Húsavík Whale Museum
Description
The Húsavík Whale Museum is a non-profit organization established in 1997. The Húsavík Whale Museum is situated in Húsavík, a small town in north east Iceland, on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay, just below the Arctic Circle at 66° N. It began as a small exhibit on whales in the town's hotel in summer 1997.
Ratings
Description
The Húsavík Whale Museum is a non-profit organization established in 1997. The Húsavík Whale Museum is situated in Húsavík, a small town in north east Iceland, on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay, just below the Arctic Circle at 66° N. It began as a small exhibit on whales in the town's hotel in summer 1997.
Plan your stay
Posts
📍 Iceland 🇮🇸 | Half-Price Whale Watching Guide 🐳
Whale Museum, organized on the site of the former whaling slaughterhouse, where whale carcasses were cut. Since 1966, most whales have been banned from hunting. All the skeletons displayed in the museum belong to the whales, who came ashore. By the way, assembling a whale's skeleton is not a trivial task. The whale has a lot of cartilage, which are not stored for a long time, and therefore must be cut. Plus, the bones themselves are quite oily. Icelanders solved the problem in their own style: put carcasses in a thermal spring. It is enough to hold a small whale for a few months, and the sperm whale needs a couple of years. At the same time, the museum plays interesting films about the life of whales, whale hunting, documentary films with the cutting of the whale. Part of the exhibits can be felt (especially good whale whale mustache). There is also a coffee point - a place where you can pour coffee, sit on the couch, read a book on whales. A good cozy museum
I definitely recommend visiting Whale Museum while being in Husavik! I went there after whale watching, however, I think it would be better to do it the other way around. About the museum: all questions were answered - from the evolution of whales (extremely insightful), biology, differentiation on types and species of whales to history and future predictions.The museum gives you a lot of interesting information divided in a way that you are not tired to read it all. The last but not least- you can see skeletons of whales that were found (not hunted)- including 25m long blue whale! The size leaved me impressed. * The biggest recommendation for me was when my boyfriend who is not a big fan of spending hours in museum left the place very excited and happy that we visited this one ;)
The Húsavík Whale Museum (Hvalasafnið á Húsavík) is a fascinating and educational destination that brings the wonders of the ocean to life. Located in Iceland’s whale-watching capital, this museum offers an in-depth look at the magnificent creatures that inhabit the seas around the country. With detailed exhibits on whale biology, conservation, and the history of whaling in Iceland, the museum provides a comprehensive understanding of these incredible animals. The highlight is the life-size skeletons, which give you a real sense of the grandeur of whales. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in marine life, adding depth and context to the whale-watching experience in Húsavík.
This museum was an unexpected favourite for our tour around all of Iceland. It’s very well laid out and engaging. The museum has a slightly somber feel to it as there is a lot of education on whaling and the human impact of whale survival in the past and into the future. The whale skeletons are incredible and awe inspiring. They really put into perspective the scale of these wonderful creatures - it is well known that blue whales are massive but when it takes 30 seconds to walk the length of the animal and you have to look up and down to take it all in, you gain a different comprehension. Highly recommended!
Many cool skeletons, including a blue whale! It has some interactive displays and videos, but overall a LOT of reading. I did not make it through all the reading. Because of this, it may be a hard place to bring young kids, beyond just looking at the skeletons. Upstairs is a reading nook with a bunch of books (including kid's books) about whales and such. Gift shop downstairs, with a free bathroom. Gift shop has many local artisan/maker items too. We went out of our way to come here and I would not recommend doing that, but would be nice to pair with a whale tour.
Nearby Attractions Of Húsavík Whale Museum
Geosea - Geothermal Sea Baths
Húsavík Wooden Church
Safnahúsið á Húsavík/Husavik Museum
Exploration Museum
Geosea viewpoint

Geosea - Geothermal Sea Baths

Húsavík Wooden Church

Safnahúsið á Húsavík/Husavik Museum

Exploration Museum
Nearby Restaurants Of Húsavík Whale Museum
Naustið
Gamli Baukur
Salka Restaurant
Fish and Chips
Hlodufell Restaurant & Bar Husavik
Lókal Bistro
Hérna
Pizzakofinn

Naustið

Gamli Baukur

Salka Restaurant

Fish and Chips
Reviews
- Unable to get your location