Tórshavn
Tórshavn (lit. Thor's Haven) is the capital of the Faroe Islands. At the foot of a mountain range, the archipelago's largest city has a long history dating back as far as 850 AD.
Understand
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 AD. 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 2023, the city had a population of around 14,000, with about 21,000 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
- 1 Vágar Airport (FAE IATA) (on the neighboring island of 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. You can pay per ride or get a 4 or 7 day pass. 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.
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.
- 1 Tinganes. The oldest part of the town. Settlement started and the parliament has been meeting at this site since 900 AD. Most of the houses were destroyed by a fire in the 17th century but construction continued in the traditional style with wooden facades and roofs covered with grass. Some of the buildings are nowadays used by the Faroese government. You may walk along the alleys but keep in mind that this is not an open air museum. People live and work in these buildings, so you should respect their privacy.
- 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. 2,600 works of art. 65 kr.
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 programme) from 14 June to 13 August and free coffee.
- Football: Tórsvøllur (aka Gundadalur) is the sports complex 1 km north of town centre, with stadium capacity 5000. The Faroes men's national soccer team play here. It's also the home ground of Havnar Bóltfelag (HB) and B36 Tórshavn who both play in Premier League, the islands' top tier. The domestic playing season is April-Oct.
Buy
There are many shops in Tórshavn, especially in the centre and in the shopping mall SMS.
The supermarket chain Mylnan has several locations around the town which are open daily 07:00-23:00.
Eat
Budget
- 1 Brasserie Hvonn, Hotel Tórshavn, Tórsgøta 4, ☏ +298 350000, hvonn@hvonn.fo. daily 07:00-10:00 and 17:00-22:00. Central location and non-smoking inside, American-style menu and salad bar. 115-245 kr for main dishes, 20-30 kr for soft drink.
- 2 Burger King, SMS Shopping Centre, ☏ +298 32 34 20, burgerking@sms.fo. M–Sa 10:30-21:00, Su 14:00-21:00. A burger restaurant. 79 kr for a Whopper meal.
- 3 Sunset Boulevard, SMS Shopping Center (in the SMS Shopping Mall), ☏ +298 32 34 22, sunset@sunset.fo. M–Sa 10:30-21:00, Su 14:00-21:00. A Danish chain of sandwich and burger restaurants. 70-104 kr for a meal.
- 4 Restaurant Seven, Jónas Broncks gøta 31, ☏ +298 323565, may@sevenfo.com. M–Sa 11:30-21:30, Su 12:00-21:30. A Chinese restaurant with pretty plain interior. Also sells Asian groceries. 99-168 kr for a main dish, 25 kr for a soft drink.
Mid-range
Most of these places are popular with the locals, reserving a table is highly recommended
- 5 Toscana, Nólsoyar Páls gøta 13, ☏ +298 311109, toscana@toscana.fo. Su–Th 17:00–23:00, F Sa 17:00–00:00. An Italian restaurant, nicely decorated and excellent food. 165-195 kr for a pasta dish, 295-340 kr for a steak, and 30 kr for a soft drink.
- 6 Katarina Christiansen, Bringsnagøta 6, ☏ +298 313243, katrina@katrina.fo. M–Th 18:00-21:00, F Sa 18:00-22:00, Su 12:00-15:00 (Traditional Faroese meal) and 18:00-21:00. A fusion of tapas and local cuisine. 5 tapas courses for 490 kr, traditional Faroese Sunday meal for 185 kr.
- 7 Etika, Àarvegur 3, ☏ +298 319319, etika@etika.fo. M–Sa 11:30-22:00, Su 17:00-22:00. Sushi. 8 pieces for 119 kr, soft drink for 35 kr.
- 8 Hotel Føroyar, Oyggjarvegur 45 (in hotel Føroyar), ☏ +298 31 75 00, hf@hotelforoyar.com. Lunch M–Sa 12:00-14:00, dinner Tu–Sa 18:00-22:00 (kitchen closes at 21:00). On a hill above Tórshavn with great views (if there is no fog), non-smoking. Lunch burger and fries for 145 kr, Dinner main courses for 215-390 kr.
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 harbour; 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 kr/tent.
Budget
Prices vary slightly – 250-300 kr per night/person for adults.
- 2 Hotel Føroyar, Oyggjarvegur 49, ☏ +298 317500, hf@hotelforoyar.fo.
- 3 [formerly dead link] Guesthouse undir Fjalli, ☏ +298 605010, info@undirfjalli.com.
- 4 [dead link] Bládýpi, Dr Jakobsensgøta 14-16, ☏ +298 50 06 00, bladypi@bladypi.fo. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00.
Mid-range
- 5 Hotel Djurhuus, Yviri við Strond 19, ☏ +298 355500. Around the corner from the port and thus in a relatively quiet setting but just 10 minutes walk away from the centre. Has its own parking space and a large public one is nearby. Single rooms are small. The hotel has its own car rental service at competitive rates.
- 6 Hotel Føroyar, Oyggjarvegur 45, ☏ +298 317500, fh@hotelforoyar.com. There is an excellent view over Tórshavn. Due to its location outside of the town you need wheels to get anywhere.
- 7 Hotel Hafnia, Áarvegur 4-10, hafnia@hafnia.fo. In the town centre.
- 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.