Húsavík punches well above its weight for a town of 2,000 people. It has the best whale watching in Iceland — some argue in all of Europe — and a cluster of small but genuinely excellent museums that reward a longer stay than most visitors plan. The town sits on a wide bay where cold nutrient-rich waters draw humpbacks and minkes in extraordinary numbers from May through October. Beyond the water, the wooden church on the hill is one of the most photographed buildings in north Iceland, and a surprising monument to American space exploration sits just off the main street.
Allow at least one full day here, more if you want to combine a whale watching trip with the museums at a comfortable pace. Many travelers use Húsavík as a base for the nearby Lake Mývatn area, but the town itself deserves its own unhurried afternoon.