Húsavík Overview

Europe’s premier whale-watching destination, Húsavík (WHO-saah-veek; pop. 2400) has attractions ranging from the majestic to the bizarre. Erected in 1974,   The Icelandic Phallological Museum, Hédinsbraut 3A, is hard to miss with the giant phallus that greets passersby. The collection includes over 200 specimens and the penises of over 90 species—from the 2mm hamster specimen to the sperm whale’s 70kg behemoth. Don’t miss the folklore section, which displays a merman penis and two different types of ghost penises (yes, they are visible). See if you can spot the elusive elf member. (☎868 7966; www.phallus.is. Open from mid-May to mid-Sept. daily noon-6pm. Call in winter. 300ISK. Cash only.) Farther down Hédinsbraut, the Húsavík Whale Museum, next to the harbor, examines whales in a somewhat different way, with complete skeletons of different cetacean species. (☎464 2520; www.whalemuseum.is. Open daily June-Aug. 9am-7pm; May and Sept. 10am-5pm. 700ISK, students 600ISK. AmEx/MC/V.)   Safnahúsið, Stórigarður 17, features natural history, folk, and maritime museums along with the city archives, library, and an art gallery. (☎464 1860. Open June-Aug. daily 10am-6pm. 500ISK; includes a cup of coffee or juice. Tours available in over 8 languages. Call ahead.) For whale-watching, book a 3hr. tour with Gentle Giants or North Sailing. (Gentle Giants ☎464 1500; www.gentlegiants.is. 4100ISK. AmEx/MC/V. North Sailing ☎464 7272; www.northsailing.is. 4200ISK. AmEx/MC/V. Both run tours May-Sept.; call for hours.)

Guesthouse options are available along Baldursbrekka, the second street on the left when heading north from the bus stop along the main harbor road. Emhild K. Olsen , on the harbor, is famous for its shrimp and salmon dishes. (☎464 2551. Entrees from 1250ISK. Pizzas from 1450ISK. Open from mid-May to mid-Sept. 11:30am-11pm. In winter until 9pm. Bar open until 1am M-Th and Su and until 3am F-Sa. MC/V.)

Trex (☎461 1106; www.trex.is) buses run to Akureyri (1hr., 3 per day, 2300ISK) from the gas station at Hédinsbraut 2, on the main street north of the harbor. SBA (☎550 0700; www.sba.is) offers bus tours of the area. Buses leave the harbor for Reynihild on Lake Mývatn (45min., June-Aug. 2 per day, 1800ISK). The tourist office, Garðarsbraut 7, is next door to the Kasko supermarket. (☎464 4300. Open from mid-May to mid-Sept. M-F 9am-6pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm.)