Húsavík is situated on the shore of Skjálfandi Bay, home to some of the largest whales in the world. The sea has always been a big part of life in Húsavík. The town’s economy was built around fishing, but when fishing declined in the early 1990s, companies started offering Whale Watching tours on the bay for travelers.
Today there are four companies that operate whale watching boats from Húsavík, North Sailing, Gentle Giants, Salka Whale Watching and Húsavík Adventures. Húsavík is also home to a museum about whales.