Getting to know the capital

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere between Scotland and Iceland, lie the Faroe Islands. Flying in you only see water until suddenly, a cluster of clouds caught on the mountain tops reveal that there is land. It's a remote destination, fairly unexplored and devoid of mass tourism. Their unspoiled nature is the island's biggest virtue.

HOTEL FØROYAR | A LOCAL BASE

Hotel Føroyar is one of the best hotels on the Faroe Islands and a popular starting point for many adventures. With its traditional grass roof, it blends into its surroundings on the hills over the capital. The terraced building has big windows, and many rooms face towards the ocean with wonderful views over the city and the harbour.

Located just outside the city centre, the hotel provides a tranquil escape, with sheep freely roaming the grounds and a chorus of birds serenading guests from every corner. Recently refurbished, the common areas and the rooms boast a modern, bright, and cozy ambience, ensuring a comfortable stay.

The hotel has recently been refurbished and the rooms are modern, bright, and cozy. The attentive and friendly reception staff stand ready to assist with any needs, making Hotel Føroyar a perfect starting point for your Faroese adventures.
Hotel Føroyar // 45 Oyggjarvegur // Tórshavn

TÓRSHAVN | EXPLORING THE CAPITAL

Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, home to approximately 40% of the Faroese population. It proudly stands as one of the world's smallest capitals, with around 21,000 inhabitants. 

Perched on the water's edge, Tórshavn serves as the cultural epicentre of the islands, where the largest cruise ships dock, and is easily explored by foot. The city's coastal expanse, dotted with centuries-old turf-roofed houses in the historic quarter, extends into a peninsula that gracefully meets the bustling harbour.

Wandering through Tórshavn's labyrinthine lanes, steep alleyways, and wider streets, you encounter a dynamic city that seamlessly integrates the contemporary with the traditional. 

Far from being a mere gateway for island hopping, it is well worth exploring on its own. 

BREYÐVIRKIÐ | THE FIRST SOURDOUGH BAKERY ON THE FAROE ISLANDS

Breyðvirkið opened amid the pandemic and was an instant success. It’s the only bakery on the Faroe Islands that bakes and sells sourdough bread, so head here for a wonderful breakfast. Also on the menu in the small corner shop: rye bread, Danish pastries, and various breakfast items like fresh rolls, which you can have prepared with butter and cheese. Also great as a snack to pack for later adventures! 

Breyðvirkið // 44 Jónas Broncksgøta // Tórshavn

BIKE TOUR | HITTING THE PEDAL

Tórshavns only bike shop is also the place to go to rent a bike. Rentabike offers four different weekly guided tours, each providing a unique perspective of the Faroe Islands. The tours are designed for small groups and are paced comfortably with stops for photo shooting, drinks, and snacks. 

For our purpose, we recommend the Tórshavn Sightseeing E-bike Tour. This 15km tour is the best way to see the sights in Tórshavn and will take you to all the main attractions. 

In addition to guided tours, Rentabike offers a selection of E-bikes, mountain and road bikes for rent. This allows you to explore the Faroe Islands at your own pace.

Check online if a guided tour is available on your travel day. If not, just rent a bike for yourself. We’ll be visiting most of the same places.

rentabike.fo // 20 Sverrisgøta // Tórshavn

LISTASAVN FØROYA | THE NATIONAL ART MUSEUM

Listasavn Føroya is the National Gallery of The Faroe Islands and its most important art museum. Nestled within the Plantation, a trail-laced forest, the building is an architectural marvel with its black, turf-roofed design reminiscent of a Faroese boat shed.

It showcases art from all around the country and gives you a good insight into life in this isolated community. The more than 200 works in the gallery's permanent collection delve into the intricate facets of Faroese life, depicting the toils of farmers and fishermen against the backdrop of the island's formidable nature. The arrangement by genre – landscape, the ocean, wool, and knitting – captures the essence of Faroese life. Notable among them are the poignant 20th-century seascapes by Samuel Joensen-Mikines, a revered Faroese artist.

Outside, Hans Pauli Olsen's figurative bronzes are displayed. The collection spans from political to playful, featuring intriguing pieces like woollen ‘rocks’ embroidered with flowers and moss by Súsan í Jákupsstovu, and a captivating spider-like installation by Ole Wich, symbolizing the topography of Lítla Dímun, the smallest of the Faroe Islands.

Listasavn Føroya // Gundadalsvegur 9 // Tórshavn // Mon-Sun 11:00 – 17:00 

VIÐARLUNDIN | SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

In this country sparse with trees, a stroll through this park adjacent to the National Gallery with its small forested areas is a welcome change of scenery. Water runs through the beautiful tree plantation and there are plenty of benches to take a short break.

TINGANES | STEPPED IN HISTORY

Tinganes, a cluster of red wooden houses, ranks among the world's oldest parliamentary meeting places. Built on rocks once used for Viking 'Thing' assemblies, it served as a historical hub for governance. While the modern Løgting (Law assembly) has relocated, the Prime Minister's office remains on Tinganes, preserving its role in Faroese political history.

BITIN | NORDIC LUNCH

Open-faced Nordic sandwiches are the perfect lunch, and Bitin serves up a wonderful variety of them, as well as salads and other small dishes, all prepared in the open kitchen. From the mackerel sandwich to the haddock with shrimp and salmon mousse with nuts, each dish is crafted with care and presented as a work of art.

The restaurant sources its ingredients locally, ensuring that each dish not only tastes great but also supports the local community.

Bitin // 12 Niels Finsens gøta // Tórshavn

GUÐRUN & GUÐRUN | KNITTING STAR

The traditional Faroese wool sweaters of the Faroe Islands can be found all over the islands, but with their designs, Guðrun Ludvig and Guðrun Rógvadóttir of the fashion label Guðrun & Guðrun manage to honour the traditional crafts while also incorporating a modern point of view in their garments. 

The designers, particularly Ludvig, modernize the traditional Faroese patterns, often incorporating the iconic star emblem found on seamen's sweaters. With a commitment to sustainability, they source organic wool globally, including from the Faroe Islands. Most apparel is hand-knit in the Faroe Islands, as well as by women's empowerment groups established by the owners in Peru and Jordan. 

Emphasizing the importance of solitude in their design process, the duo finds inspiration in the tranquillity of their Faroese home, away from the bustling and fashionable cities on the mainland.

The results are collections of intricate tops, dresses, and sweaters. If you are looking for a quintessential garment from the Faroe Islands with a modern twist, this is the store for you.

Guðrun & Guðrun // Niels Finsengøta 13 // Tórshavn

ULLVØREUHÚSIÐ | WOOL WAREHOUSE

Ullvøruhúsið, whose name translates to ‘Wool Warehouse’, was first opened in 1918. Famous as a community hub that sold yarns and even ice cream for the kids in summer, it was reopened under its original name in 2018 – a century after its initial opening – by the Faroese knitwear and fashion brands Shisa Brand and Steinum. They now primarily sell knitwear, both hand-knitted and machine-knitted, mainly made of wool, for adults and children.

Co-owner Sissal Kristiansen, under her Shisa Brand, crafts long, stylish cardigans, sweaters, and vests using predominantly undyed Faroese wool. The natural shades of gray, brown, and white create a unique palette inspired by the fog-draped landscape. Kristiansen's designs, influenced by the Faroese surroundings, feature a minimalist silhouette with side slits reminiscent of the layered mountains seen through the mist.

Lots of the old merchandise is still intact and it’s fun to peruse the shelves filled with knitwear, small toys and accessories. 

Ullvøruhúsið // Niels Finsensgøta 27 // Tórshavn

H.N. JACOBSENS BÓKHANDIL | WELL READ

Located on Vaglið Street, Gamli Bókahandil is a cherished local bookstore in a historical house. The store boasts a diverse collection, spanning local Faroese literature to international bestsellers. From novels and poetry to children's books and non-fiction, Gamli Bókahandil caters to a wide range of literary tastes. It's an excellent destination if you are on the lookout for Faroese literature translated into English.

Gamli Bókahandil // Vaglið 2 // Tórshavn

PANAME | COSY CORNER

Housed in the same historical building as Gamli Bókahandil, and connected to it, Paname is the coziest café in town. It’s open all day and serves a big selection of coffee and tea, but also beer, wine, and cocktails later in the day.

There’s a variety of sweet treats on display, as well as savory snacks to be had. With the bookstore next door and many nooks and crannies full of vintage decor, this place feels very inviting and warm and could be taken straight out of a romance novel from the shop next door.

Paname // Vaglið 2-4 // Tórshavn

STEINPRENT | OLD TECHNIQUES, MODERN TAKES

Steinprent, a term that translates to 'stone lithography' in Faroese, is a unique lithographic workshop located in a vast late-19th-century cannery building on the waterfront of Tórshavn. It has become a hub for artists from all over Scandinavia and Europe who travel to these stunningly beautiful islands to create and experiment with this fascinating old art form that dates back to 1798.

Upstairs, you have the opportunity to observe an artist at work, delicately painting on the distinctive beige-coloured limestone, while lithographers expertly operate the printing presses. Feel free to approach the owner, Jan Andersson, or his 22-year-old son, Mikkjal; they will be more than happy to guide you through the space. A remarkable collection of around 2,000 original lithographs is available for purchase. Make sure to explore the ground-floor gallery, where captivating exhibitions span a variety of mediums, including graphic arts and mixed media, featuring predominantly Faroese and Nordic artists.

Steinprent // Skálatrøð 16 // Tórshavn 

ØSTRØM | LOCAL DESIGNS

This large store, housed in an old factory building, sells products that have been designed or produced on the Faroe Islands. On offer in the beautiful, bright space are traditional clothes including the national dress, wool sweaters, posters, as well as many art and design products. This is a great place to buy some tasteful souvenirs for your loved ones (and yourself) back home.

Østrøm // Skálatrøð 18  // Tórshavn  

ROKS | SEAFOOD FEAST

ROKS, meaning "silly," exudes a whimsical spirit within its historic two-story structure with a turf roof dating back to the 1600s. Adorned with playful art, including an octopus holding glasses of red wine, the restaurant upends the laid-back essence of its Michelin-starred sister, KOKS, and turns it into something unique.

Embracing the rich offerings of the Faroe Islands, ROKS offers two meticulously crafted set menus: "Totally on the Roks" and "Nearly Ashore," placing a strong emphasis on the finest quality Faroese seafood. The culinary journey unfolds with precision and whimsy, showcasing a diverse array of local specialities, from sea urchins to langoustines and the exquisite Greenlandic snow crab.

Spending an evening here under the creative direction of head chef Poul Andrias Ziska is a wonderful experience – relaxed, comfortable and delicious. 

Roks // Gongin 5 // Tórshavn

MIKKELLER | ON TAP

Right next door to ROKS, in the same cluster of beautiful, centuries-old buildings, lies Mikkeller’s Faroe Island outpost. The famous brewery from Copenhagen has established a cozy taproom here, featuring 16 taps of Mikkeller's own beers, along with a selection from friends near and far.

Mikkeller // Gongin 2  // Tórshavn