Husavik turned whaling into whale-watching, and a Will Ferrell Eurovision film set here earned the song 'Husavik' an Oscar nomination, putting the tiny port on the map.
About Húsavík
Husavik has lived from the sea for centuries, and as commercial whaling declined it reinvented itself as Iceland's whale-watching hub, sending traditional oak boats out into Skjalfandi Bay. The 2020 Eurovision comedy, filmed and set in the town, and its Oscar-nominated song gave Husavik an unexpected burst of global fame.
Husavik is a small harbour town on Skjalfandi
Bay in north Iceland, widely regarded as the whale-watching capital of the country and of Europe. From its old wooden boats, visitors head out into the bay to see humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins and, with luck, the occasional blue whale, against a backdrop of snow-streaked mountains.
“Bay in north Iceland, widely regarded as the whale-watching capital of the country and of Europe.”
From Whaling to Watching
Husavik turned its whaling heritage into a watching industry, and the cold, plankton-rich waters of Skjalfandi Bay deliver some of the highest success rates for sightings anywhere in Europe. The town leaned further into its identity when the 2020 film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga set its story here, and its song 'Husavik' earned an Academy Award nomination, putting the little port on screens worldwide.
The Experience
You board a wooden boat from the striking harbour, often handed a warm overall against the cold, and head into the wide bay. Humpbacks are the stars, breaching and showing their flukes, while minke whales and dolphins are common and the rare blue whale is the prize. The town itself charms with its harbour, a fine whale museum and a striking wooden church.
Why It Matters
Husavik is the heart of Icelandic whale watching and a model of a town turning hunting heritage into conservation-minded tourism. Its film fame added a layer of pop-culture identity that few small Arctic ports can claim, drawing visitors who arrive humming the song.
Why Visit
Go for Europe's best-odds whale watching from a historic harbour, a strong whale museum and the town's surprise Eurovision film fame. A half-day covers a tour and the town.
Insider Tips
- 1
Book a whale-watching tour between April and October for the best sightings.
- 2
Dress very warm; the bay is cold even in summer, though boats often lend overalls.
- 3
Visit the Husavik Whale Museum for context before or after a tour.
- 4
It anchors the Diamond Circle, so combine it with Asbyrgi and Dettifoss.
