Húsavík sits on the Skjálfandi Bay in north Iceland and has earned a reputation well beyond its size of around 2,000 people. It is the best base in Iceland for whale watching - the warm currents of the bay attract humpbacks, minkes, and occasionally blue whales from late May through October - and it also holds the best whale museum in the country and one of the most unusual geothermal baths. The question of where to stay matters here because the town is small enough that proximity to the harbour genuinely changes your experience, especially on early departure mornings.
Getting to Húsavík
Húsavík Airport (HZK) is a small domestic airport on the edge of town. Eagle Air operates summer scheduled services from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RVK), with the flight taking around 40–45 minutes. Frequency is typically 3–5 departures per week in high season. A taxi from HZK to the town centre costs approximately ISK 2,000–3,000 - the distance is short enough that some properties will arrange a pickup if you contact them directly. You can also pre-book a whale watching tour at the same time as your accommodation - the best departure slots sell out weeks ahead in peak season.
Outside the summer season, flights from HZK become infrequent or suspend entirely. The more reliable option year-round is flying into Akureyri Airport (AEY) - 90km west of Húsavík, around 1 hour 15 minutes by road - where car hire is available at the terminal and multiple daily Reykjavík flights operate. This is the better arrival point for anyone visiting in September through May.
By road from Reykjavík, Húsavík is approximately 490km - a 5–6 hour drive on routes 1 and 85. The drive through the Lake Mývatn area (approximately 60km south of Húsavík) is worthwhile but adds time if you are trying to drive straight through.
The Town - How It’s Laid Out
Húsavík is built on a slope above the harbour. The harbour and whale watching pier are at sea level - this is where the tours depart and where the fishing boats tie up. The Whale Museum (Húsavíkurhöfn) sits directly on the harbour, in a restored whale-oil processing plant. Entry costs approximately ISK 2,500 as of 2026.
The town centre and main street (Garðarsbraut) runs parallel to the harbour on slightly higher ground. Restaurants, the supermarket, and most guesthouses are concentrated here or in the streets between Garðarsbraut and the waterfront.
GeoSea, the geothermal sea bath, is on a headland above the harbour to the north of the town - approximately a 15–20 minute uphill walk from the pier. The Húsavík Cape Hotel is the accommodation closest to GeoSea. Entry costs approximately ISK 4,500 as of 2026; the facility is open year-round and the views across Skjálfandi Bay toward the Kinnarfjöll mountains are the best of any geothermal bath in Iceland after the Blue Lagoon.
Budget Accommodation in Húsavík (Under ISK 25,000)
Árból Guesthouse is a centrally located family-run property offering rooms in the ISK 18,000–26,000 range. It is the kind of guesthouse that has been operating in the same family for decades - communal breakfast included, hosts who genuinely know the area, and a straightforward level of comfort without design-hotel pretensions. For solo travellers or couples on a tight budget who still want a private room, this is the best option in town.
Húsavík Camping (open late May through early September) charges approximately ISK 1,500–2,000 per person per night. The site has basic washing facilities and is positioned within walking distance of the harbour. It is the cheapest way to base yourself in Húsavík for whale watching, though the comfort difference from a guesthouse is obvious and the weather in even midsummer Húsavík can be cold and windy by morning.
Several self-catering apartments have appeared through short-term rental platforms in recent years - these can be competitive in the ISK 20,000–26,000 range for the whole unit, which makes them excellent value for two people or a small group.
Mid-Range Hotels in Húsavík (ISK 26,000–42,000)
Hótel Húsavík is the core mid-range option in the town centre. Doubles run approximately ISK 26,000–36,000 in summer, with rates dropping substantially outside season. The hotel is a few minutes’ walk from the harbour - close enough that you can hear the boats in the morning. Rooms are comfortable without being exceptional; the restaurant covers breakfast well.
Húsavík Cape Hotel sits at a slight elevation above the harbour, giving it better views and a marginally quieter setting than properties right on Garðarsbraut. Double rates run approximately ISK 28,000–40,000 in peak season. The position between the town centre and GeoSea makes it the best base if the geothermal baths are a priority alongside whale watching. The walk downhill to the harbour takes around 10 minutes.
Both properties discount by 30–40% in the shoulder months of May and September, and the difference between summer and winter rates can approach 50%.
Splurge Options in Húsavík (ISK 38,000–55,000)
Fosshotel Húsavík is the most polished property in town and the one closest to the whale watching pier - approximately 5 minutes on foot. Upper-floor rooms have direct harbour views across to the mountains of the Kinnarfjöll range. Double rates run approximately ISK 30,000–42,000 in peak summer - positioned at the top of the local mid-range rather than a true luxury tier. The hotel has a restaurant with a stronger menu than most in the north, and booking a room here means you can walk to your morning whale watching departure without a taxi or time pressure.
For higher-end stays requiring more privacy or space, self-catering options on the slopes above town - some with direct sea views - are increasingly available and can reach ISK 50,000+ per night for larger units during peak summer.
Day Trips That Justify Staying Longer
Húsavík earns its keep as a multi-night base for the northeast corner of Iceland:
Lake Mývatn is 60km south on Route 87 - approximately 1 hour’s drive. The geothermal fields, pseudo-craters, nesting ducks, and the Dimmuborgir lava formations fill a full day without difficulty. The Mývatn Nature Baths, a geothermal pool with far fewer visitors than the Blue Lagoon, are here too. Lake Mývatn day tours are available if you prefer not to self-drive the volcanic interior.
Ásbyrgi Canyon is 55km northeast on Route 85 - a horseshoe-shaped canyon formed by a catastrophic glacial outburst flood, now covered in birch and sheltering Arctic foxes. It is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and one of the most atmospherically unusual landscapes in the north.
Dettifoss (the most powerful waterfall in Europe) is accessible from Húsavík via a 90km drive - Route 862 from the Ring Road takes you to the west rim parking area. Allow a full day combined with Ásbyrgi.
Seasonal Pricing and What It Means for Booking
Húsavík’s accommodation prices track the whale watching season closely. The peak months of June, July, and August see rates at their highest, with demand driven by tour bookings rather than general tourism - people come specifically to see the whales, they book a date-specific tour, and then they need a bed.
Book accommodation 6–8 weeks ahead for July - the best rooms at Fosshotel and Húsavík Cape Hotel do fill. In a very busy summer, even Árból Guesthouse can show no availability.
The GeoSea baths are open year-round, which means there is a small but real winter market for Húsavík stays. Rates in November through February are typically 40–50% below peak, and the baths are a genuinely pleasant experience in winter - warm water, snow on the hills, the bay dark and still.
The shoulder period of May and September is the best value window that still allows whale watching. Early-season (May) tours have slightly lower sighting certainty than peak summer; September is statistically very good for humpbacks as they feed hard before moving south.
Useful Links
- Húsavík city guide - whale watching operators, restaurants, and local tips
- Best hotels in Iceland - top picks nationwide
- Guesthouses in Iceland - family-run B&Bs across the country