Getting from Reykjavik to Husavik

Húsavík is a small fishing town on Skjálfandi bay in northeast Iceland, about an hour (75 km) from Akureyri, the country's second-biggest town. It's known as Iceland's whale-watching capital, and its popularity has grown thanks to the whales that move in and out of the bay (the Húsavík Whale Museum is a good place to start). Whale watching is the big draw, but the town also makes a good base for the rest of the north, including Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss.

Getting there from Reykjavik takes some planning. You can drive the whole way, fly to Akureyri and continue by bus or car, or do the whole trip by bus over two days.

By car

In terms of directions, the drive is about as easy as it gets. Take the Ring Road (Route 1) north to Akureyri, which is about 388 km from Reykjavik. Keep going east on Route 1 through the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel under the mountain across the fjord from Akureyri, then follow the signs for Húsavík. Route 85 (Norðausturvegur) takes you into town. The road is paved all the way.

That tunnel is new since I made this drive. It opened to traffic in December 2018, replaced a mountain road that often closed in winter, and brought Húsavík to about an hour from Akureyri. It's a toll tunnel with no booths: cameras read your plate, and you pay online at tunnel.is within 24 hours before or after you drive through. A single trip in a car costs 2,216 ISK as of 2026. If you're in a rental car, ask the company how they handle it before you drive through.

In terms of time and distance, though, the drive isn't as easy as it sounds. The speed limit on the Ring Road is 90 km/h, so even without stops you're looking at more than five hours of driving. But let's get one thing straight: the average visitor is not going to drive from Reykjavik to Húsavík in five hours. At the very least you'll stop once or twice to eat, refuel and use the bathroom. And you'll want to stop again and again for photos of rolling hills, steep mountains rising out of fjords, clear rivers and woolly sheep hopping over craggy lava rocks. With all that scenery to look at, you probably shouldn't be driving 90 anyway, and you'll likely average something closer to 60.

So expect the drive to take at least seven to nine hours. When I made the same trip in September, I left Reykjavik at 8am and got to Húsavík at 6pm. (Some of what I saw on that trip is in my north Iceland photo essay.)

You can do the drive any time of year, but in winter give yourself extra time and watch for storm and wind warnings. Check road conditions and the forecast before you leave, and read up on driving in Iceland. Better still, split the drive with a night in Akureyri.

By air, then bus or car

If you're short on time, this is the way to go. Fly from Reykjavik Airport to Akureyri with Icelandair, a flight of about 45 minutes, then do the last stretch by bus or rental car.

• Bus: Strætó route 79 stops at Akureyri Airport on its way to Húsavík, and since January 2026 its times are coordinated with the flight schedule. As of September 2026, the weekday buses leave Akureyri (Hof) at 08:45, 16:25 and 19:45, stop at the airport seven minutes later and reach Húsavík about an hour and 20 minutes after leaving town. The adult fare from Akureyri to Húsavík is 3,600 ISK, paid by card or cash on board.
• Car: pick up a rental at Akureyri Airport and drive the last hour yourself. That also lets you stop at Goðafoss, which is right on Route 1, and add Mývatn as a side trip.

Don't count on flying straight to Húsavík. The town's airport at Aðaldalur lost its year-round flights from Reykjavik in spring 2024, a state-funded winter service ended in March 2025, and there were no scheduled flights in winter 2025-26 either. The airport's own page currently lists no departures.

By bus

Taking the bus all the way from Reykjavik isn't easy, and for the time and money involved you're better off flying to Akureyri and taking the bus from there. Otherwise you're in for a long day on a bus, and that only gets you as far as Akureyri.

Here's how it works as of September 2026:

1. Take Strætó route 57 from Reykjavik to Akureyri. It runs once a day, leaves Mjódd at 14:48 on weekdays and reaches Akureyri at 21:23. The adult fare is 13,200 ISK.
2. Stay the night in Akureyri. The last route 79 bus leaves before the route 57 bus gets in, so you can't connect the same evening. The Akureyri hotels page can help.
3. Take the morning route 79 bus to Húsavík (08:45 on weekdays), which gets in at 10:03 and leaves you most of the day in town.

That's 16,800 ISK in bus fares, plus a night's lodging. Check the Strætó route planner for weekend times, which can differ.

Where to stay and what to do

For a place to sleep, see where to stay in Húsavík. For the whales, tours leave from the harbor, and tours in northern Iceland lists more options. If you're visiting between autumn and spring, the dark skies around Húsavík are a good bet for seeing the northern lights.

FAQ

Can I visit Húsavík as a day trip from Akureyri?

Yes. It's about an hour's drive, and the route 79 bus makes a morning trip out and an afternoon or evening trip back possible on weekdays. Check the timetable for the return times on the day you go.

Do I need a four-wheel drive to get to Húsavík?

No. The route is paved the whole way. In winter, what matters most is checking the weather and road conditions before you set off.

How do I pay the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel toll?

Online at tunnel.is, by entering the car's license plate, within 24 hours before or after your trip. It's 2,216 ISK per trip for a car as of 2026. There are no booths in the tunnel. Rental companies each handle it their own way, so ask at pickup.