Regional guide 

THE CAPITAL TÓRSHAVN

Europe’s most magical capital — 
that you’ve never heard of"

Mike MacEacheran, The Sunday Times 

Every nation loves its capital. The French enthuse about the seductiveness of Paris; the Italians love nothing more than strolling among the ancient buildings of Rome and the Germans are rightly proud that Berlin is reunited and back as the seat of government. And the Faroese, you might ask? What do we love about our capital, Tórshavn? It’s a tricky question to answer, actually! 

Is it the ocean that’s right on our doorstep? Is it the green hillsides which provide such a magnificent backdrop to the town? Or is it the understated, friendly, intimate appeal of Tórshavn that you experience when you’re here? This is a town where it's a pleasure and a privilege to stroll among the turf-roofed houses of the Old Town, to savour a spot of lunch watching the comings and goings in the marina or to check out some of the Faroe Islands’ talented artists whose work is on display in the National Gallery. Perhaps it’s all of those things – and more, of course.

Read Also: 24-hour guide: The capital

Tiny capital, big surprises 

Indeed, from the moment you first arrive in Tórshavn you’ll no doubt sense how different the Faroese capital is from others place you’ve visited. Barely 20,000 people live in the town itself which means there’s plenty of space for everyone. This is not somewhere you need to sharpen your elbows as you’re swept along with the crowds. 

Life in Tórshavn moves at an enviably sedate pace and there’s plenty of time here for the good things in life; bumping into a friend or neighbour and catching up on news and events; savouring a coffee and a pastry whilst reading your favourite book or nipping in and out of the shops perhaps looking for a hand-knitted Faroese jumper to take home with you – why not! And, if shopping is your thing, you’ll find a modern shopping centre within easy walking distance of the town centre, complete with the best-stocked supermarket anywhere in the islands.

Facts

One of the Smallest Capitals: Tórshavn is one of the smallest capitals in the world, with around 20,000 residents. 

Oldest Parliament: Tórshavn is home to Tinganes, where one of the world's oldest parliaments was established around 825 AD. The traditional red wooden buildings are still standing and in use today!

Culinary Hotspot: For a small town, Tórshavn has an impressive culinary scene, featuring Michelin-mentioned restaurants like Ræst and Roks, where traditional Faroese cuisine meets fine dining in unforgettable ways.

Football Passion: Despite its size, Tórshavn has two of the biggest football clubs in the Faroe Islands—HB and B36—leading to some passionate local derbies!

Home to a Mini Forest: While forests are rare in the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn is home to the tiny forest called ‘Viðarlundin’. It's a popular place for locals to stroll and feed the ducks, while it might not compare to Central Park, it’s a proud little patch of trees in an otherwise treeless land.

While Tórshavn’s fine dining spots are getting global recognition, the town (and in a majority of the islands) also has a hidden culinary scene. If you know where to look, you can join "heimablídni" dinners, where locals invite you into their homes to share traditional Faroese food in a very personal setting.

Read Also: Heimablídni

Ræst

Traditional Faroese cuisine, focusing on fermented dishes

Tórshavn

Bitin

Charming cafe with a cosy atmosphere in the heart of Tórshavn. New style Nordic sandwiches.

Tórshavn

Breyðvirkið

The bakery which specializes in selling handmade organic sourdough bread and pastries

Tórshavn

Roks

A playful and laid-back sister restaurant to KOKS with a strong focus on Faroese seafood and wine.

Tórshavn

Paname Café

Homemade food, sandwiches, tapas plates, coffee, cakes, beer, wine and a cozy atmosphere

Tórshavn

Áarstova

Fresh Faroese lamb roasted in the heart of the city

Tórshavn

Suppugarðurin

Traditional Japanese Ramen and Beer Bar in the heart of Tórshavn

Tórshavn

OY Brewery

Join us for a pint, a bite and a laugh!

Tórshavn

The Faroe Islands' tiny capital, Torshavn, is a "nexus of creativity", embracing the contemporary without losing its connection to the past. Filled with buzzy coffee shops, wine bars and fashion emporia.

Jeanine Barone, The New York Times

Culture, art & history

Whilst you’re here you must check out the 16 ornately-carved wooden pew ends, dating from the early 1400s and portraying the 12 apostles, which once adorned the pews in the medieval cathedral at Kirkjubøur. Quite simply, they are the Faroe Islands’ greatest national treasure and are elementally beautiful – they are kept in the National Museum on the outskirts of town. Naturally, there are plenty of other attractions to keep you entertained whilst in Tórshavn: museums, galleries, shops, cafés – but no matter where you roam, you can never forget that you’re right in the middle of the North Atlantic when you’re in the Faroese capital and that the ocean here is all-powerful – giving and taking away. 

Read Also: Experiencing Art

Steinprent

Great view overlooking the harbor and a gallery in a old factory

Tórshavn

The National Museum

Get a very introductive presentation of the history and culture of the Faroe Islands in this very informative National History Museum

Tórshavn

Listasavn Føroya

The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands

Tórshavn

Nordic House - Norðurlandahúsið

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands is a cultural centre that showcases Faroese and Nordic culture

Tórshavn

Take a red city bus as a means to see most of the city. They run frequently and to some of the more popular spots. Don't miss the chance to visit the historic village of Kirjubøur, the National Museum or the local swimming pool, conveniently accessible during the day and on weekends.

See full bus scedule here. 

Related Feature

Shopping

Related Feature

Shopping

Shops & Beats

But don’t think Tórshavn is provincial and parochial, far from it. The Faroese capital offers everything from international-standard hotels to high-quality art galleries and wool designers, where you’ll find striking patterns and cool pieces inspired by the islands’ rugged landscapes and rich history. And that’s precisely Tórshavn’s charm – the Faroese capital has the best of today’s modern world yet you’re never far removed from the islands’ stirring Viking past. 

Tórshavn’s nightlife might be small, but it’s mighty. With about a handful of bars, you can easily hit most of them in one night—if you’re up for the challenge. You’ll find everything from cozy pubs where everyone knows your name by drink two, to livelier spots with lots of dancing and local bands rocking out. The best part? The city’s so compact that you will still find your way home even if you have too much fun. Just know there is a good chance you will run into your bartender at the grocery store the next morning.

Sirkus Föroyar

Charming and boisterous café and nightclub, adorably decked out in all sorts of kitch-mismatched furniture, photos, decorations and other knickknacks

Tórshavn

Blábar

Jazz & Blues bar

Tórshavn
Essabarr

Essabarr

Bar in central Tórshavn

Streymoy

Mikkeller Tórshavn

Speciality beers downtown Tórshavn

Tórshavn

Hallartún

Hallartún Bar is the atmospheric and trendy bar located at the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands. The bar serves high quality drinks, bar meals as well as locally produced beers.

Tórshavn

Bjórkovin

Bjórkovin (the Beer Hub) is a bar within Sirkus Föroyar

Tórshavn

Irish Pub

Irish Pub is a restaurant and bar close by the harbour.

Tórshavn

Landskrona Sports bar

Landkrona is a Sports Bar in the centre of Tórshavn where you can watch live sports on TV and play pool and darts.

Tórshavn

Skansin (The fort)

The fort served as a British Royal Navy headquarters during the Second World War

Tórshavn

Tinganes

Tinganes is said to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, parliamentary meeting places in the world, along with Tynwald Hill in the Isle of Man and Þingvellir in Iceland

Tórshavn
Á Reyni, Tórshavn

Old Town in Tórshavn (á Reyni)

Tórshavn’s old town, consisting of Reyn and Undir Ryggi, is a small neighbourhood of black-tarred wooden houses with white-framed windows and grass roofs

Tórshavn

Bojsensgarður

Botanik garden

Tórshavn

Tórshavn Cathedral

Havnar kirkja is the second oldest preserved church in the Faroes.

Tórshavn

Vágsbotn

square in the heart of Tórshavn

Tórshavn
Statue Seaman

The Park

Viðarlundin (the park) in the center of TórshavnThe park called Viðarlundin is located in the center of Tórshavn

Tórshavn
Grasagarður

Grasagarður Playground

Playground in central Tórshavn

Streymoy
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The capital Tórshavn