Regional guide

SANDOY, SKÚVOY AND STÓRA DÍMUN

Exiting the new tunnel, you’ll notice an immediate difference from Streymoy, the island you just left behind. Sandoy is altogether more pastoral – the mountains are softer and more rounded, and, as the name suggests, there’s plenty of sand around, too – in fact, one of the Faroes’ most idyllic beaches is located beside the main town, Sandur.

The relatively flat landscape of Sandoy is ideal for bicycling and easy, family-friendly hikes. The region offers rustic cliffs, wonderful hiking trails, and charming coastal villages. Here, you can experience soft beaches, sandy dunes and peaceful lakes, which are ideal for angling. You can also enjoy local museums and cosy cafés.

The soil's unique sandy composition, from which the name of the island is likely derived, is utilised for innovative and sustainable farming.

The sparsely populated region has enjoyed and endured the effects of relative isolation until now. The new subsea tunnel, replacing the 30-minute ferry trip, will inevitably change the island and move it closer to the centre of the Faroes.

Check out the collection of contemporary Faroese art housed in the Listasavnið á Sandi art museum. It spans a century and contains one of two works by the great of Faroese art, Sámal Joensen-Mikines.

SANDOYARTUNNEL

As strange as it may sound, Sandoy has been making international headlines recently! Why, you may ask? Quite simply, the latest in the impressive list of Faroese subsea tunnels has just opened, linking Sandoy not only to Tórshavn but also to the central core of Faroese islands, which are all connected by road. When you live on an island, this is a massive event!

At a whopping 11km in length, the new tunnel opened in December 2023 and runs from just north of the main town, Sandur, under the waters of Skopunarfjørður, across to Gamlarætt on neighbouring Streymoy. Over the years, the Faroese have become world experts at boring tunnels under the seabed, gradually inking this nation of 18 islands together and effectively ending rural depopulation. However, this tunnel was a huge undertaking and barely a few hundred meters shorter than the biggest infrastructure project ever attempted in the islands: the construction of the Eysturoy tunnel.

Since the tunnel's opening, Sandoy has never been easier to reach and makes an ideal day trip from the capital, Tórshavn.

On Sandoy, time seems to move slower, and plenty of characteristic cultural flavours exist.

Camping area , Sandur

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Art museum, Sandur

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Café Mølin, Skálavík

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Sandur

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HISTORICAL FACTS

The history of Sandoy stretches back to the 4th century – when the oldest settlements in the Faroe Islands were from. The climactic chapters of the Færeyinga Saga play out on Skúvoy island around AD 1000.

It was in the sandy ground of the churchyard in Sandur, that one of the Faroes’ greatest hordes of silver coins was discovered: 98 coins, known as the Sandur Hoard, were unearthed in 1863 when gravediggers were preparing graves in the area. It’s thought the coins, which date from as early as the reign of King Canute in England (from 1017), were buried around 1100 – they can be seen in the National Museum in Tórshavn.

Over on the east coast of Sandoy, a comfortable hotel and restaurant is located right by the shore, offering fantastic views out towards Nólsoy and the south of Streymoy. Alternatively, head to the west coast and discover the idyllic bay of Søltuvík, where you might be lucky enough to spot seals bobbing up and down off the seaweed-strewn beach. It was here in 1895 that a steamer ran ashore during an atrocious storm with the loss of everyone onboard bar one man who managed to clink to a plank of wood whilst being swept by the tides across to Streymoy, where he was finally rescued – a stone memorial beside the beach bares testament to the tragedy.

Líraberg

Discover Líraberg’s stunning sea stacks and mountain cliffs, rich birdlife, and breathtaking views in the Faroe Islands.

Sandoy

The kiosk at the Bakery

The kiosk at the Bakery in Sandur offers takeaway sandwiches, breakfast buns, and local kiosk treats in a charming old bakery setting.

Sandoy

Café á Mølini

Café á Mølini offers a cozy break by the harbour in a historic old store, serving coffee with stunning sea views.

Sandoy

Kayak on lake Sandsvatn

Kayak on lake Sandsvatn and experience Sandoy’s serene waters, rich wildlife, and stunning natural landscapes all year round.

Sandoy

Guðrunarløkur - Skarvanes - Dalur

Explore the Guðrunarløkur - Skarvanes - Dalur hike through Sandoy’s southern villages, peat lands, and stunning Atlantic views.

Sandoy

Skopun - Lírabergshálsur

Skopun - Lírabergshálsur hike offers stunning cliffs, serene lakes, and sweeping views of Sandoy’s wild west coast.

Sandoy

Skálavík - Skálhøvdi - Skálavík

Skálavík - Skálhøvdi - Skálavík: Enjoy a beautiful, easy 2 km hike with stunning views, local legends, and peaceful nature in Sandoy.

Sandoy

Skúvoy

Skúvoy, named after the great Skua (or maybe the other way around), is famous for its rich birdlife, stunning landscapes, and deep historical roots. It's a top spot for puffin lovers and a Ramsar-protected site, with no rats, mice, or cats, allowing birds to nest close to the village.

The island has strong ties to Viking history, particularly Sigmundur Brestisson, key in the Christianization of the Faroes. It also features in Faroese folklore and the novel Rannvá by Dagmar Joensen-Næs, which tells the story of a farmer’s daughter who endures isolation in the remote beauty of Fagridalur.

Since there are no grocery stores or cafés, visitors are encouraged to book a “heimablídni” experience, a rare chance to enjoy the warmth of a faroese home and a local meal.

Rannvátoft in Fagridalur

Discover Rannvátoft in Fagridalur, a historic site in Sandoy Valley with legends of Rannvá, one of Skúvoy's Black Death survivors.

Sandoy

The Church of Skúvoy

The Church of Skúvoy, built in 1937, uniquely faces north-south, unlike typical Faroese churches oriented east-west.

Sandoy

Heimablídni at Tummas Frank & Elisabeth's

Experience Heimablídni at Tummas Frank & Elisabeth's in Skúvoy with homemade Faroese food, guided village tours, and cozy hospitality.

Sandoy

Sigmundarsteinur

Discover Sigmundarsteinur, a historic monument in Skúvoy marking the burial site of Viking chief Sigmund Brestisson.

Sandoy

Stóra Dímun

The ultimate get-away-from-it-all destination, Stóra Dímun is the Faroe Islands’ smallest inhabited island. Access to the treeless, two-and-a-half square kilometre island is exclusively by helicopter.

The island’s population consists of one family: Farmers Eva úr Dímun (the family named after the island) and Jógvan Jón. Eva úr Dímun’s family has farmed Stóra Dímun for eight generations.

A few tour providers offer day tours out to the island. See your
nearest regional tourist information.