Traveling Solo to The Faroe Islands, Must-Do List for Each Island

The Faroe Islands, in my opinion, are one of the best kept secrets in Scandinavia.After doing some research, I decided to go on a solo adventure to explore these Volcanic islands in the middle of the North Atlantic.

If you can imagine, there are more sheep on the islands than people! The local folks are incredibly kind and the food is next level when it comes to the concept of farm to table. The islands are very easy to navigate on your own and the hiking opportunities seem endless.

Click here to learn about my travel tips for visiting the Faroe Islands. Below you will find my must-do list for visiting the Faroe Islands on your own.

Must-Do List for the Faroe Islands: Quick guide

If you’re in a rush, here is my short list of must-dos when you visit the Islands.

• Visit Mullafossur Waterfall – incredible views and bird watching location
• Hike to Sørvágsvatn lake – an easy hike with unbelievable views
• Walk around Saksun Village – soak in the serenity of the beautiful remote village
• Spend a day in Gjógv – walk around town and have dinner at the Gjáargarður Guesthouse
• Hike to Kallur Lighthouse – unimaginable views and a James Bond surprise

Vágar Island

Vágar Island is the third largest of all the Faroe Islands. It’s known for its beautiful lakes and waterfalls, and being the gateway to the Puffin Island, Mykines. Here are my top three must-dos on Vágar island:

Drive through the West Coast of Vagar on Highway 45

To be honest, you could easily spend an entire day driving on this side of the island. I’d recommend starting your day in Sørvágur and walk around the port. There are a couple of local cafes that are open, weather permitting. While making your way up the Highway, be sure to check out the following photo opp. stops:

• Bour Church and Lookout
  • There isn’t official parking but there are plenty of turn out spots for you to temporarily park
  • There is also a great hike, less than two miles near Bour that is worth doing to get out and enjoy the island
• Skarðsáfossur Lookout
  • A fantastic way to see the Mullafossur waterfall is to start near Skarðsáfossur and hike The Postman’s Trail. The hike can be challenging if it’s very windy or raining. However, the reward at the end of seeing Mullafossur is worth it!
• Mullafossur Waterfall
  • There is a parking lot located walking distance from the waterfall. Be mindful of the signs where it asks not to trespass as a lot of the surrounding land is private. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, some of the neighboring farms have Highland Cattle you can see!

Hike to Sørvágsvatn Lake

The Sørvágsvatn lake, the lake above the ocean, is conveniently located less than 30 minutes away from the airport. There are plenty of signs to guide you to the parking lot and trailhead. Once you arrive at the parking lot, you’ll see a few small buildings where you can buy your entrance ticket and grab a map. 

Tickets are 200 DKK, which is just under $30 USD. 

Before you begin the hike, be sure to bring a water bottle, snack and camera with you as there are no stops along the way once you begin the hike. The path to the lake is an easy 4.5 mile out and back route that is well paved. Once you make it to the looking point, soak in the incredible optical illusion view of the lake. On a clear day you can see the islands of Koltur, Hestur and Sandoy. 

Shan’s tip: After your hike to the lake, drive southeast on Highway 11, where you will find Fish an Chip. The shop is operated by a retired fisherman who makes the food to order. I still have dreams about the fish and chips I had that day!!

Streymoy Island

Of the 18 islands in the archipelago, Streymoy is the largest. Streymoy is home to the capital city Tórshavn. Here are my top four must-dos on Streymoy island:

Spend a day shopping and eating through Tórshavn

Tórshavn is the capital and the most populated city of the Faroe Islands. There are buildings in the city that are over 500 years old! Most people who visit the Islands tend to stay in Tórshavn out of ease and accessibility. Two of my favorite hotels on the Islands can be found in Tórshavn. The city is rich in history and offers a wide variety of restaurants and shops. It was hard for me to narrow down my favorites, but here are the places I would say don’t leave without going to them at least once!

Shan’s tip: The majority, if not all of the restaurants and shops are closed on Sundays. Be sure to plan accordingly if you are hoping to eat out or shop on the weekend. 

Best places to eat in Tórshavn

• Breyðvirkið
  • This place has life changing pastries! They do run out quickly, I’d recommend getting there first thing in the morning to guarantee getting your favorite pastry.
• Bitin
  • My favorite sandwich shop in town. All of their food is fresh and they have online ordering which is great if you are looking to order something on your way out for a long day of driving around the islands.
• Áarstova
  • If you’re looking for fine dining, look no further than Áarstova. Book reservations for this place as soon as you know when you’ll be in town. Áarstova is notoriously sold out every night, and for good reason, the food is fantastic. 

Best places to shop in Tórshavn

• Paname Cafe
  • First and foremost, this cafe is fantastic. Paname is open all day and has a wide variety of pastries and sandwiches in addition to a plethora of caffeinated beverages. They also have one of the best stores I found on the islands. Whether you’re looking for tchotchkes or handmade local pieces, Paname has it all. 
• Tógvhúsið
  • Wool is one of the Islands main exports. Be sure to stop by this store and pick up some wool spools for yourself or friends/family that enjoy knitting.
• Visit Tórshavn
  • Not only is the tourist center a great place to get travel advice, they have a great shop including locally made items. The center is located in the downtown area and is only open until 5 PM. 

Shan’s tip: In between your eating and shopping, be sure to explore Old Town. The area has the famous woodhouses with grass covered roofs. Locals still live in these homes today, be mindful of that when you’re walking through this area. Once you’ve walked through Old Town, you can make your way to Tinganes. Fun fact, Tinganes is home to the one of the oldest Parliament in the world.

Catch waves at Tjørnuvík

On the complete opposite side of Streymoy, you’ll find the beautiful town of Tjørnuvík. On a clear day you can take a walk on the black sand beach and see the sea stacks Risin & Kellingin. There is a Surf Shack right on the beach where you can determine what activity suits you best. Be advised that you cannot rent gear on your own, you must go with a guide due to safety concerns. I would strongly encourage you to follow that guidance unless you are an experienced surfer/kayaker. The weather on the islands can change within minutes. Be aware that this town is small and limited with amenities, the Surf Shack was the only place open when I visited that had a bathroom and snack shop.

Check out Fossa Waterfall

The Fossa Waterfall is the largest waterfall on the islands, and is located right off the highway. This is a waterfall worth seeing any day, but especially when it is raining. The water is also great for drinking, if you’re looking for a refill on your bottle. Fossa is just 15 minutes away from Tjørnuvík and an hour away from Tórshavn.

Visit Saksun Village

If you weren’t already feeling like you’ve found the most isolated part of the world, visiting Saksun Village will do the trick. Saksun Village is tucked away in the middle of the island on the North West side. There is a lovely hike you can do near the lagoon that provides great opportunity for puffin sightings if they’re in season. Be sure to walk around the village and enjoy vies of the village with the turf-roof church and homes.

Eysturoy Island

Eysturoy Island offers incredible landscape with over 60 mountain peaks. It is also connected to the infamous world’s first, underwater tunnel that connects three of the islands. It also has the world’s first underwater roundabout! Here are my top three must-dos on Eysturoy Island:

Hike to Eiðiskollur

Eiðiskollur is an incredible cliff on the far northwest side of the Eysturoy Island. The hike is fairly steep, so be sure to wear proper hiking shoes and bring poles if you need them. If you are afraid of heights, this might not be the hike for you as you’ll need to go to the ledge to see the sea stacks Risin & Kellingin.

Spend two nights in Gjógv

Once I drove into the village of Gjógv, I instantly fell in love with the village. Gjógv was once a thriving fishing port due to the 200 meter gorge on the edge of town. If the water levels are not too high, you can walk down to the gorge and get a better idea of what it was like to be a fisherman when the gorge was active. I will say, I sat near the gorge for over an hour and had several Puffin sightings, totally worth it!

The village is not very big, so you can take your time walking around. Be sure to check out the Church in town that is almost 100 years old in addition to the monument nearby that represents the families who lost loved ones at sea. 

Give yourself a few hours to complete the Gjógv hike. The path has some steep segments that can be near the edge of the cliffs. There is fencing sporadically set throughout the path, primarily to keep hikers off private land and/or to be mindful of the cliff edges.

A stay in Gjógv would not be complete if you don’t spend an evening dining at the Gjáargarður Guesthouse. The Guesthouse offers lunch and dinner for visitors, as well as breakfast if you are staying onsite.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy one of their Cultural dinners. This included live Faroese music from local artists, folk stories and traditional dance lessons. If you’re interested in learning more about staying onsite, be sure to read my guide on places to stay in the Islands.

Hike Hvíthamar Mountain

The trailhead for Hvíthamar Mountain is right off of Highway 60 on your way to/from Gjógv. The hike itself is marked fairly well, I wouldn’t recommend doing it in inclement weather as the marked rocks can become hard to find. Be sure to take frequent stops along the way, not only to rest but to take in the spectacular views. Prepare for the hike to take about 45 minutes round trip, assuming you stop along the way.

The Northern Islands: Bordoy, Kalsoy, Kunoy and Vidoy

I’ve bundled these four islands together, primarily due to their size and proximity to each other. While there are plenty of hikes/sights to see, the majority of the land is privately owned. so be mindful of this before heading out to hike or sightsee. Here are my top three must-dos on the four northern islands:

Spend Two Nights in Klaksvík

Klaksvik is 45 minutes away from Tórshavn and is the second largest city on the Islands. While the town, itself, is relatively small, there is  plenty to offer. My top two must do’s when you’re in town are to visit the Føroya Bjór brewery and catch a football match.

Føroya Bjór brewery is one of two breweries on the islands. This family owned brewery was established in the late 1880’s, not only produces homemade beers but also soft drinks. I had the good fortune of going on a small guided tour with the Guide to Faroe Islands team, where we had a private tasting of both beer and locally made Aquavit. The brewery has a great selection of beers for purchase and branded items. 

If you are driving a car around the islands, there is a 100% guarantee you will see a football pitch in every village you drive through. Klaksvík is no exception to this as they are home to the best football team on the islands. I was lucky enough to catch a critical match between Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag (Klaksvík’s team) and B36 Tórshavn (Tórshavn’s team).

If you want to sit in the stands/clubhouse, you’ll have to pay for a ticket. Otherwise, you can do what I did and walk up directly to the pitch and watch at eye level of the field. The dedication fans have to their teams is beautiful.

Klaksvík is small enough that you can walk around the whole town/village/city within an hour or so. Be sure to visit the stunning Christianskirkjan Church which is the largest church on the island. The architecture, lighting and art pieces created by Faroese artist, Edward Fuglø are stunning.

Make a Day of Driving Around the Coasts of Bordoy, Kunoy and Vidoy.

Driving around the islands is very easy, assuming you’re a confident driver. Be mindful that in addition to the subsea tunnels, there are several tunnels within mountains you’ll have to drive through. There are timed lights to manage traffic so respect the lights! They just started adding these timed lights after tourists were driving through tunnels without awareness of oncoming traffic.

Here are my top three activities on each island:

• The best hike on Vidoy, would be Villingardalsfjall. The trail is on private property so be prepared to pay a fee. It was around $20 the last time I was there. 
• There is a road on the Northeast coast of Bordoy that has plenty of great photo opportunities. Again, be mindful that most of the land is private property, I’d recommend staying close to the road unless you’ve been given permission to be on the land. 
• On the island of Kunoy, you will find the Kunoy Bygð – Viðarlundin hike. It’s a short loop but offers beautiful views with a quiet environment.

Hike to the Kallur Lighthouse

After my hike to Kallur lighthouse, I can honestly say it was one of the best hikes I’ve been on in recent years with a guided group. The reason I chose to do this hike with a guide was due to my lack of knowledge of the island and my concern of bad weather.

The weather on the islands can be unpredictable.  While I was there, the islands had Gale Force Winds, (naturally on the day I was planning to do  this hike. Since I was with a guide, he was able to recommend a safer, alternate route to limit danger (aka falling off a cliff).

This hike can definitely be done on your own. I’d only recommend going solo if you are very experienced and feel confident making game time choices due to weather.

There is a ferry directly from Klaksvík to Syðradalur on Kalsoy Island that takes around 30 minutes. Once you arrive, if you have a car, you can take a straight shot to the trailhead. There is also a public bus available that runs every 20-30 minutes. 

Before you get to the trailhead, be sure to visit the iconic Seal Woman, legendary to the Faroese community. There is free parking available at the trailhead and a public restroom nearby. The climb up the mountain is relatively steep and the trail is maintained well due to hiker traffic.

For folks who are fans of James Bond, there’s a surprise at one part of the hike worth a visit. On a clear day, the views from this hike are unbelievable and provide a once in a lifetime feeling.

 

 

Final Thoughts

My guide to traveling solo to the Faroe Islands, is intended to provide inspiration for all travelers as they visit the Islands. The most beautiful part of the Faroe Islands, in my humble opinion, is that for the most part they are untouched by the outside world. Visiting the Land of Maybe is was a privelage, so if you are lucky enough to visit enjoy everything the Islands have to offer.

Before you make your travel plans, be sure to check out my travel tips for visiting the Faroe Islands.

Now it’s time to start planning your own adventure, Cheers!