Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands. At the foot of a mountain range, the archipelago's largest city is home to a population of merely 20,000, but despite its small size has a long history dating back as far as AD 850.

Understand

Tórshavn Cathedral

The city was founded in the 10th century and named after Thor, the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology. In the early history of the Faroes, Tórshavn became the political centre of the Faroes, and it still is today. The first settlers established their own parliament called "ting" around 800. The main ting was established on Tinganes in Tórshavn and local tings were established in different parts of the islands. Tinganes drew people to trade, to attend court meetings, etc. In 2017, the city had a population of around 13,000, with about 20,000 in the metro area.

Get in

For most visitors Tórshavn will be the point of entry to the Faroe Islands. Practically everything in that article's Get in section also applies to Tórshavn.

By plane

The Faroe Islands are served by Vága airport on the neighboring island Vágar. Atlantic Airways flies there on a regular basis from Copenhagen and operates flights from other Scandinavian and Western European cities as well. There is a bus connection to Tórshavn from the airport.

By ferry

Smyril Line sails from Hirtshals in Denmark and Seyðisfjörður on Iceland to Tórshavn. If you are travelling with a car from Iceland to Denmark or vice versa, it is in principle possible to take off your car during the several hours long stopover in Tórshavn for a little island ride. It is however necessary to consider this option in advance when getting your car on board and have it parked in the correct queue.

By car

You can take the car with you on the ferry mentioned above. It is also possible to rent a car at the airport.

By bus

From elsewhere on the Faroe Islands.

Get around

City buses operate 4 routes which reach most of the city. All city buses are free to ride. They run every 30 minutes from the city centre on weekdays, hourly on Sunday and Saturday and weekday evenings. There is no bus service during Saturday or Sunday evenings.

View to the ferry port of Tórshavn, seen from Tinganes, which is the old part of town.

See

The National Historical Museum and the Outdoor Museum are both in the northern suburb Hoyvik, and are covered by a single ticket. Both are worth seeing.

Hoyvik Outdoor Museum

Nordic House

• 1 Faroese Løgtingið (The Faronese parliament), Tinghúsvegur 1-3, ☏ +298 363900. An impressive dark red structure with a green roof located on the water front. The parliament has been meeting at this site since 900 AD.  
• 2 Tórshavn Cathedral (Dómkirkjan, Havnar Kirkja). An attractive white building with clock tower, built in 1788.  
• 3 The Nordic House, ☏ +298 351351. M-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 14:00-17:00. The main cultural institution on the islands. Events and exhibitions. Has a cafe.  
• 4 The Historical Museum, Søvn Landsins Kúrdalsvegur 15, Hoyvík (In Faroese National Heritage, a little north of Tórshavn), ☏ +298 790551. M-F 09:00-15:00. Well worth a visit. 30 kr.  
• 5 National Gallery of the Faroe Islands (Listasavn Føroya), Gundadalsvegur 9, ☏ +298 313579. Tu-Su 13:00-16:00. 2600 works of art. 65 kr. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

• Faroese Music Gallery. See, feel and hear Faroese music in the newest and most popular tourist attraction. Free live concerts Mondays to Fridays and on special occasions (see website for program) from 14 June to 13 August and free coffee. (updated Jun 2018)

Buy

There are many shops in Tórshavn, especially in the centre and in the shopping mall SMS.

Eat

• 1 Brasserie Hvonn, Hotel Tórshavn, Tórsgøta 4, ☏ +298 350000. Central location and non-smoking inside, American-style menu and salad bar. 
• 2 Gras, Oyggjarvegur 45 (in hotel Føroyar), ☏ +298 31 75 00. 07:00-21:30. On a hill above Tórshavn with great views (if there is no fog), non smoking. 
• 3 Burger King, SMS Shopping Center, ☏ +298 32 34 20. A burger restaurant. 
• 4 Sunset Boulevard, SMS Shopping Center (in the SMS Shopping Mall), ☏ +298 32 34 22. A Danish chain of sandwich restaurants. 
• Baresso Coffee, SMS Shopping Center, ☏ +298 23 34 32. A Danish chain of cafés. 

Drink

• MIMIR, Varðagøta 2 (There's no sign but it's pretty obvious that it's a pub from the outside.), ☏ +298 31 37 48, +298 28 37 48. An eclectic pub if there ever was one. This signless watering hole attracts a mixed, friendly crowd and has reasonably priced (35 kr) beers on tap. On the bottom floor there are pool tables. 

Sleep

• 1 Tórshavn Camping, Yviri við Strond (about 1 km from the harbor. Bear to the right as you exit and follow the seaside (Yviri við Strond) - it's on the right.), ☏ +298 302425. Pretty low-frills campsite for both tents and trailers. There is a spartan kitchen, (free) hot showers plus coin-operated laundry facilities. A convenient walk to town and not too far from a large supermarket further up the road to the northwest. 70 DKK/tent. 

Budget

Prices vary slightly -- 250-300 kr per night/person for adults.

• 2 Kerjalon - Hostel, Oyggjarvegur 49, kerjalon@hosteltorshavn.fo. 
• 3 Guesthouse undir Fjalli, ☏ +298 605010, info@undirfjalli.com. 
• 4 Bládýpi, Dr Jakobsensgøta 14-16, bladypi@bladypi.fo. 

Mid-range

• 5 Hotel Streym, Yviri við Strond 19, ☏ +298 355 500. 
• 6 Hotel Føroyar, Oyggjarvegur 45, ☏ +298 317500, fh@hotelforoyar.com. There is an excellent view over Tórshavn.  
• 7 Hotel Hafnia, Áarvegur 4-10, hafnia@hafnia.fo. In the town centre. (updated Jun 2018)
• 8 Hotel Tórshavn, Tórsgøta 4, ht@hoteltorshavn.fo. Down by the harbour. 

Connect

• 1 National Library of the Faroe Islands (Føroya Landsbókasavn), ☏ +298 340525, lbs@landsbokasavnid.fo. Has WiFi and public access computers. (updated Feb 2020)