers.

Our beautiful wooden church is open to the public during office hours, from June 1st-August 31st. Húsavík church was built in 1906-1907 in the shape of a cross, with a 26 m high steeple over the entrance in the northwest corner. The building was considered an architectural feat at the time for its shape and size, seating 450 people when the town?s population was about 500.

Two fun-filled festivals are held annually in Hasidic.  Mærudagar (Sweet Days) and the Whale Festival.