Húsavíkurkirkja is the wooden parish church of Húsavík, a fishing and whale-watching town in Northeast Iceland. It was built in 1907 to a design by the Icelandic architect Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, in the Nordic timber style. The church stands above the harbour and is visible from out on the bay. It is still in use for marriages, baptisms and funerals, and the inside is open to view.
Húsavíkurkirkja
Built of wood in 1907, the church is visible from out on the bay — boats on whale-watching trips can see it above the docks.
- Entrance
- No ticket. Donations are taken by card at the entrance.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance.
- Parking
- Wheelchair-accessible parking.
- Transport
- Walkable — Húsavík main street, above the harbour
- Address
- Garðarsbraut 11, 640 Húsavík
What makes it special
The church is wood, not concrete, and from the water it is what marks Húsavík. Boats on whale-watching trips pick out the white walls and the spire above the docks. Húsavíkurkirkja was built in 1907 to a design by the Icelandic architect Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, in the Nordic timber style. The inside is open to view. It is also a parish church in use: marriages, baptisms and funerals are held here, and the congregation holds its annual meeting in the building.
Good to know
- Inside: The church is open to view inside. Not everyone gets in — one visitor recorded walking past without the chance to see the interior.
- No ticket: A card reader for donations stands at the entrance.
- A working church: Marriages, baptisms and funerals are held here, and the congregation holds its annual meeting in the building.
- Name: Map apps list it as Húsavík Wooden Church; the Icelandic name is Húsavíkurkirkja.
Getting there
Húsavíkurkirkja stands above the harbour in Húsavík, and the walk along the harbour front brings you to it. It is a town-centre church rather than a drive-out sight: people come past it while walking the town, not as a separate trip. From the water it works the other way round — it is the marker above the docks, and boats returning from whale watching have it in view.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside Húsavíkurkirkja?
Yes, the interior is open to view. It is also a working church — marriages, baptisms and funerals are held here, and one visitor recorded walking past without the chance to get in.Is there an admission charge?
No ticket is quoted. A card reader for donations stands at the entrance.When was the church built, and who designed it?
It was built in 1907, of timber, to a design by the Icelandic architect Rögnvaldur Ólafsson. The style is Nordic.Is the church wheelchair accessible?
The entrance is wheelchair accessible, and there is wheelchair-accessible parking.Where does the church stand in Húsavík?
Above the harbour, in the town centre. It is visible from the docks and from out on the bay, where the whale-watching boats work.