Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [200]
Short horse rides (one to three hours) and longer tours (five to nine days) are available at Saltvík horse farm ( 847 9515; www.skarpur.is/saltvik), 5km south of Húsavík.
The local swimming pool ( 464 1144; Laugarbrekka 2; 7am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat) has hot pots, and water slides for children.
Sleeping
BUDGET
Campsite ( 845 0705; sites per person Ikr900; May-Sep) Next to the sports ground at the north end of town, this popular campsite has such luxuries as heated toilets, washing machines and cooking facilities.
Baldursbrekka 20 (Aðalbjörg Birgisdóttir; 464 1005, 898 8325; onod@simnet.is; Baldursbrekka 20; sb/s/d Ikr2500/3500/7000; ) You’ll find a few basic but good-value rooms at this family home north of town. There’s a guest kitchen and a warm welcome. Note: they don’t take credit cards (shocking!).
Sigtún ( 464 1674, 846 9364; www.gsigtun.is; Túngata 13; s/d/tr incl breakfast from Ikr7000/11,000/14,500) A cut above most of the other guest houses, Sigtún offers prim and professional accommodation with sparkling common bathrooms and free laundry. There’s another house on the south side of town at Laugarholt 7e. Despite being further away from town, we were quite fond of the second location. Check-in is from 4pm to 8pm.
Vísir ( 856 5750; dora@visirhf.is; Garðarsbraut 14; s/d Ikr7500/10,000; 1 Jun–25 Aug; ) Located in a renovated office building, this prim option comes up trumps with its modern kitchen facilities, heaps of common space, free laundry and amazing views from the gigantic picture windows – it’s the perfect place for groups. In winter, Vísir turns into a shared living space for Polish workers who spend the quieter months in Húsavík working at the local fish factory.
Baldursbrekka 17 (Emhild Olsen; 464 1618; Baldursbrekka 17; s/d Ikr8000/12,000; Jun-Aug) Just opposite Aðalbjörg Birgisdóttir, and offering very similar facilities, is this well-priced guest house with comfortable rooms and friendly service.
MIDRANGE & TOP END
Árból ( 464 2220; www.simnet.is/arbol; Ásgarðsvegur 2; Jun–mid-Sep s/d incl breakfast €62/106, mid-Sep-May €55/79) Stuck in a decor time warp, this heritage house has spacious but old-fashioned rooms that are noticeably past their prime. Try to nab one of the cosier rooms in the pine-scented attic (Nos 7 and 8); a fossil-lined stairwell leads to the top.
Kaldbaks-Kot ( 464 1504; www.cottages.is; 2-4 person cabins €135-175; ) Located 1.5km south of Húsavík (follow the turn-off to Kaldubakur) is this cluster of charming timber cottages that all feel exactly like grandpa’s cabin in the woods. Enjoy breakfast (€10) on your porch or eat in the old cowshed, which has been transformed into an elegant dining room fit for Christmas dinner.
Fosshótel Húsavík ( 464 1220; www.fosshotel.is; Ketilsbraut 22; s/d incl breakfast from Ikr23,000/25,000 May-Sep, 50% off Oct-Apr; ) Standard rooms (some wheelchair accessible) have predictable international-style decor, while superior options feature a few stylish touches – whale-themed knick-knacks abound. There’s an on-site restaurant (mains Ikr900 to Ikr3500), which feels like you’re eating on a cruise ship from the ’70s; and the bar, Moby Dick, seems to be an accidental double-nod to both the town’s whale obsession and phallus museum.
Eating
Skuld Café ( 464 2900; snacks Ikr250-1000; 8.30am-10pm Jun-Sep) Set on the hill with a lovely outdoor deck overlooking the waterfront, this cosy summer cafe sells light meals and baked goods. Believe it or not, three families used to live in the teeny house all at once!
Gentle Café (snacks Ikr800-2000; 8am-9pm Jun-Sep) This ‘gourmet hut’ just by Garðarsbraut offers local foods such as dried haddock, marinated herring, dried reindeer and smoked trout. The outdoor terrace has great views over the harbour.
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LUNDEY & FLATEY
As if there weren’t enough Lundeys and Flateys