Húsavík Whale Museum

North

Thirteen real whale skeletons hang inside the Húsavík Whale Museum, including a complete blue whale — one of only a handful on public display anywhere in the world. The museum occupies a former harbourside slaughterhouse, and the building's scale suits the subject: the blue whale skeleton alone fills much of the main hall. Other species include sperm whale, narwhal, and several rarely seen beaked whales. More than eight rooms cover whale biology, migration, acoustics, and Iceland's history of whaling. A cinema runs documentaries; audio guides are free. Founded in 1997, it is among the most respected cetacean museums in Europe. It works well as a primer before a whale watching tour, or as a way to identify what you saw afterwards. Admission is around 2,650 ISK for adults; children 16 and under enter free. Summer hours are roughly 9am–6pm, winter 10am–4pm. The museum is steps from the whale watching piers in Húsavík harbour. An hour is a minimum — the depth of the exhibits rewards more time if you have it.

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