In the Faroe Islands, boat trips to Vestmannabjørgini and the grottos are popular. Trips to Vestmannabjørgini pass through deep grottos and narrow straits, with cliffs rising 700 metres above the sea. A boat tour takes approximately two hours. As the seasonal schedule may change, check it before planning your trip.

Cultural history in Kirkjubøur

Several chapters of Faroese history come together in Kirkjubøur on Streymoy. Roykstovan is a farmhouse and museum that is about 900 years old. It is believed to be the oldest wooden house still in use. The medieval Magnus Cathedral was built in the 14th century and served as a major centre of power for several centuries.

Its remains, locally known as Kirkjubømúrurin, form a preserved medieval setting that visitors can enter. They are the remains of a bishop’s residence that existed from the early 12th century until its dissolution in 1557. Stokkastovurnar also tell this story: the old farmhouses, dating from around 1350, were built on the ruins of the former bishop’s residence. Cultural influences from the Nordic countries and Europe reached Faroese society through Kirkjubø.

A different form of public life is represented by the stone speakers’ platform at Reynsmúlalág. From the 19th century until the 1960s, it was used for open-air public assemblies.

Trails through valleys and over mountain passes

The route from Saksun to Vestmanna begins halfway through Saksunardalur and crosses the Klovsá river, where the remains of an old bridge can be found. It then passes below Ørvisfelli, the second-highest mountain on Streymoy, and over the Oksagilshálsur pass. From the upper slopes of Oksagilsbrekka, the view extends down into Saksunardalur and south to the strait between Streymoy and Eysturoy.

The cycling route from Oyrarbakki to Saksun also passes through Saksunardalur. A popular hiking trail connects Tjørnuvík and Saksun. You’ll encounter the valley in different route descriptions: once as a section of a trail between two places, and once as part of a cycling route.

The Hvalvík–Leynavatn hiking trail begins at the mission house in Hvalvík; check the current route before setting out. Columnar basalt can be seen in the river along the trail, above the Djúpagil Gorge. In Hvalvík, a village path follows the river downhill into the village.

In the wider Faroe Islands destination

The Faroe Islands consist of 18 islands in the North Atlantic. On Kalsoy, Kallurin Lighthouse stands at the northern tip, in front of coastal cliffs. The hike there from Trøllanes is described as moderate; the round trip is usually said to take one and a half to two hours. Duration and difficulty may vary depending on conditions.

Discover more destinations: Hoyvík, Vestmanna, Kollafjørður, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands, Vágar and Sandoy.

Go to the main travel overview: Faroe Islands.