Small boat harbour at marina

Getty Images/Flickr RF

Tórshavn

Named after the Norse god Thor (the god of thunder), Tórshavn is one of the world’s smallest capitals, although it’s home to over a third of the Faroese population. Behind the harbour and a charming if tiny old-town core lies a compact commercial centre that comes merrily to life on summer weekend nights. Behind this, the town’s newer housing and anonymous light-industrial warehouses sweep up towards an inspiringly barren ring of moorland hills.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Føroya Fornminnissavn

    Føroya Fornminnissavn

    Tórshavn

    The excellent Føroya Fornminnissavn is split between two sites in the Hoyvík suburb, 3km north of centre. The main site at Brekkutún 6 beautifully…

  • Listasavn Føroya

    Listasavn Føroya

    Tórshavn

    Viðarlundin, a wonderfully wild park where trees and sculptures mingle, leads to the bright and airy Listasavn Føroya. Its excellent collection of Faroese…

  • Nólsoy Island

    Nólsoy Island

    Tórshavn

    On Nólsoy Island, carless Nólsoy village isn't especially picturesque but makes a strikingly peaceful contrast to bustling Tórshavn, whose Tinganes…

  • Tinganes

    Tinganes

    Tórshavn

    The city's tiny but charming historical core is Tinganes, a little peninsula delightfully jumbled with pretty turf-roofed cottages and historic red…

  • Skansin Fort

    Skansin Fort

    Tórshavn

    Beyond the desert of asphalt that surrounds the modern transport terminal lie the turf-softened bastions of the ruined Skansin Fort. It's topped by a…

  • Storm Petrel Colony

    Storm Petrel Colony

    Tórshavn

    Around an hour's walk from Nólsoy village, a storm petrel colony is claimed to be the world's biggest. They're best observed at dusk. Guided bird tours…

  • Norðlýsið

    Norðlýsið

    Tórshavn

    Moored in the harbour are two beautiful antique wooden sloops, Westward Ho and Norðlýsið . On summer Tuesdays and Thursdays the Norðlýsið offers fishing…

  • Havnarkirkja

    Havnarkirkja

    Tórshavn

    The church Havnarkirkja has a distinctive clock tower that peeps above a photogenic row of colourful row of old wharf buildings (Undir Bryggjubakka).

View more attractions
  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/top
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "destination": "Tórshavn",
  "city": "Tórshavn",
  "region": "Scandinavia",
  "continent": "Europe"
}

Articles

Latest stories from Tórshavn

MS Norröna verlässt Tórshavn Passagiere an Bord der MS Norröna verlassen die Tórshavn (Faröer Inseln) auf dem Weg nach Sexdisfjördur (Island)

Beaches

Sailing from Denmark to Iceland takes days - but it's the best way to get there

Oct 29, 2021 • 6 min read

Read more articles
  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/bottom
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "destination": "Tórshavn",
  "city": "Tórshavn",
  "region": "Scandinavia",
  "continent": "Europe"
}