Beyond Instagram: 15 hidden gems to discover on the Faroe Islands

As someone who has travelled extensively through most of the 18 islands that make up the Faroe Islands, I feel like I know the country pretty well, some would even say inside out. Having been there nine times in just five years, and having travelled to 16 of the 18 islands, I have actually seen more than most Faroese people. At least that’s what the majority of them always tell me! They are usually impressed by my passion for the country – which I don’t understand, because in my mind everyone is passionate about the Faroes, or at least they should be.

I have to be honest; it kills me when I hear of people going to the Faroe Islands for just a week….. Or God forbid it, a WEEKEND! Dude, that’s so not enough! Yes, it may look small on the map, but EVERY corner of the country will blow you away and you will leave wanting more. Trust me on this. Don’t just come for a few days, stay for a few months. Indulge completely in the Faroese nature and the Faroese way of life. It’s beautiful and you’ll thank me for telling you this, if you do it.

This post is for you, the adventurous soul, that hasn’t yet been to the Faroe Islands or dreams of coming back to do more extensive travel there. This post is for those of you who want to venture beyond the insta-famous places. Those of you who feel like you’ve already seen the Gásadalur waterfall, the puffins on Mykines, the turf-houses of Saksun, the lighthouse on Kalsoy and the Trælanípa cliffs by Lake Leitisvatn because of the thousands of pictures of them on Instagram. No seriously, you shouldn’t actually miss out on those. But you definitely should combine these insta-famous places with all of the other gems that are often forgotten. I’m talking about Nólsoy, my favourite island. I’m talking about Stóra Dímun, the island of just one family. And I’m talking about Hestur, one of those islands that is bound to become insta-famous very soon. So see it before the entire population of China does. Seriously.

Below is a list of 15 unique places in the Faroe Islands that have yet to be discovered by the masses. Some require hours of hiking and some can be reached by car. Go there and enjoy the solitude – you’ll have all the beauty to yourself!

1. The Dunnesdrangar cliffs

Vágar is an incredibly insta-famous island; from the Trælanípa cliffs at Lake Leitisvatn to the turf-roof houses of Bøur to the Gásadalur waterfall to the up-and-coming heart-shaped lake of Vatnsdalsvatn. But there is so much more to Vágar than just these places that literally EVERYONE flocks to.

The Dunnesdrangar cliffs are one of those places that shouldn’t be missed. They are located about 1 km southeast of Mount Nónfjall at 367 meters, behind the village of Sørvágur. To get there, you must first hike up Nónfjall and walk out to the cliffs, that are located right out to sea. It’s impossible to miss them. From there, you’ll even have a unique view of the Trælanípa cliffs.

2. Høgafjall and the view of Tindhólmur

Another insta-famous spot on Vágar is the viewpoint to the Drangarnir and Tindhólmur islets, but if you are up for a bit of a hike, you can get an even better view of Tindhólmur! Climb up Høgafjall at 515 meters for an incredible view of the islet, Mykines and Vágar, and don’t forget to look back at the other islands as well! Definitely one of my favourite spots.

If you are in good shape, you could also hike Bolafløttur at 458 meters on the same trip, as the view from there of Høgafjall are breathtaking.

DISCLAIMER: Since mid 2018, the owner of the land has decided to restrict those hiking there. You now have to pay a huge fee and hike with a guide. Read more here!

3. Ritubergsnøva and its unique views of Trælanípa

Heading to Lake Leitisvatn to see the famous Trælanípa cliffs? Well, if you are, be sure to spend some extra time there to climb the mountain of Ritubergsnøva at 376 meters, which is the one you see behind the cliffs.

Not only will you get a fresh view of the Trælanípa cliffs and Lake Leitisvatn, you’ll also get an incredible view of Trøllkonufingur and all the surrounding islands. The view from Ritubergsnøva is one of my favourites in the Faroe Islands, and much more beautiful than Trælanípa in my opinion!

4. Knúkur, the highest point on Mykines

If you’re coming to the Faroe Islands during the summer months, I bet you’ll be going to Mykines to hike to the lighthouse to see the adorable puffins. And trust me, you should do just that. But while you’re there, why not also go for a hike to the highest point of the island, Knúkur at 560 meters?

On the way, you can pass by the Tindagjógv gorge for incredible views, and you’ll also walk through the stone forest of Korkadalur. The mountain offers great views over the entire island and maybe you’ll even spot a puffin there as well!

5. Lake Toftavatn on southern Eysturoy

If you’re on the Faroe Islands during the winter time and it’s frosty out, you should definitely head to Lake Toftavatn on the southern part of Eysturoy. But even if it’s summer, go there anyways. It’s a beautiful lake with vegetation that is unique to the country.

Do yourself a favor and hike the tiny “mountain” of Húsklond at just 129 meters for beautiful views of the lake and the village of Toftir.

And while you’re in the area, don’t forget to check out the charity shop in Runavík, where you could find yourself a great Faroese sweater for next to no money!

6. Eystnes, the southern end of Eysturoy

For unique views and an easy hike, head out to Eystnes at just 130 meters, at the southernmost tip of Eysturoy. You can actually drive almost all the way out there, but if you want to do a little hike, start in Æðuvík and just go south – you can’t miss it!

Standing by the windmills that you can see from Tórshavn, you’ll get a unique view of both the capital city and the island of Nólsoy, which looks almost unrecognizable from this angle.

7. The Ambadalur valley near Gjógv

Most tourists flock to Gjógv to see the colourful village and its famous gorge, but have you ever thought about venturing further, beyond the gorge? There are many beautiful hikes around Gjógv, and a great one is to Ambadalur, a beautiful valley located northwest of the village.

The round-trip hike is around 6-10 km depending on how far into the valley you go. Start at the gorge and walk west. A great end point is the viewpoint to Búgvin, the highest sea stack in the country at 188 meters.

8. The abandoned villages of Skarð and Skálatoftir

The two abandoned villages of Skarð and Skálatoftir, one located on Kunoy and the other directly across the fjord on Borðoy, have similar stories of how they were abandoned in the early 20th century, and both are worth a visit.

To get to the villages, it only requires an easy three-hour hike (each way), along the side of the mountains following the fjord until you get to the demolished stone houses.

To get to Skarð, start from Haraldssund and simply walk north, following the trail along the side of the mountain until you get there. On the way back, you can either walk the same way, walk over the mountains (an eight-hour extremely tough hike that is only recommended with a local guide) or arrange for a boat to pick you up to take you back to civilization.

To get to Skálatoftir, start from the bridge that connects Borðoy and Kunoy, but on the Borðoy side. Hike north along the path until you get there. To get back, you can either walk back the same way or arrange for a boat to pick you up.

Read my stories on Skarð and Skálatoftir.

9. The northernmost end of Nólsoy

Oh Nólsoy, where to begin with that island. Definitely my favourite of the 18 islands and it has so many great hikes!

One easy hike is to the northernmost point on Stongin past the windmill. At the very end of the track, there is a bit of climbing on rocks, but it’s easy. If you’re lucky and there during the summer, you can see puffins at this spot! But even in other seasons, it’s a beautiful place to look over at the other islands and the capital, but don’t forget to also look back at Nólsoy, which looks spectacular from this angle.

10. The west side of Koltur

Koltur, the island of just two people, has a lot to offer despite its small size. There’s the mountain and the smaller hill on either side of the island, and the two reconstructed ancient villages. But there’s also the wild west side, which most tourists seem to overlook when they venture to the island – which most tourists don’t in the first place.

The west side of the island is completely rugged. It consists of vertical cliffs all the way and it’s glorious. Go see for yourself!

11. Múlin, the northernmost point of Hestur

Hestur, I fear, may very soon become another one of those insta-famous places on the Faroe Islands. The tiny village on the island is not THAT special – it’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but it’s like most other small Faroese villages. The real charm of the island is on top of it.

Once you get up there, no matter where you go, all you’ll see is incredible natural beauty and views for days. But my favourite spot is at the top of Múlin at 421 meters, where the view of Koltur and the surroundings islands is to die for. Don’t miss this soon-to-be-famous view.

12. The Álvastakkur cliffs

Another amazing place on Hestur is the bird cliffs of Álvastakkur. This is the most tranquil place on the island – well, apart from the hundreds of birds -, and it offers incredible views.

The cliffs can be reached by climbing Mt. Navirnar at 211 meters and continuing to the moorland with four big lakes, and then west towards the ocean.

13. The Trøllhøvdi viewpoint

Just north of Skopun on the island of Sandoy stands the small islet of Trøllhøvdi. A short and easy hike will take you out to the northernmost point of the island, where you can see the islet up close as it’s just a mere 200 meters from Sandoy.

Hike from Skopun and go north in the village, and then just keep walking north along the coastline until you get a good enough view of the islet! The hike takes you through a beautiful lake area with the cutest little turf-roofed house.

14. Høvdin, the puffin paradise on Skúvoy

I never thought I’d see many puffins outside of Mykines, but when I hiked to Høvdin on the island of Skúvoy, those thoughts were put to shame. Because, you guys, there are SO MANY puffins there during the summer!

The area itself is worth exploring, especially since it’s much greener than the surroundings, which is oddly beautiful.

To get there, simply walk north of the village and follow the coastline until you get to a green place – that’s Høvdin! It’s the northernmost point on the map, so it’s easy to find.

15. The lighthouse on Stóra Dímun

Sure, you’ve heard of the famous Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy and you’re probably dying to go there, but have you ever heard of the tiny lighthouse on Stóra Dímun?

Stóra Dímun is a small island with just seven inhabitants, who make out one family, so going there usually requires taking a helicopter and contacting the family before going as it’s their private island.

A few hundred meters southwest of the small churchyard stands the lighthouse, from where you’ll get amazing views of Stóra Dímuns cliffs and the puffins that live there during the summer. And you’ll also get a great view of Lítla Dímun and Suduroy from there! So if you only have a short time on the island, this spot is a great choice.

I hope this list has inspired you to go beyond the insta-famous spots on the Faroe Islands, to explore further and to discover new places for yourself. The country has so much to offer, and everyone deserves to see its beauty and diversity!

Now, I would really love to know if you have any special places on the Faroe Islands that you wish to share? Maybe some that I have overlooked? Tell me in the comments below!