Húsavík Harbor

The harbour works for a living. Fishing boats lie along the quay, and the whale watching boats load from the same water. Skjálfandi Bay is what people come for. Húsavík sits just below the Arctic Circle at 66° N, and mountains carrying snow close the far side of the bay. Whale research runs from these boats. North Sailing, a local operator, carries staff from the Húsavík Whale Museum out each summer to collect photo-identification data. The town stands directly above the water, and its restaurants and shops are a short walk from the quay.

• Toilets: there are toilets at the harbour.
• Payment: cards are accepted here, so you do not need cash.
• Wind: the quay is open to Skjálfandi Bay. Bring a windproof layer.
• Rain: the harbour is entirely outdoors. The town's cafés and shops are a short walk up from the quay.

Húsavík stands on the east shore of Skjálfandi Bay, and the harbour lies at the bottom of the town, where the streets run down to the water. People arrive by car. There is parking at the harbour itself, and the quay begins where the car park ends.

Better: summer, when the whale watching boats are working Skjálfandi Bay.

Avoid: wind and heavy rain — a visit to the harbour is an outdoor visit.

The harbour lies just below the Arctic Circle. In summer the nights stay light, and the quay is as good to walk late in the evening as during the day.